Without Me

Puke

Monday, The Met Gala

Marshall was sat on the bed in their hotel room a little uncomfortable as he watched a stream of makeup artists and hair stylists rush around trying to get Ashley ready. However, judging by her body language and facial expression, Ashley also seemed uncomfortable with the situation as watched one of the stylists apply eyeshadow to her.

''I can do this all by myself you know,'' she protested, but the women surrounding her acted as if they hadn't heard her and continued their onslaught.

After another half an hour of having to sit still, the women finally left, leaving Ashley to sit and stare at herself in the mirror, although she felt like someone else was staring back at her. She'd told Paul that she hadn't wanted an entire army of people getting her ready, but like always he didn't listen; the end result was her wearing more makeup than she had ever worn in her entire life.

''I thought they were never gonna leave, I heard you tell them to fuck off enough times,'' Marshall spoke up from behind her, making her jump slightly in her chair. She'd been too busy staring into the dressing table mirror to notice he had come up behind her.

''I didn't tell them to fuck off,'' she defended, drawing her eyes away from her reflection so she could get up from the chair and stand to face him.

''But I bet you wanted to,'' he pointed out raising an eyebrow at her.

''Maybe,'' she mumbled back, glancing down at herself, before then lifting her head to look up at him, ''what do you think?'' She asked.

''About what?''

''For god's sake,'' she laughed hitting him on the arm at his obvious teasing.

''What do you want me to say you look stunning. Happy?''

''Not really because I still don't wanna go,'' Ashley confessed as she moved past him so that she could sit down on the bed, the skirt flowing around the back of her.

''I'd say don't, but I have a feeling you can't back out now,'' the bed dipped down slightly as Marshall came to sit next to her, ''you know since you're all dressed up and shit.''

''Yeah, I just don't want to talk to the media, but I know I'll have to talk to at least one. It being my first and all,'' she signed moving her head to lean it on his shoulder.

''I...''

''You ready to go, Ash,'' Paul barged into the hotel room, a hotel key clutched tightly in his hand. His sudden entrance made Ashley lift her head up from Marshall's shoulder as if it had given her an electric shock.

''Fuck Paul, why can't you just knock we could have been doing anything,'' the comment made Ashley look over at Marshall, she was blinking rapidly, trying to figure out what he meant. Although she had a fair idea.

''Yes, but you weren't doing anything and Ash we really hava gotta go I wasn't exactly asking,'' Paul replied, quickly dismissing the loud sigh and huff she made while putting on her heels.

''I'll see ya later,'' she gave Marshall a quick kiss before swiping her clutch off of the dressing table and following Paul out. Leaving Marshall to sit alone in his thoughts, his notebook open and a pen next to him, waiting for inspiration to hit, otherwise it was going to a long boring time for him until Ash got back.

***

Ashley sat in the back of the car, Paul was up front with the driver. He'd turn around every so often; as if to make sure she hadn't somehow managed to escape.

Every now and then she'd shift uncomfortably. She was seriously contemplating opening the door and jumping out into the road, which showed how desperate she was to get away. Her stomach turned in round and round in knots, an overwhelming feeling of wanting to throw up hitting her.

Then before she knew it, Paul said they were there, telling her that she needed to get out, but she didn't move. Instead, she sat staring out of the tinted window, the flashing of the cameras blinding her eyes and causing the nausaus feeling to get worse.

''Paul I can't do this I'm going to be sick,'' Paul sensing her nervous, did something she'd never expected him to do. He undid his seat belt and lent around the front seat to take her hand in his.

''You are the bravest person I've ever met Ash. I know this is something you've never done before, but there's plenty that you do all the time that had to been done first to allow it to be done frequently,'' Ashley looked up at him to see the sincere look on his face, he was talking to her as a friend, something she noticed he hadn't done in a while, ''yes I know you're going to be asked questions about Alonzo, plus what Mariah and Curtis said, but do what you do best and tell them what you really think. You can do this Ash ok.''

''Ok,'' she took a deep breath, placing her other hand on top of Paul's to give herself that extra reassurance, ''thanks, I won't tell anyone that you're a big teddy bear in reality, don't worry,'' Paul smiled letting out a little laugh. He was still laughing when her hand slipped out of his and onto the handle of the door.

Taking a deep breath she swung it open and accepted the hand of the escort already waiting outside for her. The moment she slid out and the Paparazzi realised who she was, did the flashing lights and shouts start up again. Various voices demanded she stand still and pose for them, but Ashley did what she always did, continued walking past, ignoring their shouting pleas.

''Oh my god Ashley,'' Ash turned around, the familiar female voice catching her attention. A huge weight lifted off of her shoulders as the person she'd hoped it to be came into her eyesight.

''Robyn,'' she greeted a smile on her face as she hugged the singer that had approached her, which was of course followed by a load more flashing lights emmiting form all directions.

''You look absolutely amazing,'' Robyn gushed, trying to Ashley to spin around so she could see the full extent of the dress.

''Thanks, shall we go together,'' Ashley suggested, hoping she would agree.

''Of course, come on I'll show you who to talk to and what to do,'' she laughed when she noticed the huge sigh of relief that Ashley let out.

Both women continued to laugh as they walked together down the red carpet, which was already full of other celebrities in various dress.

Even though she was no longer alone, there was still an overwhelming sense that she was out of place compared to those around her. Why she felt like that, was a mystrey even to herself.