CDN - Let's not fight I'm tired can't we just sleep tonight

what: ‘the watch’ movie premiere
place: chinese theatre, 5pm
attire: dressy, but gowns not necessary
other: jonah hill, vince vaughn and ben stiller star in this sci-fi comedy, but it’s really the after party that’s the drawcard. everyone in hollywood who’s even mildly funny will be there.
 
-
 
ps. updated the collection:
http://www.polyvore.com/grace_lee/collection?id=1705901
 
//
 

I ran my hand down the dress and winced at the lump bulging from my stomach.
 
"No one will notice it," Jamila spoke as if she had been reading my mind. She always does that - and sometimes it freaks me out.
 
"Unless if they squint hard enough or someone tries to touch your tummy - but I doubt that's ever happen."
 
I rolled my eyes. "Liz told me to just blame it on late night pizza."
 
My best friend made a face. "Saying you eat a lot is worse than announcing you're almost three months pregnant in Hollywood," she commented.
 
I tried not to chuckle along with the other stylists and the rest of my entourage. Jamila handed me my clutch before Liz walked into my room, her cellphone glue to her ear as always.
 
"Okay... yeah, no problem," she spoke into her cellphone. "No, we don't see any big issue about this. Yes, I will. Thanks. Bye."
 
She turned towards me the moment she hung up on her call. "Guess who's coming to the premiere AND the after party?"
 
Jamila raised a hand. "George Clooney?"
 
One of Liz's assistant quickly cupped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from cackling.
 
Liz rolled her eyes before letting out a heavy sigh. "Cory Harden."
 
I felt a kick in my stomach.
I placed my hand gently on it, and it calmed down.
 
"Grace, promise you'll be a good girl and don't even think of going anywhere near that guy," Liz warned me. But somehow it sounded more like a concerned reminder.
 
You know, like, don't play with fire or you'll hurt yourself.
I think I already did. And it's three months too late.
 
"Yeah," I replied nonchalantly while checking my reflection on the mirror. "Whatever."
 
I heard Jamila making some comments about George Clooney to Liz, who just brushed her off with a snap of her finger. "Just make sure Grace looks decent for tonight," I heard my manager said.
 
I sighed.
And my hand somehow found its place over my stomach again.
 
Somehow, I felt strangely calm as a gentle kick greeted my touch.
 

(a few hours later- the after party)
 
Max, an old friend from Disney, spotted me immediately as I walked into the after party. He greeted me with wide open arms and a soft peck on my left cheek.
 
"What's with the long face?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes to study me up close. "We haven't even started the real party yet..."
 
I tried to smile. "Guess the movie wasn't my kind of thing," I gave an excuse.
 
Max didn't push me any further about it, and somehow he got dragged by a group of girls and disappeared into the crowd. I felt a little relieved that I was alone now and didn't have to answer any other questions.
 
I made my way towards the bar and ordered a ginger ale for myself. The bartender gave me a confused look.
 
Everyone else were holding up their beer bottles and martini glasses.
 
"I'm driving tonight," I explained to him. I didn't even know why I needed to give a reason for it.
 
I grabbed my ginger ale and finished it a little too quickly.
Honestly, I just wanted to leave.
 
Coming here was just to do a little bit of PR. And Liz thought it'll be a good idea to brush off those pregnancy rumors.
 
They weren't rumors.
They were true.
 
But no one admits to rumors here in Hollywood.
 
Especially not Cory Harden, who was just an arm's reach away from me at that moment.
 
Liz had warned me.
I could still hear her voice very clearly in my head...
 
But I couldn't help it. I reached out for Cory's arm and grabbed him with whatever strength I had left in me.
 
He was genuinely surprised, but when he saw me, his face fell. "God, Grace," he hissed while trying to release himself. "We're in public now."
 
I stared at him.
Hard.
 
"I really need to talk to you," I spoke, almost begging. "I promise I won't bug you again if you'll listen to what I've to say right now."
 
Cory loosened up a little. He looked at me, probably thinking through my offer before finally relenting.
 
"Fine, but let's go to somewhere with lesser crowd," he replied, pulling me through the crowd, and towards a flight of stairs that seemed to lead us to a few rooms.
 
He opened the door to one of the rooms and gestured for me to come in. He looked around as if checking if anyone had followed us before closing the door.
 
"So," he turned towards me, his hands on his hips. "What's the big announcement that you're dying to tell me?"
 
I rolled my eyes.
 
