I take hold of Jake’s hand, and we start to walk through the Louvre following Dave. Ben is behind us, the museum’s staff with us too.
People are following us, and stopping to stare as we pass by.
Honestly, it makes me want to break out into a sprint.
All these beautiful things here in the Louvre and all people seem to want to do is stare at Jake.
I get he’s beautiful. I want to stare at him all day long too, but it’s just plain rude to stare so blatantly, and to follow him … us … when we are clearly out together for the day, without any recrimination whatsoever.
I hold on a little tighter to Jake’s hand. He squeezes it, giving me a small, uneasy small.
He’s feeling bad that we’re having to leave, and I know he’s worried as to how I feel about it, especially after what we talked about in the car just before we arrived.
How do I feel?
Stressed, a bit panicky, annoyed that we can’t even go on a simple day out together without attracting the crazy.
Is this how it’s always going to be?
I don’t know if I’m cut out for this. It’s scary as to the level of attention Jake receives.
We reach the main door and Dave pushes it open, then I’m hit with some camera flashes. There are paparazzi out here.
I thought they were in the parking lot? How the hell did they know we’d be coming out this way?
“So you two are together then? Are you finally settling down Jake? Is Trudy the one?”
The voices are coming from left, right and centre.
Jesus Christ, this is insane.
I keep my head down. Jake’s arm is around me now, tight, holding me to him. Dave is on Jake’s right, arm on him guiding us over to Stuart’s waiting car. Ben is at my side, staying close to me.
“Trudy! Look this way gorgeous, let us see your face!”
I need to get out of here. I don’t think I’ve ever felt as uneasy in all my life as I do right now.
I tilt my head further down, practically tucking my chin into my chest.
The next thing I know, we’re at the car. Dave has the door open and Jake is guiding me in. I shuffle along sitting behind the passenger seat, and then Jake quickly climbs in behind me.
Dave shuts the door, pushing some paps out of the way in the process. Ben climbs in the passenger seat and then Stuart’s driving us away, pretty quickly.
My heart is bumping around my chest.
I turn in my seat looking out the back window, worrying the paparazzi might be following.
I can’t see any suspicious looking cars, but then there’s plenty around. And I’m thankful in this moment that the windows are so heavily tinted in this car.
Jake takes hold of my hand, pulling my attention to him, and it’s only then I realise my hand is shaking.
“Hey, are you okay?” His voice is soft and soothing. He takes hold of my chin, forcing my eyes to his.
“I’m fine.” My mouth’s dry. I moisten my lips with my tongue. “That was just … um … a little crazy.” I take a deep breath. “Is it always like that when you go out?”
“Not always, no,” he shakes his head. “That was a little more hectic than normal, but I’m guessing it’s because you’re with me, and the press will be after a picture of us together.”
“And the ones on Twitter weren’t enough?”
“Apparently not.”
“I don’t get it though, Jake. You’ve been out with women before, that’s not exactly a rarity.”
That sounded a little shittier than I intended.
He gives me a look. “No, Tru. I’ve fallen out of clubs with women before. I’ve never taken anyone out on date.”
“How did they even know we were on a date?” My voice is shrill again.
“Well, baby.” He tucks my hair behind my ear, and I’m relieved to his touch. “Anyone who took one look at us together could have easily worked that out – figured out that I’m crazy about you.”
“But we only started seeing each other properly yesterday!”
Okay, so I’m freaking out a little – a lot.
“It doesn’t take them long, Tru. You’re in this business, you know how it works.”
“I might be a journo, but I am nothing like them!” I say with indignation.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” He gives me a look. “I’m just saying, you work at a magazine, you see how things are with celebrities. My life is not private in a lot of ways, no matter how much I try to keep it as such. And this is their job – the paps. They make their living off the shit going on in my life, and the lives of other celebs. It’s just how things are. Not all the time, but a lot of it, and if something happens in my life – like me being out on a date … the possibility of me having a girlfriend, well then the media becomes interested … interested in you.”
“But I’m no one special.”