Gabriel

I landed in New York yesterday. It has been pretty hectic since the past week with all the promotions, fans meet and press conferences. There has been no time to rest. Today as well, there is a press conference that we need to attend. I contemplate my outfit and then decide that it looks good enough. My phone buzzes in my pocket, I take it out and see my manager's name flashing on the screen.

"Hey, Ron. I was just about to leave." I say on the phone.

"Hi, listen, there is no need for you to leave in your car. The van will be there to pick you up, you all are going in the same vehicle.", he explains to me.

As much as I didn't want to go with anyone and be alone, I can't refuse him.

"Fine, I'll wait." I say and then end the call.

We are supposed to be at a theatre today with all the major reporters who will cover and ask questions relating to the film. To be honest, I really don't like to attend these, because one question leads to another and then they become more personal and I don't want anyone to delve into my personal life or ask about it. It always happens, they ask questions about my relationships and then it comes to my personal life, family and that accident. I really don't want to answer those questions but then I put on a brave face and lie to everyone. That is one secret that I don't want to get out, otherwise, there will be nothing left of me and my career.

Finally, the van arrives. As I climb in, I see that I am the last one to be picked up. Everyone is sitting there, Natalie, Reese and Jacob.

I ask playfully, "Why am I the last one to be picked up?"

"Because we all know, you arrived yesterday and will need all the rest you can get before the press conference begins.", Jacob answers for everyone.

It is a pretty much new field for him as much as it is for me and Natalie. Reese too, because it's her first book that is converted into a movie. When I first got the script, I was conflicted whether I should do the role or not. But in the end, I decided to take the risk because the story was too good to deny. We all chat on the way about different things and upcoming events and what needs to be said and done about it.

It's ten minutes to 10 when we arrive at the venue. To avoid the media and the paparazzi,  we enter through the back gate of the theatre and go through galleries to reach the back entrance of the hall. The coordinator sees us and says,

"Hello, how is everyone?" she says and we all say "Fine" together to which she nods and then speaks to the host on her mic,

"Yes, they are here, you can announce them now so they can enter."

She then looks at us and says, "Your entry will be announced in a few seconds. Go ahead."

We all stand in line, first Natalie, then Reese, Jacob and then me. As soon as we are announced, we enter through the stairs and go towards the stage to take our seats. All the people seated there clap for us. This is the feeling that I like about press conferences, they appreciate us genuinely without any ulterior motives, but then there is the fact that if they find anything controversial or something that nobody has ever heard before, they take no time to shred that person in pieces.

As we make our way to the stage, the host asks each one of us to say something before we start the press conference. As everyone has their turn, I think about what I will say. I will try to keep it short so that this conference can be ended in time.

First, it's Jacob who speaks, "Well, Hello and good morning to everyone present here. We have been doing promotions and press meets for the past week in different places, but being in New York has been such a dream and we would love to answer anything you ask for."

To everyone, it would seem that he is speaking normally, but I can sense the awkwardness in his voice. We both don't like to say things like this. You ask us a question, and we will answer it to the best of our knowledge but to address someone like this is something that does not come naturally.

Next is Natalie, "Hi everyone, I've been so excited to come to New York because this place has been like a second home to me. When I came into the industry, this place was my home and today when I am starting my career on the next level, I'm really happy to be sharing it with all of you and be here for this opportunity."

It's true that she has been the most experienced one among all of us. Although, my father was an actor and I knew about the ways of this industry. I actually didn't work with them up until three years ago. Natalie, on the other hand, has been a child actor and absolutely loves to be a part of this industry.

She hands over the mic to me, but I give it to Reese so that she can speak before me. I am sure that she must be knowing what to speak in front of the audience.

She says, "Hey, New York, this place has been very special to me because it made me who I am today. If the people here hadn't read my book, it wouldn't have been possible for it to be adapted into a film.  So thank you for that, and I promise when you see the film, you will definitely not regret it."

She hands over the mike back to me, and I say, "Hello, New York".

I hear a gasp and then a sneeze. I look in the direction from where the sound came from and see a girl covering her face with her hands, then she looks up at me with wide eyes.

The moment I look at her, the world stops, my heart races and I can't seem to look away from her. She is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen. I see actresses in many functions and work with them, but she looks otherworldly.

Chocolate brown eyes, long eyelashes, a sharp nose, full lips and a diamond shaped face. She is a brunette and wearing a red full sleeves blouse top paired with a black pencil skirt and black heels.

We both stare at each other for what feels like eternity, but then she breaks the eye contact and I clear my throat and continue to address the audience.

"It's been a really long time, I think a couple of years ago when I was here for a press meet of my first film. And today, I'm so happy to see you all again."

I look at her again for a moment and then hand over the mic back to the host. Even if I look at other people, I am drawn to where she is sitting and I observe her quietly. I have never had this kind of reaction to any women or girl before. I try to steal glances at her not to be obvious. When she looked at me a moment before, it was like she felt it too. The way her lips parted when our eyes met and her breath increased, the rise and fall of her chest picked pace, was the moment I realised that I was not the only one feeling this way.

I thought back to the time when I was a kid, and had a huge crush on Angelina Jolie. But right now, it feels nothing compared to what I feel when I look at this woman. I know that she is a reporter, she will ask me questions that will strike too close to home but just once I want to hear her voice, what she sounds like.

What will she sound like moaning my name?

I shake my head to even think about someone like this only after seeing her. I feel like a teenager again. Even at that time, I did not wanted to do anything with girls.

The press conference starts, and all the reporters start to ask questions about the movie, for the time being the questions are answerd by Jacob and Reese. But I know that soon they will be directed towards me and I will have to answer them even if they are personal. As much as I do not want to be a part of this, I have to do this for my career.

So, I try to answer as many questions as I can.