Cheated

I peeled myself out of bed at four AM. The sky was that hazy gray between night and day. My makeup team came over and beautified me. I was to do an interview with Good Morning LA! today for a blog post. Paparazzi swarmed me everytime I left the house. The affair Greg Stewart, frontman of The Windows had with supermodel Hailey Prescott was leaked to the press along with the slight disagreement Finn and I got into. I’ve received both negative and positive messages in the process. My PR agent, Leslie, talked me up all morning. She told me just to tell the best version of the truth. Leslie ran a perfectly manicured finger through her highlighted hair. Her cheekbones were so defined from botox she looked pretty and scary at the same time.
When I first worked with Leslie, she intimidated me. I didn’t know how to handle her. As time went on, I just had to work with her. She truly did have my best interest.
When I sat down with the interviewer, the light was adjusted to hit my face perfectly. Frank swept some more powder on my nose as I waited anxiously.
“Don’t worry about them, hun,” he said as he finished up. “You look beautiful,” he added and I wanted to hug him tightly and make him for ice cream. But I was stuck here. I caught sight of my brown hair waved naturally down my back and my lightly contoured face. I never liked too much make up unless it was a special shoot or a fashion show.
The host was a young, fresh faced, red head. Her name was Rachel Deplume. I’ve never dealt with her but I’ve watched her interview other people just to prepare for this. She was sweet but got to the core of the details.
“It’s amazing to meet you,” Rachel said handing me a hand with a bunch of rings on it. I smiled at her, “I hope you don’t mind if I ask you about some serious stuff.”
I wasn’t super comfortable but this was my chance to get my side of the story out. Finn hadn’t commented on what happened, his fans made sure I knew what would happen if I ever hurt him. I’ve gotten many death threats in the process.
“It’s cool,” I told her as the interview started.
“My name is Rachel Leplume and I am here with plus size super model, Grace Abbott for today’s episode of Good Morning LA!” Rachel said professionally with a smile into the camera. “How are you this morning?” she asked me.
“I’m good, how are you?” I asked.
“I’m amazed at how beautiful your apartment is! I love all the decor and it’s in the perfect area,” Rachel complimented.
I looked around at my modern apartment with a perfect view of the Hollywood sign. “It’s a work in progress, I’m always out looking for things to make it even more… me,” I smiled.
The small talk went on for a few moments, “So, on the topic of modeling, how did you feel when you found the truth about Hailey Prescott? you two WERE very close,” she asked. I took a deep breath and tried to say what I rehearsed.
She is the worlds biggest hypocrite. Her boyfriend cheated on her. So, she found someone to help her get over it. She just forgot to mention it was her best friend’s fiance.
“It was a shock, honestly. But it opened my eyes to who those people I held close to my heart. Now, they are stuck to live in the bed they made for themselves,” I shrugged.
Rachel smiled sympathetically, “Hailey Prescott commented saying, “They are in love.” How do you feel about that?”
It took me a second until I found the right answer, “Greg told me he loved me too. Then he went on tour, got lonely, and found something to occupy him. I do wish them the best of luck though,” I told her with a smile.
“What about Finn James? There are rumors of an altercation with him at Svelte in Downtown LA. Is there something between you two?” she asked excitedly.
“Finn is a friend. We are from the same town,” I told her the truth, “We were just playing around.”
That was the biggest piece of bullshit I told in my whole career.
“Well Grace, thank you for your support in loving our bodies and talking with us today!”
I couldn’t help but smile at the camera, “Thank you,” I said as the interview came to a close.
“That was great!” Leslie said as she hugged me lightly.
I couldn’t help but smile at Leslie and just as I was about to say something my phone started buzzing.
“Hi mom,” I said as she cried on the other end. “What’s wrong?” I said as I moved into my bathroom for privacy, “It’s Jay,” she said through her tears as she mentioned one of my best friend’s names.
“What’s wrong with Jay?” I asked wearily.
“He’s dead.”

~*~

“I need to get in touch with Finn James,” I told Leslie as I paced my now empty apartment. I couldn’t even cry cause I didn’t believe it was true. Jay, Finn, and I were in the same friend circle. We had a group of friends, about a handful, who did everything together. Mainly because we all lived on the same street. As much as I loathed talking to Finn I wanted to tell him.
Leslie called and called before I was out of the door and heading to his apartment that wasn’t too far from here.
I’ve been invited to parties at his building from other celebrities but never once have I talked to him in the past three years living in Hollywood. By the time I arrived my hair was whipped and knotted together. My sundress and pumps weren’t comfortable to walk in. When I entered his lobby I took them off. His concierge looked at me curiously as he called up to Finn’s apartment before allowing me to take the elevator. I walked through the sliding silver door and hit penthouse.

