The waitress slipped a piece of paper under his saucer as she refilled his coffee cup. At first he paid it no notice he was securely inside his own little bubble. Writing various thoughts, feelings and lyrics into a large black leather bound journal. It went with him everywhere and if anyone ever found it they would truly hold the key to who he was and therefore he guarded it like fort knocks. His life was so exposed already it would kill him to have one of the few things he still held as solely his splashed out there for the public at large to read. It would be analyzed to no end and he was sure it would do little to kill the broody sensitive boy with a self depreciating sense of humor reputation he had been branded with by the media. Of course much of it was of his own making unable to control his tongue in interviews and his personal ticks had created the monster but the media had went with it and now it blazed brightly. Women loved him for it and men thought he was a pussy. He supposed the reality of who he was was somewhere in between ( self depreciating humor intact.) A breeze brought on by the opening of the diner door caused the paper to stir and in that instance it caught his eye. It couldn't be the bill his waitress had been here everyday he had been and she knew he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. He lifted the paper and turned it over. Written in very fine handwriting was a one line note, You are being stalked. He looked around and caught the waitress eye. She smiled slightly and nodded her head towards the front of the diner. Outside four girls stood doing there best imitation of people standing around trying to be cool and unassuming. One peaked their head around and looked in his direction. She jumped just slightly when she realized he was looking in their direction and gave a body push to the girl standing next to her. The other girl pushed back said something but none of the other girls turned back to look at him. He sighed and smiled. Fan-girls how cute. He was surprised they had not just come in and squealed and asked for photos and autographs. That was what he usually found and most of the time he obliged graciously and did the best he could to accommodate his target fan base. Right now though he was on his time. No projects in production nothing in the pipeline to prep for or to promote. He was taking a sabbatical from being the next big thing. A decision that had sat hard in the stomachs of his representation but he made it clear he needed a break. He was beyond burnt out, working none stop for three years had taken its toll on him. He was jumpy and exhausted and was so stressed he was loosing his hair. He knew he was taking a chance that the industry would have moved on by the time he decided to go back but he was willing to take that chance. The shallowness of the game never appealed to him anyway and if and when he wanted to go back to it , it could be there waiting (or not) but the bottom line was saving his sanity. He didn't regret his decision and had found himself a little place here in the village and was living rather under the radar at least until today. I suppose it was inevitable he thought. Eventually they would catch on he had just hoped it wouldn't have been so soon.He fidgeted in his seat and ran his fingers though his hair. The waitress took that moment to walk over to his booth."Tourists" she said giving him a killer smile her green eyes crinkling in the corners. He hadn't really noticed her before. She was a good waitress attentive but not obtrusive. His cup was always full his food always perfect but she didn't feel the need to engage him in unnecessary small talk. He appreciated that she gave him his space and had never once got the feeling she or the owners wanted their booth back. He came here at least four times a week for the last month and sat in the same booth writing in his journal or working on his computer. They were often busy but she never made him feel like he needed to push on. Perhaps that was because he left a hefty tip and ate a ton of pie while he was here. She was pretty, a little on the plump side but you could tell she had a certain swagger to her. She stood tall with one hand on her hip and the other lightly on the table. She had her head crooked to one side and was giving him a look that told him he knew he had finally noticed she was alive and was sizing her up. He was taken aback but the frankness of her look and could feel the blush creeping up the back of his neck. Very few woman could catch him off guard like that and he was pleasantly amused and excited by it." How do you know they are tourists?""Well first off you have been coming here for weeks and no one has bothered you once"That was true. "And"" I went out and asked them. They have been standing out there for over an hour. Apparently they are here on a school trip. Texas I believe. Must be nice I never had the chance to come to New York on a school trip."" Well very straightforward of you just going out and asking. Do they plan on coming in?"" I doubt it. Sully made it pretty clear he didn't want his customers bothered when he went out there himself. I had to go and grab him and bring him back in before