Imperfectpictures

5/21/2019

Episode Eight: Cows and Toys

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Episode Eight: Cows and Toys

I woke up at around seven in the morning, my body still used to the New York time zones. Because fuck me, I guess.

I exercised in my bedroom quietly while listening to a podcast. I showered and put on my makeup for the day. The clothing for the charity event seemed casual, so I wore a pair of skinny blue jeans and a satiny black blouse with my comfortable black sneakers. I also wore my hair up in a ponytail since I didn't know what else to do with it. I wished I had some cuter earrings or something to look a bit nicer, but I hadn't brought anything with me. I'm not sure why I didn't. I felt very plain.

Patiently I waited in the kitchen for Edward to wake up while sipping coffee and editing on my laptop at the bar. I drank two mugs worth before it began to get cold, but there was still a lot left in the pot. I put it in the fridge for later. The alone time was so helpful. I was able to edit so much. I hadn't even gotten to the pictures at the recording studio yet though. I was still just finishing with our evening at the tattoo parlor.

Around eleven my coffee was no longer enough. We wouldn't get a chance to eat at the event, so it was probably a good idea to eat a decent meal beforehand. I looked through the items I had bought the day before for our dinner, trying to decide what I wanted to eat. I had eggs from the homemade salad dressing, potatoes, butter, cheese, chicken, shallots, mushrooms, french bread, and bananas to work with. And a little bit of spinach and fresh tomato as well.

I washed, peeled, and cubed three little potatoes and put them in some water to boil. I diced the mushrooms and shallots, preparing the cheese by grating it.

Edward came from his room, looking a little sleepy but clean. When I saw him, I started another pot of coffee without asking. "Would you like some breakfast?" I offered him.

“Yes, please,” he said politely, looking over the pictures that were up on my screen in the spot next to him. I had Lightroom opened, several pictures all up at once.

“If you want to see more you can scroll there,” I pointed out to him. “Or, you can go to the side here and look at the different days,” I told him.

“Thanks,” he smiled slightly, looking a little more.

“What would you like to eat?”

“Whatever you're making.” He leaned his chin into his hand and yawned widely.

“I'm making myself a vegetarian omelet with sauteed shallots, mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach. With fried potatoes and toast with butter,” I explained to him. He was worrying his plush bottom lip with his teeth as he looked at pictures of himself.

“That sounds amazing. Do we have any of that chicken from last night leftover?” He asked as he glanced up at me.

“Yup, I can add that if you like.”

“That sounds so good. Thank you. Do I... do I need to help in some way?” He offered. “Is there something I can do?”

"Could you wash that skillet for me in the sink?" I asked as I got the larger skillet, throwing a large knob of butter in it to melt. I sliced the bread until the pan was ready and put the shallots into cook first. When he brought me the other skillet, I drained the potatoes and tossed them in seasoning. I put a little bit of olive oil and butter in that pan to get very hot before putting the potatoes into pan fry. Next, my mushrooms cooked with the shallots, then the tomatoes, and finally the spinach. I heated the chicken in the same pan for his.

Edward made the toast while I assembled the omelets. I did not skimp on the butter at any point. It took less than thirty minutes to cook the whole meal from start to finish with his help.

"Let's eat by the pool," he offered, taking the coffee out onto one the tables outside. It was a perfect Friday. I brought our overflowing plates with fried potatoes, omelets, and toast along with a banana each. Edward's was a monster of a plate, and he chowed down into it right away.

I should have taken pictures of him while we worked in the kitchen, while he ate, but I liked the quiet moment. He seemed to, too. I worried that I had been bothering him. He was a little quiet, but more so in a pensive way. We cleared the dishes away, and I added the now cold coffee to the small pitcher in the fridge with the rest.

It wasn't in there for very long because when Seth and Tyler arrived they were happy to make themselves iced coffee with lots of creamer. It was probably a good thing we had bought two creamers because we were really going through them.

