T E N

"How're you feeling about tomorrow?" Val's voice comes over the speakerphone as I scrub the cafe tables. I'm taking about a week off for band stuff after today, so I offered to close up tonight to make up for leaving Nadine short staffed. Nadine, of course, is thrilled I will be taking some time off, even though she is less than excited that I'll be traveling with Beau and the rest of the band.

"I'm not really sure. Should I feel something?" I downplay my nerves. MisFits is playing at a charity show in a few days. They're one of many bands performing, but they will pretty much be the main event. And it's my job to go support them as Beau's doting girlfriend. So far over the past few weeks, we've managed to be spotted at plenty of date spots in cities within reasonable driving distance, Beau has posted pictures of my actual face on his social media, and yet, no one has figured out my identity. Well, except for everyone in this town. This time is different though - we're headed to LA and the entire trip will be filled with publicity stuff for the boys. Naturally, Fiona has me scheduled in anytime Beau will be facing the press. It'll be the first time Beau and I step out as an official couple.

Val hesitates on the other end. We've become friends, bonded perhaps over our mutual fear of disappointing Fiona. But Val still has a job to do. "What is it?" I sigh, holding my breath for bad news.

"I'm sorry Emma. The free day you had to get situated... well, there's a pre-concert gala for the charity. Fiona needed to make sure the guys had plus ones, but..."

"Let me guess?" I mutter, locking the cafe up for the night. "They allow plus ones and of course, I'm going with Beau?"

"There's more." I wince at the tone in Val's voice, somehow knowing the worst is yet to come. "You'll have to walk the red carpet."

***

"So this is how you get around?" I stare up at the massive private jet, luggage in hand. My hair whips around my face as I try to take in the sight.

Beau smirks, "Scared, Emma?" He hands his guitar case to a man in a bright orange vest and motions for me to do the same with my bags.

I gulp. I've never actually been on a plane before. Still, I shake my head, "I'm a big girl. I'll manage,"

He grins  even wider but stays silent as we board the jet. Inside, lush red carpet lines the floor, large leather seats overlook the windows, and a flight attendant offers us champagne immediately. I gawk at the flute as she hands it over, quickly prompting her to offer a wide selection of other beverages, both alcoholic and not. "Um, I'll take a water," I mutter. I heard it's good to stay hydrated when you fly. Oh God, I feel sick at the thought of being so high up in the air.

"Where's the farthest you've been from home, Emma?" Tyler smiles as he settles into a plush chair, leaning back dramatically far so he is almost lying down. I find myself a seat as well, picking one by the window in case I start to feel sick - I can lean my head against the cool glass.

"Um," I look to Beau. "What's the farthest date you've taken me on?" I blush shyly.

His eyes go wide, as do Tyler's. "Well, you're in for a treat then." Tyler's grin is comforting, but barely touches the knots in my stomach. He leans back and closes his eyes, snoring in seconds. How can he sleep?

I twist my fingers together over and over, the fear kicking up a notch once the jet starts to move forward. The rest of the guys are listening to headphones or flipping through magazines, Fiona sits already at work on her laptop, using the jets wifi, no doubt. Val has to finish up some things in the office but she will arrive shortly after we do. Rocco, the bands manager, throws back a glass of whiskey and suddenly, I think maybe I should've taken the champagne.

I feel Beau's eyes on my face and I do everything in my power not to look up at him. I'm in no mood to be made fun of right now. As the jet picks up speed down the runway, I clench my eyes shut, my whole body tensing. To my surprise, I feel Beau's long fingers gently intertwine with mine and without opening my eyes I squeeze his hand as tightly as I can. My body presses to the seat as we lift from the ground and after a couple minutes, I finally open my eyes and gaze out the window. "Wow," I breathe, taking in the city buildings as they get smaller and smaller down below.

Realizing I'm still holding Beau's hand, I drop it quickly. "Thanks," I whisper to not draw attention to us. He nods silently in response. I spend the majority of the flight staring out the window in amazement as Beau continues working on lyrics. Every once in awhile, I feel him glance my way, watching me curiously as I gaze down below like a little kid.

When we begin our descent, I feel the pressure in my ears pop uncomfortably and my stomach drops, reawakening nerves that had settled during the flight. Without looking up, Beau lays his hand across my lap, palm up. I take it gratefully, clutching it the entire way to the ground.

***

Val hands me a black gown that is surprisingly heavy. I place it carefully on the large hotel bed, still pouting over the realization that Beau and I are sharing a room. "We have to make it believable." Fiona had snapped when Beau and I both began to protest. Beau had stormed off to the bar and we haven't seen him since. I glance at the clock on the wall, getting a little nervous that he won't show. Fiona will probably find a way to blame it on me, if he doesn't.

"Ah, they're here!" Val rushes to the door before I can even ask who she means. When she returns, a small woman with purple hair and an older man with a stylish gray beard follow. "This is Maeve, your makeup artist for the week," Val introduces me to the young woman about my age. "And this is Bobby, your stylist." Bobby smiles politely. "Well go on," Val urges. "Get changed,"

I feel my face drop as I instinctively cross my arms over my chest. "Excuse me?"