scared the wholly shit out of them. I am afraid he is rather protective of his patrons. Especially the ones of notice as he says""Ones of notice?"She raised her eyebrow and cupped her hand around her mouth and whispered "Yeah ya know the famous ones"He raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed." Oh come on now none of that. Did you really think we had no clue who you were? I mean we may be a small little diner but we aren't in the boonies. "Really now", he took note of her tone. It told him clearly to get over himself. Something else he had not felt in quite a while. He was way to used to people kissing his ass. She didn't care for one second that he may not like how she was addressing him. "and besides you are far from the only famous person in the neighborhood who comes in here. Hell your not even the most famous. Sully prides himself on providing those of notice with a safe haven. He doesn't like when any of his customers privacy is invaded. He figures that even though you are public figures you have a right to eat in piece. He won't allow them inside and I think they fear him enough to stay right where they are."" Well that doesn't mean they are going to leave either" he picked up his cup and took a big gulp. She picked up the pot sitting on the side of his booth and topped him off."No I don't think they plan on leaving and I am afraid that Sully will go back out there or call the cops. He doesn't want you to have to deal with them either that is why he sent me over"" What do you propose going out the back?" he chuckled."Well normally but there are some paps hanging out back there. Not for you but because Madonna is in the gallery across the alley""Really Madonna?" He had no idea she hung out around here. Having never meet her he found himself to be just a tad star struck himself."Yes Madonna. I will gladly walk you over there and introduce you if you'd like but then the paps will know your current favorite haunt and you will never get a moments peace."He looked at her curiously. Could she really just walk him over and introduce him to Madonna. He doubted it but her face showed no trace of a lie or that she was fucking with him. He glanced at her name badge. Elena. Man he really should pay more attention to his surroundings. He had a feeling this one could turn out to be quite the find." So what are we going to do Elena" he drew out her name and gave her his best award winning grin.Unfazed by his attempt at charm she said. "Sit tight for a few minutes and then get up and go toward the bathroom. I will meet you back there. She turned on a dime and walked back to the counter. Sully stood there looking stern and she put her hand on his arm and after a few seconds he relaxed and cracked a grin. Sully turned the smile in his direction .He nodded and smiled back. Preparing himself to disembark from his corner booth he placed his journal in his computer bag and drained his cup. Then he casually got up from the table and walked down the hall to the bathrooms. He stood outside for a moment but staring at the mens room door made him realized he needed to go. All that coffee caught up with him quick. Inside as he took care of business he wondered what Elena had up her sleeve. Really it wasn't a big deal he could just go outside and sign for the girls and pose for a picture but he was curious. The people at the diner had paid him little to no attention the entire time he had been coming here. He assumed it was because they had no idea who he was or just didn't care. But now from what Elena had said they not only knew who he was but felt protective of him. Very strange, people looking out for him with no ulterior motive. Or at least not one that had shown itself yet and maybe that was why he chose to go down the hallway instead of out the door. His curiosity was peaked. He had masochistic tendencies and was always looking for the evil in people at ( and found himself following close behind it) and so far this place was showing way to much good. There had to be something dark and sinister awaiting him. Somewhere. He washed his hands and ran them through his hair. He looked at his reflection. Not to bad he said to himself at least he had taken the time to shave this morning and his hair wasn't acting to crazy. When he opened the door she was waiting leaning against the wall. Instantly a smile came across his face and while she looked indifferent at first she finally smiled back at him."Come on there hot stuff follow me" She opened the door beside her and lead him through. A flight of stairs awaited them and she started up them. He found himself staring at the movement in her ass as she took each step. He really hoped she didn't look back and catch him gawking at her. It was such a lecherous thing to do but he couldn't take his eyes away. She entered a code and opened the door ushering him in with a sweep of her hand. " Gentlemen first"He went through and found himself in a lobby of an apartment building. He looked around it was nice and wide with marble floors and a wide black bannister staircase. An old fashioned lift stood at the back and Elena headed towards it. " You can take the stairs if you like but I live on the top floor and have been