INTUITIVE, austin butler

6

FLASHBACK:
A YEAR AND A HALF PRIOR
.•.

Sunset cafe; my happy place.

I walk into the brightly lit cafe, immediately feeling at ease. I've been coming here for about a year now, and it's the one place in this crowded city that I trust won't be packed with paparazzi.

I talk to my favorite worker, Shay, for a few minutes as he whips up my usual coffee order. When I come here I usually only talk to him because — and not to sound self absorbed — he's the only worker who doesn't look at me like a dog when it sees a treat. And since my new movie just came out, it seems the stares have only gotten worse. Even the customers, who are a majority of adults and older people, do a double take when I come in.

I don't mind the stares necessarily, it is apart of my job, but the person who I've had a few awkward encounters with is here today. I try to ignore her, and be respectful every time I see her, but it is easy to feel uneasy when she just gazes at me for hours and never speaks to me.

But today is different because when I sit down with my cold brew, she walks over to my table.

It's normal for fans to be nervous when they see me so I speak up to try and help her out, "Hey, what's up?"

She says nothing, just grins at me.

I clear my throat, "I'm Riley, what's your name?" I fiddle with my straw a little bit, feeling anxious by this run-in now.

She looks down at the seat across from me, silently asking to sit next to me. I would prefer if she didn't sit down with me since I'd like to be alone right now, but I nod anyways.

She sits down, takes a breath, and gives me another smile.

This is getting weird.

"Sorry," She shakes her head and laughs, "I'm just a really big fan."

I laugh trying to shake off the amount of awkward tension there is, "No worries."

She taps her fingers along the table, another best of silence making this even more awkward, if that's possible. "I love your movie." She blurts out, "And everything you've done, for that matter."

I flash a quick smile, "Thank you, that means a lot."

"What was working with Ray Johnson like?" She furrows her eyebrows at me, and I'm starting to suspect she's some sort of interviewer, which honestly eases my nerves a little bit.

"Great, he's awesome. I'm really glad I had the opportunity to work with him." I run my hands through my hair, and take a sip of my cold coffee. I dart my eyes over to Shay who's already keeping an eye on me.

"B-but," A random tinge of anger comes across her face, "You guys are obviously together, right?" The tone in her voice has gone from anxious to angry in a split second.

"No," I let out a breathy laugh and rub my fingers together under the table. The truth is, Ray and I are seeing each other at the moment, but I didn't want to tell her the truth because I suspected she wouldn't like the truth.  "I'm sorry," I chuckle awkwardly, "You're an interviewer, right?"

"No," She immediately responds with a harsh attitude in her voice, and I'm no longer feeling anxious anymore, just downright uncomfortable.