6.
February 15th, 2020
In a matter of minutes, I’d decided to run to Gallan’s trailer in order to save his life, slipped over a banana peel, broken my phone, and almost lost my head in the process of tripping over my ass. During all of this, I’d also learned that Gallan was a funny and decent guy, with an impossibly beautiful face and ridiculously sexy lips. I’ve been aware of the last two facts for years, but thought I should clarify. Just in case.
But, with all things considered, the guy is an actor, so his behavior towards me could be an act of deceit.
Maybe…
“I don’t wanna chase you,” he said in response to my question. “I don’t have the energy nor the time for it.”
Ouch. Why did that hurt so much?
“Wow… And you say you’re not an asshole,” I mumbled.
He shifted so he could look at me better. “What the fuck’s your problem anyway, huh? What have I even done to offend you?”
Was he serious?
“Are you serious?” I turned and glared at him. “You really don’t know?” When he widened his arms by his sides with a clueless expression on his face, I ran my fingers through my hair in frustration. “Right after I gave you my comic, you asked your manager to ‘take care’ of it. My question to you is: Why accept my book? Why lie about wanting to read it? Why tell me that you’re going to give me a feedback on it when you weren’t even going to keep it in the first place?”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “That’s…three questions. You said ‘question’, not ‘questions’,” he said.
What? Was he for real?
I pivoted on my feet, ready to walk away from him, but he grabbed my hand and turned me around. His pull was strong, and took me off balance, because I had to place a palm over his chest to brace myself.
Gallan leaned in a little, which resulted in our eyes to meet. “And what makes you think my statement to Shane meant whatyouthink it meant?” he asked.
I swallowed and fisted his grey t-shirt when his warm, minty breaths feathered over my left cheek. “I…I don’t know.” Jeez, I sounded like a duck in heat.
He shook his head and pulled me closer. “Zaira, I wouldneverdo that.” His expression showed hurt. “The fact that you think I’m a shallow piece of shit – it’s shocking and saddening.”
I didn’t know what to say, so I chose to remain quiet. After all, I’d lost the very last shred of my dignity already.
“When I asked Shane to take care of your book,” he continued, knowing that I was too embarrassed by my assumption of him to say anything, “I meantactuallytaking care of it. To keep it safe. I knew that if I kept it with me during the meeting last week, I’d end up losing it. Shane handed it to me later that day, and I’ve been reading a chapter or two of it every day since then. I’m a slow reader, so it’s taking me a while.”
Oh. My. God.
Dear Ground,
Could you please open up and swallow me whole, leaving behind no traces of my stupid existence? Thank you very much.
Sincerely
Zaira ‘I-Wanna-Die’ Khan
“I…I…” I didn’t know what to say to him.
He sighed. “You presuming that I’m a complete douchebag is hurtful, but because you’re a true fan and have worked so hard onThe Ice Bearer, I’ll forgive you. Just this once, though,” he said, and I saw the mirth in his eyes a moment before he grinned down at me.
“Huh, what?” I tilted my head to the side.
He chuckled. “I forgive you, Zaira,” he said.
“For what?”
“For seeing me in the wrong light,” he answered casually, and then pushed his wavy brown hair to the side.