I was not prepared for the size of the event we were going to. The stadium was huge and brightly decorated with things from the game Red Ops 3. There were hundreds of people in costume. And people were freaking out about Edward everywhere we went. He had two bodyguards for the day, who were hired by his manager, following at a distance. But everyone seemed so nice. The girls seemed to love him the most, of course. I couldn't blame them. He was charming to all of them, hugging them whenever they asked. He was even better with the kids.

We were eventually led to a back area where Edward would be randomly placed with another celebrity partner. The room was filled with dozens of faces that I actually recognized from television and movies, but I knew very few of their names. I stayed close to Seth and Tyler since they seem to know what to do when it came to following Edward in full entertainer mode.

Eddie was paired with a very handsome man with a familiar last name and face, but I couldn't place him. He was maybe someone's more famous younger brother? Or cousin. Nephew. I wasn't sure. I also didn't want to be rude and google him right in front of his face.

“Scott and I are super excited to compete for our charities today!” He said to the camera with so much energy. I knelt down and took his picture as he spoke with the other actor. They both had the same sharp profile with strong chins. “So, my man, who are you playing for this afternoon?”

"Heifers United, which is a fantastic organization that brings animals to impoverished areas to help give people not only a source of food but pride," the actor had a deep, deep voice with a mild southern accent. Maybe Georgian. Or, from the Carolinas.

“That is so awesome! And I am playing for the Toys for Tots program, which helps give toys to kids at Christmas which is coming up very soon. Three of my favorite things are kids, toys, and Christmas. Insert a picture of last Christmas with all my adorable nieces here,” he laughed cheerfully. “So, whatever I win I will also match! But fear not, I will donate at a minimum ten thousand dollars no matter happens!”

“Sounds like a great idea. I'll do the same,” the other actor agreed.

“Even if we get that twenty-five thousand dollars first place?” Edward asked cockily. “I mean, obviously we're going to win. You've been practicing, right?”

“Right!” He looked totally unsure about that.

“Then let's go win some cows and toys!” Eddie shouted. “Oi, that sounded better in my head.”

I laughed despite myself. He winked at me with a rueful smile.

“And cut,” Edward said calmly. He shook his partner's hand. “Thanks so much. That was perfect. I'm excited to play with you.”

“Same,” he said shortly but politely.

“So, let me introduce you to my friends here,” he began to introduce Seth, Tyler, and I to the actor. And then he introduced me to all the people he knew who came to speak with him. At least one of them was in a show I watched, I was positive. He was pleasant to them all, smoothly bouncing between them. And he remembered everyone's name and details about their life. I could barely remember my own name sometimes.

The game itself was a short affair. They would be playing two practice rounds and then a single match for everything. The games didn't last more than thirty minutes each.

Edward stuck his tongue out when he was trying to concentrate really hard. I tried not to crowd him as he played, but there were so many people there that I was practically pressed against him. But, it did give me a very good view. Their first practice round they got to a fourth-place finish which was pretty good considering how hard fought it was to get there. The next round they were the second pair to be eliminated.

“Goddamn hairy monkey motherfucking balls!” Eddie shouted as he was bombed off a cliff to his death, his partner already long dead.

They took a little break and had a drink while they reset for the main game. Everyone was a little more serious and nervous.

It didn't look like it was going to be a good game because his partner died midway through when he got tagged by two teams at once. But Edward played through the rest of the game alone, got twelve kills out of the ninety-nine other players, and came in third place. That was the ten thousand dollar prize he promised to give no matter what. He was over the moon with his victory.

“Well, it was hard. I played not that well. But in the end, it looks like we're going to be able to give away lots of heifers and a whole lot of toys today,” he said excitedly as he spoke to the camera once again. “I'll link both charities in the box down below if you want to donate and let's make this world a little better together. Thanks! Buh-bye!”

There was a VIP after party in one of the big rooms in the arena. Edward was required to be there for at least a couple of hours for the super fans that paid for the chance to rub elbows with the actors and creators of the game. There was a bar with expensive drinks in tiny plastic cups. He brought all of us with camera equipment bottles of water since it was so hot in the cramped space.

