Soul Veil

Premiere Week One It was only minutes and counting until I could see him again… My phone beeped wildly on my dresser, as I pulled a brush through my long hair for what seemed like the thousandth time tonight. My new phone was an upgrade, in a stunning dark boysenberry-pinkish colour, but I was barely able to work out how to use it, let alone reply to all these messages coming in tonight. I knew some would be from Reemée, my older sister. Alezmé and I had been spending the last few weeks with her while Abe was in Arizona. It hadn’t been that long ago since Abe had shared the awesome news that he was moving from Arizona to LA, but it had been the pain of separating from him that’d initially led me to want to spend more time away from my own home, and more time in Malibu with family. And it had also been nice to see Reemée spending more quality time with Alezmé. The sound of my phone beeping also reminded me of an intense dream I’d had last night. There’d been a sudden change in scenery in my dream too, that had almost made me wonder if I’d had two separate dreams, or if they were intertwined. In my dream, I’d woken up in my familiar bedroom and saw that my room was filled with an ambient, radiating, sunny glow as sunshine poured through the open windows through gently moving curtains. But suddenly the sunny day in my room had turned into a dark, raining night. The bedroom windows now looked closed and the curtains weren’t moving anymore. Nothing seemed to be warm or moving anymore and I remember feeling saddened with the change in environment. I’d looked around for a light switch to turn on. Or the outline of my bedside table lamp to touch, to cause some light to shine in the darkness that seemed to be trying to invade with every tiny moment that had drifted through the concept of time in my dream. …I could hear my phone ringing. I looked in the direction of where the sound was coming from, glanced across my bedside table, bedspread, and then searched for my handbag in the dim light. My phone stopped ringing, but I found my handbag on the floor near the front end of my bed and rustled through it in hope of finding it. The ringing then started again, but the sound wasn’t coming from my handbag. “Kitty…Kira, babe…” I heard someone leaving a message. Was I hearing my landline voicemail…from my phone in my room, or the in the kitchen? I wondered. “…are you th-? Please pick up, Kira…” The voice sounded like it was Abe’s and he was pleading for me to pick up. What was happening that Abe needed to connect with me so urgently? I wondered as I searched further for my phone. “…Kira, honey, please p…up…you’re going to be o…” I followed the muffled voice that cut in and out before stopping altogether, before my phone started ringing again. Great! I could hear it coming from under my bed, and as I lay on my side I could see the glow from my phone lighting up, confirming where it was. I tried to stretch my arm out as far as I could, and then attempted to stretch my hand out further, but it was only just out of reach. I stretched my arm and then hand out further again, but then my hand began reaching and swiping into midair…but suddenly now through the air above a cliff top! The dream scene had changed dramatically as I was no longer in my bedroom in my dream, but standing over the edge of a cliff, trying to find my balance and still swiping through midair. ‘I don’t wanna fall!’ I remembered screaming just before waking up, and had felt full of relief to feel the safety of my comfortable, solid bed beneath me and that I was now nowhere near the edge of a cliff whatsoever…! As I looked into the mirror, I reset my focus from remembering my dream, back to what I was doing — and finished brushing my hair ready for Mimi to style it for an event tonight, just in time as she arrived. Yesterday I’d just had new extensions reset in my hair, all in preparation for a big premiere. I hadn’t been ‘out’ in the celebrity circles for a while, so I wanted to go there with all the trimmings tonight. I may as well make a splash of it and have some fun with playing dress ups and being ultimately girly, I’d thought. “Hey babe!” I heard her call out from the front entrance, after someone from security had let her in. “Hi honey – I’m in here!” I called back. Mimi, who was my friends Jenna and Zanee’s makeup artist and hairstylist, had offered to come over and prime me up. I didn’t mind applying my own makeup for some big events, but it was always nice to have a professional in to ensure I didn’t muck it up. And I knew how important it actually was to have the right sort of makeup on that works well in photographs. Seriously…I had somehow forgotten about all the scrutinizing physical beauty prep that goes on prior to an occasion like this. Mimi had also offered to do Abe’s makeup as well, without even battling an eyelid as she would in her industry, but I kindly declined on his behalf knowing what his immediate reaction would be to something like this. Besides, I knew that with his naturally beautiful, broad, manly features, olive complexion and just his natural radiance in his personality, makeup certainly wasn’t ever needed for him. I put the hairbrush back down and picked up my phone instead, giving up on trying to work out which look would be best, and