Chapter Fifty Nine

The feeling of someone shaking my shoulder pulls me out of my sleep. Still dazed, I rapidly blink my eyes open to see Archer leaning over the front seat of the car.

"Riley, we've arrived back at the hotel," he says, pulling back to sit in his chair.

"Okay." I nod my head. I feel the need to settle back in my chair and fall back into my comfortable sleep, but the seat belt rubs against my neck. "I need my bed," I mumble.

Picking up my mask from the seat next to me, I put it back on. Only a couple more minutes until I can tear these clothes off and cuddle up in my pyjamas and sleep. I quickly stretch out my limbs before pushing the door open.

A bright camera flash stings my eyes. I'm temporarily blinded, but after a couple of blinks the little black dots disappears. The flashing lights around me manage to shake off whatever feeling of sleep was inside me. I guess I could have bared Ava's restaurant appearance.

"Sienna, look this way," someone shouts.

"Are you and Alex dating?"

"When are you going to take the mask off?" another person calls. A shred of annoyance pulses through my veins. If I'm still wearing my mask, then it obviously means I'm not ready. I can't even be bothered with their silly questions. I lower my head and flick my hair in front of my face. I know I should be posing for photographs or saying something cryptic to make people more curious but I honestly can't be bothered.

Voices and flashes continue to swirl around me as Archer and I push our way through the crowd and into the entrance of the lobby. The closed in room shuts out a majority of the noise from outside, but it still doesn't limit the vibrant flashes of light. We can't get everything we want, can we?

"I'm never going to get used to that." I shake my head as I stare at the people pressed up against the windows.

"Do you know if Alex is back yet?" I ask Archer. Ava never returned back to the sign in room and so now I'm stuck without my phone. Just when I need it the most to flag down Alex, I'm stuck going to bed alone. I could really do with a friend to talk to right now!

"He's gone to make his appearance at the restaurant."

"I feel awful about not going," I confess.

"Means an early bed time so I'm not complaining."  He shrugs his shoulders. My mouth pops open, and he laughs at me. "Get yourself up to bed now, I have to get back to work," he commands.

"I'm moving, I'm moving," I call over my shoulder. Archer shakes his head disapprovingly and I just grin back at him.  I hop into the first available elevator and press the button to my floor. Just as the doors are about to close, someone yells out.

"Hold the door," a male voice shouts. Looking up, I see a blonde teenager rushing towards me. I immediately stick my arm out to stop the moving doors, but I regret my action as soon as I recognise his face. 

Why does he always seem to appear when things are inconvenient?

"Thanks for holding the door," Nathan says as he walks in. He grabs a hold of the wooden railing on the side as he starts to regain his even breathing.

"You're welcome." I smile.

Once he's caught his breath, he turns around to face me. I try to angle myself away, but the mirrors surrounding us don't conceal anything.

"Hi, I'm Nathan." He puts out his hand for me to shake. Reluctantly, I turn around to face him. Taking his soft warm hand in mine, I shake his hand.

"It's nice to meet you! I'm-"

"Sienna, The Masked Singer," he finishes.

"Educated, that's a nice quality Gim," I say, pretending to forget his name.

"My father, the owner of the hotel has me working on the floor you're staying at. I'm almost like your personal waiter, I'm supposed to know these things," he explains. "And I'm friends with Alex. It's nice to be able to meet the girl he talks so much about," Nathan confesses.

"That's an awesome attitude to have," I say in an awkward whisper. It's weird hearing this come from Nathan's lips.

"I just, I can't believe I'm actually getting to talk to you! You're so..." he trails off.

"Famous?" I finish for him.

He shakes his head. "Incredible," he whispers.

"Thank you." I smile.

"I still can't believe this." He continues to shake his head in disbelief. All I can do is stand there awkwardly nodding my head at him. What else am I supposed to say to him?  Thanks for the compliment, please don't figure out it's me Riley. If anyone can guess it – it'll be him.

The elevator stops and the doors ping open. "This is my stop." Stepping out of the elevator, I turn to face him. "It was nice meeting you." The doors begin to close and he stops them.

