=Chapter Ten=Out Together=

I chewed on my lower lip as I began to pace the room.  I was about to step out in front of millions of people with Justin at my side.  Normally that wouldn’t be that big of a deal but we’d be going as a couple.  For the first time, well to the public at least.  We were finally going to show the world that we were a couple.

I fidgeted with my hair once I stopped pacing.  I looked in the full length mirror and sighed.  The reflection in the mirror didn’t look like me.  I mean it looked like me but not at the same time.  The outfit that I wore was something that I normally wouldn’t be caught dead in.  It was a low cut top that had an open back.  I smoothed the top and began fidgeting with the rest of my clothes.  I turned around when I heard the door open.

“Hey, baby what’s wrong?” Justin asked as he walked over toward me.  I smiled and shook my head.

“Nothing, just a little nervous,” I answered with a shrug.  Justin rested his hands on the small of my bare back and kissed me on the forehead.  The feeling of his hands on my bare skin caused my heart to skip a beat.

“You’re not going to get sick are you?” I rolled my eyes and smiled.

“No, I’m not that nervous.  You’re not going to let me live that one down are you?” I asked as I looked up at him.  He gave me a big grin and shook his head.  I sighed and rested my head on his chest as I wrapped my arms around his waist.  We remained that way for several minutes not saying a word, just enjoying each others company.  I groaned a little when I heard someone knock on the door.  Justin and I both looked at the door as it opened.  Marty stood in the doorway.

“It’s time to go kids,” Marty said with a smile.  I shook my head and rolled my eyes.  He knew I hated being called kid, or kiddo or anything along those lines.  I heard Justin laugh lightly.

“All right, we’ll be there in a second,” Justin said.  Marty then left the room.  I looked up at Justin and smiled. “You ready for this, baby?” I bit my lower lip and nodded.  As ready as someone in my situation could be. “All right, come on let’s go.” Justin grabbed my hand and interlocked our fingers together.  I smiled and followed him out the door as he guided me through the long hall.  I was fighting back the urge to turn and run.

I was scared beyond belief.  And to be honest, I wasn’t sure why.  I mean I’d appeared in front of people many times in the last month and a half.  I guess it had to do with the whole fact that everyone will know that Justin and I are dating.  Now every move we make will be documented.  Especially since we were the top selling artists of the year.  Well actually Kenzie was but that’s not the point.  So we were going to be watched like a hawk.

=

I took a deep breath as we got closer to the red carpet.  I could see the bright lights and crowds from a block away.  My heart started to race but I was actually feeling better than I had earlier.

“Hey, just think, after this event tonight we’ll have a whole ten days off,” Justin whispered in my ear.  My heart fluttered when his lips lightly brushed against my ear.  He kissed me lightly on the neck a couple of times.  I swarmed under his touch.  Every time he kissed me on the neck it sent a chill down my spine.  He let out a small laugh.  I glanced over at him and he kissed me on the lips.  I smiled.

Soon we were pulling up in front of the red carpet.  I took another deep breath and glanced at Marty.  He gave me the thumbs up sign.  I smiled and nodded.

“You ready, baby?” Justin asked.  I didn’t get a chance to answer him because the door to the limo opened and a loud roar of people rushed in.  Justin leaned over and kissed me one last time then climbed out of the limo.  He waved to the screaming crowd.  He turned and reached into the limo.  I took his hand and climbed out.  I interlocked our fingers right away.  I didn’t want to let him go.  I was too scared to.

The flashbulbs were going off like crazy.  I knew they all wanted to get the first picture of me and Justin together.  I smiled and waved to the crowd.  Justin and I started down the carpet.  I glanced over my shoulder to make sure that Marty had made it out of the limo.  I let out a sigh when I realized that he had.  All right, I had Justin and Marty to protect me.

We made our way down the carpet and over toward a few interviewers.  Of course I got bombarded with questions about Justin.  I always did and probably always will for the rest of my life.  Well…maybe not me, but Kenzie will.  I could tell that Justin was getting the same treatment.  I had to smile when I saw him laughing and teasing the interviewer.  Soon we were finished with the interviews and walked into the main building.

Justin stopped me and pulled me aside.  He held onto my upper arms and looked down at me. “Are you all right?  Your not going to have an anxiety attack on me are you?” I couldn’t help but smile.

“No I’m fine but thank you for asking.” Justin smiled and kissed me lightly on the lips.

“All right, good.  Come on let’s go then.” Justin grabbed my hand as we began walking toward our seats.

=

I yawned and glanced over at Justin.  He had a smile on his face.  I couldn’t help but smile myself.

“You can’t fall asleep, not in the middle of the show,” Justin whispered as he leaned over toward me.  I shook my head and laughed lightly.