on my feet all day so I'll just have to meet you at the top"" You live here" This building was far to nice for someone living on a waitress salary to afford. He glanced at the back of the girl in front of him. She was dressed in an traditional waitress uniform her brown highlighted hair tied up in a tight bun. Perhaps there was more to her than that?She opened the lift doors and went inside. On cue she explained her residency " Sully owns the building. It has been in his family for decades. Most of his family lives here as well as most of the diner staff. He is a very loyal loving man. I was very lucky to have happened upon this place when I first came to the city. Sully has been a God send to me. I'd have gone home with my tail between my legs long ago if it had not been for him. The lift came to a halt. She opened the door and headed down the hallway to the last door. "Here we are forgive the mess. I wasn't expecting company" She lead me inside and instantly I feel in love with her place. The walls across the room were lined with custom crafted shelving filled with Movies, Books and music. There were two large windows that the shelving was built around and the curtains were open wide to let in the midday sun. The window sills were covered with frames of various sizes and styles all with shinning faces of what must be her family and friends. There was splashes of color everywhere, nicknacks and souvenirs. There were movie posters and a wall dedicated to what had to be her favorite baseball team. The top of the wall of bookshelves were cabinets with glass doors filled with black and white photographs. In the middle of the room was a large red couch a bright orange lounge chair and a deep purple leather chair with a matching ottoman. The living room alone was almost bigger than my very expensive apartment. "Holy Hell" I whisperedElena had been standing behind me as I surveyed her home. " Yeah it is really fabulous isn't it?" She wasn't bragging just stating a fact and there was a note of appreciation and disbelief in her voice." I still pinch myself some mornings when I wake up. It is hard to believe that this is my home. I had resigned myself to living in a closet when I first decided to come here and now I have this glorious place to live and it is bigger than my old apartment. Like I said Sully is an angel."" You live here alone?""Just me and Abby""Abby"As if she heard her name called a cat came running in from what had to be the bedroom. She wrapped herself around her humans legs. Elena bent down to pet her and scratch her behind the ears. "Hello there stinks missed you to" the cat gave Elena a couple of licks then turned tail and headed for one of the windows. A empty paisley covered window seat awaited her and she quietly curled up for a cat nap"Well you are a very lucky girl let me tell you I don't think I could afford this place" He took another glance around." You are right you probably couldn't and you don't have to tell me how lucky I am trust me I am well aware" She went and sat down on the couch. " Come on in make yourself at home." I went and sat down in the Purple chair. The cushions swooshed and the smell of leather hit me in the face. The chair was really comfortable. I could see Elena curled up in it watching one of those movies." So are you freaked out?" She was sitting on the edge of the couch with her hands in her lap."Why would I be freaked out?" He thought that maybe it was she that was feeling a bit off." You are in some strange women's house. I could be a stalker or a serial killer or something" She gave me a devilish look and an evil grin" Well I hadn't thought about that until just now THANKS and you know I could just as easily be a serial killer myself. Do you always invite customers up to your apartment?"I returned the grin and the look.She laughed and exhaled " Only the ones of notice" She jumped up from the couch and headed towards her bedroom. " I will be right back got to get out of this damned uniform I fucking hate this thing but I suppose it is a small price to pay right? She paused in the doorway and turned back to me. "The kitchen is in the back help yourself to anything you like I will just be a minute. She went inside but didn't close the door. Hum I wonder if I should? No I told the pervert side of me. No peaking you might really freak her out. Instead I got up and walked towards the kitchen. A swinging door blocked it off from the rest of the apartment. Inside I could see that it was as bright as the rest of the living space. On the counter was some really good smelling bread and an empty tea cup. Where the hell did she find all these red appliances It thought to myself. Even the fridge was colorful filled with magnets, postcards and magazine clippings. He opened it to find quite a few options but chose a beer from the door and closed it behind him. Back through the swinging doors he went and stopped in his tracks. On the wall outside the door was a full sized poster of his face. A promo shot from his most famous role. Dear God he thought. He knew she knew who he was but...." So you ready to run for the elevator yet?" She stood in the doorway again this time in dark wash jeans and a green peasant top. She had