"No, thank you! It's finally nice to meet you." Taking a step back, I move to walk away but something keeps me from moving. Without hesitation I ask, "Do you want to hang out now?"

His eyes go wide in shock. "Are you serious?"

"Yes, but only if you stop fangirling, it's weird." His happy face immediately drops into a blank facial expression.

"Understood!" He nods his head. Before he can get sucked back into the elevator, he jumps out and we start walking down the hall. Not even two steps later I glance at his face and I see a gigantic bright smile on his face.

"How long did it take for you to get over Alex?" I ask.

"A few weeks tops and I made him sing me a couple of songs," he confesses.

"Now I know what I need to do to shake this fan girl mood you have." I laugh.

"I'll be good, I promise." He gives me a genuine friendly smile and it makes me smile wider in return.

"Good because I really need a friend." We get to the end of the hall and I pull out my hotel key and unlock the door for us. Pushing it open, I wave for him to walk inside.

The lamp by the couch is already switched on so we aren't walking into a dark room. Nathan stands in the middle of the room awkwardly while I walk past him and flop onto the couch. As soon as my back hits the comfort of the cushions, it sends a feeling of relief coursing through my back and feet.

"I'm so tired." I yawn. I flick off my shoes and wiggle my butt around so that I can get comfortable. I put my feet up on the coffee table and cuddle the cushion next to me.

"I bet," he says.

"It was okay to begin with, I was only her for a brief moment. Now I'm not sure who I am," I whisper.  From the corner of my eye, I see him walk around the side of the couch and take a seat.

"Then why do you wear the mask?" Nathan whispers. I look up at the wall and then back over to his curious gaze. Something about those eyes makes my heart melt.

"Because," I reply with a simple shrug of my shoulders.

"Is there something you're hiding? he asks, inching closer to me.

My breath gets caught in my throat, "No." I shake my head. "I wear this mask to show the world, anything is possible. They can have this," I explain.

"Can have what?" His eyebrow slides up into an amusing expression on his face.

"They can have their wildest dreams."

"And what does that have to do with wearing a mask Sienna?" His eyes shine with curiosity as my heart pounds away in my chest.

"Nothing when you put it like that." Getting up, I walk away from him and into my bedroom.

"I believe that everyone is in charge of their own happiness." When I don't say anything, he continues, "Be the change you want to see, stop waiting for someone else to do it."

I turn my head to look over my shoulder. "You're awfully blunt for a staff member," I say.

"I'm honest." He shrugs his shoulders.

I spin my body to directly face him. With one eyebrow raised up, I ask, "You don't you think I'm an honest person?"

"I think you lie a lot. To yourself, to Alex."

I take two steps towards him and put my hands on my hips. "I don't lie to Alex!" I snap.

"You're leading a man on who only knows one half of you, who are you?" he says in a strong powerful voice.  His words send chills pulsing down my back. After everything he's said the same three words swirl around in my head.

"I don't know who I am," I whisper. My voice sounds so weak, so broken. I can hardly recognise it myself.  "I don't know." I shake my head.

"Take the mask off," Nathan urges.

"I can't." I let my head drop as I stare at the ground. I see him close the gap between up. But what I don't anticipate is him grabbing my chin and lifting my face up.

I feel like his blue eyes are searching, just like what Alex did. But this time, my heart isn't pounding away in my chest because I'm scared. I feel excited. I feel like there is electricity flowing through the air around us.

"Why do you look so familiar? I feel like I've gazed into these gorgeous eyes once before." His warm hands slide from my face and down to my shoulders and then further down my arms.

"I don't know why, should I?" I question him.

"Maybe I should find out?" He raises an eyebrow; a small smile appears on his face.

I bite my lip nervously as his arms wrap around my neck. With one hand, he grabs at the ribbon holding my mask on. I can feel him gently tugging on it. As the mask becomes loose around my face, my heart beat continues to pound away in my chest. It's almost like it's about to explode or even jump free.

Once the ribbon is untangled, the mask hangs loose on my face. At any moment, it could be all over.

"Who are you?" he whispers, his warm breath fanning across my face.

"Nobody interesting, that's who."