darling

intruding questions

'So now, I would say for you to tell me all about your love life little miss. But we have to go get ready, so it can wait until the apartment.' May said to Ria whilst managing to eat the rest of her food and check the time on her phone at the same time.

Ria put her fur jacket back on and grabbed her old purse before following May out the cafe to the car again.

The city looked so different in the daytime. It was beautiful both ways, in the night it was like most other cities with bright lights and streets that when seen from above looked like arteries running through the city. In the day it held a modern feeling through the shop fronts and cafes but the tram lines and array of old buildings gave it a historical feel. The mix made the town feel elegant which instantly made Ria realise why most people around them put effort into their apperance, to match their surroundings. She could see why May's magazine was flourishing, people were trying to keep up with trends making the locally made magazine a go-to book for all the information anyone would need.

'You still awake?' May asked from the drivers seat when she noticed Ria had gone into a bit of a dreamland.

'I'm fine, taking in my surroundings still.'

The daylight Ria was staring at above turned to shadows and then finally a ceiling as May pulled into the underground carpark.

They silently took the elevator to their floor where May unlocked the door and dropped her handbag on the hall table.

'Ready to get ready?' May smiled at a tired looking Ria.

'Sure' Ria answered shortly followed by a yawn.

It took May around twenty minutes to do Ria's makeup and left her to straighten her hair. May quickly spine her own makeup and hair before changing into her own dress. They were dressed and ready to go in under an hour which had to be some kind of record.

May took the journey in the company's car to brief Ria on the paparazzi.

'Please tell me when you've had enough. They'll ask a lot of questions and take a lot of photos just because you're my sister and it'll be your first media debut.' May explained.

Ria nodded before the car speed to the entrance of an expensive looking building. It was surrounded by people. From security to paparazzi to fans to glamorous models. May petted hey one last smile before opening the door and getting out. She reached a hands back into the car for Ria to take. She slowly got our of the car willing herself to not fall over.

All her senses were taken over by the flashes that seemed to explode from everywhere. But everything May had previously said was put into action as she straightened get shoulders, put a smile on her face and took on a whole new confidence. It was like when she was with May anything was possible.

They made it to the middle of the carpet lining the entrance when May got called over to the side by an interviewer. The woman introduced herself on behalf of a small fashion blog. She asked a few questions regarding the magazine, current trends and The Labels view on local designers. She kept the questions professional which in turn earned the respect of May. She slipped the woman her personal business card and offered her to come to the office on Monday morning for a chat.

The next interviewer along was from an online gossip magazine. May was cautious knowing they had ways of twisting words around. She began the questions of professionally. But then asked about May's love life to which May laughed off. The lady turned to Ria next.

'So Ria, are you enjoying Melbourne?' She asked innocently but May's entries body tensed knowing these simple questions wouldn't last.

'Yes, it's incredibly beautiful' she smiled.

'And what school do you plan on going to?' May almost snapped. Her hands balled into fists. How date she ask a teenager such a question for public viewing.

Before Ria could answer May spoke up.

'We're still undecided, Ria's extremely intelligent so it's been a bit of a process to choose. Sorry to cut this sorry but we're going to be late for one of the shows.' May's words were light and her tone kind but her eyes were dark and angry.

She guided them inside cautiously, aware of the stares she was recieving.

'And that Ria, was the two different types of interviewers.'

>>>

May had walked over to the bar that was sponsored by some mineral water company.

Ria was talking to the daughters of one of May's coworkers. Their names were Lily and Grace and May didn't trust them. They were innocent around their mum but she knew, after many out of work events, that they got up to no good. They wouldn't meet their mum, Shelley, where they were told, they left the house without notice and would be found in dim corners doing anything and everything that would piss off their mum.

So when May took a glance over her shoulder to see Shelley talking to another woman her eyes were glued to the girls. That was until the bartender asked what she wanted.

She ordered a water with lime, tapped her foot until he finished making it and then turned back quickly to head to the table. As she made it closer to the couches they were sat at she noticed that all the girls were missing. Shelley said her goodbyes to the mystery woman and smiled at May. But when she noticed the girls missing her face dropped.

'May I'm so sorry, I didn't think the girls would push their luck at a fashion show.' Shelley explained sounding really guilty.

And for the first time since Ria had arrived in the country, May felt scared.

And she knew it wouldn't be the last time she would feel like this.