“And who says I can’t?” I asked.

“I do, and the fact that we have cameras on us all the time.  You want to be on the front page of all the magazines with your mouth hanging open while you’re sleeping.” Justin looked at me with a big smile on his face.

“I do no sleep with my mouth open,” I protested.  He laughed.

“Oh yes you do.  You snore too.” I stared at him with my mouth slightly open.  I couldn’t believe that he’d said that.

“I do not,” I mumbled and crossed my arms over my chest.  I looked away from him and at the stage.

“Oh come on, don’t be such a baby,” Justin whispered and kissed me on the cheek.  I fought back the urge to smile but it didn’t work.  A smile crept its way across my face. “Ha, I made you smile.”

“Shut up and watch the show.”

=

“And the winner for best female artist is…oh the suspense,” Scarlett Johansson said with a giggle as she opened up the envelope. “Kenzie Stevens.”

I looked up from the floor up at the stage and stared at myself on the big screen.  I busted up laughing seeing myself on the screen.

“Kenzie, that’s you.  Get your sweet ass up there,” I heard Justin say.  I looked over at him and laughed even harder.  He leaned over and kissed me on the cheek.  I stood up and started up on the stage.  As I walked down the aisle my stomach started to churn.  What was I going to say?  I had no idea who I was supposed to thank.  I guess I knew a few people, of course I was supposed to thank my family but I couldn’t very well say that I wanted to thank Kenzie, since I was supposed to be her.  I brushed my hair out of my face as I walked up the steps.

Scarlett handed me my award as I approached the podium.  I gave her a hug and thanked her.  She smiled and nodded.  I turned and looked out into the crowd.  I saw the large crowd staring back at me.  My mouth went dry.  I tried to open up my mouth and speak but nothing came out.  I licked my lips and took a deep breath.

Come on, you can’t stand here like a fool.  Speak, Lola, speak.

“Wow, I guess…I’m just speechless.  I didn’t think I’d get this award, especially up against such honorable women.  Well…I guess first of all I’d like to thank God, for giving me this gift.  Then my family, my manager, Will, my record company…oh man, I’m totally blanking on names. Uh…Justin, you’re wonderful.  I’m so sorry, uh…the fans, of course the fans, I have to thank them.  Because if it wasn’t for you guys I wouldn’t be here,” I announced.  At my last statement the fans in the arena started cheering.  I couldn’t help but smile. “Thank you.” I held up my award and turned away from the podium.  I started backstage.

=

I was flooded with more flashes as Justin and I entered one of the after parties.  We weren’t going to stay long; at least I wasn’t going to.  I was tired.  All I really wanted to do was go back to the hotel room and go to sleep.  But I knew that I had to make a few appearances at least one after party then I could go back to the room and sleep.

Justin and I posed for a few photos then walked into the party.  I held onto Justin’s hand the whole time.  Like earlier in the day I didn’t want to let him go.  I was too scared to get lost in the crowd.  Even though I’d been in crowds for the last two months I was still terrified of them.  I was just able to hide it better now.  Justin squeezed my hand letting me know that he wasn’t going to let me go.  That he was here to protect me.  I slowly began to relax as we walked through the crowd of celebrities.  We stopped and chatted with a few here and there.

After about a half hour we actually reached a place where we could sit down.  Justin offered to get us something to drink.  He leaned down and kissed me then rushed off to get us something to drink.  I sat in the back corner of the large room when a guy came up to me and smiled.  I looked up at him and smiled.  I had no idea who he was.  Next thing I knew he was sitting next to me.

“Can I help you?” I asked as I stared at him.

“Nice one, Kenzie, how have you been?” He asked as he slipped his arm around my shoulders.  I reached up and removed his arm from my shoulders. “What is wrong with you?”

“I have no idea who you are.  So, please leave me alone,” I answered.  I turned away from the man hoping that he’d leave once he realized that I wasn’t going to talk to him.

“Oh, that’s right, I forgot that we were going to act like we don’t know each other.  Here just take this, I figured you were getting low,” he whispered as he handed me a small baggie of a white powder.  I looked down at it then at the man.  I shook my head.

“You can take it back.  I’m done doing that shit,” I said as I handed the baggie back.  He gave me a confused look. “Look I’ve stopped.  I don’t need it anymore.  I’m clean.  I haven’t done that stuff in months and I don’t need someone like you trying to push me into it again.  So please just leave.” He stared at me for a few more moments but then got up.  He walked away and mumbled something about me regretting it.  I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

So that was Kenzie’s drug dealer.  If he’s here that means that there are plenty of other celebrities doing it.  More than I thought but still not a surprise.