Edward got himself a beer. He had several over our time there.

A whole host of people came to speak to Eddie. Some were obviously excited fans while others were men in suits who spoke about jobs and work in the future. I began tuning people out because it was just the same conversations over and over again. Work, weather, video games, repeat.

Later in the evening after the sun had gone down and the beer had been flowing for a while a woman at least six feet tall came to talk to Edward. She wore uncomfortably high heels as well, making her nearly as tall as him. I felt like a midget. She was a size zero and wore pants that looked like they were painted on. And her shirt left little to the imagination, a baby tee meant for an actual baby. Her face could be described as painted on as well. Her hair was obviously from a bottle and was half weaves anyway. Bad ones that were a slightly different shade than her own. She was exactly what I imagined every cheap woman in Hollywood looked like. She was probably one of the booth babes from earlier. She still looked much better than me.

“Hi, I've seen you on YouTube before,” she began, leaning deeply into him. I began to clean my camera lens with my blouse. I had enough pictures of him being bored and talking to people around there anyway. I switched the lens to get different kinds of shots. I went with my macro. It was my favorite at the moment. It would change with my mood.

“Yes, I've been known to be seen there,” Edward said boisterously. He was on his fourth or fifth beer at that point for sure. For someone so big he was a surprising lightweight. We also hadn't eaten since before noon though. It was putting me in a foul mood.

“I'm Tabby.” She offered him her hand limply, her nails were long and hot neon pink.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Tabby.” He gave her a gentle shake. “Do you play the game?”

“No. But I saw that you came in third! That's really cool. You're like really good,” she spoke like a child. Or, maybe an idiot. I wondered how old she was. Actually, she was probably closer to his age than I was. It made me feel ancient.

"Thank you, my dear! That is very kind of you to say," he said a bit too formally in a stuffy English voice. It made her giggle. My eyes rolled into my head so hard they almost came back around. Seth was smirking as well. Tyler hadn't really noticed as he played with his phone. They were supposed to be getting shots of the after party for the channel, but they were getting bored as well.

“And you're jumping out of a plane tomorrow, right? I think that's what the announcer said anyway. That's so sexy! You're into, like, action adventure.” She did a non-ironic hair flip. Tyler finally glanced up from his phone with a little look of confusion on his face. He looked over at me for a brief second and flitted his eyes up to the ceiling before going back to his phone.

“Yeah, I kind am... into action... and adventure, I mean,” he teased warmly. Edward was definitely using his video voice. Hopefully, it wasn't his 'trying to get laid' voice, too.

“Do you have a girlfriend?” Tabby asked him directly. Even I was a little surprised. I thought it would take a little longer than that.

“Uh, no. I broke up with my girlfriend a few months ago right before I moved to the US actually. She didn't want to come with me.” He pouted out his bottom lip dramatically. For sure someone else would be driving him home because he had enough beers for the night.

I decided to wander off while he was flirting to find other things to take pictures of. Half drank plastic cups with neon colored liquids, disregarded swag from the gift bags already broken, glitter and balloons everywhere. That was it though. Just outside the party, I found a window that overlooked the entire outdoor area where they had played earlier. It was all empty with the lights off inside, but you could see the lights of the city behind it. I snapped several pictures until I was satisfied with the results. These would be my pictures for the night. My rewards for my personal collection.

“Hey!” Edward found me outside after several minutes. “I was worried I had lost you.”

“Sorry,” I mumbled as I took another picture as the city lights.

“You alright?” He asked in a concerned way.

"Yes, just tired and hungry. It's been a long day," I put away my camera. The strap had rubbed my neck raw, and the lighting wasn't very good anymore anyway. The only lights were coming from the opened party doors in the darkened hallway.

He frowned a little bit to himself as he nodded. “Yeah, we can head out now. We did our time. I'll text Seth and Tyler. They're looking for you, too.”

“You could have texted me,” I offered.

