My Italian Nightmare

Chapter 26: La Part 2

"Edoardo said what?"
I quickly shushed her and looked around if anyone was overhearing our conversation.
"And Matteo doesn't know...", Hanna continued and I nodded gravely.
"So what is your plan?", she asked and I looked at her with raised eyebrows.
"What do you mean what's my plan, why should I have a plan?", I answered and frowned.
"Well, are you just gonna hide from them for the whole evening?" Hanna crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"If I can manage to, yes." I ran my fingers through my hair and sighed. "I mean, of course it's sad because of Teo and yeah it would've been nice to talk to him in person again but...this is all too...weird."
"I suppose it is", Hanna said and shrugged.

We were now seated on the Hollywood Boulevard, between famous guests, reporters and all kinds of people from the fashion industry. Everyone was dressed for the occasion and looked like they walked the red carpet on the regular. Laura, our associate had introduced us to several important people working for Gucci, a lot of hands had been shaken and business cards traded. Of course Tom and I had been eager to meet the most famous of all, Gucci's creative director Alessandro Michele, but we didn't get the chance to yet. I didn't even know if I was ready to meet such a genius as him.
"I'm sure you got very important topics to discuss but the parade is about to start", Tom hissed to us, not trying to sound too annoyed about our secretive behaviour.
"Sorry", I said and sat up straight, ready to concentrate on the event that I had been looking forward to since I learned that I was going to be a part of it. The sun had already set and the boulevard was now gleaming with big spotlights illuminating it.
The street had become the runway and the first models were walking out of the Grauman's Chinese theatre, which had been turned into the backstage dressing room. Had I already been in awe of how the stars and guests that were seated along the boulevard were dressed, it was nothing against the garments that were now presented to us.

The models were beautiful, not flawless, but in an androgynous and diverse way, every face looked like you already saw it on the street. But that didn't made them bland, because paired with the bold and maximalist Gucci collection, everyone looked like they were someone. And they all radiated such a sense of elegance that it was almost hypnotizing. I could not get enough of the looks, the atmosphere, the magic. This was the future, I thought, this eccentric, diverse mix of street wear and high fashion, cowboy hats and big dresses. I was completely captured by this impossibility of fashion that was made possible before my eyes.
I made multiple videos for my Instagram story as Ms Wagener had told us, but I rather wanted to take the experience in with my own eyes. I wished for it to last forever or at least longer than it did. But the whole fascinating charm lasted barely an hour.
Shortly after the last model had vanished into the theatre, every model came out again and walked across the boulevard once more, in a big procession that made everyone sigh in admiration for a last time.
As the parade dissolved, the spectators around the boulevard began to get up and walked towards the Roosevelt, talking agitatedly and taking photos. I had never been blinded by so many flashes at once.

"Where are we going now?", Hanna asked and watched the celebrities and fashion designers strolling across the place.
"Back to the lobby, I'd say", I declared and looked at Tom who shrugged.
We made our way through the crowd and I kept looking left and right because I had never seen so many famous people in real life. Hanna kept nudging me and pointed to people she thought she recognized and I kept gasping but really tried to not seem too excited and just like I belonged. But this could not be farther from the truth.
"So where do you reckon they all going?", Tom asked and followed our eager glances, though he was evidently not as interested in seeing real life celebrities.
"After party of course", I said and sighed.
"You guys don't have tickets then?", Hanna asked and I shook my head, looking at her with big eyes.
"Do you?"
"No, no, sorry", Hanna shrugged and looked at me apologetically. We arrived at the hotel entrance and had difficulties getting in because so many people were pushing to get in or out of it. I made an annoyed sound and placed myself next to the entrance, leaned myself on a wall and lit up a cigarette.