Fame | A Tomdaya Romance

Chapter 25

I nod, "Yeah, I'm off to Austin. It will be weird, but good. You're going straight to film the new TV show aren't you?". We've already had this conversation, but I assume maybe she's building up to something.

I wait the long five minutes of slightly menial chat until she does. "I'm sorry" is how she starts, "for how I shut off in Paris". My heart is beating at three times the normal rate. Fuck. Can she see my thoughts all over my face?

"Maybe it wasn't the best place for me to do that, sorry" I say, but I'm not saying I sorry I did it, and I guess she's not either. She smiles, "I don't want us to go back to that house and it feel weird Tom, we have too long to go of these movies for that". I feel the same.

"I don't either Z" I reply. I want to say more but I think I should wait until we get back to Atlanta. It may hurt too much to sow a seed of hope right now when I'm not going to see her for a few months.

"Okay good" she places her hand on my thigh for just a moment and the look in her eyes lights me on fire.

There goes the no hope.

Now

Sometimes I think about the things that I thought I'd be able to do and laugh. Not even a month ago was I so adamant that I wouldn't let Marvel or Sony get in the way of Z and I and I'm now sitting in a room with my manager and the head of PR at Sony and it's clear that I have a lot to learn.

Z is in a room next door having an identical version of this conversation I'm sure.

"Tom, we're simply asking if you want to declare to us anything about your relationship with Zendaya?"

Troy is his name, and his sidekick Rita is next door. I look at my manager.

"Troy, there is nothing in any of the many contracts that Tom has signed as part of his movie deal and subsequent franchising that requires any notification of relationship status, whether that be with a co-star or not. Therefore, I have to ask - why is this meeting even happening?" Rose is a badass, I love her ability to be frank and so diligent when it comes to all things legal.

"Quite simply, we want to understand whether there are going to be additional controversies that may effect the publication and profitisation of this franchise" he answers. I genuinely don't understand what he just said.

"So you're worried that if they are together they may break up and it will cause drama and potentially stop them working properly together?" Rose replies. Ah. That's what they're worried about.

"Precisely" Troy replies, he's still looking at me and I've not said a thing.

"Troy I don't seriously need to tell you how many professional actors have been able to work together on film and TV shows after breaking up. I'd hope given the size and success of this series so far, we aren't doubting whether these two, albiet young, actors, are anything but hugely professional?" her voice is calm.

She is good.

Troy looks impressed for a second, "Absolutely no doubt about that Rose". She stands up next to me, "Then let's not talk about this again. Meetings about social media, about press tours, about everything contractually involved in this amazing movie - I am all ears, but I'm also a manager that protects my peoples rights to live their lives too, and so please ensure that all that wanted this meeting to happen know that discussions around their personal lives, and whoever they date - aren't an agenda point".

I stand up and follow her out, feeling a bit guilty for my silence I turn around, "See you tomorrow Troy"

I get a smile back, so I think he gets it. Maybe they were just trying to push their luck.

When I finally see Z back at the house I'm pleased to know that her manager attacked the conversation in the exact same way as mine, although now that I think about it I assume that they both discussed it beforehand anyway. I kind of forget sometimes that it's their jobs, that they literally spend all day sorting out our contracts, PR obligations, future film negotiations - all of it.

"You guys fancy takeout tonight?" Z is in an oddly good mood, but then to be fair we do have two actual days off in a row - so we're all a little chirpier than normal. Jacob is nodding and standing up before I have the chance to. "Guys we have two days off, let's get food and let me get the cocktails going?"

I laugh, Z isn't really a big drinker when filming, and obviously - I mean I do drink, as I proved, but when I'm playing a superhero with his shirt off multiple times, I do tend to have to be pretty good with myself. Then again, next weeks scenes are pretty basic I think. I can tell Z is understanding what my thought process is and laughs at me.

"Yes" I reply, "shall I invite some of the gang over?"

The gang being the crew members that we hang out with at least twice a week, they're the same age as us and we've hung out as a group since the first movie. It's funny because I'm sure the public would find it crazy to know that our closest friends are people that they will never know the names of. But that's the cool thing about movies, something you only appreciate when you're in them - that there is literally so much that goes into them.

It's as a result of this decision that at 10pm I'm lying in bed with a drunk and giddy Zendaya and the both of us aren't fully able to concentrate at the episode of Grey's anatomy that we're meant to be watching. It's become a new soothing tradition for us, we're obsessed and watch an episode a night, and binge it when we have days off.

"I guess there's a benefit of us only having been like this in the last movie" Z says softly. I look down at her, confused, I don't see any benefits. I raise my eyebrows at her, waiting for a response. "That if we'd started this, you know, like this - when we were filming one and two - well we'd have run out of Greys episodes way back" she replied, as if the answer were obvious. I laugh, to be fair, it's a true point. We're only on season four, and the fact that we have so many to go is comforting to me.

She's quiet for a bit more before she looks back up at me, neither of us have spoken about todays meetings. "They've been making plans for if we break up you know?" the look of concern in her eyes brings me a comfort - she does not want it to happen. I nod, "Rose said something about it today - it's their job Z, even if we don't talk to them about it - they have to think about these things". I know it's probably not what she wants to hear, but I understand the rationale behind it.

"For the record" I've decided to add, just in case it's not clear, "I would move mountains, would go above and beyond for us. I know what I feel for you is rare". It seems to have helped, because she's smiling at me, drunken tears in her eyes, "Okay good, so we're in agreement - no breakups?"

I laugh.

She's all I ever wanted.