Chapter Twelve #2
“I didn’t know how dangerous she might end up being. What kind of threat she posed.” In the chaos of it all, that hadn’t crossed
her mind. Which probably said something about her sense of self-preservation, but that was something to unpack some other
time. “All I knew was she was heading straight for Lyric.”
Rosaline’s face twisted and she turned her head to the side, blinking fast. “Thank you.” She sniffed once and turned to Poppy,
eyes shining with sincerity. “I should’ve said that already. That was incredibly brave of you.” She huffed out a wet laugh.
“Ridiculous and reckless, but incredibly brave.”
Okay, yeah. Definitely concussed. “You’re not mad?”
Rosaline reared back, staring at Poppy like she’d lost her mind, which was an absolute possibility at this point. “You threw
yourself in harm’s way to protect the woman who is practically my little sister. Why would I be mad?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you stomped in here looking like you were on the warpath reminding me that I’m not a security
guard?”
Rosaline threw her hands up. “Because you could’ve gotten hurt, Poppy!”
“Oh.” Her shoulders slumped. “You were worried about me?”
Rosaline cupped her forehead, looking as lost as Poppy felt.
“Did it seriously not occur to you that—” She broke off with a huff and shook her head, jaw clenched.
“Forget it.” Rosaline’s gaze swept down Poppy’s body and her own followed.
Her dress had managed to remain mostly unscathed, some pilling on the hips from carpet burns and a small tear down at the hem.
Miraculously her shoes had remained on. Probably because her feet were so swollen. “You aren’t hurt, are you?”
A little bruised and growing more confused by the minute, but otherwise . . . “No, I’m okay.”
Rosaline nodded tightly. “Good. I’m glad.”
She didn’t sound glad. She sounded pissed.
Poppy didn’t know what she had done, but she wanted desperately to fix it.
“I made a scene,” Poppy said. “Everyone’s going to—”
“You didn’t make a scene. The crazy chick who thought it was a good idea to declare her undying love for my girlfriend buck-ass
naked on the red carpet made the scene,” Cash said, voice hard, brokering no arguments.
Too bad because Poppy had arguments in spades. “A hundred photographers captured Cash Curran’s crazy publicist tackling said
streaker and wrestling her to the ground. A picture’s worth a thousand words and—”
“You’re not crazy, though.” Cash paced in a tight circle, tugging at the roots of his hair. “Like Rosaline said, what you
did was brave. It was fucking heroic.”
No, she could see the headlines now and none of them were good.
This wasn’t what they wanted people talking about. The focus was meant to be on Lyric’s upcoming album, on Cash’s new queer
sports initiative in Portland, on his dedication as an athlete, on shining a positive light on their relationship. Not whatever
the hell this was.
“You were there. You know what happened. But a picture without context—”
“So let’s give them context,” Rosaline said.
“How?”
“When they open the carpet back up, you,” Rosaline said, a calculating gleam in her eye, “are going to do the press line.”
Maya @cantevenparallelpark · 4h
Lyric and Cash look so in love on the red carpet ???? #WMAs
in my pining era @claudiaxyz92 · 4h
cash and lyric are adorable but i can’t be the only one sensing some tension between their two publicists right?? someone
tell me I’m not crazy #ISeeSapphicsEverywhere #WMAs
Victoria @pdxprincess · 4h
replying to @claudiaxyz92
yeah no something fruity is definitely happening there ?
liliana @evanbuckleystan98 · 4h
replying to @pdxprincess @claudiaxyz92
no guys don’t be ridiculous I bet they’re just gal pals ??
Dani @danidarko · 4h
replying to @evanbuckleystan98 @pdxprincess @claudiaxyz92
anyone know their usernames? asking for a friend ??
liliana @evanbuckleystan98 · 4h
replying to @danidarko @pdxprincess @claudiaxyz92
@/rosalinesinclair and @/poptartpdx ??
PaigeLA @infrontofmysalad · 4h
holy shit cash curran’s publicist bodied that girl on the carpet ??????#WMAs
Cherry ?? @polinlover96 · 4h
wait that was actually really scary ?? how’d that streaker get past security? @WMAs someone could’ve gotten hurt #WMAs
Breaking news: Potential tragedy prevented on World Music Awards’ red carpet thanks to quick thinking by Cash Curran’s intrepid
publicist, Poppy Peterson
by Nina Breezy
published on October 21, 7 p.m. PT
This story is ongoing.
Tonight’s World Music Awards was put on temporary lockdown after a streaker broke onto the red carpet.
The streaker, an individual intent on interacting with Lyric Adair, managed to evade security, and was tackled to the carpet
not by Portland Pathfinders’ quarterback, Cash Curran, who was in attendance, but by his publicist, Poppy Peterson.
“In this business, you’re taught to expect the unexpected, and this was certainly unexpected,” Peterson said when we spoke with her before the show, once the area was declared secure and the lockdown was lifted.
“It was clear to me this individual posed a threat to Lyric, who is not only extremely important to Cash, but has become a friend of mine as well. Staff security was, unfortunately, not in the vicinity, and while I have every faith that Lyric’s personal security would’ve kept her safe, I did what was necessary to prevent this individual from potentially endangering not only Lyric, but anyone else. ”
Peterson, fortunately, was unharmed and is being praised on social media for her quick thinking . . . and reflexes.
Victoria @pdxprincess · 2h
Cash Curran’s publicist did what security couldn’t do, and she did it in a dress and three-inch heels. Damn. ?? #WMAs
Both Adair and Curran have expressed their immense gratitude to Peterson.
“Poppy was so brave tonight and potentially prevented what’s been my worst nightmare since I was sixteen. Whether it’s a festival,
concert, benefit, or award show, these are meant to be safe places to come together to celebrate the music we love and the
artistry and hard work that goes into creating it. No one should feel unsafe at these events or feel like they have to exercise
constant vigilance,” Adair said.
“I can’t tell you how scary it was to see my best friend on the ground. She, and I say this with absolute sincerity, is the
bravest person I know. I go up against guys who weigh 350 pounds almost every week on the field and I’d still rather tussle
with them than go up against Poppy. She’s a spitfire and a powerhouse and I’m proud to have her in my corner,” Curran said.
“But I’ve got to say that knowing two of the most important people in my life were in potential danger tonight makes me sick.
Poppy shouldn’t have had to step up, but I’m damn glad she did.”
Even the Pathfinders have shown their support.
Portland Pathfinders @portlandpathfinders · 2h
that was a hell of a sack @poptartpdx! someone’s obviously been attending practices. when you get home, we’ve got a jersey
waiting with your name on it
Rosaline Sinclair, acclaimed publicist to Lyric Adair, provided a comment. “What Poppy Peterson did was immensely brave and
extremely selfless, putting herself in the proverbial line of fire. I’m proud to have her as a colleague and to have the privilege
of calling her a close friend. What happened tonight should not be downplayed nor should it be trivialized; everyone needs
to remember that what will most certainly become an internet meme could’ve been a tragedy. I’d like to know how this happened,
how this individual who most certainly should not have been on the carpet managed to secure credentials and pass through security.
Event staff and the private security group for the event absolutely need to answer and be held accountable for their inaction
this evening. Do better.”
Despite what happened on the carpet tonight, the show must go on. The ceremony proceeded with a slight delay and at the time
of publication is currently underway.
Adair, despite being shaken, is confirmed to be hitting the stage. Her album Santa Ana releases on October 26.
Representatives for the World Music Awards and Executive Prevention Protection, the group that provides security for the event
and others like it, have yet to respond to requests for comment from the Los Angeles Times.