Lights, Camera, Action

Enough

Hey guys, just a warning. If you have any issues with depression or self-harm, you might want to be wary about reading the end of this chapter. I understand that if you're already into this story and you want to continue reading it, you can't exactly avoid a major part of the plot or a character. However, I just thought I would let you know what you can expect.

SEVENTEEN - ENOUGH

Alyssa’s POV

“You ready for this?” Mark and I were getting out of our rental car, about to head into the building where the SXSW Gaming Awards were taking place. I had never been to Austin, Texas, and neither had Mark, but we wouldn’t get to see much of it until after this event - not that I was complaining. I was interested to see which games would get awards, and of course I was excited to see Mark cohost. 

“As ready as I’ll ever be.” He had gotten his haircut, so the floof was gone. I didn’t really mind, though - I liked his hair best at the length it was at now. Not to mention the fact that he was all dressed up in a suit that fit him perfectly. I found myself looking at him a little longer than usual, and he noticed.

“Do you like what you see?” he grinned.

“Oh, shut up,” I rolled my eyes. I could feel my cheeks turning a different color, though.

“Well, if it means anything, I like what I see,” he winked after looking me up and down. I had curled my hair and put on a cobalt blue dress with small heels, no big deal. I mean, it was fitted to my body and it came up above my knees a little, but still. I thought he looked better than I did.

“Let’s just get in there so the ceremony can start already!” I said, lightly shoving Mark away after he suddenly grabbed me and kissed me. He took my hand and we entered the building together. We parted ways once we got to the door leading backstage and I took a seat in the audience. There was still an hour before things would get started, but that was what phones were for. When the place started buzzing with people and conversation, I got my vlog camera out of my purse and walked around a little to capture some footage for my personal Youtube channel. I didn’t post on it everyday, but I usually posted something at least once a week. It would usually be vlogs, most of the time of my dog or random things at the apartment, but such an exciting event definitely called for some footage.

Eventually the hour ended and the seats were filled, and it was time to get started. I could tell at first that Mark was a little nervous and maybe he felt out of place at such an event. He got more comfortable, though, and of course the people in the audience loved him. Him and Janet Varney did a great job on stage together, or that was at least what I thought.

When the awards ceremony was over, we decided it was time to explore Austin a bit. We grabbed some food at a Tex-Mex restaurant and then we ended up going to the movies. There was hardly anyone in the theater with us, which was kind of odd. I had never been in such an empty theater before, but it was nice. 

By the time we got back to our hotel room, we were absolutely exhausted. We basically collapsed onto the bed and neither of us really wanted to put any effort into changing out of our clothes and into pajamas.

“I think I’m going to sleep on top of the blankets, in my jeans,” Mark mumbled into a pillow. We had changed clothes before going to the movies - we needed a break from the dress clothes.

“There’s no way I can sleep in jeans, without blankets over me,” I decided. We would have to get up and change clothes. Or at least, I would. “I’m going to put on some pajamas and brush my teeth and stuff,” I announced. I went over to my suitcase and looked back. Mark hadn’t moved at all. “Are you really going to stay like that?”