just let Mimi decide from here, as I was trying to get used to the longer length as well. She decided to work with leaving my hair out, styling it from there and adding two hair bling accessories from Exquizit, to compliment the new length. Our hair bling accessories were a new collection of fun and dazzling, ‘wow’ pieces that could be worn blended into your hair. Mimi chose the Diamond Drops for tonight, which she placed firstly in the straight sections just before the soft wavy curls at the front, and the second piece to the back of the other side, nearer to the ends of my hair. These pieces sat lightly, blending in with my hair, as the lines of cascading diamonds hung delicately on fine threads from near invisible headbands, nearly matching the colour of my hair, and the diamonds glistened with the movement of my hair as I moved. I looked up on occasion to note the lovely transformation in the mirror, however only half of my mind was on the premiere — and the other half was worried about what Abe would think seeing me all glammed up like this. I hope he will like it…and I wonder if he decided on going penguin…? I quickly worked out how to send a text message and sent a reply to my sister first. Right on cue, Reemée sent a message back, just after I had finished replying, asking if Alezmé was staying over at the mansh tonight. yes of course. Mom has already picked her up, I typed back. ta, Reemée replied again straight away. Her interest was a good sign. A sign that she really was starting to heal from such a painful past tragedy, and I was only too willing to help her if I could in any way, on her journey to getting better and becoming at peace again. She was even talking about starting a new photo album. A new pink album with new memories, even though she continued to carry around the yellow one with photos of Alezmé as a baby and her late husband Clain. I had assured her that a new pink album sounded like a great idea. A new start, but I didn’t know what that might mean for Alezmé and my relationship in the future…it was like she was my own daughter now… It was nice that Alezmé could spend time with my family in Malibu this weekend too, even though it was hard to be separated from her. I had good memories of our family home from when I lived there, and I preferred to call my parents’ house ‘the mansh’ as it was just like a mansion or rather a castle. Reemée and my youngest brother Chase lived there. My other brother, Asher, had just moved out to his party pad. I wondered if that meant he would actually find a job to sustain his new away-from-home lifestyle, but I doubted he would. The same offer was always on the cards for myself as well, if I ever wanted to go back to living the prestigious highlife at my parents’ seemingly unlimited expense, but I was determined not to. Cliché, I thought, as I was getting ready to attend an event that was all part and parcel of this type of glamorous lifestyle. I had received a personal invitation to attend a Hollywood movie premiere that my good friend Sarah was co-starring in. My friends and I hadn’t seen her around much lately, but we guessed it was because she was busy becoming famous in the movie industry and was now recognized a lot when she was out… We knew Sarah still very much wanted to hang with her friends and just go anywhere she pleased, but was struggling with this new-found restriction so she had been starting to ask for my advice about how to handle all that. I really hoped she didn’t get swept away on the alluring current that having copious amounts of money could bring, nor the negative things that could come with it too. Nevertheless, we were going to stick by her. And I was so proud of her and was feeling totally amped to see her tonight in the movie premiere called The Needa Lands. Exciting! A new message beeped through from Abe. I could barely contain my elation at the thought of seeing him soon. Ooo, Abe, I’d thought in my mind, but I must’ve had a super cheesy expression on my face, as I saw Mimi grin at me in the mirror’s reflection. ready? I replied to his message, meaning ‘is he ready to take his first shot at the whole red-carpet thing tonight.’ you’ll luv it, I sent a second message. really? wow this is LA living, hey? LOL, Abe typed back, but I picked up on a slight note of hesitation in his text messages. will be fun! sweet. 5 min away. “Thank you, Mimi.” I smiled as she finished some touches to my makeup, and then began to pack up her things. “You’re welcome,” she replied. “You look delish.” “Sweet, thanks…” I smiled, sighing in relief, hoping she wasn’t just saying that as I slipped into some designer heels to complete the look. Only a few minutes later there was a knock at the door. I went to open the door, but my hand was hesitant while pushing the handle down, wondering why Abe didn’t just let himself in. Abe was there though. He stood standing on the patio entrance, looking frozen. His eyes were wide, but I was grateful that it didn’t look like there was anything wrong. His jaw dropped open slightly as I stepped out the doorway and into the sunlight that I felt gracing my body with light and warmth. I momentarily forgot about how I was dressed, as I was instantaneously lost in the first sight of seeing Abe again, even though it had only been a short