"Baby... hey, flower..." I heard a soft whisper from far away. "Avery?" hearing my name brought me to consciousness and I moaned sleepy as I hugged the blanket more onto me even hugging it to my body as I was laying on my side. "Such a sleepyhead I got here..." Jared's minty breath caressed my face as I felt the mattress move, the warmth of his body hovering just an inch above me.
I couldn't bring myself to open my eyes as I felt like I could just fall back asleep any second, so I tucked my chin more to my chest, pulling my legs up, settling for an extended morning.
"What's the time?" I muttered with closed eyes.
"It's almost twelve," I heard his answer and I groaned. "It's okay; I loved the thought of you finally sleeping in, but I called Victor to glam us up for the gallery opening. He will be here in an hour."
By this I opened my eyes as sleepiness left me in a matter of seconds.
"Oh, shit..." I mumbled.
Jared laughed as he pressed a kiss on my temple.
"Take your time."
The rest of the afternoon after we made up, was about watching a movie then later ordered in a bottle of wine and some food before heading to bed. Turned out Jared had this new style of not having alcohol while filming so I basically finished the bottle by myself during giggles about hilarious stories of our years together.
As suggested, yesterday we did visit the wellness part of the hotel where we were swimming a lot, got massages and went for a couple of sauna turns in peace and calmness as there were no one else throughout the whole time. This relaxing day totally exhausted me so as for the rest of it we were just hanging around, video calling Constance, catching up with Shannon and we did surprise call Lynn too. When Olivia, appearing out of nowhere, reminded Jared that he has an online meeting scheduled for the afternoon, I took the chance to stroll around the area in hopes of finding a decent dress for the event on the next day.
Once in bed, I passed out and I swear today I woke up in the same position as I fell asleep.
Although we barely left each other's arms with Jared, the last two nights he didn't start or indicated to wanting to start any sexual activities, which was only surprising when it comes to Jared and two nights of calmness in a row. It's not like I don't enjoy intimacy even on a daily, but I am just so used to not being the one to start. I couldn't help but think that it had to do something with my outburst about his past behavior and me questioning him about his sex life, because of which I still felt guilty as hell, let alone immature.
After taking a quick shower I was sitting on the couch nervously, sipping on the instant coffee Jared made from the supplies in the suite; it wasn't the best, but he made it so eagerly.
It wasn't just about being at the opening. I went to most of these events with Jared. It was about now taking a piece of HIS limelight what kept me on the edge.
"You're not thinking of backing out, are you?" Jared's suspicious voice literally made me jerk from my thoughts, my coffee almost spilled.
"N... no," I muttered taking another sip, lowering my eyes.
"Good. I ordered up some food couple hours ago, it is still in the dining room if you wanna grab some," he offered.
"Okay... I... should have something, yeah... less of a chance that I will pass out," I smiled nervously.
"You'll be fine. It's nothing fancy," he shouted back from the bedroom.
I gluped, thinking about the dress I stupidly bought for almost two hundred pounds.
"What are you going to wear?" I asked, hoping he is not thinking of showing up in the flamingo patterned jumper and lose sweatpants he was wearing now, and I was almost certain he didn't have underwear on either.
"Well... I was thinking of this black Gucci suit with the red flower patterns," he said as he walked back out with the suit neatly hanged.
It was a nice black fabric with big rose patterns on both of his shoulders and I smiled, thinking about my choice of dress.
"Take this one. It will go with my dress," I smiled.
"Oh, great. You... oh... gonna wear a dress? The black lace one?" he asked with a smile and I chuckled.
Probably that was the only dress he ever saw me wear; the night we got together.
"No... I bought a new one only for this occasion."
"I really miss that black dress, though," he sighed as he walked back to the bedroom but then there was a knock on the door.
"Oh, it must be Vic," he grinned, and I watched him hurry to the door.
"Victor, my friend! Nice to see you again!" he grinned and although I couldn't see them from the couch, I was sure he embraced him into a hug.
Victor was his number one make-up artist and hair stylist when in town and had to appear at an event or just touch up his current hairstyle or color.
"Great to see you too! And I feel honored that you personally called me!" he laughed. "What happened to that assistant of yours?"
I breathed deep as I sat more up on the couch.
"Oh, Avery is still around. She is the reason I called you. We are heading to an event and I need you to do her hair and make-up," Jared explained as they walked to the living room, motioning towards me.
I put the coffee mug down and stood up with an awkward smile tugging on the end of my tank top.
"Hey, Victor."
"Oh, hey," he smiled. "So that is why you made me pack all my ladies' stuffs," he figured.