taken her hair out of the bun and it hung newly brushed around her shoulders and down her back. She stepped out into the living room and headed toward me. She looked much better in her current ensemble and he couldn't help notice she had curves in all the right places. She was a few years older than him to and he couldn't help but run a cougar fantasy quickly through his mind. Perhaps the poster wasn't such a big deal. " Sorry I should have warned you about the poster. I have to admit that I am a fan of yours. This series especially. I was a big fan of the books and was really excited when you were cast in the part. I thought you were the perfect fit."" Thanks I appreciate that"" Sure no problem. I am sure your used to being praised for your work though. You are a good actor." She walked into the kitchen the swinging door bouncing back and forth behind her.'You say that as if most people don't agree with that statement" He was curious as to what she had to say about him, whether or not she would spill the same groupie nonsense he heard from so many women at clubs and functions or if she had a rare case of substance behind her. He glanced again at the poster and then realized that he was not the only face staring back at him in the apartment. There was a wall filled with framed magazine covers. If she was a groupie she wasn't his exclusively. Perhaps she just had a great love for the pop culture in general. She breezed by me glass in hand and went back to the couch. She lounged across half of it and motioned for me to join her."Well you do have to admit you have haters out there. People who have dismissed you as a flash in the pan because your fan base is primarily young and will out grow you. You were a little indie actor one moment then a bright shinning super nova the next"" Super Nova?"" Yeah you know someone who burns brightly for a short period of time then burns out"" Is that what you think" he said defensively.She held her hands up "NO! NO! Oh shit don't get me wrong. I didn't mean to offend you really. It's just my opinion on the hollywood machine. They like to pump someone up so much and push them out there in every possible way and then when the market is over saturated and you are at the very top of your game they do everything they can to tear you down. Then when they crash and burn all the tabloids and blogs whisper about what went wrong and all the "insiders" come out of the woodwork talking about how they all saw it coming. Mind you they did nothing to stop it and were more than happy to be riding along in the train while it was steaming full speed ahead. Now as they jump off it they stick the knife in a little deeper and get paid for your pain. I think the business your in is both heaven and hell on earth. It is the rare few who find the balance between the two and make a decent life for themselves. Doing what they love and living as normal a life as possible.She was pretty dead on with her description. Everything she said I had felt the last few months. One of the reasons I had to step away from it." I mean isn't that what they are doing to you? You make hundreds of millions of dollars for the studios, you brought in ratings for all the shows you appeared on and sales for the magazines you graced the covers of but now you have taken a little sabbatical and bam they are all talking about how your having a nervous breakdown and how your throwing your career away. It pisses me off." She took a sip from her glass and tried to calm herself " Sorry" She smiled at me and made a goofy face. " I go on tangents sometimes. My girlfriends say I get way to involved. But I don't know I just have sympathy for people in the public eye. There is no way to win. You can never please everyone and God forbid you try and please yourself. I don't know how you do it"I leaned back into the chair and closed my eyes " Perhaps that is just it I don't at least not right now. You see I am having a self destructive nervous breakdown that will lead to my downfall. Didn't you here" Something hit me squarely in the face and I opened my eyes and stared back at Elena in shock. A pillow rolled down my lap and onto the floor." What the hell was that for" I pretended to be mad but inside I wanted to crack up. I couldn't believe she had just hit me. Spunky definitely Spunky. I liked her." You were making fun of me and you know it. You deserved more but I don't want to be responsible for messing up that pretty face of yours. Fan girls all over the world would hunt me down and kill me""So very true" I put on my sincere face and shook my head up and down " I am beloved by millions. I'd hate to think what they would do to you. Just those girls down stairs would tear you to shreds" Another pillow came towards my head but this time Elena had leaned in with it and I was able to grab her arm as the pillow hit its mark. I pulled myself up out of the chair and her off the couch. We stood inches apart her skin burning though my hand. Holy hell again. She looked me defiantly in the eye not flinching for a moment. The overwhelming desire to kiss her hit me like a ton of bricks. I pulled her to me and did just that. Her lips were soft and full and tasted like toothpaste and strawberry