Cory was always a little cocky. He had every right to be - he's a genius and everything he touches turns gold.
 
He touched me and now I'm pregnant.
It wouldn't be too bad if I wasn't 20 and the two of us hadn't broken up.
 
"I'm pregnant," I told him without hesitating.
 
Cory didn't reply.
Neither did he move.
 
He just stared at me. Those once mesmerizing eyes of his fixed on mine.
 
"It's yours," I continued while my hand moved up to my stomach. "This bulge over here isn't because of too much snacks. There's a kid growing inside me right now, Cor."
 
"So?" was all that he asked next.
 
I looked at him.
 
Disbelief.
Denial.
Anger.
 
"You think I'm making this up, don't you?" I nearly screamed at him. "I'm three months pregnant with YOUR baby, you jerk."
 
Cory let out a heavy sigh. "I don't know what to say about this, G," he spoke, his eyes now avoiding mine.
 
"I don't expect much, really, Cor," I replied, bitter. "I'm not asking you to marry me- I'm just asking you to acknowledge the fact that you got me pregnant."
 
He leaned against the door, his face dropped into his hands as he let out another sigh.
 
It must have been a whack to his face after hearing the news.
But it felt like a stab into my heart for me when I found out about it.
 
"We're over, G," he said, his voice lowered. "The moment I called it quits between us, I didn't want to have anything else to do with you. That's it. The end."
 
"Are you thinking of keeping the baby?" he asked, his eyes shifted to my stomach.
 
I couldn't read the expression on his face.
 
Confusion?
Regret?
Or simply disgust?
 
"It's three months, you jerk," I hissed. "Even if I wanted to, I can't give it up. There's too much risk involved..."
 
"I'm sorry, G," Cory suddenly straightened himself up before placing his hands on my shoulder. "I just ... oh God, this wasn't what I'd planned out."
 
At that moment, I felt my stomach turn.
An uneasy feeling started to churn inside me.
 
"I-I ... give me a bit of time to think about this," he continued, his hands releasing me. He opened the door and walked out, though his shoulder seemed heavier than before.
 
I felt bad.
I felt guilty.
 
But I had to break the news to him.
He has to know about this...
 
Another queasy feeling churned inside me.
My throat suddenly felt dry, before I felt the sudden need to hurl.
 
"Crap," I cursed at myself as I rushed out of the room in search for a restroom. I found one down the hallway and swung the door open.
 
My face found the sink just in time as everything that I had eaten earlier came hurling out like a waterfall.
 
It hurts.
A lot.
 
And even after everything came out, I still felt like dying. I slumped over the counter and tried to catch my breath.
 
It was miserable.
I looked miserable when I caught my reflection in the mirror.
 
Then I noted someone else's reflection and nearly jumped. I quickly spun around and saw some guy standing behind me next to the door.
 
"Who are you?" I questioned him, eyes wide and my breath much heavier now.
 
The guy stared back at me, looking equally bewildered and shocked as me. "I could ask you the same thing," he replied.
 
I was still panting - from hurling and from the fright. I was starting to sweat, too.
 
"You don't look so well," I heard him say. "Had too much to drink, huh?"
 
I opened my mouth and then decided it wasn't worth trying to point out to him that he had it all wrong. I pushed my hair away from my horrific-looking face and headed for the door.
 
Then, I paused.
 
"Can I ask for a favor?" I asked, staring at him.
 
He shrugged his shoulder. "Depends."
 
"Please don't tell anyone that you saw me in here. Just pretend that we've never met, okay?"
 
He looked at me in silence for a moment, before shrugging once more. "Sure. Whatever."
 
I smiled and muttered a thanks before walking out of the foul-smelling restroom. My legs were trembling - weak all of a sudden - but I forced myself to stand straight as I walked down the flight of steps and back into the crowd.
 
Liz found me. Her face spelled concerned all over as she wrapped her hand around me before pulling me towards the back exit.
 
"What happened, my dear?" she asked, carefully helping me into the back of the car.
 
Somehow, through my hazy vision, I realized that there weren't anyone else but Liz, myself and some tall bouncer guy then. I guessed the paps were all too busy somewhere else or else I would have been blinded by their flashes now.
 
"Morning sickness," I replied her wearily. "Or make that evening sickness - god, this pregnancy thing is really tiring."
 
Liz didn't say anything else as she started the car.
And I didn't say a word about meeting Cory either.
 
-
 
@wishes-and-dreams
 
comment.
i think i wrote more than i wanted to.