~*~

As the door opened I saw Finn standing there in a white t-shirt and jeans with his brown framed glasses on from high school. He looked exactly the same as he did when he was eighteen minus some baby fat.
“Couldn’t stay away?” he smirked and the tears were rolling down my cheek.
He looked concerned as he led me to his couch and I couldn’t fathom the words. They wouldn’t come out of my mouth.
“Gracie,” he said as he got me a box of tissues, “What’s wrong?” he stared at me for minutes as I became a horrid mess. He crouched in front of me and I could smell his cologne infiltrate my nose.
“It’s Jay,” I said as I wiped my eyes.
Finn looked at me and joked, “What did he get married on a whim without you?”
“He’s dead, Finn,” I said as he looked at me in disbelief, “his drug problem got worse.”
Finn started pacing and put his hands on his head, “I just talked to him a month ago, Gray,” he said in disbelief.
Finn was everything but collected like his persona was in the magazines.
“He told me he was clean.”
Finn became angry and punched the wall leaving a hold. My hand shot up to my mouth before I realized that I had to help him. Finn’s dad died from drugs when we were fourteen. Jay saw how bad it hit him. Jay and Finn fist fought over this stuff before he left.
“We have to go home,” Finn said looking at me with the saddest expression in his eyes. “I can call my assistant and have her get me a private jet.” He started pacing toward his bedroom and he went in and got a suitcase out. I finally looked around at the dark blues and grays coloring the apartment. He had art hung all over the apartment. He loved art. He interned at the local gallery back home.
His jaw was clenched and his stubble was growing in.
“I’m sorry,” I told him leaning against his door frame as he threw clothes in his bag.
He turned to look at me and with one quick stride he was in my face. “I’m sorry,” he said sincerely.
“Please don’t,” I whispered looking away from him. “We will go home, offer support to Jay’s family. I’m gonna go home and pack,” I said as I turned.
He stopped me, “Gracie, I’ll take you there. Just give me a second. I have to call people,” he said as he walked out of the room. I walked over to his bed and picked up the blanket and smelled it. It smell like him and his sweet musky scent. It still didn’t feel real to me.
I could feel Jay’s big bulky arms sweeping me off my feet (literally) and throwing me around. He was that big brother to me. His black hair was always hidden under a baseball cap, he had potential to play for the big leagues too. He just got too caught up in partying and messing around too much with drugs and alcohol. Yet, he was fiercely loyal. Before I left college to model he was the one who pushed me to go out here and follow my heart.
“Grace, you can’t sit around here and be sad anymore. You have to go chase after the shit you want!” Jay said to me as we sat in his garage drinking a beer. I leaned my head on his shoulder and we watched Star Wars. His eyes were distant but I know Jay meant well.
I looked at the messy bed and open laptop. I leaned in closer to see what Finn was looking up. He searched for centers for the blind. Before I knew it I was laying on his bed reading about the center he was looking at. I couldn’t stop myself from looking.
“This is a sight,” Finn said as he looked at me and licked his lips just like he used to when he kissed me passionately. But he and I weren’t seventeen anymore and this was not some romantic novel.
I scowled at him, “I got entertained reading about the blind centers you were searching for.”
He almost laughed as he zipped his suitcase, “You mean you were snooping.”
I turned crimson at that and hopped off his bed, “Who knows how many women you’ve had in this bed. I might’ve caught a disease.”
He shook his head as he headed out to his living room down the long hallway and into the elevator.
“Why were you looking those up anyway?” I asked as he eyed me with his suitcase in hand. He pushed the button and leaned back.
“I have an audition coming up, if you must know,” he told me. “It’s method acting.”
I finally noticed my phone vibrate in my hand.
11 Missed Calls - Leslie
“Shit,” I muttered as we hit the second floor. Finn eyed me curiously as the doors opened and revealed, Penelope Archibald, an airhead socialite whose daddy paid for everything.
“Finn!” She squealed as she threw herself into his arms and popped up her Louboutins and almost hit me with her Prada bag. He couldn’t help but laugh and look at her with flirty eyes. “I’ve been thinking about that night and the whipped cream,” she giggled and twirled her hair looking at him.
I cleared my throat and earned a disgusted glare from Penelope. “And you are?”
A laugh almost escaped my throat as I walked into the Lobby and saw the paparazzi outside of the door. The doorman was holding them back.
“I’ll call you,” he said to Penelope before she glared at me and stalked off.
“They just won’t stay away,” Penelope sighed as she stepped out and cameras flashed.
I turned to Finn who was gesturing me to a hallway. He led me to the back entrance and found our way to his SUV. He flung his bag in the trunk before we got in.
“Does it feel real to you?” Finn asked as he backed out.
I bit my lip unable to really answer as Finn reached over and grabbed my hand. “We will be home before you know it.”
I couldn’t pull my hand away. I didn’t have it in me to move, I was overcome with paralysis as I looked out the window and let tears roll down my cheek.