Unexpected 2 [FR/EN]

Chapitre 2

8 months earlier
Los Angeles, California ; February 23rd 2021 : [Tom's point of vue]
It's not the first time I'm doing this. It's not the first time I'm going on a press tour, doing a Jimmy Kimmel live. But this time it's different. This time I left my house knowing someone was waiting for me. And I'm obsviously talking about Elena. My sweet and lovely Elena. I left England only three weeks ago, and I'm fucking missing her every day. We call each other every day, we send each other messages to keep us informed of our days, but... you know, that's clearly not enough for me. She got a job, I mean my mom got her a job in London. She works in a movie theater, like she did in Paris. She seems to like it. On the other hand... I don't like it, I admit. Not that I didn't want her to work, but I wish she would come with me. It's been three weeks now that I've been on the road promoting Cherry with the Russo Brothers and Ciara, and... God, I wish she was here. Tonight is the premiere, everyone's gonna be watching Cherry for the first time and I begged her to come, just for tonight. But she said she couldn't, she had to work all night. And damn it, I'm mad at her. She knows how stressful premieres make me, and how much I need her by my side tonight. But she had to work. Oh God... Sometimes I wish she would follow me around the world without worrying about the money she has to earn every month. She doesn't even need to earn money, I mean... I can give her a comfortable life. Without her having to work every night in a movie theater where some creepy guy's gonna hit on her without me being able to kick their ass.
For God's sake I just want to go home and hug her. Three weeks is so long ! How am I gonna do that when I will start shooting Spiderman three ? I mean... I have five months of filming, I would never last five months without her, it's impossible. Last year she followed me everywhere, for the recording of the presentation of Avengers Campus at Disney Land in L.A, or for the Onward and Spies in Disguise dubs, she was really with me all the time, and we didn't have time to spend time at home, just the two of us. And now I regret not having to enjoy our life together at home, like a normal couple, you know. Now I'm on the road again, and without her, which makes things much less interesting. I miss her so much.
- So, Tom... how are you today ? Thanks for coming.
I come out of my thoughts, remembering that for this interview I'm all alone.
- It's good to be back !
The audience screams and applauds as they do every time.
- First of all, we're gonna talk about your new movie called Cherry, directed by the Russo brothers who was already there in the Marvel cinematic universe.
I nod my head, proud to be part of a film directed by Joe and Anthony Russo again.
- So this movie is about a lot of things... it's about war, it's about addiction, it's about PTSD, so can you talk about why is important for you to tell the story of this movie.
OK, hard questions start.
- Waouh hum... I think that firstly, I had to educate myself about the problem because drugs addiction is not something that I knew particulary much about, so I had to learn a lot about heroin addiction, but also about war and PTSD and it was a wonderful part of the job actually because I had the opportunity to speak with veterans who have shared with me their visions of a post-war life, which is more than difficult. You know, when these men and women train and go to basic training they basically take civilians and then they turn them into killers and at the end of the war they take the killers and then they just put them back into civilisation and expect them to get on with life and I hope that people watching this film will recognize how difficult it is for some people.
Jimmy is shaking his head with this formal look that this film imposes on all the interviewers who have asked me a lot of questions the last weeks.
- You're particulary proud of this movie, right ?
- Oh yeah, completely ! You know what's interesting is the film is that my character doesn't have a name, and it's because it's not the story of one person, we're telling the story of millions of people all around the world, so...I really hope that this film can be kind of a spotlight on a problem that is right on our door step.
Jimmy takes a look at the teleprompter who tells him what questions to ask me.
- So in this movie you had to be really emotional, you know. I mean... I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've seen some scenes and without spoiling anything, you've been shooting very hard scenes, right ?
I nod again, remembering every day I spent on the set without Elena, and all the emotions that her absence helped me play.
- Yeah, there is a section of the film called Dope Life for which I had to lose weight because I was an heroin addict in that part of the film, and... there's a scene where my wife in the film, not in real life, don't worry...
Laughter escapes from the audience, and I suddenly realize that I designated Elena as my wife, not my girlfriend. Shit, she's gonna kill me when she will find out.