"Exactly. So..." Jared clapped his hands together, "you can settle and start working on her. I'll make you a coffee, yeah?" he offered.
"Sure, thanks," Victor nodded then motioned me to the big window in the living room as he dragged a dining chair there.
"Sit tight here. We are going to start with your make-up. Now I need to know what kind of dress you are wearing and what kind of vibe are you going for?" he asked scanning my face, caressing my hair behind my ears.
I licked my lips nervously. I had no idea, to be honest.
"My... dress is... red," I mumbled.
"Let's do something fresh looking," Jared waked back in with a coffee, as he probably heard the question.
He stood in front of me next to Victor and I watched as both were studying my face. "Like a "I woke up like this" style with a hint of shimmer and highlight," Jared visualized as Victor nodded, deep in thoughts.
I just sat there feeling awkward already, trying not to look at them, but rather at the outside world through the window.
"Yeah, like a warm shimmer moment would look good on her. Gold could compliment her green eyes," Victor nodded as I peeked up to them.
"You gonna do good," Jared slapped him in the back then walked away.
Victor nodded, taking a sip of his coffee then pulled a disgusted face as he pulled it away from his lips looking at it horrified, and I couldn't help but giggle under my breath knowing what he feels. Jared pours the boiling water as soon as it is ready; it burns the instant coffee powder and it just becomes a sticky, bitter mess.
"Now, Avery, If we want to use full coverage foundation that... ah... would need to be on your neck as well but then again it would look weird if the freckles would... you know, suddenly appear so I... say you can show me the dress and see how much of your chest and arms I should cover?" he started and I looked at my arms slowly, biting my lips. "Or... if you don't want foundation, we can just..."
"She doesn't NEED foundation," Jared appeared out of nowhere, looking at Victor firm. "She barely needs any make-up, look at her! Covering all her body...? Fucking Christ..." he muttered, rolling his eyes as he crossed his arms on his chest.
Victor looked at Jared stunned for a second on his defensive attitude, then recovering he turned to me.
"Of course... as I wanted to continue, we can just do a quick powder set to prevent shining," he smiled at me encouragingly as I was rubbing my arms uncomfortably, but I nodded anyway, trying to not make anything out of a make-up artist talking about covering me up.
"Yes! That is perfect," nodded Jared.
"Avery?" asked Victor, looking at me.
"Yes. Yeah that's good," I stated quietly, although I felt like a full coverage would give me more confidence... maybe my dress would look better on me.
I was standing in front of the mirror, taking a deep breath.
My hair was put up into a messy half bun as the other half was curled, falling freely onto my shoulders and back. I choose a bright red dress which was hugging my body shape around tightly, reaching until my ankles with black heels peeking out from under it. Its' spaghetti straps cutting into my skin on my shoulders as the dress was fitting tight on my breasts, making them look bigger and fuller, their top raising higher. I have never had anything so revealing on me. That is why I also bought a black throw over as well, what would not only hide my arms and exposed chest but also keep me a bit warmer.
My makeup was perfect. Gold shimmery color with a hint of burgundy red created a light smoky moment with a black eyeliner coming into a small wing.
Jared basically kicked Victor out with a playful "You'll see the full glam on the photos" comment after he finished applying some makeup on Jared, but before either of us would put on our clothes for the event. I knew Jared well; he was low-key pissed at him for his full coverage option what I seriously didn't understand. Victor wasn't being rude, just started to lay out the options and that happened to be the first one.
"You look breathtaking," I heard Jared from behind me as I peered at him through the mirror uncertainly. "This dress is..." he breathed, stepping closer as he moved his hands onto my waist, driving them down to my hips and thighs, then his eyes stuck on my breasts. "Fuck," he gulped stepping in front of me, now stroking my shoulders, through my neck, collar bones and my breasts.
"It's too much, isn't it?"
"Yeah, damn it, I have to go back and take another shower. An ice cold one," he growled annoyed as I blushed until my ears.
"I have a throw over," I picked it up from the shelf to lay it over my shoulders, pulling it together in the front. It covered my upper body.
"Good. Keep it on! I don't wanna have to punch every guy who eyes you at the event," he stated, and I smiled. "But I also want to show you around like the best thing they can never have," he grinned wide throwing his lower arms onto my shoulders and playing with my hair behind my head he looked at me with a sweet smile.
"I'm sure they will be just fine with not getting me," I smiled somehow having this expectation that this event is going to go by just as any others; me comfortably in the background as Jared swims in the ocean of attention.
