McKennas POV
"Paul....hello" I said waving my hands in front of his face
"Paul's what's up" Leo chuckled finding it amusing that Paul was just not acting himself
"Not here... let's go"
"Ok..."
We ended up in my room. Leo and I just seated on the couch as Paul paced back and forth before us
"Sooo?" Leo said breaking the tension
"So I was strolling through town right... have you guys checked your phones yet?" Leo shook his head
"Nope haven't really thought about using my phone yet" I say slowly still suspicious of what Paul had to say
"Don't freak out but"
"You're doing all the freaking out if anything, just spit it out man" Leo said clearly impatient
"Ok so I came across a magazine on display on the streets. Theres a few of them actually... here just see for yourself" he handed Leo a magazine. I watched as he his eyes widened and his jaw clenched
"What is it Leo?" I leaned over him trying to see the cover. He just loosened his grip in defeat then slammed his hands on the lounge before getting up
"90s heartthrob seen with party reveller: has he chosen the wrong girl?" I read the title. And scanned the pictures the paparazzi that seemed to have taken just last night. I read the page number for the article and flicked straight to the page
"What?!... heart throb Leonardo DiCaprio seen hitting Mexicos hottest clubs with upcoming actress McKenna Rae Roberts. The two were seen canoodling at The Palms on Friday evening as they partied with fellow cast members" I read the first part of the article. I scanned through the pictures seeing images of me and Leo in the clubs kissing and hugging, another where he had his arm around me blocking me from the paparazzi, one where he piggy backed me to the hotel. But the last one really got to me. The last picture was of me back at the frat party. I think we all know which one by now. My eyes started to well up with tears. Why me? Why now? I looked at Paul who was biting his nails anxiously and Leo pacing back and forth but stopped as soon as he saw my face. He walked up to me
"I'm so sorry Kenna I didn't think it'd be out in the open within a matter of hours, they just don't leave me alone" he forcefully let out, his jaw still clenched with frustration. I'm speechless.
"Kenna I promise you that I'll fix this" Leo continued
"I don't care about those pictures Leo" he frowned as he looked at the page with the photo of me standing on the keg, half naked must I add
"I-I'll figure something out"
"B-but you can't the pictures are out Leo, people would have shared it around by now" he shook his head, he was determined
"I will make this better, ok" I nodded my head unconvincingly
"Look Kenna, ignore all of that crap, they don't know you, they're just people out there to ruin you" I looked up at Paul as he sent me a sympathetic look
"They want to ruin me because i stole their "heartthrob Leonardo DiCaprio" I don't get it we were seen together once. The first time we actually did anything" I mumbled
"I'll leave you too to it" Paul nodded then walked out
I just sat there hugging my legs. One night where I finally showed any affection towards Leo. Just one night. Now there were dozens of articles about us. Mainly just me being a "bad influence" and that he's made a mistake. He didn't deserve me I was wrong for thinking this would even work out.
"Kenna please say something" I looked towards Leo on the brink of a breakdown. I'm not going to cry. Not in front of Leo atleast.
The thing is I didn't care for people seeing the pictures of us together. It was bound to happen, something I kinda prepped myself for. It was more the frat party and the remarks that got to me. For years I had people talking down on me. My appearance, my actions and even my career choices. I'd make tweaks to myself to make everyone stop. To make everyone happy. This picture is literally going to bring them back up again.
"Kenna?" Leo said now seeming to calm down and comfort me. "If its the pictures of us, I really do apologi-"
"I don't really care about those pictures Leo" I cut him off. He stared into the table that was right in front of us. Watching him as his mind worked on what I was so bothered about
"I mean it was bound to happen there were dozens and dozens of cameras on us...am I surprised it made it out so quickly? Yes, yes I am but that's not the problem here. The problem is that the picture of me half naked at that frat party. No one was supposed to see it...no one not even you" I whispered the last bit. Leo came closer and rubbed my arm
" and... and now people have seen it. The articles are literally basing my personality on this one stupid picture"
"Everything will be ok Kenna, you'll just have to ride it out and ignore it"
"No Leo you don't understand.. my whole life I feel like everyone has had a say in how I live. Do you know why I partied so much?" Leo shrug
"Because it was the only thing where I'd have sense of control. I cant even control how people see me. This article is saying that all I do is party and that I'm going to be a bad influence on you. They say I'm an actress but is there one line on here that actually goes in-depth about my acting? Or am I some wild child that has nothing better to do but get with the Leonardo DiCaprio" I looked up at Leo already trying to find my eyes. His eyes full with hurt all he could do is listen to me ramble on about my worries
Leo's POV
I tried my best to listen to Kenna as much as I could, knowing that anything I'd say wouldn't make any difference.
She finally nodded off to sleep in my arms, exhausted of all the worries the articles have caused. I kissed her on the forehead before leaning in to whisper in her ears
"I promise you everything will get better" then hopped up to walk to my room. As much as I wanted to stay and comfort her, I knew Kenna well enough that she'd want her own space to work things through
It's now been 2 weeks from the articles being spread and 2 whole weeks of doing the pool scene. We couldn't get the scene good enough for baz's liking but I guess it was because of our clouded minds. Kenna has been distant lately, I'd hang with her in her rooms sometimes. Watch movies and cuddle but haven't kissed since the club night. Obviously at work we kiss everyday but that's for the film. I ached for the comfort she gave me but I didn't want to come on too hard and push it.
