Behind The Scenes

[Chapter Fourteen]

Chapter 14

After being with Ryan the past few weeks, I'd been slowly starting to accept the fact that, while I might not be completely ready for it, I knew that sooner or later the two of us would be photographed together. We weren't exactly trying to keep our relationship a secret, and once that picture of us had surfaced after his cousin's wedding, I figured it was inevitable.

Just not right now. Not in this moment.

*SNAP*

I felt like a deer in the headlights as the camera continued to flash mere meters away from us, but as Ryan's arms wove their way around me, attempting to shield me from view, I snapped out of it.

"Abbie!" I yelled frantically, pushing myself away from Ryan as I headed quickly in her direction. I could hear Ryan following close behind, yelling something I couldn't quite comprehend, because in that moment, I really didn't care about much other than getting my daughter out of here.

My heart clenched painfully as I reached where she was sitting on the play structure, knees curled up to her chest, wide eyes, and a frightened look plastered across her face. "It's okay sweetie," I said softly, bringing my arms around her tightly in a means of comfort, "It'll be alright."

I almost forgot Ryan had followed me until he appeared behind me, wrapping an arm around my shoulder protectively. "Come on," Ryan said smoothly, his face holding a stern and serious expression, "We'd better get out of here." Silently asking me if he could take Abbie, I nodded, watching as he gently picked her up and rested her on his hip, muttering quietly to her that everything was going to be fine.

"The guy ran off," he started again, nodding in the direction of a car park, "But we should get going before he decides to come back." As his eyes met mine once more, I saw in them the words he refused to say.

If the photographer comes back, he won't be alone.

Nodding, it was as if my mind suddenly flipped its switch from manual to automatic, giving me absolutely no control over my actions. In fact, I'd spent the better part of the journey home coiled nervously against Ryan's side as he guided us swiftly through my neighbourhood streets without fail. It became apparent that, as I cast my gaze back over my shoulder every few steps, I was letting the paranoia of being followed sink in.

It came as a surprise to me, when Ryan steered us into a driveway, that we had managed to make it back to my house in record time, and all without being followed. As the three of us burst through the front door, closing and locking it behind us, my mind slowly started to register what had happened within the span of the last fifteen minutes.

There was a flash, followed by yelling and crying as the paparazzi managed to ruin one of the best moments of my life.

My eyes snapped towards my daughter, who still looked scared out of her mind as she clung tightly onto Ryan's shirt, tears slowly dripping down her face. Ryan sent me a sympathetic look as he shifted her in his arms, nodding for me to take her.

"Abbie sweetie," I spoke quietly, holding in my arms gently, "Everything's alright now. It's okay." As her tears slowed down and her sniffles began, I wanted nothing more than to be able to put a smile on her face.

"But you were scared momma," she whimpered, wrapping her arms around my neck tighter. My heart lodged in my throat as I realized that she wasn't crying for herself, but rather because she was scared for me.

"Oh sweetie," I sighed, rubbing my hand affectionately through her hair for comfort, "Don't worry about me, I'm fine."

Shuffling in the living room caught my attention as I heard Emily getting up and walking towards us. "So, how was your walk?" Her voice chipper as her footsteps became louder. "Did you have a good...?" Taking in the scene in front of her, her smile wavered and her eyes flashed with worry. "What happened?"