Headline Love

Yi Lin

'Remind me why we're here?'

A gentle voice snapped me back to the noisy reality surrounding us. The only calm amongst the eager and anxiety was in front of me in the form of a peachy woman with creamy blonde hair that tussled down her oval face. 'Yara, do you know who usually eats here?'

My friend shook her head allowing her dangling sunflower earrings to swish back and forth, 'Enlighten me'

'Mason Easton', I answered with a shrill excitement lacing my voice, 'He's one of the most famous artists in the pop art industry, word has it that he sits here at this very restaurant and paints that ally over there everyday!'

I stared at her in pure excitement whilst she giggled and put her cuppachino down, 'Well let's hope he's here then and for the record, I know nothing about paintings so I don't know who or what this guy looks like. On the contrary, if Dea were here ...'

I grinned and nodded in reply while thinking of our other friend who made up our perfect trio, what snapped me back to reality was the sound of various clicking from a distance away. 'Oh shit that sounds like cameras', I realized, jolting myself out of the wooden chair I sat in to asses the commotion, 'Oh C'MON!"

Frustration bubbled beneath me as I witnessed the blur of cameras and the rush of paparazzi crowding around a single lanky man who was desperately trying to cower beneath his auburn woolen sweater. 'Uh is that the guy you were looking for Lin?', Yara asked cautiously as though I were a landmine she accidentally stepped on

Instead of replying, I sulked back into the chair which gave her the answer. In attempt to soothe my annoyed feelings, I took another sip of my sweet matcha latte that frothed with foamy milk at the rim, 'Of course every single paparazzi in all of Edmonton knows he's here too'

I groaned again letting Yara watch sympathetically as I facepalmed myself over and over. Being the kind momma bear she was, she leaned over and gave me a warm hug on the shoulder. 'There there', she sighed, helping to relax my tense body, 'You know, maybe another opportunity will present itself...soon'

'How soon?', I asked desperately not even looking up at her concerned face

No reply

I blinked and tilted my head up to find her gawking silently towards the ally. Turning, my mouth morphed into the same gawk because standing together for a flawless picture were two of the biggest stars from the 20th century, 'T-that's...'

'Oliver and Alice Ettie', Yara finished, her voice hinted with amazement, 'Lin do you understand how surreal this feels right now?, they're right there!'

I simply nodded with adoring silence whilst watching the happy couple snap various pictures of themselves in their navy matching outfits without a care in the world. It seemed as though the paparazzi had been so blinded by the sight of Mason Easton that they paid the old stars no mind at all.

Perfect for me.

'Hype me up Yara', I instructed her seriously, 'I need it'

She cleared her throat and quietly clapped before reciting a simple cheer, 'You got this, you got this!, you go girl!', she exclaimed with hope in her eyes, 'Get that story!'

I inhaled with my eyes locked on the targets, knowing I had nothing to lose, I strutted towards the oblivious couple as fast as I could without looking like a hungry predator stalking it's prey.

As I slowly approached them, my eyes gleamed with anxiety and excitement, 'Finally!', I told myself before pulling out my phone from my pocket to document this moment, 'Promotion here I co-'

Thump

My face met with fuzzy cotton as my brain took a minute to process what just happened. I was this close to the Etties and now here I am being blocked by a large immovable obstacle. 'Excuse me, I need to-'

'You are excused'

The wall stepped away to reveal a broad shouldered figure clothed in a thick midnight coat complete with a grey tie. His face reminded me of a stone statue as he remained stern and glared at me from above with his striking ashy eyes. 'Now please leave'

A rich velvet tone slurred with a slight British accent emerged from his lips, though it sounded like something from a movie, I could tell it was a thinly veiled threat. 'Hey look', I began, holding my sleeved arms up to avoid any conflict, 'I'm not going to harm them or anything, I just need to talk to them'

His expression remained unconvinced, 'I'm being serious', I reasoned, attempting to peek behind him to ensure my interviewees were still there, 'Just a few words and I'm out, can you help a fellow reporter here?'

The man didn't move and instead tucked his firm arms inside his coat pockets, 'They don't want to talk to you', he answered, 'And I'm not your fellow reporter'

My mouth froze agape as I restrained myself from saying something I shouldn't. I've seen many different types of paparazzi in the past, most dressed as ordinary civilians to blend in with the crowd. This man wanted to blend in with the shadows.

'You're not a reporter'

His head tilted, 'Yes I just said that'

I stepped forward with curious intent, 'You're their bodyguard...aren't you?'