timeless | sequel | d.w

8

Thursday.
The day I'd been dreading for 48 hours now was finally here and I didn't know how to feel. For the moment being, I just felt numb. I liked it that way. Not feeling anything at all was better than feeling too much at once.

"Cariño?"

Raúl's voice snapped me back to reality and I whipped my head up. I met his gaze across the table and took a breath.

"I'm sorry. I'm just so stressed out about this afternoon."

My head sank again and I focused my gaze on my cup as I swirled the spoon around in my tea. The anxiety in my chest didn't ease when I was reminded of how bad of a lover I'd been the past weeks.

"I know I haven't been the best girlfriend lately." I muttered and glanced up to see Raúl's hand sliding into my free hand.

"Gabrielle, look at me." He told me in a soft tone. Doing what he asked me to, he pressed a kiss to my hand.

"You're the best girlfriend I could ever ask for. And right now you're going through some really tough things. But that doesn't make you any less amazing." He said and I couldn't help but smile. "It just hurts me that I can't do very much to help you."

I looked down at our hands and released a soft sigh. "All you need to do is support me and respect my choices. Which I know you do already."

"Of course." He said and gave me a small smile, but it soon faded. "I just hate seeing you so broken." He said and finished the sandwich in front of him.

I didn't say anything, just gave his hand a squeeze and used my other one to pick up my mug to take a sip from the tea.

+++

The drive to the building was short and didn't take more than ten minutes (unfortunately). I parked my car in the parking lot and looked at the digital clock on my phone.

3:16 pm.

At four they'd do sound check. At five we'd start doing their hair and makeup. And finally at six, they'd perform. There were all too many gaps in time and I was worried to what would happen when we had nothing to do.

I took a deep breath and grabbed my bag that I would be needing before stepping out of the car. I made my way towards the door with the text marked 'Stage Area' since I had been assigned to go there. Surprisingly, the door was unguarded and I simply stepped inside.

There was a long hallway before I reached another door, this one with a security guard standing next to it. He gave me a look without saying anything and I brought my ID-card out.

"Gabrielle Joseph." I said, hesitating just a little. "I'm one of the stylists?"

The guard, whose name tag read Ben, seemed to have a moment of realization and opened the door for me.

"Just walk down there and take the first left," he explained and pointed. "It will take you to the stage. Jimmy will meet you there."

In all stress over meeting Dallon, Ben's comment made me remember that I was actually meeting another celebrity, one that I was rather excited about. I thanked him before I made my way down the said hallway and took the first left.

Coming right out on the stage were technicians were setting up the instruments and playing around with the lights, I looked around.

"Miss Joseph?"

A voice caught me off guard and I stumbled around to be met by the actual Jimmy Kimmel. I smiled and nodded.

"That would be me. But please call me Gabrielle." I said and he chuckled as he stretched his hand out.

"James. But you can call me Jimmy. Everyone else does." He said and I shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." I told him as we began walking off of the stage.

"Pleasure to meet you too. I'm glad you and your partner could come in even though it was on a short notice." He said and I could see that he was genuinely thankful.

"Stressful week?" I asked and he chuckled.

"You could call it that."

We talked some more about nothing in particular as he gave me a tour around the place, before bringing me backstage to a big lounge were Erin was sitting on the couch with a familiar face next to her. They didn't even seem to notice us before Jimmy cleared his throat and they looked up at us. Erin's eyes lit up as she saw me and got up to give me a hug.

"Brendon, this is Gabrielle, the other stylist." Jimmy introduced me to the man sitting on the couch.

"Hey, I'm Brendon." He said with a smile as he stood and walked up to shake hands with me.

At first he seemed so casual, like I was anyone. Or maybe he just didn't care, after all these years. But as he came closer, when our hands touched and our eyes met I could see how he realized. And suddenly he just knew.

"Nice to meet you, Gabrielle." He said softly, a smirk hiding in the corner of his lips.

"You too, Brendon." I replied with a nod, before pulling my hand back and turning back to Jimmy, partly to escape Brendon's gaze. "Where can I place my stuff?" I asked and raised the bag in my hand a little.

"Oh! Right." He said, clasping his hands together. "This way."

He began moving again and I fell in a rush to follow him. But before I did, I looked up at Brendon again. "I'll see you later."

He smiled, a playful look in his eyes. "Absolutely."