Temptation

16 - Madden

I wake up alone in Hero's apartment, in Hero's bed. I'm in a celebrity's apartment and I literally just slept in his bed. It is a little after 4AM when I turn over and my arm lands directly on the mattress; there is a lack of a man who went to bed shirtless and I lay on his chest looking down at the six pack of abs. I open my eyes to see Hero is gone and turn to the night side table to check my phone. There is a yellow sticky note from Hero. He's practically begging me to stay and how could I not, this bed is like a cloud. I check my phone to see a message from Hero and without thinking I respond with an added heart. I fall back asleep quickly and don't wake up again until noon.

* * *

I'm not really sure what to do with myself. I have no clothes other than the ones I wore yesterday, and I feel like I'm invading someone else's space. Hero's t-shirt carries the smell of vanilla and shaving cream; his shirt falls down to my mid-thigh and covers the boxer shorts he lent me. His clothes are the most comfortable thing I have ever worn. Sitting up in the bed now, starring at the walls that surround his bed; there are no photos but then again, he isn't here very long. On his side of the bed, there is a framed photo of his mother that he must travel with for comfort. For a man who says he hates his mother, this shows me otherwise. Minutes pass while I stare at the framed photo and there, I can see the small resemblance that Hero shares with his mother; her eyes share the same pain. I am interrupted by my stomach growling and I take that as a sign to get out of bed and decide to just keep on Hero's clothes; they're comfortable.

I open the door and true to his word, DJ is standing out there by the door, standing completely straight. "Good morning!" I say to him and he just nods without much emotion. He's on the clock, he needs to stay focused. "Could we order some food? I'd love it if you joined me for lunch." I say hoping for some company. "I can order you some, but I have to stay right here." This is going to be hard to convince him but maybe if I'm sweet enough he will just take a lunch break, "Have lunch with me and I swear I won't tell Hero!" He lets out a small laugh and agrees to have lunch with me. DJ orders us some Greek and it shows up extremely quick. DJ joins me inside of the apartment and sits to have lunch with me; I am still wearing Hero's clothes, but DJ doesn't seem phased by it. I only manage to eat a few spoon fulls of rice and a single potato, but DJ manages to eat the entire plate of rice, a wrap and at least 5 potatoes but I lost count.

* * *

DJ leads me out to the Ferrari, paying attention to all our surroundings. I wonder if Hero told DJ my past or maybe Hero was just very specific about keeping me safe. Either way it doesn't bother me, it's just weird to have someone protect my every move or even to have someone like Hero who wants to look out for me. I sit in the passenger seat truly wondering how DJ even got into this car; his back is slouched in attempt to fit into the driver seat. The drive to the apartment is short but sitting in silence with DJ doesn't feel right; "What does DJ stand for?" He tells me his name was passed down from his father, Dominic, and the J stands for Junior. I also ask him how he came to be Hero's bodyguard. "Mara is actually my fiancé, we've been together for many years," He says with emphasis. "When she told me about Hero and his mum, I really wanted to meet the little kid. Seeing the boy who looked like he hadn't eaten in days and his mom with needle marks all over her arms, I decided I'd always to protect him. Over the years I've seen him grow and survive a lot of shit," DJ continues: "I know it is not my place, but Hero has never had a girl spend two nights or even a full day before. You're very different and I'm happy to see him smile again." I'm blushing. I thought that Hero was Mr. Perfect—all the interviews, all the photos, everything he does seems to be so public but based off of his story and what DJ is saying to me now, Hero is not the man in the public. He's almost like me, minus the psycho ex and he eats—a lot.

At the apartment I rush myself, so DJ doesn't have to wait long. Grabbing a few t-shirts, an extra pair of ripped black jeans, sweatpants, a sweater and leggings. I also grab my toothbrush and my medications—hopefully he doesn't freak at the sight of them all.

As I'm walking out of my building, DJ pulls up and rushes me in the car. "We need to go." There is so much panic in his voice. "What's wrong?" I'm nervous, I have no idea what's going on. My mind goes straight to Noah—he found me. DJ finally interrupts my thoughts: "Hero's in the hospital. Accident on set." The panic turns into crippling worry, I jump into the car and forget the seat belt, my heart feels as if it is going to fall out of my chest and onto the car floor. I don't have any words right now.

DJ is driving like he is on a racetrack. This car is so fucking fast. The idea that there might be police on these streets obviously does not cross DJ's mind as he drives 140km/h the whole way; a 30-minute drive turned into a 20-minute drive. DJ pulls up to the emergency room entrance and the door is fully surrounded by paparazzi. The news clearly travels fast when you are a celebrity. There is no way I can make it through without being spotted. "DJ, I can't—" he makes a U-turn and tells me that we will find another way in.

Mara meets us at the 'secret back door' that the nurse has generously allowed us to use to enter the building. Mara's face is stained with her eye makeup and her eyes puffy; DJ immediately wraps his massive arms around her before Mara leads us through the hallways to the waiting room. It seems they have cleared this area for the patient—Hero and the only people roaming the halls are the hospital staff. We sit in an empty room, waiting for the nurse or doctor to give us some news.

Mara describes in gory detail what happened to Hero. "We we're filling the fight scene with Ryan Teller—" there is a sigh coming from DJ, "and the mat guy was supposed to throw the mat down when Hero is to fall to the floor after a punch." Hero doesn't use stunt doubles; he likes to do everything on his own and he instructs co-stars to actually hit him, so it looks real. The problem is, as everyone knows because of TMZ, Ryan Teller and Hero absolutely despise each other but no one really knows why. "Teller took his shot and he fucking punched Hero with full force and the mat guy wasn't paying attention, didn't throw the mat down and Hero landed with the back of his head literally smacking the floor." She further explains that she didn't see what happened but heard his head hit the cement floor. "Immediately, there was blood flowing from underneath his head. The director ran over with me following and Hero was unresponsive." The ambulance came and that's when Mara called DJ. I can feel the tears coming, that lump in my throat and I am trying so hard to hold in these tears.