They Call Him Superman

Chapter 4: Celebrity Jerk

I rolled my smiling wider, “My dad is a Iron Man fan, he made me the nerd I am today.”

He laughed heartily at my admittance of this and I playfully glared at him, “Listen Superman, I’d love to talk to you all night, but I do need to get home to take care of my cat.”

“Oh no, don’t tell me your Cat Woman,” he teased, I laughed this time, for the first time in long while.

“I wish, but sadly no.”

“Do I get to meet him at least?”

I chewed my bottom lip all laughter gone. He saw this and my hesitation, “I’m over stepping aren’t I?”

“No…I mean I did get to play with Kal twice today.”

“I don’t want to push you-“

“It’s alright…Just know I did warn you of my living conditions.”

He nodded and smiled, “Shall we?”

I merely nodded before going to the car and climbing back in. I buckled myself once again. He pulled out of the parking lot. It was quiet in the car aside from me telling him the way to go.

“This is it,” I told him as we approached the building. The outside looked crumbly as well, so at least he would see what I meant before we even entered.

“You weren’t kidding about it not being up to health code. That place could fall on you.

I sighed, “It was the only thing I could afford when I moved here.”

He parked the car and climbed out at the same time as me. He looked from me back ot the building with concern.

“I don’t know if I can let you live in a place like this.”

I laughed softly nearly sarcastic, “What are you gonna do? Buy me a house?”

I head towards the front door of the building already hearing the many noises circulating inside. I sighed as I pulled out the key to get in the building and shoved my shoulder against the door. It was rough to open due to the many ear of paint that covered the door. The owner of the building had been passed on through generations and the generations cared less and less for the building.

The one time my water was only running cold water and it took two weeks to have the landlord send someone to fix the problem. I cringe at the thought of those freezing showers.

I opened the door wide enough for Henry and I to enter. I looked at him and he glanced at me with the same look of concern. He also seemed uncomfortable. The air was thick with the smell of sweat, booze, and piss. His face scrunched; it is rather pungent if you stand in that area too long. It doesn’t get much better when you walk up the stairs, but better enough to not feel like your lungs will collapse.

I lead him up the stairs after closing the door to building quickly. We made our way up the stairs. After four flights I used my key to open my door. I again had to shove the door open to my apartment because of the layers of paint. Once it was swung open and Henry walked in we smelt nothing but pine in the air. I quickly closed it so none of the hallway smell came into my apartment.

“Wow,” Henry said looking around, it was tidy, but not as clean as I wish it was with a star visiting. I heard a meow calling to me. I giggled.

“Come here Diesel. I have brought home a guest,” I heard him meow back again from his same spot. I rolled my eyes at the sass he gave me. I walked over to the counter and shook his treats. He came running. He was almost all black save for a tiny, tiny random whit hairs on his chest. His green eyes looked at me before he looked at Henry and froze. I shook a couple of treats out which he ran up to me for. He followed me walking over to Henry.

“He’s kinda a bottomless pit and the only way to his heart is through his stomach.”

I took Henry’s hand and placed the treats in them. He looked amused at me and then to Diesel. Diesel started purring and rubbing against his legs. He wanted the treats.

“Make him work for them, he knows sit and paw.”

“Your kidding,” he looked at me shocked, I shook my head smiling.

“I’m serious. I always had dogs so I trained him like I trained them. I didn’t really expect it to work either as the cats I knew growing up were stubborn or just assholes.”

He laughed before bending down, “Sit, Diesel.”

Diesel sat halfway I shook my head, “All the way.”

Once his butt hit the floor Henry laughed again and gave him a treat, he stared at him in wonder and amusement. Diesel swatted his paw at Henrys hand making him jump falling on his butt. The treats flew out of his hand and Diesel quickly made for them.

I let out a laugh seeing this. Henry looked up at me smirking, “What do you think is so funny.”

“Oh, nothing,” I giggled, “Except for the fact that Superman got knocked on his ass by a cat.”

He laughed and shook his head getting up off the floor, “I’m more of a dog person.”

“I was too…but he’s more dog than cat trust me.”

He raised an eyebrow slightly seeming to want to question me. I sighed and kicked off my shoes by the door. I looked at Henry again who was still looking at me.

“Did you want a drink?”

I felt bad for not asking him when we came in, I also didn’t expect him to make it past the stench of the building itself.

“Sure,” he smiled as he found himself sitting on the closest chair.

“I can make coffee. Or I have water, even some beer.”

“Coffee sounds great actually.”

I turned towards the kitchen counter and began to put together the coffee machine adding water from the jug that sat on the counter. I may use the water to shower from the building, but I would never dare drink it.

“So, how did a groomer end up needing a second job in Hollywood?”

I chewed my lip debating telling him straight up, but I wasn’t gonna be completely open with him.

“I actually never got a job at a salon…they laughed at me. Snobs,” I muttered as I pulled two coffee mugs from the cabinet.

“You’re kidding.”

“No, I even came all the way from New Jersey thinking my years in experience would be enough. However, I didn’t meet the certain standards they had. I wasn’t planning to stick around them forever, just…just long enough to start my own gig.”

“Why don’t you just do it without them?”

I let out a dry laugh, “I do, that table over there behind you is where I work. Half the people who come to me in this part wouldn’t be able to afford the prices I’ve charged before. Some I don’t even have the heart to charge.”

I looked at him and saw him frowning, “Sad isn’t it? I’m another Hollywood reject.”

He shook his head standing up quickly, I turned around my heart racing as he stepped towards me.

“No, you’re not,” He was only inches away from me. I had to look up to meet his eyes.

“I’ve been here for over a year. I ate up all my savings just to live here,” I shrugged rubbing my hands together nervously, “My parents literally think I succeeded in a job interview today for a salon, because I didn’t have the heart to tell them that I failed to do what I love.”

His eyes saddened, “You are not failing, you’re giving up. You tried sure, but if you really wanted it you would’ve chased it harder.”

I laughed and turned around to fix up the coffee. I felt him grab my arm and spin me around, “It’s not funny I’m being serious.”

“Henry, the standards at the salons aren’t as easy as you think.”

“Then help me to better understand, what is so hard to get there?”

“I need to have a celebrity.”

I poured the coffee into two mugs and turned around to hand him one only have him glare at me.

“So that’s why you applied to the warehouse job. To wiggle your way in right?”

I looked at him confused, “What are you talking about?”

“Everything that happened today? You showing up for the job, forgetting your phone and papers, your car? God how was I so stupid?”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“You played me good. Here I thought you were actually genuine, but you-“

“Get to the point Henry,” I sighed agitated, if he was going to accuse me of something he should just say it, not drone on and on.

“You wiggled your way into my life to get me to be your client. You’re worse the papz.”

My heart stung at his accusation. I threw the mugs into the sink not caring if they broke, “I think you should go.”

“I can’t-“

“You said enough Mr. Cavill,” I snapped at him my eyes brimmed with tears. I was a fool to think he would see me as someone who just wanted to do better for themselves, not out to get anything.

Henry shifted, not understanding my reaction. I turned away from him refusing to look at him. I heard the door open and close with a slam. It was then that I felt the tears fall from my eyes.

Why was I crying?

I should have expected nothing less. Especially from someone like him. I thought he was different, not a stereotypical celebrity jerk. I thought we had some connection. God, I shouldn’t even be crying over something he said. Especially from someone I only talked to a couple times today.