A Tale Of Time

Ten

                                                                                                                                                    Age of Vianna-Heler

                                                                                                                                                    Year 750B

                                                                                            VITALE

ZAYN LOOKED between both of us like he expected up to jump to attention. 

I couldn't be bothered to comply, after all I was stuck to the bed with returning pains racking my entire body. And as for Olivia... such things were trivial. If she was to jump for every scandal then she'd be stuck in the ceiling.

"Why must you exaggerate everything, Zayn?" Olivia said, exasperated, "You just barged into the room without regards for the kind nurses who are just doing their job," Is she the one talking about nurses doing their jobs? She just threatened one with unemployment! 

She was still speaking, "-and you are here disturbing my brother with the press when he's fighting for his life," Don't be melodramatic, "On this very uncomfortable hospital bed," I agree with you there, "as though he should be bothered by whatever you have to say!"

She shook her head, "I'm ashamed of you!"

Zayn looked severely chastised. He'd always been scared of Olivia, ever since both of us were teenagers and she had discovered her talent for making others feel like trash to suit her own purposes. 

My family? 

Fantastic.

Zayn smoothed his button down and coughed, shifting uncomfortably, "Well, I admit I am being insensitive. I'm sorry- Vitale...? Um, I'm sorry."

Before I could answer, Olivia nodded, "As you should. And I forgive you."

I rolled my eyes. Olivia could be troublesome and she loved knowing that she could order people about. I could see the glimmer in her eyes even now.

But unfortunately for her, I actually wanted to know what the problem was.

"I'm okay," I told Zayn with a lopsided smile, "What's the problem?"

He looked between Olivia and me as though unsure before shifting unconsciously in my direction and speaking, "The girl... the one at the premiere...?"

The girl...? I knew who he was talking about, but I did not appreciate the reminder when all I wanted to do was forget her. 

I was about to confirm my recollection of her when Olivia chipped into the conversation, "What girl? Opal? Are we talking about that b***h? Vitale, are you still dating her? She's an attention grubbing w***e! And she's totally cheating, I figured it out last family dinner with Dad. She was looking at her phone too much for someone with her 'beloved' boyfriend's family. Dad thinks so too.

"Are you really still dating her? Oh come on! This is why you need to call me. So I can vet your girlfriends before you align yourself with them!"

And funny enough, the girl in question wasn't Opal. My sister sometimes...

"Yes, Adrianna Ferera? What happened to her?"

"Yes," Zayn said slowly, "She's actually a problem, you see? Um, you know the movie, um, Lady Obsession that you got the role of Sedric Catcher for?"

"I remember." It was another boring project I'd got and one where Trevor Powell was rumored to be a part of. 

Kill me now.

"Yes, the role of Rose Michaels... she..."

My eyes widened. Violet Girl was an actress and one that had landed a huge role. And just at the time when she lands the role she's caught up in a whole cheating scandal with her co-star...

"This movie is going to get a lot of publicity."

Zayn nodded, seeing that I understood the complications that this made. Not to mention the explosively s****l relationship that Sedric and Rose had. The producers and the marketing staff must be beside themselves with glee.

"How's she?"

"No comments and worse still Opal's running with it. She's laying it thick really and it's much better for her because you couldn't defend yourself."

Olivia, who I'd nearly forgotten was there, spread her hands in confusion, 'Wait, wait. Start from the beginning."

And so Zayn did with interjections from me. As the story progressed, Olivia's face reddened with anger and her hands began to fidget like she wanted to strangle someone. I supposed she did have a right should she intervene. Opal was a b***h for pulling Adrianna into this mess. No matter her annoyance with me, Adrianna was a step too far. 

All she'd done was ask me if I was alright.

Anger built up in my chest with a vengeance and I wanted to hurt her. I wanted to bury her so deep that she'd never show her face in public. But I couldn't do it so thoroughly without compromising Adrianna's dignity. She was the casualty in this war and whatever I did had to end up with her in a good light.

Which I was guessing she wasn't in.

"Are the comments very awful?"

"w***e, man thief, shame against women... the regular things. It's normal for any other girl but with the nature of this profession..."

"Jobs may become harder to come by." I completed.

Olivia shook her head, "Why don't you just make a statement? Clear the air-"

"They'll just assume," He cut in, "That Vitale's trying to clean up after himself. it won't be credible, not now that Opal has insulted them both."

