Citrus [completed]

Chapter 17

To my surprise, Eden picked three of us in a long limo. Leo and Eden lounged in their suits off to the side. Vanessa slipped in and sat next to her brother. He took one look at her and threw his arm around her shoulders and pulled her, leaning down to whisper to her. As much as Vanessa made it seem like she was only ever annoyed with Leo, she leaned into his touch and spoke in whispered tones to him.

It was a quick ride off campus towards the venue. I spent it nodding at Eden and Blair's conversation, not listening but in my mind. Before I know it, the limo pulls up to an enormous building with a long line of fancy cars. Our limo, full of VIPs, could skip the line and go through a gated entrance. We pull up and even though the tinted windows, I can see the flashing of cameras on the outside.

"Alright. Game faces people. Then we party." Eden sings before tossing back the rest of his drink he had made on the drive over. He straightens his tie before plastering a wide grin on his face. Leo follows him next and Blair blows kisses towards the cameras before she even fully leaves the car. Vanessa, the last person in the car with me, sits glued to her seat. It's clear she's worried about the camera.

"Hey," I rested my hand on her knee. Her eyes darted to my hands like they've scared her. I wait until her eyes come to mine. "You don't have to be anyone with me. Not ice cold Vanessa, not perfectly perfect Vanessa. You're just Nessa to me." I give her a lame pep talk. I inwardly cringe at what I consider lackluster advice, but Vanessa looks pleased with it.

"I wish I had you all at my debutante balls. It would have made them all so easier," Vanessa blurts, "It's always so exhausting to perform for others."

She nods once before sliding out of the car quickly, leaving me to collect myself. With a quick smile on my face, I'm the last to step out. I smile widely at the camera as I walk to catch up to where Blair is waving me over, smiling for the cameras calling her name.

I stop and pose for quick pictures with Eden and Blair, even turning when I hear my name specifically. My smile becomes more real when I bump shoulders with Vanessa, who had formed an icy smile. A glance at me and it melted. To my surprise, she grabs my hand as she poses. After posing up a storm and shoving a middle finger at Vanessa's mother, we quickly head up the stairs, freeing up the carpet for other arriving guests. "Oh, I love paparazzi," Blair whoops as we enter the building, "They always get my best sides."

"Which is every side," I say, planting a quick kiss on her cheek, running on the buzz of the flashing lights.

The night is off to a splendid start. We're quickly led into a theater for two hours. It's a cute coming of age romance, focusing on two kids from the suburbs about to graduate. It's quick, but it's wonderfully crafted.

When the movie is over we're ushered into another room in the gigantic building that has golden accents and streamers hanging. The after-party is what Eden and Blair love the most about the premieres. "Alright, I have to mingle for a little, but I will be at the bar in twenty minutes," Eden informs us like a drill sergeant, "I plan to get every one of you blitzed out of your minds, except you, Jamie love."

I blow him a kiss as he disappears into the crowd to dazzle the people he knows. Vanessa gushes about the movie, claiming that the characters were so cute and relatable, while Leo grunts. "Not your cup of tea?" I ask him as we push through the crowd.

"I prefer explosions in my movies mostly," he sniffs. Vanessa gasps in outrage, already protective of her newest favorite movie.

"You have no taste. At all." She laughs. Leo rolls his eyes as he turns his head to survey the crowd of people wandering into the room. He finds something interesting because his head stays fixed in the same direction for a few moments. I crane my head to peek at what he is looking at. I feel myself jolting a bit when I follow his gaze and gaze at Eden, who is smiling charmingly at producers. I turn back towards Leo, who is squinting in Eden's direction.