We just finished the scene, again, not to perfection. So we had a little lunch break before doing the next take. I didn't notice Kenna by the lunch table. Actually I haven't caught her there for a little more than a week. I grabbed a blueberry muffin for her to eat before the scene started. There is no way she had the time to go out and grab lunch and I doubt someone's dropped off food for her. I walked into the pool setting. Seeing her in her white dress sitting on the edge of the pool. Staring at ..basically nothing
"Hey" I said making her jump a little. I put my arm around her
"Heeeey" she said softly as she melted into my touch
"I got you a muffin" I put it I front of her face. She gave me a small smile
"Is that blueberry?"
"Uh-huh you're favourite" I gave her a goofy smile causing her to laugh. Her smile is so damn infectious
"Do you reckon we'll be able to get it right this time?" I questioned she ducked her head and playfully rolled her eyes. Why is she acting so shy around me now
"What is this take 1 million or something" she said
"Starting to feel that way doesn't it" I pondered.
"Ok let's get this scene back on the road" we both jumped to Baz shouting. Kenna gave me a small smile and got up as I nodded. I couldn't help but watch her as she walked away. She walked up to the trash can. Staring at the muffin and then discreetly chucking it into the trash can. Why would she do that? She obviously wanted to eat it but why didn't she? She looked at me blankly as she noticed I was watching. I gave her a forced small smile to conceal my curiosity. She didn't express anything only hurried to her place as we started the scene again.
We were now in the pool reciting the lines. As I spoke my line we leaned in for a kiss. This one feeling a little bit different to the other ones we've shared for this specific scene. It was soft but she seemed like she wanted more as if she needed it to be more. I didn't pull away, I just wanted this scene to end but I couldn't help but linger on the kiss.
We finally ended the scene. Both of us walking towards Baz to see if we'd have to do it again.
"I think we have it, finally well done" Baz said as he patted my shoulder.
"Does that mean we can go home now?" I hear Kenna mumbled. Why is she acting so odd
"Huh? We still have 1 more scene to shoot" both Kenna and I snapped up and looked at Baz while frowning
"What do you mean I thought we were all done?" Kenna said with dread, I nodded agreeingly
"Do you guys not read your scripts? There's one more....we have to do the scene where Romeo goes to Juliet after finding out he's been banished" oh shit how could I forget. Baz just shook his head and walked off. Leaving me and McKenna. We walked to our trailers and changed out of our wet costumes. I was surprised to see Kenna waiting outside of mine as lately she's been so quick to leave
"You want to go in my car?" I asked as she gave me a small nod and smiled. Still not really saying a word. As we walked into my car, I noticed her shivering. I took my yellow sweater off.
"Here take this"
"Oh no I can't Leo I'm ok"
"You're cold I can see it in your lips it's turning blue" I said gesturing to my lips. She shook her head. I'm not going to take no for an answer. I slipped off her handbag causing her to come to a halt. And I slipped my sweater over her head.
"Arms up" I instructed,she wasn't making it easy. That girl can be so stubborn sometimes
"Ok" she said annoyingly. She lifted her arms and I slipped it on over. She then let out a sigh and held out her hand for her handbag. This was the first time I've seen her wearing my clothes. I feel like I was standing there gawking over her adorable she looked in my sweater that seemed so oversized on her
"Cute" I said pressing her cheeks together and then planting a kiss on her forehead. If I can't kiss her this is gonna have to do. A bright red tint shown across her cheeks
"Come on" she said as she walked off.
We hopped into the car driving on the roads in town. I couldn't help but glance at her a couple of times as she snuggled into the jumper.
"And you didn't want my sweater" I cheekily said
"Shut up, it's really soft and comfy and.."
"And?"
"It smells like you" she said softly not breaking her contact from the road
"Well you can have it" it looked better on her anyway. She nodded and a huge smile broke out onto her face. I think this is the first genuine smile I've seen in a while
"Oh did you want to come out for dinner? Dash and harrold will be there" I asked. Her smile disappeared and replaced with a fake small one
"Um.. it sounds great but I thought I'd stay in and go through lines"
"But we're going to your favourite restaurant?" I smiled trying to convince her. She can't say no to that, she drools over their pasta
"Im ok Leo but thankyou" I raised an eyebrow in confusion. She's never turned down on her favourite restaurant. What's going on?
We didn't really talk much on the way to the hotel. She was singing here and there to the tunes that came up on the radio but that was pretty much it. We pulled up at the hotel. I decided to go straight to dinner after dropping her off
"Your not coming in?" Kenna questioned I shook my head
"Nah I think I might go meet up with the guys now" she nodded her head slowly
"Thanks Leo"
"It's cool, I wasn't going to let you try and find your own way back" I said shooting her a comfort smile
"No thank you for just being there, I'm not used to it but it's nice" I looked at her in the eyes. I feel like she was hiding behind a huge wall that was starting to let me through
"I'm sorry for being distant lately I know we were supposed to go slow with everything you know us... I just have a lot running through my mind right now" I reached out and grabbed her hand which seemed to relax from her tense body
"Kenna, I promise you it's ok, everything is ok, I'm just chilling we don't need to rush into anything...I'll wait until you're ready"
She nodded and sent me a soft smile. Sending me butterflies through my body. She leaned forward and kissed my cheek causing me to get nervous and shyly duck my head. I could feel my face heat up but I managed to give her a smirk
"If you're not in too late, maybe we can watch a movie? You could crash at mine again" she said. I nodded
"Yeah that's sounds good" she walked out of the car. I couldn't peel my eyes away from her has I watched her frame walk away. Her stopping midway and sending me a small wave