"Cinema's so confusing. See why I joined Fashion? Your dresses speak for you. No need for so much drama"

I agreed with my sister. Fashion was definitely more peaceful than this ridiculous charade. Though I was sure that she'd handle herself just fine. The problem was I knew how to dress myself, not make clothes for others.

"Can you get in contact with Adrianna?" I asked Zayn. Both looked at me like I was crazy. But I really just wanted to apologize to her.

"And I'll make a statement," I continued, "A simple one. We're running with the lies. There's no point of trying to tell the truth now.  I also have some evidence to prove her own infidelity and I want to share it with the class."

Zayn nodded but he still looked skeptical. Social media wars were not my thing and it would look suspicious if I began to play that game at the moment. But that was also what I was counting on. I wouldn't say much past one simple end-all comment and then I'd confer with Adrianna before making a joint statement. But primarily, my job was to make Adrianna look good while subtly and the key word is subtly making Opal look like trash.

It would be bothersome but I would do it.

"Wait a sec," Zayn said, looking at a text before raising a red eyebrow, "I think you need to see this."

My chest began to hammer as Zayn cut to the other side of the bed, raising the phone centrally so Olivia and I could see properly.

Adrianna had made a statement on social media.

@OpalDawson10  I'm really sorry for the mess and I'd like to apologize for the whole misunderstanding. Vitale and I agreed to meet because of the movie and he's become a good friend but I should've known better than to step on a jealous woman's territory. I can assure everyone though that I had no romantic designs towards him. He just felt ill during the party and needed help. That's all. Please don't make this into something it's not and especially when Vitale's in the hospital. I was raised better and I don't like being called a slut for no reason. Even then, I'm sorry for how your relationship ended and wish you the best. 

@VitaleVinchesi  Get well soon and looking forward to working with you.

The comment was simple, somewhat naïve and in some way convincing. She was being honest except for the meeting part. But the honesty was refreshing.

"It's already getting comments."

Olivia was frowning, "Most are negative, though."

A message from Hayden popped up with the link to a gossip site. And a smiley face beside it.

"I'm guessing this is positive." Olivia said.

I shrugged and watched as Zayn clicked on the link.

                                                                                    The Whisper

Adrianna Ferera x Vitale Vinchesi... a farce?

Earlier today, upcoming actress, Adrianna Ferera on the social media platform, Speak, made a statement discrediting Opal Dawson's accusations that her and the award-winning actor, Vitale Vinchesi were an item during the course of Opal and his relationship. This statement had no prelude, however, except for the discovery of her own infidelity with Everything Soul bass guitarist Alexander Song where there were kissing unabashedly at the premiere of her latest movie. It makes one ask whether this was a ploy to cover up her own plummeting reputation.

In her post, Adrianna says that, 'He just felt ill during the party and needed help.' which the picture below confirmed...

I looked down at the picture. It was of me kneeling on the floor with one hand to my head and the other over my mouth and I looked pale like I would pass out at any moment. And Adrianna was rubbing my back with a panicked look on her face. For the first time, I was grateful for a picture taken without my permission.

Olivia was scowling, "When did this happen?"

"At the premiere." Then I returned my attention to the article because I would definitely repost it.

Here, the actor looks sick and the actress seems platonic in her intention. The source of the picture said, "He looked so ill and she rushed over, leaving her popcorn. Even when he tried to get away from where we could see him, she kept asking if he was alright. They didn't seem close like that at all. In fact, it seemed like she was bothering him."

Would a couple look like that? Still, we don't know anything on Vitale's end because of the ghastly accident from earlier this week. We hope he's feeling better now and hope to get to the bottom of this.

Later,

Whisperer.

Zayn leaned back against the bed and sighed, "Talk about drama. And your reputation for being scandal-less makes this even more delicious."

I rolled my eyes at him and sat up further, my decision being made.

"Bring my phone."

OKAY. SAID phone had been destroyed in the accident so Olivia went out to get me a new one where, much to the annoyance of my doctors. After I logged into my social media accounts, I opened Speak and reposted the Whisperers article.

Then made a comment.

"Thank you to all my well-wishers. I'm doing much better now. But I find it hard to explain where all this is coming from. I believe I should be able to have a platonic relationship without being accused of having ulterior motives. Adrianna is a friend that helped me during an embarrassing spell. I'm sorry if you read it wrong, Opal. Maybe I should've been a better boyfriend. Or maybe you should have trusted me more. I certainly trusted you. Appears I was wrong. I wish you and Alex the best.

@AdriannaFerera  I look forward to working with you too. Thank you.