- So there's this terrible scene where my wife makes an orverdose and... honestly that day was a really bad day for me for some reasons I wouldn't mention... but I had to do this awful scene in the car and... I'm not gonna lie to you, I was really feeling bad that day so all the emotions I let out in this scene are almost true actually. I mean... I put so much of my personal emotions in there, so much of myself that the feelings are real, man... I don't know how to say that but I'm sure you understand. But at the end I'm really proud of those scenes and of all the feelings I put in it because I'm sure they really help telling the story of how tragic the lives of these people can be, but it was really hard to do all these emotionals scenes, yeah.
I crossed my arms just like to confort myself.
- And I'm sure this movie will be really good to watch, about that, are you going to the premiere tonight ?
I nod my head again, thinking about how stressful it is for me.
- Yeah sure, I'll be there.
- I'll be there too, maybe... I don't know, maybe I could meet your wife, what do you think ?
My smile is stressed and a little sad because I know that everyone hopes to meet her officially tonight, but she won't be here.
- Well... unfortunately she won't be there tonight, and unfortunately she's not my wife yet.
- Oh sorry man... why won't she be here ?
This is the part of the interview I've been dreading all along, the part where he's gonna try to get me to talk about my life with Elena. My private life that I really want to keep private.
- You know... because she's working right now.
- Oh no, are you sure about that ? I mean... maybe she will come and surprise you tonight.
I shake my head looking at the audience, secretly hoping that she will come out.
- I don't think so... I will be out on my own tonight. I mean, my brother Harry will obviously be here because he worked with us on the film but hum... no, my beautiful and sweet girlfriend, who's not my wife yet, won't be here. Unfortunatly for me.
I make a sad face that's making laugh all of the audience. But in fact, that's not making me laugh at all. I'm not feeling good about that night without her. She know how stressful it is for me and even knowing this, she won't be here tonight.
- So your brother Harry will be here tonight ?
- Yeah, he's actually in the backstage, and he's gonna be with me all night.
- Alright, alright... I'm sorry to hear that, but to confort you can we talk about your new life now ?
- My new life ?
- Yeah, I mean... we all know that you live with your girlfriend now, and that she's actually French, is that true ?
Oh God... here we go again ! I don't know how many times I tell that during the last three weeks, it's really crazy. People are so curious about her.
- Well... that's all true, I live in Kingston with her, even if we didn't spend a lot of times in home the last year, but... yeah she's French. That's why sometimes I call her my girlfrench.
The audience laugh and I'm really proud of my joke.
- So she's a true French, I mean she's come from France, right ? Not like Timothée Chalamet who's actually American with French origins.
Great... and now we talk about this dick. For God's Sake !
- No, she's absolutely not like him. Definitely, thanks God.
Jimmy seems surprised and turns to the audience who also launches exclamations of surprise. Shit, I shouldn't have fucking said that.
- Are you saying you don't like Timothée Chalamet ?
I definitely shouldn't have said that.
- No, that's not what I'm saying. It's not that I don't like him, it's just... you know, he can speack French, and every time he sees my girlfriend, he speaks French to her, and I don't understand anything, so... it's really annoying actually.
The audience screams their surprise and I should have shut the fuck up. See ? That's why I hate talking about my private life, because every time I say shit and the whole press ends up talking about it. God... I'm gonna get in trouble again.
- Wait... are you jealous of Timothée Chalamet ?
Fuck ! Why does he always have to give his last name ? We figured out it was Timothée Chalamet, for God's sake ! Stop saying his fucking last name !
- I'm not jealous, OK ? Can we just please stop talking about him ?
I don't like the way the interview is going and I can't wait to get off this set.
- Alright, let's stop talking about Timothée Chalamet.
I clench my teeth with a pinched smile trying to calm me down. I clearly can't hear that name without freaking out, I swear.
- So... last question before I let you go.
- OK, let's go.
Jimmy take a look at the audience with a friendly smile that makes me nervous.
- Have you learned to speak French since you've been with your girlfriend ?
OK, so we haven't changed the subject yet, great !
- Yes, of course.
- Did she teach you ?
I smile, remembering all the times she taught me to speak her native language.
- Yeah, she did.
- Alright ! And what was the first word she taught you ?
