Dreams Come True

3. Drunk

We settle onto the sofa, and I find myself in the middle, with Sarah Paulson on one side and Cate Blanchett on the other. The surrealness of the situation still hasn't fully sunk in. Although I've managed to stop crying, I remain somewhat lost for words.

A waiter briefs us on the menu, and we place our orders. Sarah and Cate opt for vodka, but I choose water. I'd rather not risk getting drunk in front of them; that would be too embarrassing. Besides, being 19, it's not legal for me to consume alcohol here in the US.

"So, Y/N, we could meet one day to rehearse. I want to know how you work since we'll be working together for a long time" Cate suggests.
"I don't even know how I work; this is my first time," I admit.
"Oh! We can meet anyway, and I'll show you how I work!"
"Yeah, sure!" I respond with excitement.
"How about tomorrow?" she asks.
"I have a meeting with Todd at 10 am, so I guess we could meet after that."
"Ok, I'll give you my number, and you can call me tomorrow when you're finished with the meeting." I hand her my phone so she can save her number. "Perfect!" she exclaims when she's done. I'm in disbelief that Cate Blanchett just shared her number with me.

As we conversed, Sarah continued to drink until the vodka bottle was drained. "Another one!" she bellows at the waitress, already sounding quite intoxicated.
"Don't give her another one," Cate intervenes, and the waitress nods.
"Hey! I want more!" Sarah protests.
"No. You're already drunk; you don't need more!" Cate asserts, her tone now laced with irritation.
"I hate you," Sarah mumbles, struggling to form words.
"Oh, you don't. You'll thank me later."
"No, I won't! I want more vodka!" Sarah screams.
"Okay, that's it! You're going home. Y/N, you can stay here and eat your food if you want; I'll pay for it," Cate says, looking at me.
"No, I'm coming with you. I'll help you."
"Okay, thanks. You can give the food to other people; please just don't throw it away. I'll pay for everything we ordered," she adds, directing her attention to the waitress.

We step outside the restaurant, with Cate supporting Sarah, who's struggling to walk. "There's my car. Can you take the keys from my pocket and open it?" Cate requests, and I nod, reaching into her back pocket for the keys. Cate seats Sarah in the back and instructs me to take the passenger seat. I comply with her directives, recognizing her frustration, though not directed at me. She's upset with Sarah, and I understand, so I simply follow her instructions.

The drive is silent. Cate stops in front of a massive house I've never seen before. "This is Sarah's house. I'm going to call Holland and see if she's here. If she's not, I'm just going to take her to my house," Cate says, still sounding upset.
"Okay," I reply shyly.

Cate dials Holland's number, but there's no answer. "She's not responding, so I'll leave her a message and take Sarah to my house. Should I drop you home?" she asks, her tone now much gentler.
"Oh no! I'll help you with her, and then I'll find my way home," I respond.
"I appreciate your help, but I'll drive you home after we're done dealing with this child," she insists with a touch of humor. I chuckle at her comment.
"You really don't have to..."
"I'll do it anyway."
"If you insist..." I concede, not wanting to impose. "How did she get so drunk so fast, anyway?" I inquire curiously.
"She doesn't usually drink a lot, and certainly not that fast, so I guess that contributed," Cate explains.

After 20 minutes, Cate parks in front of a large and stunning house. "Is this your house? It's really beautiful!"
"Yes, it is. Thank you!" We enter the house, with Cate holding Sarah and me following behind.
"Do you need some help?" I offer.
"No, thank you! I don't really know why you came; I can do it alone," she says, laughing.
"Oh! I just wanted to help you and... spend some time with you..." I admit, surprised by my own words.

A/n: How are you finding it so far? If you have any suggestions for the future, feel free to share them with me. Your ideas are always welcome.