Lennox
Blinding lights flash incessantly and the sound of lens’ shuttering overpower everything as we step out of the limo. My feet sink into the red carpet laid out on Sunset Boulevard where it lines up the walkway to the infamous Roxy Theatre.
Thousands of high-profile premiers have been shown here and it’s a wild thought that only three short years ago I was working random jobs, filming obscure social media videos and wearing hand me down clothes I could afford from second hand stores.
The press screening was three days ago and there has been so much buzz since then, the outdoor area for the media is far beyond max capacity. Security is trying to usher some of them away and they’re clearly unhappy about that.
I glance down the length of the red carpet and bloody hell, it's like a goddamn mile long. There are so many reporters here and everyone wants to get their piece for when the reviews start to come out.
“Jace, who are you wearing?” another woman yells out.
We smile at each other, not answering any questions since we like to reserve those for the press junket. Both of us completely relaxed, smiling and waving at the cameras and I swear the reporters are disappointed in our unusually PG behavior.
I made a promise and I have no intention of fucking it up.
We finally make it to the end, where final photos are being snapped quickly as we walk into the theatre with the rest of the invitees for the premier.
We find our seats in the front of the other cast and crew members from the film. Pierre stands, leaning over the row of chairs and kisses my cheeks then does the same to Jace. We hug Wren and Sofia, then wave to the others as we sit down.
More bodies roll into the theatre, famous people, musicians, talk show hosts. Even Elodie is here sitting a few rows in front of us. She looks over her shoulder at Jace and me, smiling.
Jace waves to her, smiling back, and I can’t help but scowl at him. I want to smack his hand straight off his arm. Even though I know there is ‘nothing between them’ according to Jace. I’m still fucking jealous. Can’t help it.
He kicks my shoe with a smirk clearly feeling my tension and mouths, Stop.
I shrug. “Didn’t say anything.”
Pierre stands at the stage in front of the white screen and shares the story of when he got the idea for the script. He talks about James and Ryan and their journey together and how he wanted to best represent their life as he brought it to the big screen.
Images of the duo flash on the screen as Pierre talks and a final slide of the two of them stills on the screen. James and Ryan sitting in lawn chairs with a fishing pole in each of their hands. They smile at the camera wildly, their heads leaning into each other, like they needed to be closer.
Ryan’s hair is all silver, still shaggy and unkempt with kind wrinkles that touch the corners of his eyes. James’ short hair is trimmed like he had it freshly cut specifically for the photo, and his bright blue eyes shine like he’s not pushing eighty and still in his teens.
It was the last picture of the two of them that was publicly released after their deaths.
James passed away after suffering a stroke. They said Ryan died of a heart attack a few weeks later. By the look of this picture, it was probably closer to heart break, than an attack.
A strange sensation overwhelms me as I take in their expressions, the happiness, the longevity of their relationship, the uncanny resemblance we both have to them.
Could that be us? Does Jace want it to be?
I think I want that. No, I know I do.
I turn to look at Jace and he faces me with wonder in his eyes.
I love that I keep him on his toes and he never knows what to expect from me, but I swear he’s thinking the same thing I am.
As I open my mouth to spill my unfiltered thoughts, the lights on the stage dim and Pierre steps off to the side.
The movie logo appears on the screen and Iron Horizon’s most popular song starts to play faintly in the background, ascending with the first scene on screen of us in his garage.
I sink back in my seat, pressing my pinky finger against Jace’s because it’s dark and that’s where we’re safe, for now.