Love Lies

Part Four: Premiere

Jack's pov

     Shit. Echo's not answering her phone and this movie premiere starts soon. I rang the doorbell a few times before I heard Echo shouting cuss words I have never heard before.
"What?! Oh, hey Jack," she said, her voice raspy. Nah, tell me why this woman is still wearing a robe and headscarf as if we don't have someplace to be.
"Uh, have you not seen your phone lately?" I asked.
"I've been asleep," Echo yawned.
"Your dad wants us to go to your movie premiere right now."
"Fuck, that's today huh? Come in I'll get ready real quick."

Her house is so empty. It's like she doesn't even live here. I followed her upstairs into her massive bedroom, which is the complete opposite of her house. It's messy, clothes and bottles scattered all over the floor.
"Where's your assistant?" I asked sitting on her bed.
"I gave her today off since I thought it was my chill day," Echo answered before disappearing into her closet.
"I noticed you don't really have a lot of furniture here."
"I'm not here that much. Sorry about the mess though!" She shouted.
"It's fine, it makes you seem... human," I replied looking at the pictures she had of her and her brother.

"Are you and your brother close?"
"Not as closed as we used to be. He used to be my favorite person," Echo answered. "I don't see him as much anymore."
"Why's that?"
"He's got a lot more stuff going on than I do."
"Do you and his wife get along?"
"Nah, she can't stand me, and I don't like her all that much." Echo stepped out of the closet and it was like looking at an entirely different person. She stepped closer to me with a smile on her face.
"How do I look?"
"Gorgeous. Oh hang on," I said while grabbing her face gently. I wiped the powder that was under her nose looking at it curiously.
"You ready?" Echo questioned while sniffling.
"Yeah... Let's go."

___________________________________

"Do me a favor?" Echo said while taking her necklace off. "Could you look out the window for a few seconds?"
"What? Why—" She placed her manicured hand on my face turning my head. I gazed out the window knowing exactly what she was doing. It's not my place to tell her what to do, but I don't know. I glanced at her grabbing her face again, this time she flinched.
"Just wiping your nose," I said softly while looking into her dilated pupils.
"Thank you. It's just to give me a little energy," Echo explained while holding onto my hand. "I'm so exhausted."
"How come?"
"Life," she said with a somber smile. The car came to a stop and her whole demeanor changed. As soon as the door open cameras started flashing and everyone was yelling for Echo's attention.

    I hopped out of the car helping her out. She kissed my cheek then held my hand as we took pictures on the red carpet. I would glance down at her occasionally to make sure she was okay. It seemed like she doesn't really wanna be here. As we finished up on the red carpet, we stopped to do a quick interview. I listened as Echo spoke about the movie, the cast, how much fun it was to film, it's like a switch flipped when we were in the car.
  "Now is Mr. Harlow your date for the evening or are you two serious?"
  "We're dating! It's so new, but he's a breath of fresh air," Echo answered while looking up at me.
  "How does it feel dating a Montgomery Jack?"
  "I really love being with Echo. She's so much fun to be around, and she's an incredible person," I replied smiling down at her. "I'm really happy I got a chance to be with her."
  "What do you two do when you're together?"
  "She's a homebody so we just chill at her house. Watch movies, play video games, cuddle, things like that. I know it sounds boring, but we love it."

    These answers were so disingenuous, I've hardly hung out with her since we went out to dinner. After the interview, we finally made our way to the theater.
  "Can you sit next to Sire?" Echo asked quietly.
  "Yeah sure." When Sire saw me making my way down the aisle, his smile dropped and he looked annoyed with me being here. I sat next to him regardless.
"Really Echo?" Sire whispered.
"I don't wanna be bothered with," Echo said before popping something in her mouth and taking a sip of her champagne.
"What'd you take bunny?"
"Don't worry about it, watch the movie," she said closing her purse. Sire leaned in close sighing.
"Can you keep an eye on her?" He asked,
"Yeah, I got her," I whispered. What did I sign myself up for?