PERMANENT - Leonardo DiCaprio

Chapter 55 - The Party & The After Party

Monday 9.30pm

The ceremony had just about finished, and I had had my Oscar engraved with my name on it. My name. Now, as we walked out, surrounded by about a billion celebs all getting ready to head to another location to continue celebrating, the breeze didn't feel cold, it felt welcoming.

"Babe, hold this." I held out my new baby (the award, obviously) in an outstretched hand while I rummaged my bag for the car keys. Leo took it from me, and I bent down to the ground, placing my bag on the ground so I could open it and examine it fully.

I fished them out, when I heard Aaliyah curse behind me. I zipped up my bag and stood up, taking the Oscar back and turning to face her.

"What? What is it?"

She hung her head, her hand holding her temple. "The dress! I never picked up the dress from your place."

I had bought Aaliyah a Givenchy gold dress, taken in at the waist, and I remember her loving it when Naomi Campbell was walking in it down the runway last year. I knew Aaliyah would look just as good.

"Oh shoot. No, Aaliyah it's my fault, I was gonna take it with me."

Jennifer Lopez was hosting an Oscars after party at a rented mansion only a 10 minute drive from the Shrine Auditorium where the ceremony had just finished. The plan was that us 3 were going to drive down, and change in the car (yeah, the Oscars weren't as glam as they seemed), into something more party appropriate. Besides, people looked at party dresses just as much as the red carpet gowns.

"Okay don't worry, jump in, it's only a half hour drive back home. We'll go, get changed and come back."

She nodded quickly and got in he passenger seat, and I could see her take off her heels as she visibly relaxed.

"I'll get a lift with Mark." Leo said, smiling as he came towards me, nodding to Mark Wahlberg. Grabbing my waist, he leaned down and his plump lips captured mine a sweet, yet longing kiss. For the first time tonight, I wished we were alone.

"Did I tell you how proud I am of you?"

I bowed my head, almost shy in the moment, but looked up at him and bit my lip smiling , nodding once. "You did."

He didn't say anything for a second, but moved back away from me, letting our interwoven hands drop.

"Hurry back."

I squeezed his cheeks with one hand and winked, skipping away to my car. Opening the door, on the driver's side, I turned back to look at him standing, hands in his pockets, staring at me like he was in some sort of music video.

I blew him a kiss and got in, slamming the door loudly.

"Okay, firstly, I gotta take these babies off, because there is no way I am going to drive in them."

I undid my Manolos and took them off, leaning back to put them on the backseat, alongside the award.

"I can't wait to get to the party. Will I meet Jennifer?" Aaliyah questioned.

"Of course," I turned the key in the ignition, "her parties are legendary."

I pulled out of the parking space and onto the road, and sped off down Hoover Street so we could be there and back in an hour.

I put the radio on, at a comfortably quiet volume.

"So, how's work?" I asked her casually.