while. I shook my head lightly, refreshing my thoughts, and gathered up some strength to think clearly again as he smiled. Whoa, he was looking so sharp in a crisp-looking shirt and trending slim-fit blazer. How was it even possible for him to look hotter than before? “Gorgeous…” he breathed. “Hot!” “Roll?” I nodded yes, and we quickly ducked into the limousine waiting for us outside the front entrance gates. On the way I glanced briefly out the window, seeing another luxury car following us, before settling back into the comfortable seat. Abe took my hand and turned me around to face him as I leant sideways back into the seat. I ignored the delicious display of treats and bubbly on ice there for us. Instead I melted into Abe’s expression. His everything. Everything about him. And it was as if he was taking in, absorbing my everything. We communicated without words for a short moment before catching up about how each other’s week was. It had been so hard to be separated from him, even if it was for just a short time, but I always relished these small and quiet, but most important reunion moments we had. “Daniel’s behind us?” Abe asked as we tore our gaze apart, looked around then I realised we were nearing the venue. “Yeah. He’s travelling in the car behind us. There will probably be about three other guys from the security team with him, for this event.” “Probably…” He paused for a moment. “Angelo and Drew?” “I’m not sure, I only saw Daniel being the last one to climb in the car. How do you know?” “I could sense it,” he replied, looking forwards. *** Abe was right. Daniel, Angelo, and Drew joined us when we arrived at the premiere. The brightest of lights instantly began flashing the moment our feet touched the tarmac and followed us intensely up the red carpet. “Kira!” I heard people yelling out my name as we walked along. Abe squeezed my hand. Through my fixed, smiling expression, I gave him a reassuring look that only he would pick up on. He was doing his best at smiling at the hundreds of people around us, in between giving a cool, one eyebrow raised, just chillin’ expression at times and even jokingly waved occasionally, like he had adoring fans waving back at him. It was gorgeous, and if we didn’t momentarily have to be so serious, I would have laughed. He didn’t know that partners usually stayed in the background rather than being alongside a celebrity at events like this. But I didn’t want him to feel like he was ever in the background of my life, so wouldn’t ever say so and much preferred that he was right by my side. “Kira. Kira. Over here!” The voices grew closer as we slowly walked up the long stretch of red. We were now nearer to the reporters waiting to talk to us on the sidelines. “Kira. Who are you accompanied by tonight?” I spun around to see who’d asked, but I was already prepared for the taunting questions about who my date was for this event. I looked at a reporter, but smiled and pretended that I hadn’t heard them. “Kira? Kira — who are you wearing?” I heard a female voice call out. A bit of Abe on my arm, I’d jokingly wanted to reply just for fun, but I kept the thought to myself. Abe lightly squeezed my hand again. We were halfway there. “Do you want to stop and do the posing thing?” “Ah, no thanks,” I whispered in his ear, still smiling and looking around. “Just want to make a quick appearance — this is enough.” “Sweet,” he whispered back, letting me hear a light humour in his voice. My jaw and cheeks were starting to tighten as my facial muscles went into overdrive. “Oh, my face.” Abe rubbed his jawline as we entered the event, looking glad to be inside. I softly rubbed mine too, and we both let out a small private giggle as we made our way through the foyer. Abe didn’t really have to smile at anyone, as he was only acting as if he was totally famous too. The security team weren’t far away from us. If only they could shield paparazzi lights, I wished, as we turned the corner and I turned my photo face back on as we were faced with another round of photographs before the movie began. Finally we were ushered to our row and I rushed to find our seats. I was keen to sit as quickly as possible as my heels were so incredibly high. We were sitting not far from the front row. It was nice to be up and close to the big screen action, but I’d hoped Abe and I could’ve sat further to the back and pretended like we were at the movies on date night. But this was more like an appearance rather than an enjoyable date with so many people staring my way. I spotted Sarah up on the front row sitting next to the director, and Arly, the guy who played the male lead role. He looked really handsome and was paying a fair bit of attention to her… I wondered if they would start dating in real life after the official movie release? _____ The veil of disguise was thicker than the layers of makeup these stars had on. But they weren’t really shining stars in Mattesis’s opinion. Just puppets. Urgh… He had just cast an illusion, for someone in particular that he had been waiting for. But now they’re outa sight?! Someone must be praying, he snarled to himself. And a prayer like this was protecting them from any unseen attack. And he knew he couldn’t get to them. Arghhhh. Mattesis then furiously stormed off, and disappeared into another