lip gloss. She didn't kiss me back at first and I had to persuade a reaction by gently biting her bottom lip. Her eyes were still open and full of fury. I wasn't sure if she was going to kiss me or punch me in the face. I leaned back and smiled a crooked grin at her. That must have did it cause she grabbed my head and pulled me back to her kissing me hard. She traced her tongue across my lips and I opened my mouth slightly. I let go of her arm and she placed it around my waist pulling me towards the couch. Spunky and aggressive. Two points. We fumbled for position trying not to loose contact. It was all hands and lips and from the outside it would have looked like some odd primal freestyle dance routine. Once situated I let my hands run down the side of her body she jumped when I touched bare skin on her stomach and kissed me harder when I went lower. I fumbled with the button on her jeans and just as I had succeeded she pulled away "Wait shit stop". She pushed me away and I feel back on the other side of the couch. She ran her hands across her face and touched her lips. Biting down on one finger she looked up at me. Her hair was wild around her face and her lips were red and swollen but she still managed to look innocent. " I am so sorry. I don't know what came over me. I swear I didn't bring you up here for this. Fuck it. Fuck it Fuck it." Spunky, aggressive and a mouth like a sailor. Three points. She was clearly mad at herself for making out with me. That was not a reaction I had anticipated." Did I do something wrong"She wore a puzzled expression " God NO are you kidding that was fabulous" she shut her mouth quickly clearly fearing she had said just a little to much a little to emphatically. Her expressions said more than her words ever could and he made a mental note never play poker with her.He moved closer to her " So what is the problem?" he reached out to touch her leg.She took his hand in hers and held it."It's just that I don't do things like this. I know people say that all the time when they do things like this but I mean it. I really only brought you up her today to help you out. I thought I was doing a good deed and now here I am attacking you and sucking face with you and I have made myself into just another one of those groupie chicks that throw themselves at you all the time and that is SOOO not who I am. I don't know you and you don't know me and now there is a pretty good chance I never will." She let go of my hand and stood up. " I fucked it up by letting the inner fan-girl rage".He didn't quite understand the deal but the idea that he couldn't take her seriously because she had kissed him was a bit ridiculous. After all he had kissed her first. " I believe there were two of us macking on each other just now am I wrong? She continued to look anywhere but at him. " I kissed you first Elena and I don't regret it for a minute. Your damned good at it and just so you know I don't go around kissing every girl, fan-girl or otherwise and you would be surprised at how little this kind of thing happens to me. I don't get approached that often and when I do I can usually smell a line of bullshit a mile away or get shy and go into myself. I don't date and I haven't had a serious relationship in over three years. I have done nothing but work since then. No time or energy for that part of my life. So perhaps it is me who should apologize to you. You did do something nice for me and I took advantage of that. You just looked so damned cute and I couldn't help myself. I wanted to kiss you I still do." I gave her the grin as she finally looked at me."Really? I thought all those things you said in interviews were just a line of crap to keep your fans happy. You know the heartthrob needs to appear to be available. And then of course there were all the chicks rumored to be your hook-ups. Hell you have been linked to just about all your co-stars"" Dear God when have I had the time for all that sex?" I rolled my eyes to the heavens " I wish I had time for all that sex but honestly nothing could be further from the truth. I am not a saint but I am far from the sinner the media makes me out to be. This is as close as I have come in quite some time"" That is kind of sad" She laughed out loud and flopped back into the leather chair. She seemed relived which was good but I couldn't help but be a little bit peeved that she was laughing at me. My lack of recent sex was a sore subject for me. " I am not poking fun really I'm not in fact I am in the boat with you. Perhaps our equally blue balls got the better of us huh?"" So your sexually deprived as well?" Lecherous thoughts filled my head again. Oh how I hoped I'd be rapped around this girl again on the couch in the matter of minutes if not seconds. Sitting the way she currently was I couldn't help but watch her heaving breasts go up and down as she breathed in and breathed out. " Stop staring at my tits you perv" She covered her chest with her arms but she sucked her lips in trying not to laugh." Oh hardy har har har. Laugh at my pain. My blue balls are real you know not metaphorical" He shifted his weight trying to find a spot where he was comfortable.Realization hit Elena's face. " Do you need a