“I know I haven’t been the best person to get along with, but I want to make it up to you. One glass of water doesn’t begin to do that, but it is a gesture. Plus, straws make everything better…” She smiles. “Well, I think they do.”
Tillie tilts her head with a smile. “You gotmea glass of water?”
“Sparkling, squeeze of lemon, three cubes of ice…” She smirks. “Trust me, you won’t go back. It’s so refreshing. Damn-well peps you right up.”
Tillie reaches out and takes the glass, smiling. “Thank you. I haven’t had anyone… other than Ryan, bring me anything since I was a kid. So this is kinda nice. Thanks, Zaria.”
“You’re welcome.”
Tillie looks to the straw and grins, taking a sip. I smile at her while I watch realization flash in her eyes. “Wow! Thisisrefreshing.”
“I know, right?”
“I can see why you like it so much.”
“It’s my go-to drink, always. Anyway, just wanted to say thank you, for everything you’ve done for me so far, Tillie. You’ve been amazing, and I took that for granted.”
Tillie smiles as I rub gently up and down Ria’s back in a show of support. “Well, thankyoufor doing this whole thing for the band. We appreciate you being here, and we love that you’ve found friendship with Nate.”
Ria smiles up at me. “Me too. He’s been incredible at showing me what’s actually important. I owe him a lot already.”
“Gotta say, Nate seems a little less grumpy these days, too. So somehow, I think you’re just as good for him.”
“Ria, we need you,” Mindy calls down the hall.
Ria nods, and as she turns, Tillie offers her a soft smile.
“Thank you… for making an effort, Zaria. It hasn’t gone unnoticed.”
“Thanks for being nice to me,” Ria replies, her voice laced with gratitude.
Tillie sighs. “I’m sorry the others aren’t. We’ll work on them.”
“It’s not that they’re not nice… they just don’t really try to talk to me.” Ria shrugs, a light laugh escaping her lips. “Except for Lunar, who talks… but it’s more like quick stabs to the heart.” She smirks with amusement, but I catch the flicker of hurt beneath her words, even if Tillie doesn’t seem to notice.
“Maybe just try with them like you have with me. If this is the real you, Zaria, then they should meet you for you, not some diva you’re pretending to be for some reason I’m yet to comprehend fully.”
Ria sighs. “It’s complicated, but I want to tell you all so you’ll understand why I’ve been this way.”
“That might help,” Tillie says.
“Riiiaaa!”Mindy yells.
“Okay, better go. Sorry, I didn’t get to fill you in on the script, Nate. Talk to Lunar and ask her what’s coming today, okay? I don’t want you freaking out.”
I tense up at her words. “Is itthatbad?”
She winces. “We’ll be in bed together… but remember, it’s acting. It’s what I do, Nate. It’s not real. It means nothing!”
She leans up, kisses me quickly, and looks into my eyes. “I’ll be thinking of you the whole time.”
Not wanting to let her go just yet, I lean in, kissing with a little more force than necessary, and then she’s racing down the hall toward the dressing room.
“Well… that was a surprise,” Tillie says.
“Really? I’ve been telling you guys all along she’s not that ridiculous diva persona she portrays all the time. It shouldn’t bethatsurprising?”
“I guess not, it’s just the act seemed so damn real. But that vulnerable, normal girl I just met was lovely. I didn’t expect it. I’m sad, I thought she was faking it. I feel like an asshole, Nate.”
