by Blythe Stone
“Ha,” Nat laughed. “You left out musicians. And rich girls.”
"I'm not rich like Olivia though. I don't even like to think about money. Stan does all of that," Iris said.
“Hate to break it to you baby, but that's exactly what a rich girl would say.”
"Ugh, I don't spend money like crazy or anything. I drive a Toyota and the only expensive things I own are guitars. Oh, and I bought my grandma a house. Yeah, that was the most money I've ever spent," Iris said.
“Um. Okay,” Nat said, a little confused. “Didn't know you were ashamed of that part of yourself but that's interesting.”
"I'm not… I just don't want you to think I'm the kind of person that cares about having a lot of money. I know you don't think that. I'm used to people thinking I'm snobby when really I'm just socially awkward and quiet so I'm probably a little defensive about it," Iris said.
“Okay, wow, crazy, I never said you cared about having money,” Nat said. “If anything, you're kind of stingy,” Nat teased. “You spent a whole month being a mooch.” Nat tickled her. “You're a legacy,” Nat reminded. “Like it or not, that's a part of you.”
Iris rolled on her side, trying to get away from Nat's hands but she wasn't strong enough. Nat easily controlled her and kept her laughing.
"Stoooop," Iris got out.
She struggled again and tried to catch her breath as Nat tickled her.
“So do you like hate rich girls?” Nat wondered.
"No! I don't hate anyone. I just don't want to ever be one of those assholes that shows off their money for status," Iris said.
“Hmm,” Nat said. “Like someone who books a swanky rooftop apartment instead of a hotel room for a temporary film shoot?”
"No, like someone who buys fifteen overly expensive sports cars, thinks they can buy people, and struts around like they own the world," Iris explained.
“I see,” Nat nodded calmly.
"I don't hate anyone, not even Ellie," Iris said.
“Come ‘ere,” Nat said, wanting her to kiss her.
Iris let herself be pulled in and kissed. They only had another hour until they had to go.
“I know you don’t hate anyone,” Nat said. Since Nat wasn’t born into money she always found the perks of her life a gift she should indulge in. Time with people like Iris or Olivia was a gift just as well. Anything could change at any time. Control was a myth.
Iris moved so she was under Nat and closed her eyes to lay back.
"You're going to make it hard to go back," Iris said.
Nat stared down at her and stroked her face. “I’m sorry baby. Should I give you your space?” Iris was so beautiful, sometimes it hurt to look at her. Still, Nat could hardly ever look away.
"Nope. Just stop being so addictive and sweet," Iris teased.
“I’ll try,” Nat lied somberly. The more time they spent together the more serious and addicted Nat was which was pretty scary when it wasn’t the absolute best.
"Come on, we have at least thirty minutes before we have to make ourselves presentable. Let's see if we can make out that entire time," Iris suggested.
“Mmm, I like a challenge,” Nat said, creeping up on her and dipping down to put a start to an endless kiss.
Chapter 24
Sharks in the Water
Five hours later, when Iris thought she might actually go insane, her last interview started. It was just a repeat of the same questions she'd answered all day until the interviewer, Will, from Screen magazine, paused and looked down at his notes.
“There has been a report of you receiving threats from one of your fans. How do you deal with things like that? Is that why you don't do a lot of public events?”
“Uh,” Iris started.
She looked around for Stan who had been standing back behind the camera set up for the past hour but he had suddenly vanished.
“I just try to do my job and at the end of the day I have a great manager that keeps my security in place,” she answered.
“Have you ever had contact with this fan?” Will asked.
“No. I didn't know he existed until recently,” she answered.
“Did you know he's posted some pretty intense things on his blog,” Will asked.
She didn't know what to say. He was treading on ground she didn't want to enter. This was just supposed to be press for the movie, not her personal business.
“I don't look at things like that. I'd rather focus on doing the best job I can and frankly it's scary so…”
She trailed off and looked around again. Her hands were shaking and she felt nauseous. Vomit was going to make an appearance if this didn't end.