minute?" her eyes raised and she bit her lower lip. I really did need a minute but I'd be damned if I'd let her know that. Thankfully the phone rang and Elena jumped up to get it. I stood and tried to shake it off walking over to the window and taking a few deep breaths. Despite the last few minutes he couldn't help but feel that I had not been this at ease or this happy in a quite a while. For the first time in a very long time his world felt real. He was having a life moment away from any prying eyes and it felt great. He had been in the public eye in some form or other since he was a teen and most of his life moments had been captured on film ( in one form or another). Everyone around him had an agenda or he feared they had one and therefore he had not really breathed freely until this moment. He was happy. He turned around to look at Elena who was still on the phone. She was listening intently to whomever was on the other end of the line and she pulled her hair behind her ear. She nodded a couple of times and hung up the phone. " So that was Sully he said the fan-girls finally gave up and the paps are gone so you are free and clear to go about your business""Well I am just a tad disappointed. I figured they would last a little longer than that. They really weren't that great of stalkers now where they""No I suppose not" She was looking past me no through me out the window." Hey were did you go?" he walked over to her and put his hand on her arm. "Elena?"" Well since your stalkers have left I guess you can get back to your life." She headed to the door."Hey wheres the fire? I don't need to leave right away. I thought maybe I'd stick around a while order some take out and watch one of those movies you have over there."The door knob was now in her hand and the door was ajar but she didn't open it any further. "Why would you want to stick around here with me?'Why wouldn't I. Come on where having a great time right and your off work and I am unemployed so we have nothing but time right? We can hang out and get to know one another and you can tell me more of your theories on the Hollywood establishment and I can tell you more about what a failure I am with women. What do you say?" Well I'd say you are absolutely nuts to want to spend your free time with me when you could be with just about anyone in the world. But after watching you these last weeks I get the feeling that you really don't care about that now do you? The normalcy of the life you have been leading lately is intoxicating. You keep living the same day over and over. You keep the same routine of doing just a little bit more than nothing and it feels great. I have watched the tension release from your body, the ticks and the jumpiness have dissipated and slowly but surely you have relaxed. All while sitting in my diner drinking decaf and eating pie. So I guess it doesn't matter to you in the slightest that I am a just a waitress in a diner with a poster of you hanging on the her wall. It doesn't matter that a tiny part of me is totally giddy about the idea of being here with you because you are this unattainable dream that somehow became reality .I know of you not know you and you know even less than that about me. Does any of that make sense?"Yes it does and your right none of that makes an difference to me. What does it matter what either of us do for a living. I am an actor who hates his job and paid a million dollars for an apartment half this size and you are a waitress who takes better care of the strangers that sit at her station than people who have known and worked for me for years. As for the giddy part well I suppose I would be to if I was in your shoes. Hell I have been in your shoes. A total drooling mess of a man over several actresses, a couple of models and even earlier today when you told me you could introduce me to to Madonna. My palms literally started sweating. She is freaking MADONNA for God's sake. I have never said I didn't understand it I just couldn't understand why anyone would feel that way about me. Oh and when the hell did you switch me to decaf?"Elena laughed and turned away from me wiping her eyes. Tears another thing he hadn't expected. She brushed it off and opened the door wider. Thinking it was my cue to go I walked to the door " Hey where are you going?" she put her arm out to stop me from going out the door." I thought you wanted me to leave"" I thought you wanted to stay"' I do""Well good its settled. I am going downstairs to get us some dinner you stay here and relax and I will be back in a few minutes" Her eyes crinkled again at the corners and the killer smile was back. She walked out the door closing it softly behind her.I opened it back up after her " Elena""Yes"" Don't forget the decaf""Of course Robert how could I possibly forget that." She walked down the hall mumbling something about that damned crooked grin.
I wrote this story a couple of years ago and have posted it before so some of you may have already read it. There is a sequel brewing in my head so I figured I would repost it here on my official blog. The story is inspired by a recurring dream I had about a certain actor and yes I took my female leads name from another popular bit of fiction.