Maeve pops her pink bubblegum. "Oh honey, we've seen it all before."

"And if it helps," Bobby adds sweetly. "I'm a married man," He flashes me his lock screen, showing a wedding photo with his husband.

With one last look to Val, I undress quickly and change into the plush bathrobe provided with the suite. Without delay, Maeve gets started on my face, removing all my makeup I'd applied myself. "Oh wow," Maeve whispers, taking a step back to examine me in the mirror. I blush, fighting the urge to cover my face from her view. "Bobby, come look at her,"

Bobby sighs dramatically. "My, my, look at those freckles," If it's even possible, I feel my face redden even more. Those freckles. Freckles that dot my entire face, the reason I spent so long scrubbing my skin when I was little - I hated looking so dirty. As I grew older, the hatred of the freckles grew as well, as they made me an easy target for torment.

"Don't you love them?" Maeve gushes to Bobby as if I'm not right there. "Gorgeous, darling, gorgeous!" Maeve puts on an exaggerated accent, twirling out of the room to grab more of her supplies.

I pick at my fingernails to avoid looking at my reflection, although I know Bobby is staring, hoping to meet my eye. "Look, honey. I don't know who made you feel so ashamed of those freckles," He leans down and grabs my shoulders firmly. "But here, different is beautiful. You are beautiful, and that is nothin' to be ashamed of." With a pat on the shoulder, Bobby goes back to examining the gown.

"Okay," Maeve returns, a couple of treasure chests in tow. She puts one down before me, unlocking it to reveal more makeup than I would've thought possible. "Today will be full glam because, it's the red carpet, duh." She begins dabbing cool serum to my face as she speaks. "But at some point this week," She steps back again, "We are debuting those freckles." As she works on my face, she makes casual conversation about growing up in LA, and about how she always wanted to model, but never felt comfortable in front of the camera. "I'm more of a behind the scenes girl, myself... But what about you? Have you considered modeling?"

As she stops to blend a couple foundation shades on her hand, I nearly choke. "Me? A model?" I roll my eyes. "Please,"

Maeve gives Bobby a knowing look over my head as she mutters, "We'll see."

Once she's done, I have to give her credit. She's made me look incredible - black eyeliner lines my normally big brown eyes, pulling them into a sleek cat-like look resting on high cheekbones. My full lips are made impossibly fuller with a deep red lipstick, giving me a perfect little pout. "My work here is done," She steps aside so Bobby can help me into my dress.

A bit self-conscious, I hold the bathrobe tightly to my chest as Bobby holds the dress open for me to step into. Once I'm in and holding the material over my chest, I drop the bathrobe so Bobby can finish doing me up in the back. I take a seat on the edge of the bed so he can slip on my strappy black heels.

When I stand in front of the mirror, I hardly recognize myself. The dress is a sleek one shouldered gown with a high slit up one side, revealing most of my thigh. "Just a couple more things," Bobby mutters to himself, handing me dangly diamond earrings and fastening a matching necklace around my neck. "Voila," He smiles widely at his work.

I thank Bobby and Maeve for helping me get ready. "How do I look?" I smile timidly at Val.

"Perfection," She smiles brightly in return. "Now we just have to find Beau," We glance at the clock at the same time, probably both imagining how Fiona will rip our heads off if Beau doesn't show.

Suddenly his deep voice comes from the front end of the suite. "I'm here, I'm here," He saunters into the room, a beer bottle in hand.

"Are you drunk?" Val shouts at him and he smirks back at her.

"Nope, but I wish I was." He takes a dramatic swig from his beer.

"Okay, Beau. Stop - this isn't her fault, just get dressed and we'll get this whole thing over with." I grab his arm in an effort to get him to focus.

He shrugs me off, giving me a once-over. "Look at you, Emma. You'll fit right in." I glare at him as he shrugs his leather jacket off and to the floor. Just as slowly, he undoes the buttons of his shirt, exposing his hard, tattooed chest and abdomen. "A little privacy?" He raises a brow at me mockingly as he undoes the button on his pants.

I feel myself blush. "Just hurry up."

***

Once our limo finally pulls into the venue with only minutes to spare, thanks to Beau, I feel my anxiety growing inside me. "What do I do?" I turn to Val, but unfortunately, she's preoccupied with Jace, who actually is still tipsy from the bar earlier.

Instead, I look to Beau. "What do I do? Do I smile, or... I don't know. What do I do with my hands?"

"Hey, if I was any good at this kind of stuff, you wouldn't be here right now, would you?" Beau rolls his eyes, fidgeting with the knot of his bowtie. Pushing his hands out of the way, I fix it for him, too nervous to argue with him. Maybe seeing the nervousness in my face, Beau continues more softly. "All I know is, you light up any room you walk into, Emma...So, just do whatever you normally do, I guess."

Before I can respond, Jace's drunken voice fills the limo. "It's show time, baby!" He throws open the door and rushes outside, the rest of the guys and Val following behind him.

"Show time," I repeat to myself before stepping out of the limo and into the blinding lights.