Her heart pounded in her chest and she could hear the beats in her ears. Her palms were clammy and she gripped the arms of the chair she was sitting in.
“Here let me read a passage from the blog and get your reaction,” Will started.
“I don't th-” Iris tried.
“I'm going to set her back on the path to righteousness and she will leave that life of sin and disgusting behavior behind,” Will read.
“I'm not going to… I mean, what do I say to that? He's delusional and I'm not comfo-”
Will cut her off again.
“That bitch Reyes is gonna get what is coming to her,” Will read.
Iris's face flushed and she stood up from the chair.
“Are you and Natalia Reyes an official item?” Will asked.
Iris walked off the set and ignored everything around her. That was too far. She was vaguely aware of Stan stepping in and talking to the reporter but she ran past everyone.
Outside was better, there was air and she could breathe. She went around the side of the building where they were doing the interviews and went straight inside a side door and down to a small, hidden bathroom she'd discovered that morning.
Inside there was only a toilet, sink, and hand dryer. She locked the door and backed up against it, sliding down to the floor and curling up into a ball.
Panic and anger made her blood rush. Hot tears slid down her cheeks.
How could someone that didn't even know her hate her that much and threaten Nat? It just made her angry. She needed to calm down but it was going to take forever.
Stan stood outside the set where Nat and Michael were being interviewed and waited for the last question before he stepped forward to speak to Nat. He took her aside and spoke in low tones.
“The last interview went off the rails and Iris left the set. Do you have any idea where she might have gone?”
“What are you talking about?” Nat asked, worried. At this point, Stan had one job and it was to protect her. The end.
Nat pushed past Stan and started to look around.
“He started asking about the stalker,” Stan explained. “And reading from a blog to get her reaction and-and- as soon as I stepped in, she ran off and no one saw where she went. I've searched the building and I've got Jenny looking at the hotel.”
“Stan, that’s terrifying,” Nat said, staring at him with a bit of anger just behind her eyes. How could one day of press become such a source of raw panic? “Look for her,” Nat said. “I’ll do the same.”
She took her phone from her pocket and started to call Iris while she searched.
The phone rang. And rang.
It wasn’t at all comforting.
“Shit,” Nat said, shoving her phone back into her pocket and checking another door. “Which building was she in?” Nat shouted off at Stan who was just about to leave.
“The smaller one! On the left,” he clarified. They both knew how worked up Iris could get. But also, this was a fan event. A famous person alone, here, was literally up for grabs to the masses. This was a dangerous place for someone like Iris who might just be nice and make an accidental mistake that could possibly cost her life.
Nat took off, running past the crowds of people standing outside. Photographers took their shots, a few gasps were heard. Natalia Reyes was one of the big name
s at this event. There were several hundreds of people who literally came just for her.
She checked the interview sets to no avail, leaving out the back and spying a sign for a bathroom. When Nat reached it she tried the handle and it was locked.
“Shit,” she muttered. “Iris?” It was a long shot but she knew she should try. “Are you in there baby?”
“I'm here,” Iris called out.
The door unlocked and opened but Nat couldn't see Iris until she looked down. On the floor, Iris reached up to hold the door.
“Baby,” Nat said, stepping in and shutting the door to kneel down in front of her. “What’s going on? Are you okay?”
“I'm fine. I just needed to calm down and I knew no one would be in here.” Her breath hitched and she used her designer sleeve to wipe tears from her eyes. All dazzle on the bathroom floor. Glitz and glam always found a way to lead back to a small little bathroom. Nat thought of old independent films, the grime of them, the parallel.
“Sweetie, hey,” Nat said, pulling Iris in to rest against her. She held her in a hug. “It’s okay,” she said, comforting.
“How did you know something happened?”
“Stan came and freaked me out,” Nat said. “You didn’t answer your phone.”