“I guess you're right. I didn't think about it. I'm tired, too,” he said, embarrassed as he quickly typed to his friends. “What kind of dinner would you like?”

“Your choice,” I wasn't sure when he was going to realize that I was always going to let him pick in this situation. I was just there to follow him around. He was in charge.

“I'm asking you.”

“You should ask Seth and Tyler,” I retorted. I suddenly felt very spicy. It was definitely time for bed if I was going to act like that. I crossed my arms over my chest and turned to look back out at the window.

"Okay," he said kind of quietly, and he cleared his throat. I had obviously made him uncomfortable.

“So, did she give you her number?” I asked him as we waited for the boys to meet us so we could leave. I thought I should at least try to act like I wasn't an asshole. “She was very pretty. And tall. Christ, so tall.”

"She was, and she did." He took something out of his pocket and began to shred what appeared to be a napkin that looked like it had been written on with eyeliner. Edward dropped it into a trash can beside a potted plant. Who even wrote out their number? He must not have been willing to get her his phone.

I was confused. He had been flirting with her. “Why would you do that?”

"Because I'm not really interested in her, but I felt like I needed to be polite and take it. So many girls here in Hollywood are so forward, and they're obviously not in it for a relationship, if you know what I mean. It's kind of disheartening."

“She could have been a model,” I told him. “And you don't know. Maybe it’s not money. She could have been in it just to have sex with a hot celebrity.”

“Yeah, no thanks. Pretty isn't worth it,” he told me softly. “Here, let me carry your bag for you. I know that has to be heavy after such a long day,” Edward took it from my shoulder suddenly before I could fully protest. It successfully ended our awkward conversation. Seth and Tyler eventually showed up to us waiting in silence. “Come on, let's go get food. One of you decide what to eat.”

On the way to the car, the two of them debated which kind of fried chicken they should get on the way home for everyone to eat. I walked behind them, Edward walking beside me in silence.

I hated myself, but I had to admit how strongly I felt about him at that moment. There was no other reason for my jealousy earlier. My cheeks flushed as it hit me, embarrassed by being moved by such a crush. He opened the car door for me, and we sat in the backseat together. I hated how warm I felt when I slipped close by him and smelled his musky sweaty scent from his long day. I was being an idiot though. He flirted with her, too. And, he wasn't interested in me. This is work. That's it.

And, I only had two full days left in Los Angeles anyway.

We all ate dinner around his table. The boys kept up most of the conversation. I was too deep in my own thoughts. Edward kept stealing worried glances but never said anything. Before they were done, I excused myself to go to bed.

I showered again to wash off my makeup and day's sweat.

A few minutes after I got dressed for bed there was a small knock on the door. I called for Edward to come in, adjusting the soft down blanket on my bed that I made earlier in the day.

“I wanted to check on you and make sure you're alright,” he said softly. All of his charm from earlier was gone and he seemed anxious. He looked so young and almost fragile.

“Yea, I'm fine,” I assure him. “I was just hangry and sore. Sorry.”

“Can I get you anything?” He offered, “aspirin or something? Water?”

"No, I've already taken some actually. I'm fine, really. I'm just... homesick now." I thought about the couch I normally slept on. Alice. I felt like I could have slept for days once I returned home. I would probably need it. I probably needed to cry to her for a bit about what an idiot I was. It was the first flutterings of any emotions I had at any point since Aiden, and it was with a man I couldn't have.

“Alright, I just wanted to check. Let me know if there is anything I could do at all to make you happy or comfortable,” he said sweetly with his hand over his heart. “I just... I don't know. I'm sorry, I'm awkward. I have anxiety and sometimes, I think-,” he began but stopped himself. “You know, nevermind. You're obviously going to bed. I'll let you sleep.”

“Okay...”I said softly, even sadder now. “By the way, good job today.”

“It’s just a video game,” he said quietly by the door.

“No, it was a lot of cows and toys,” I replied in a hushed tone and gave him a little smile. He gave it back in return, genuine and shy.

“Yeah. Thanks... Goodnight.”