realm, livid that his plan had been foiled. _____ I focused my attention back on Abe and had a sudden unsurprising craving for hot popcorn. I wasn’t sure if you could order food here once you were inside the cinema, and I would feel totally awkward lining up in the cinema’s candy bar downstairs dressed like this. Abe brushed my hand lightly with the back of his. “You look stunning,” he whispered in my ear. “Thanks… You too.” I smiled and lightly nestled into his shoulder. It was my first time seeing him dressed like this. Although he wasn’t normally underdressed that I had ever seen, with his usual style of crisp-looking shirts with jeans goin’ on, he still suited this look and I wondered if perhaps he wore this sort of style for work. Cythia, my Mom, had suggested I was to hire a personal shopper to advise on a dress for tonight, but I had decided to take my girlfriends, Britten and Sandy, along dress shopping instead. It was more fun that way. I had shouted them some new outfits while we were there, and we’d made a day of it having an absolute fabulous time shopping in Los Angeles. Though by the end of the shopping expedition I hadn’t actually found a dress for the premiere. In the end another friend, Michaela, only too eagerly offered to design a long, elegant dress for me and it worked out perfectly. I absolutely loved the cream and crimson woven colours with a circular gold pattern around one side, and its layered off-the-shoulders straps design, that beautifully fit my shape and style like a dream. The movie began as the lights dimmed lower, and I leant back into my seat as memories of another recent night’s dream began vividly appearing. I’d had this dream that I was now remembering, for at least three nights in a row this past week and it was like I could recall this dream as clear as day. I tried to focus on the movie as Sarah appeared, but I couldn’t shake these memories and then I tried to subconsciously think about it and watch the movie, but that wouldn’t work either. Everything in the imagery from my dream was the opposite in comparison to this very moment I was now living in. Here – I knew I was alive. But in the dream, it had been almost without light and was dry there, and I could easily go from place to familiar place with ease, but each scenario was the same. Everything had looked so dry, even the people there, and there was certainly no emotion or energetic expression that people with life breathing through them would have either. Eventually my mind recaptured the attention of the movie and its continuing plot enough so that I managed to be absorbed into most of it. Sarah sparkled and dazzled up there on the big silver screen. It was slightly amusing to see someone so down to earth, be transformed and be acting in a movie right before my very eyes, but I only knew that wasn’t too hard to imagine. After it finished, Abe turned to me as we stood and smiled, seeming to have enjoyed the movie too. The noise level was increasing again, so I thought it would be easier to chat on the way back to Santa Monica in the limo. It was one of the few movies that I’d seen recently, and there hadn’t been that many that I had actually enjoyed, so I hoped Abe had enjoyed the mixed fantasy and romance genre too, even though it was a tad on the girly side. On the way home, I was torn in between the buzz of being close with Abe, and these intense memories of the dream. But then I still couldn’t shake the dream that just so fervently kept playing over and over, painting the dry, dark, harshness of a reality without there being any sense of the breath of life in anything that I saw there. “Are you okay?” Abe asked as he interlaced his fingers with mine. “Yeah sorry, just somewhat distracted…” I answered back honestly as we climbed out of the limo, then Abe walked me to my door before the driver would take him to BJ’s. I wondered if I should tell him about the dream, as I knew Abe had intense dreams as well... Maybe not today, I thought, as when trying to replay the dream in my thoughts first, I realised I didn’t understand it all yet. It seems that my dreams have deeper meanings… But it felt like I was still only understanding in part about it all, in regards to what the scenes looked like, but not about what it all meant. “See ya tomorrow?” he asked, smiling in response. “See ya tomorrow.” I smiled and ducked my head shyly after he kissed me on my cheek…then my hand…and then gently lifted my head and kissed me on my lips. Such the gentleman, I gushed in thought, as we parted, and felt my head start to swim a little. We both agreed that any more than that at this time of night, would only cause passionate intensity to rise and temptation to cross the boundaries we’d agreed upon. Especially when Abe was looking this hot too. I didn’t think I could resist him tonight, as I reluctantly let his hand go. I…love… I began in my mind as I watched him walk to the gate. Abe turned before opening the gate, and I gasped a little wondering if he’d just heard my heart. He raised his hand eloquently and blew me a kiss. I smiled and blew him one back before turning to go back inside, before my heart could take any more. Any more of the ache and then contradicting elation from when I had just been with Abe and then now the time of being apart for a while.