Zach Stone's Last Laugh

Chapter 2

TW: mention of fatphobic language/suggestion

    "Bo's a little..how do I put this.."

    "It's okay! Whatever it is, he put his all in that last song and I could feel it. Just as long as he is getting some calm down time and some water... I don't mind waiting or even meeting a different day." Genesis cut Douglass off quickly, since she knew if she didn't, she would most likely be hearing all of the beans Bo didn't want spilled. She had been there before, filming scenes that made her think of real life experiences, or answering interview questions that struck a nerve. It wasn't everyone's business what was wrong.

    "Oh well-" Douglass seemed shocked from the young woman's statement, adjusting his sleeves as he tried to think of a response. "If you don't mind sitting in the lounge room for a moment-" He motioned to the door labeled 'LOUNGE'. Genesis guessed they had to many people mistaking it for something else? "I'll go talk to him for a moment." Douglass completed and soon, he had disappeared into Bo's room with a simple knock and wave. Genesis would note how rude that truly was before wondering off and into the lounge room. She began to question why she was even there. To figure out some sort of collaboration? Just say hi and totally break this guy out of his post calming ritual? Eat this amazing sausage and crackers sitting out in the lounge room? That last one was a definite bingo.

    Bowing her head to a few staff sitting on the near by couch, she walked towards the plates and grabbed one- using the utensils near by to get what she pleased before nomming on her crackers and meat in peace.

    "Genesis Yiles? Oh my god, what are you doing here?" A female voice interrupted Genesis' thoughts on...nothing. She just so happened to be disassociating at the time. The sudden startle made Genesis shake her head as she raised it, her eyebrows raised to show attention to whoever it was in front of her.

    "I'm sorry? Oh, I came to watch Mr.Burnham's show! My agent Harini wanted me to meet Mr.Douglass after." Genesis explained to this complete and utter stranger as if they had the right to know, she'd yell at herself about it later. Something like, 'Come on Gene it's none of her business what the hell you're doing here.' She'd worry about it later.

    "Oh wow! Well, I'm Angela! I work as the stylist for Bo and really I think it's awesome what you are doing for the fashion and actress scene." Angela spoke so kindly, but something in her compliment felt a little off.

    "I'm not that good," Genesis laughed awkwardly as she had a feeling she knew where this was going. "I can't say I know exactly what you mean." She finished kindly, but really she wanted to see if this woman was really gonna comment on weight while Genesis ate.

    "I mean- you are changing the standard for body image and inclusivity. You increased Prada sales by-"

    Genesis needed to cut this woman off before she dug herself a hole, "Actually. The weight issue within modeling and the public eye has never been more of a problem. I think it's because of people in power giving back handed compliments like you just did, now if you'd excuse me. I'd love to finish digesting my crackers without you projecting your fear of beautiful bodies onto me." It was all said in one breath, but steadily. Thank god. Genesis wasn't hungry anymore, and she wouldn't force her body to eat just because of this...incident..so she left out that same obnoxiously labelled door she had walked in to about 15 minutes ago.

    "Zach listen-"

    "Oh shit- man my bad." Genesis mumbled out as she quickly shut the door behind her to make sure the person she hit with it was okay. Her eyebrows furrowed in worry as she bit her lip in focus- just waiting for a response. All that concentrating somehow made her blind to the fact that the person she hit with the door, was Bo fucking Burnham. The silence was loud, and it must've been what knocked Genesis into her senses. "Oh shi-"

    "Nice to meet you too, Sailor." Zach spoke out, his words were slightly muddled together but Genesis figured it was because he rubbed the bridge of his nose as he said it.

    "Sorry, wasn't expecting a wall to be behind the door when I was making my extravagant exit." Genesis joked back, her sass from earlier with Angela having a spillover effect into her sentence. "But seriously are you okay-" She refocused as she tried not to think about how she was having a total 'y/n' moment right now.

    "I'm fine." The snap in Zach's voice was sharp, but nothing a sigh and a small fake smile couldn't fix. "Douglass told me you wanted to meet," He raised his eyebrow in a questioning gesture towards the idea- "Any clue what you needed me for?" The question was direct, and Genesis noted: a little impolite to be asking in the middle of a hall way. She brushed it off quite literally with the shrug of her broad shoulders, a small smile resting on her face.

    "Thought we could have a business chat," she glanced over at Douglass before making her eyes meet Zach's again. "Without old men lingering around to pipe in." She finished as her arms came back to the defensive position she had started her Zach Stone journey in.