Chapter 34 Lots of fun
Ariel
My single release party came up about two weeks before the cruise party. Followed immediately by a series of promotional activities that threatened to run me to the ground but in turn kept me sane.
It started with the release party event, a couple of interviews, including an eating show where I talked about my illness, my single, and plans I had coming up. A fan meeting was included at a hotel where I forgot about my worries for a moment and a performance at a gala event about two days before the cruise party day.
Anastasia had communicated with me just once after the day she sent the invitation to tell me that a car would be sent to pick me up the day of the cruise and after that, she had gone silent. I was actually nervous that I might see her at the gala today.
“Are you okay?” I turned to the ever-vigilant Jonas, who was seated beside me in the work van they were using to transport me to the event and I nodded. “Just nervous, I guess. This is my first live performance after the tour, so…”
He obviously wasn't buying it. Maybe a little bit of it but not completely. He had noticed something was off the minute I got back to my apartment the day I had the meeting with Vincent. Since then he has been paying close attention to me, which I appreciate, of course; I was just tired of the scrutiny and the fact that I couldn't even confide in him.
That would put him in harms way.
“Understandable but as i always say…”
“The nerves mean I'll do great." I completed the statement for him. He smiled. “Yes. Exactly.”
I flashed him a very small smile and went back to being in my head. It didn't last very long, though, because we arrived at the gala venue almost immediately after that.
The red carpet was calm but chaotic at the same time. Fake smiles across the long walk at fellow celebrities in between pictures, loud calls from paparazzi and reporters to look here… and there! Almost tripping on myself as I walked off the carpet and into the waiting area, where I had to make small talk with a few friends or associates.
This shouldn't be as tedious and fake as it sounds but I was honestly tired of putting on a smile. I've been doing it for a week now and it feels like my cheek might fall off anytime soon. I just want to go home, wallow in self-pity and remind myself once again why I was doing all this.
"Okay, thank you.” I smiled at the reporter from SQ who had stopped me for a series of rapid-fire questions. Thankfully no one was asking me about Richard again. It's funny to realise just how quickly his matter had died down. I mean, I'm sure people were still talking about it but behind closed doors.
“Sure. Thanks too.” I said and moved even deeper into the waiting area. Can this whole thing start already? I need a drink.
The time was currently 8pm, so this whole shenanigan (the red carpet and interviews) was likely going to go on for another thirty minutes—
I froze when I sighted her just a few feet away from me. Anastasia. She wasn't looking in my direction, which means she hadn't seen me yet, but I wasn't even sure if I should go up to her. I mean, she did block me, yell at me at that charity event and then ignore me for the rest of the event.
I don't know if her sending me that invitation and message means things have changed. It did mean she unblocked me, though.
Oh shit. I sucked in a breath when she turned and made eye contact with me. I should go up to meet her. I should—
“Hi, Ariel!” I whipped my head sharply when I suddenly heard a high-pitched voice call out my name. Ugh, fuck, it was a reporter and she had a mic in my face almost as quickly as her cameraman's light shone in my face.
“Hey…” I put on a smile immediately, though.
“How are you? You look absolutely stunning in this dress you have on. Can you tell us who you're wearing?”
I glanced at the spot Anastasia had been in as I tried to recall my response to see that she was now gone. Oh wait, I could still see her but she was moving away with a man now on her arm. Gregory Lancaster? Fuck. I turned back to the young lady.
"Uh… Tom Klein.”
“Oh wow. That's such a nice choice.”
“I know, right?" I smiled at her and at the camera.
When does this end??
The event started soon enough and since I was one of the few artists to have their performance first, I started the event backstage instead of in the audience as expected. Everyone was running around. Madison for my performance outfit that we had put together last minute and Helen for my hair and makeup.
Regardless of the chaotic preparedness, I made it to the stage in time just as the first song on my two-set list filled the hall amidst fan chants.
“Ariell!!!!”
I flashed that damn smile again and started my performance.
After my performance, i changed back into my red carpet dress, a silver halter neck dress with a nice slit and headed back to my assigned seat where…
Oh fuck. I froze, surprised, when I saw who was seated right beside my seat. Yeah, you guessed right, Anastasia.
She looked surprised to see me too when I finally took my seat beside her.
“Hi…” I said, unsure if that was the right move.
“H-hi.” She stuttered, barely looking in my direction. I'm just not going to say anything.
“Are you feeling better?” I asked a second later because remember, she vomited at the charity event. It'll be rude to not ask about that.
“Yes.” She responded, finally stealing a glance at me.
“Hi…” A head popped out from beside her before I could think of what next to say. It was the guy, her boyfriend, or should I say fiancé, whom I'd also seen with her in the waiting area.
“Hi…” I said with yet again, a fake smile.
“I heard you'll be coming to the cruise.” Both Anastasia and I turned to face him sharply, the colour draining from our faces. “Let me tell you firsthand, I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun. At least I plan to.”
Okay. I turned away, immediately feeling sick to my stomach.