Pulling up to the busy street, we were getting closer and closer to the event by second. Sitting in the backseat next to Jared, my palms were patting a nervous rhythm on my knees as I kept looking out of the window to see how far... or well... close we are.
"Av, don't be nervous, you making ME nervous," Jared scolded, putting his hand onto mine to stop me from shaking.
"Haw can you not be nervous at all?" I whined.
"I just told you, you are making me nervous," he chuckled. "Otherwise, I am excited. What's there to be freaked out about? I am going to a small event of my friend with you by my side. We did this hundreds of times."
"Don't act like it's not a big deal," I rolled my eyes but before he could speak, I basically throw myself onto him as I looked out of his window, arriving to our destination.
There was a red carpet laid out from the sidewalk to the building and up on a couple of steps to the double entrance door which was wide open. There were around a dozen photographers on the steps and next to the red carpet shooting some photos of guests arriving; some fairly famous in the art circles.
There were only two cars in front of us lining up.
"Chill, girl; see, it is nothing big. Now sit back before you wrinkle your dress," he pushed me back to sitting position as I took a deep breath.
"I can't do this. Please let me in at the back, please," I asked, looking at him pleadingly.
"I doubt there is a backdoor, Av," he stated.
"Then I'll just come right behind you; I don't want to be in the middle of attention, I can't... Jared don't make me do this," I asked as the tears so rapidly started to fall, they barely touched my cheeks as they landed in my lap, leaving big, wet spots on my dress.
"Avery..." he whispered pulling the end of his suit onto his fingers to soak up my tears from my eyes. "You wanted to do this, remember?" he asked and when we arrived the driver turned back.
"We are here, Mister Leto."
"Just... fuck, just go another round! Please," he added quickly as he turned towards me, while the car started again.
I was shaking, thinking about my choice of dress, the pictures and the aftermath. The bullies, the shame, the hate... I don't know what I was thinking when wanting to go through with this.
"Avery, hey. Do you love me?" he asked making me look up to him and I nodded.
"I do," I mumbled desperately, grabbing his slim thigh with my shaking hands.
"Good, then trust me when I say that it will be just a minute and we are in, okay? We don't have to stop we just walk in then. Just like at the Christmas talk show but now, we are ready to tell the world about us, right?" he asked caressing under my eye with the edge of his sleeve as my tears stopped.
"Yeah..." I muttered.
"I know some fans can be crazy and media can be harsh, but I know... I just feel that they will love you. You are not just another girl; they know you. You have been around me, they recognize you, they appreciate you and I am hundred percent sure that they will be kind to you. And there is nothing in the world what would make the press say anything bad about you. Especially in this dress; girl you look like a Goddess."
"But..."
"No buts, babe. Anything you think they are going to say against you is only in your head," he reassured as he grabbed my hands into his. "Come with me. Do it for me, please. Show them ladies who is the boss now," he smiled bringing my hand to his lips to kiss it.
I just laughed on his statement sniffing as I tried to bring back my breathing to normal.
I had exactly two minutes to gather myself before we arrived to the event... again.
"Mister Leto?" the driver peeked back reassuring this time we want to get out.
"Yes, thank you, Darren, see you later," Jared held his hand up as a goodbye before smiling at me.
Opening the door and him stepping out, I saw from the window how the photographers got a newfound energy and excitement as they saw him raise from the car.
Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my golden colored purse from next to me and reached for Jared's waiting hand to help me out of the car.
Once out, I smiled at him as he smiled back encouragingly, then looking around I saw the photographers stepping just a bit closer, all focusing on us.
"Hand or waist?" asked Jared with a playful smile, gently caressing a string of hair behind my shoulder.
"Hand! Hand, please," I answered anxiously.
Chuckling he took my hand into his, entwining our fingers as we turned to walk in.
Slowly making our way to the door, Jared was always a step ahead as he was waving and nodding to the photographers greeting him, shouting his name.
Reaching the stairs, he stopped to look at me and grabbing my hand a bit tighter he made sure I took the steps carefully next to him while I lifted my dress just a bit up with my other hand, mostly occupied by my purse.
I was trying my best to smile naturally, but still wasn't sure where to look, and I was most certain I didn't manage to look straight into any camera in the small chaos surrounding us.
After a couple of more steps we were suddenly inside the building and the atmosphere changed.
I let out an audible breath I was holding in while focusing on not to trip, sneeze, blink or have a weird grimace on my face when looking through the flashes of the cameras as I slowly looked around, lightening my sweaty grip on Jared's hand.
The worst part was over, or so I thought...