Aftertaste - A Chris Evans Story

4

Present Day

"Ok so we've got a day of interviews with various journalists and media tomorrow morning, an appearance on Good Morning Britain before that so it's a 6am wake up to get you and Chris prepped..." Lucy goes through my schedule as I lay face flat on the hotel bed. 

A whole day of being stuck in an interview room with him.

I fucking hate the fact that they've decided to pair us up for the press releases but apparently we go well together. 

"And then we've obviously got the premiere, and then onto a special screening..." 

"Luce...please..." I groan into the pillow. "I'm on the verge of unconsciousness, can you kind of just do this when I'm more awake?" 

She stares at me. "What the fuck is going on with you Ever?" 

"Nothing". 

"Don't give me that shit. You've been off since LA". She replies, "Geez it's a good job Chris is here, at least he'll put you in a good mood". 

"I don't doubt that for a minute" I reply a little too bitterly through gritted teeth.

Lucy looks pissed. "I don't need you turning into a diva just because this is practically your breakout role". 

"Can't I do promo with Ana or someone? Even Katherine?" 

She blinks. "Wait...have you two had a falling out?" 

We've had bloody more than that but I'm not about divulge in those details to her at this point. "Not exactly", I think up something quick, "I just don't understand why they're pairing Chris and I together for most of this". 

"Probably because you both play spoiled little brats who are murderers". Lucy suggests helpfully while tapping away on her phone. "You should be enjoying this Ever - this is good! Already the critics are lapping it up. It's certainly going to open more doors for you".

Can one of them at least slam me in the face so I can wake up from this nightmare that I've been living for the last year? 

"Yeah..." I curl up on the bed. 

Lucy glances up from her phone and then back down again, then realising I'm really not myself. "You're gonna have to suck it up and talk to him". 

Her words make me shoot upright and I now look at her. "I'm sorry?" 

She sighs and shoves her phone in my pocket. "You honestly think Megan and I didn't know what you were doing last year?"

"How the..."

"I'm. Your. Manager." She states slowly, almost like she's talking to the dumbest person in the world. "I know you like the back of a book - you may have hid your little meetings well from everyone else but us? It's our job to know Ev." 

I say nothing for a moment. "What about Amy?" My publicist who at the moment is sunning it up in the Maldives. 

"Yep...she was the one who told me. Her and Megan do talk y'know". 

Shit. 

Shit. 

Shit. 

"Why didn't you tell me you knew?" 

"Because I wanted to see how this would all pan out. The moment I saw you guys on that carpet the other night I knew we were gonna have problems again, is that why you wanted us to leave early?" She asks and when I don't reply presses more. "Ever...I saw Chris follow you out, what the hell happened?"

"Nothing..." 

"Don't give me that. What was said?" 

The tears roll down my cheeks. "Not a lot, but enough...he sent me a message yesterday telling me we needed to talk". I look up at her now, eyes red. "He still feels something..." 

Lucy sits next to me. "If any word of what you guys did gets out then we're in the shit - we all know that. You guys really wanna go down that road again? I know you don't considering you walked away the first time." Her voice softens, "He won't leave her Ever, and I know that you know that". 

I nod. 

He won't walk away. No matter what he says. Jenny has too tight of a leash on him anyway. He's got an image to maintain as well. A happy stable relationship is always a winner for publicity and fans. 

Not a secret affair with a girl he'd only just met. 

"I don't know what to do..." I say quietly. 

Lucy is thinking. "Well we can't change the interviews. You need to just put on that face you've had and see it through. But you know what you need to do. You need to tell him the same as you did last year". 

I don't even think that I can. 

"Every time I look at him it hurts...like, reeeeeeally stings". 

Because I'm in love with him. I know that much. 

"Then you need to remove that source of the sting. Ever - you're not stupid. You were savvy enough to leave the first time..." 

"Only because he said he wouldn't leave her". 

"Which is what he'll say this time, whether he's said he wants you or not. You don't need this shit, not when you're on the rise. We need to keep that rep on track like it has been. It hasn't failed you so far, so don't destroy that career of yours before it's already begun". 

There's a lot at stake, including my sanity. 

I have to make it through and then I need to think about what to do. I have to let him go, I need to let him go.

But letting go is never easy, especially when you thought you did but soon come to realise that you were still holding on.