“Oh, it must be back at the interview set. I'm sorry, he shouldn't have scared you. I should have told him. It's my fault. Sorry,” Iris babbled.
“You shouldn’t be alone here,” Nat said. This was a publicity event, anyone could get a press pass or buy tickets. Nat had been meaning to talk to Iris about Stan for a while now. Things kept getting worse.
Things like this were supposed to be run seamlessly. There shouldn’t be any chasing around.
“Stan was there but I ran off when he was talking to the reporter guy. I panicked. He started asking me about that guy,” Iris said.
“Unless you plan on killing someone I don’t think you should be alone at these events,” Nat said. Iris was too fragile for this stuff. It worried Nat. It also upset her.
“Maybe we can do the next one together? I know you're supposed to be with Michael but- No, that's silly. I just need to stop being a giant baby. I'm sorry,” Iris repeated.
“You’re not a baby,” Nat said, rubbing her back. “This stuff can get really scary and you shouldn’t be alone. Stan doesn’t count anymore okay. I want there to be someone with you when you do this stuff. Some form of security. Someone who would follow you and tell me where you are if you’re scared. If I have to talk with him for that to happen that’s fine.”
“Uh, maybe Jenny. I'll ask him to let her hang out,” Iris said.
Nat's phone rang.
She pulled it out of her pocket and looked down. It was Stan and she answered it. “I found her,” she said, still mad at him but not in any mood to deal with that.
“Bring her back. I'll take her back to the hotel,” Stan said.
“No, it’s fine,” Nat said. “I’ll do it.” She didn’t trust him now.
“I need to talk to her,” he insisted.
Nat sighed and pulled the phone down onto her chest. “Do you want to talk to Stan.”
Iris took the phone and put it to her ear.
“Hey, just have Jenny stay with me next time if you're going to be in and out. I'm going back to the hotel and I'm done till tomorrow. I don't care if you had other plans. I'm not doing anymore today.”
Nat worried. Iris was so emotional.
“We need to talk about this,” Stan said.
“I do-” Iris started.
“I'll come to your room,” Stan interrupted.
“No! Just let me chill and I'll talk to you tomorrow,” Iris insisted.
She handed the phone back to Nat.
“Rawr,” Nat teased with a soft smile. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”
“He was being a dick,” Iris said.
“I’m sorry,” Nat said, kissing her hair.
“It's not your fault,” Iris said.
“Doesn’t mean I’m not sorry,” Nat whispered.
“I'm sorry your day got interrupted. How was it?”
“Press? Press is always fun,” Nat said.
“I need to tell you.” Iris took Nat's hand. “He's writing about you too. It's not good, Nat. He's threatening you,” Iris told her.
“Oh baby, he’s not the first one,” Nat said, not troubled by it. She’d dealt with real stalkers before who showed up in her space. Until this guy did that, she had nothing to fear. “You’ll have to tell me which reporter that was. Bringing that stuff up during an interview is bullshit. I can get him banned next year. Or at least try to. A person like that may just be your stalker. You know that right?”
“I don't care if he talks about me but now he's threatening you too and that's too much. Maybe we should hire some bodyguards,” Iris said.
“I always have backup at big events,” Nat said. “This is a small one so I’m not too worried about me. You though…” She hesitated. Iris liked to do dangerous things. The smartest place to be at an event like this was surrounded by your own people. Not alone. “If I wanted help here all I’d have to do is scream my lungs out. And I know that I would. Either way, we can’t control the world. You don’t have to worry about me, I can take care of myself.”
If you were at an event like this you weren't supposed to go to the bathroom alone.
“I'm gonna worry about you,” Iris said. “I love you and someone is talking about harming you. I need you alive and well.”
“Which I very much am, honey,” Nat reminded.
“I know but that doesn't mean something couldn't happen. I'm just freaking out a little,” Iris said.
“Ya know, I had a girlfriend once who knew Krav Maga? She taught me a few things. You shouldn't be worried.”
