Falling With Style {Chris Evans}

twenty-one

"The fans are all wondering..."
Chris knew that this was coming sooner or later. He couldn't count how many times he rehearsed possible responses and scenarios in his head before bed last night, in the shower this morning, or during hair and make-up just an hour ago before this interview started. He tried to replay it in his head like a script, to put the rumors to rest like he promised Mila, but now he was actually getting flustered. He didn't want to mess up, not because of how people watching would react, but because of how one particular person watching would react. This could make Mila feel better with a snap of his fingers, or it could feed into every bad thought she would overthink about later.
Despite the pressure and the butterflies forming in his tummy from finally being able to tell the world about this woman and their adventures, he kept his eyes fixed on the interviewer. He so badly wanted to look everywhere but at her. He wanted to look at the camera crew and the crazy expensive equipment surrounding the studio made of three walls inside of a larger building. He wanted to look at the people with headphones running around with donuts and coffee in their hands. He wanted to look at people writing things down and keeping their eyes on the screen with him on it where they made sure all the angles and lighting were perfect.
The interviewer was a tall, skinny white woman. Not taller than him, but close even in the small heeled shoes she was in. Her dress was red with short chiffon sleeves and a straight, narrow length to her knees where her legs were crossed. There was no wrinkle in sight. Her auburn colored hair contrasted nicely with the dress, complete with a freckled face and dark green eyes. Her lips were plumped twice their normal size and with a straight back, she was leaning forward from her seat.
Having gone through a ton of interviews, Chris knew this was a tactic to provoke "serious" and "thoughtful" reactions from whoever was being interviewed. He kept his demeanor the same: calm, collected, and occasionally goofy with a joke here and there.
The screen behind them changed from the logo of the interviewer's talk show to a picture. It caught his attention and both of them turned slightly to view it.
A picture of Mila in a black pleated tulip skirt that came to her knees with a black buttoned shirt tucked neatly appeared. She was standing and posing with her boss, the city manager of Valdosta, and smiling big with a notebook nearly bigger than her tucked under her arm at her side. The photographer caught her mid laugh with the city manager also grinning next to her. He was an older white man, a little on the chubby side with a nicely manicured goatee complete with graying black hair. He had a thumbs up. Behind them, the large windows of what was presumed to be the city hall building showed a bright sky with clouds dotting it.
He couldn't help but smile at this and look down to his lap. The interviewer giggled, "Our sources are telling us this is who you've been seen with lately. Who might this be?"
Everything he thought he rehearsed like a script to any of his movies seemingly went down the drain, out the window, and wherever else because the words he was searching for were nowhere to be found. He was completely flustered by that smile and lost for words.
"Well, her name is Mila," he managed to say through a silly smile.
"Tell us how you met." That was his cue to reach into his back pocket. His wardrobe manager told him that going on stage with his wallet was a bad idea and tacky, but Chris told her that it was necessary for the interview.
He flipped open the leather and behind his cards, he pulled out a small picture and handed it to the interviewer before showing it to the camera that had come close up by then.
It was the picture from the ride at Animal Kingdom only a few months ago. Mila was sat in the front row with her two sisters, and Chris was sat in the row behind her, putting bunny ears up behind her head in time for the photo flash.
The interview burst into laughter, "Please explain this picture to me!"
He didn't hesitate. "We bumped into each other at the gift shop, literally. I have been on that ride so many times, so I prepared myself the best I could for when the camera would go off, but nothing would prepare me for the ride I'd be on with Mila after I invited her to a picnic that night."
The interviewer was eating this up. She was smiling so hard through every word. That's why he almost couldn't believe his ears when her demeanor changed as she asked, "What about the age gap?"
"Excuse me?"
"She's twenty years old. That doesn't really help the rumors going around about this being your newest little play thing."
He rolled his eyes, but forced a smile nonetheless. He said, "She is twenty-three years old and going to be one of the youngest at her university to be receiving a Master's degree. She is literally the most beautiful person I've had the absolute pleasure and honor of running into through a chance meeting. And she's much more mature with me and deserves so much more than false rumors about her to be spread around considering what she goes through with my goofy ass."
Chris added a laugh to the end of that, just to reduce any previous tension. The interviewer was smiling and nodding, though her smile was tight. This just wasn't juicy enough for her.
"I bet! Is there anything you want to tell your fans that are worried about how you are healing from your last relationship? People are saying that this is a phase, that you are experimenting."
Chris shook his head, "There is literally only one person saying that. I haven't spoken to Miranda in months. I am the happiest I have been in such a long time. I actually wish I was in Georgia with Mila right now, but I'm also looking forward to start filming soon!"
It was an attempt to change the subject, and judging by the interviewer leaning back in her seat with one last nod, it was safe to say it worked.
She said, "Yes, why don't you give us a little sneak peek into that?"
He refrained from letting out a sigh of relief as he slowly eased up and began to talk about a topic much more simple than the topic of him and Mila where anything he said could possibly put either of them at risk.
After the interview, he spent what felt like forever sitting in an uncomfortable chair in front of a mirror in a brightly lit room. Sometimes it felt like it took longer to properly remove camera makeup and clean his face than it did to put the stuff on in the first place.
As soon as his makeup artist patted his face dry and cleared him, he leapt from the high chair and went straight for his phone on the vanity. When he turned around, he was met by the interviewer.
"Chris, I hope those questions didn't make you think too harshly of me," she crossed her arms and pouted as she waited for a response.
"No way, you did your job," Chris smiled, beginning to walk away.
The truth was he hardly thought about the interviewer and who she was or could be as a person. He had done so many interviews and press conferences and features that he didn't really hold it past people or give it much of a second thought.
She kept up with his pace as she walked at his side, her red heels clicking against the black floor of the building. "That's great! Because I'd love to have you on for another show later down the road."
"Sure, you know who to contact," he kept his eyes head of him on the door that was so close yet so far.
"Oh yeah. I was thinking maybe something after the movie premiere, or when the news of a break-up circulates maybe?"
He stopped in his tracks. He no longer had to force a smile as he stared at her and raised an eyebrow, "What?"
She also stopped in her tracks, "Oh, I mean, Miranda was right, wasn't she? She called it. There is no way that the Chris Evans, a movie star, big name celebrity with the hottest body and the cutest personality is going to last running around with a college girl, right? How long is this going to go on? It's to promote the movies, right? Or is it to promote Miranda? Is that the kind of relationship you two have now?"
His head was spinning. There was so many ridiculous questions, one followed by another and another. He could barely process it all. How did he even begin to answer that?
"What was your name again?" He asked calmly.
Her raised eyebrows furrowed angrily as she narrowed her eyes at him, "Anna Locke."
"Is there an 'e' at the end of that? I just want to make sure my manager spells it right when he puts any phone calls or emails coming from you or your team on the 'ignore' list."
Her jaw slowly started to drop. As if to not ruin any future opportunities to have him on the show again, she reached forward and gently grabbed his hand. "Chris! Don't be ridiculous. You have to forgive me. This stunt is absolutely crazy, even by your standards! I'm sorry if I have so many questions along with everyone else."
He pulled his hand away from hers and shoved them into his pocket. He asked, "Oh, and was your first name spelled with one 'n' or two? Just for them to be sure."
She scoffed at this, staying in her spot as he smiled and walked off. It wasn't in his nature to be such a smart ass or even rude in the slightest, but there was a line that many interviewers were crossing that put them on the same level as the annoying reporters and paparazzi.