I'm blowing, not sure I can say it on American TV. My smile is nervous and I look at the audience hoping that someone will come out to save me.
- Well... I'm not sure I can say it here.
The audience starts screaming and I'm already thinking about the next headlines.
- Waouh, wait a minute... Is that so embarrassing ?
Oh shit... can someone help me please ?
- Yeah... it is. Really.
- Waouh ! Alright ! Let's go to the last question so. 
- Wait ! It was already supposed to be the last question.
Jimmy starts laughing and the audience applauds. It doesn't make me laugh so much, I have the feeling that it will never stop.
- Yes, that's the case, but that question is not from me.
What ? Jimmy turns to the audience, so I do the same, curious to know who wants to ask me this last question. Curious and nervous because I start rubbing my hands between them to give me the courage to answer.
- OK, let's go ! Ask your question.
Someone stands up in the back of the audience, but from where I am I can't see his face. There's not enough light in the back of the room.
- Hi, Tom !
My heart is racing in just a second. I know that voice. The way she pronounces my name. I stand up in the chair I'm sitting in, and Jimmy Kimmel smile confirms that something is happening.
- Hi...
- Can you say croissant ? Please.
Oh fuck ! No way ! I literraly jump out of my seat because it's clearly Elena's voice. And that question ! Damn she already ask me that question !
The audience applauds, Jimmy too and the person who just asked this question finally advances into the light, letting her face appear in my eyes.
- No way !
That's my girl ! I don't even wait for her to come down the five steps that separate her from me and run for her. I hit her so hard that she struggles to stand. I hold her so tight that her feet rise from the ground. He hair falls on my cheek and the smell of her perfum takes my breath away.
- I love you so much baby...
I look into her pretty eyes that I've missed so much in the last three weeks and my smile magically appears. She's so beautiful. I'm guessing the production forced her to wear makeup she doesn't usually wear, and even the clothes she wears don't look like her. She wears a corset that brings out her chest and leaves her hips visible, which she hates above all. She even put on a suit pants, I've never seen her so well dressed since I've known her.
- Did you miss me ?
I hang her hips with a fake-surprised look.
- How dare you ask that question ?
I missed her perfect smile, and it's the laughter of the audience that reminds me that I can't kiss her as madly as I want to.
- Alright, ladies and gentlemen, it was Tom Holland in the Jimmy Kimmel Live ! Thank you for coming, Tom and thank you Elena too, what a surprise !
The audience applauds, and the cameras finally cuts themselves, letting me finally catch the face of the woman I love to put my lips on hers. I'm so obsess with her !
When I step away from her, I'm unable to remove my eyes from this corset that makes her a thousand times sexier.
- What the fuck is that ?
She also looks at it with less enthusiasm than I do.
- M'en parle pas ! Non mais t'as vu la dégaine que j'ai sérieux ?
I can't stop smiling.
- You look so fucking georgous with that.
- Oh really ?
She looked upset.
- Yes...
I'm not really sure about my answer, but fortunately her smile calms the crazy beats of my heart.
- So you like it when I'm in makeup and dressed like a model ?
Alright... my smile is so big, it hurts my cheeks. It's a trick question, I'm sure of it.
- Well... actually, I prefer when you don't wear any clothes, and no makeup. If you know what I mean.
I bite my lip while already imagining this part of the night.
- Oh I know exactly what you mean.
She grabs my cheeks with her soft hands and her pretty green eyes with gold makeup takes my breath away once again.
- And I'm sorry to tell you that you're gonna have to wait a little bit before you can take off those clothes that bother you so much.
My smile betrays my lack of impatience. I approach my face of her, forgetting that around us, the audience is staring at us. My lips stop in front of hers, and I already feel her breath caressing my mouth.
- And I'm sorry to tell you I wouldn't wait another hour.
She's smiling, and I can't hold back, and kiss her smile. I love kissing her so much, it's crazy. I don't care if anyone's watching, all that matters is that she's finally in my arms again. This is the best place she can be. And my place is in her arms too. I don't know how to say this, but I feel so much stronger around her. So much more alive and useful. No matter where we are, as long as I'm with her, I feel like home.