“Baby, I spend my entire life worrying. It's not gonna stop now. Just promise you'll be careful, okay?” Iris said.
“Okay, now, what about you?” Nat asked. She leaned back to look at her. “Sweetie you're in no shape to be doing these interviews. Look at you, you're completely shaken. We'll tell Stan. No more interviews for you unless we can do them together.”
“I'll be fine as long as they stick to the questions they're supposed to ask. That was my last one for today anyway,” Iris said.
“The world isn't like that baby,” Nat reminded carefully. “It's not gonna play by your rules.” Controlling other people like that was not possible.
“I know,” Iris said. “I just don't want to be that loser who can't even answer questions in a controlled environment.” She opened the door and stepped into the hall, holding it for Nat. “Let's just go back and we can talk about it later,” Iris suggested.
She was determined to make it back to the hotel without shedding any more tears.
“Okay,” Nat nodded. Once she was on her feet again she took Iris's hand. “You should let me buy you a milkshake or some tea at least. Something that'll help with the nerves.”
Their week away had been a dream but now they were right back to stress-land and it showed. Nat wasn't usually very affected by press events but Iris's vulnerability really frightened her.
“We should text the driver so we don't have to wait long,” Iris said.
They walked down the hall and got to the front of the building when Stan stepped inside and let the door close behind him.
“Iris, that was a disaster,” Stan said. “I spoke to him and he's never interviewing you again. It's fine. I'm going to assign Jenny to you and she won't be leaving your side.”
Iris was quiet and looked down. She didn't move or even blink.
“I'm gonna take her home now,” Nat said. There was nothing to gain from fighting with Stan while she was upset. Anyone could form a plan AFTER something bad happened. That wasn’t the job.
“I'll send Jenny in the morning,” Stan said.
“Fine,” Iris groaned.
Iris let Nat lead her out to the curb where they waited for the car. She was quiet o
n the ride back, preferring to cuddle into Nat, rather than talk.
The hotel room was a relief. Iris striped down to her underwear and bra, then jumped on the bed. She pressed her face into the comforter and growled all her frustration out.
Nat watched her and smiled. It’d been so tense that they needed this, to decompress. Nat stripped her dress away and pulled a tank top on over her naked breasts. “What has gotten into you, kitten,” Nat wondered. She climbed up onto the bed by her side and tried not to worry.
“I'm mad that people suck,” Iris said. She rolled over to Nat and threw her leg over Nat's side.
“Aww,” Nat watched her. She ran her hand down the underside of Iris's thigh and squeezed her ass cheek. “Stupid people.”
“Yeah but you should do that again because it helps me forget about stupid people.”
“Yes ma'am,” Nat obliged.
“You make everything better,” Iris sighed and pressed her face into Nat’s chest.
“And you are beginning to stress me out,” Nat said.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I wish I could take that away,” Iris said.
“Too bad,” Nat said, massaging her skin.
“Why am I stressing you out?” Iris asked.
“Why?” Nat sighed. “Oh, I dunno. Might have a little something to do with your own stress level babe.”
“I’m sorry,” Iris said.
Iris frowned and turned her head into the pillow. The last thing she wanted was to make Nat’s life more stressful. This anxiety was something she’d always had and never really mastered. Performing helped her a lot over the years but the social anxiety and getting into a situation where she felt she had no control was a real test. She had failed in the interview and she felt the full weight of that.
“Hey,” Nat laughed. “I'm just saying we need to work on it together.” She cuddled up to Iris and kissed her shoulder.
“I don't want you to have to try and fix me,” Iris said. She faced up and turned back to Nat.
“I'm not trying to fix you. I'm just trying to help,” Nat explained. “There's all kinds of things we can try. Starting with a relaxing massage. Would you like that?”
“If you're the one touching me, I do. I've never gotten a massage because it creeps me out even if I know they're just doing their job.”