Ashton: Leah?
She walks towards me, not paying attention to Claire and Neha at first and hands me a piece of paper and a pen. 'Schedule for the Month'...?
Leah: Are there any changes that you want to make in this? I need to submit this later.
Ashton: Um, okay...?
I cast a sideways glance at the two. Neha seems to be dumbfounded. She signals me with her eyes.
Neha: 'That her?'
I sightly nod and look over at Claire. She has her head held low.
Ashton:...?
Leah: Hello? Is anything you want to change?
Leah asks, impatient.
Ashton: Oh, uh, yeah, I'll do it myself.
I turn around and head for a nearby table leaving the three of them back there. Okay, let's see... Interview on Friday shifted to Saturday. I do the necessary changes and turn back towards them to see Leah greeting Neha. Then, she turns to Claire.
Leah: You must be...
Claire:... Claire Blanche, Fusia Publishings. Nice to meet you.
Leah: Ah, so that's you. How's the article coming along?
Claire: It's,... it's going well.
She seems uncomfortable. I quickly walk back towards them and stand between her and Leah. I thrust the schedule at Leah.
Ashton: Here you go.
Leah:... Thanks.
She takes it from me and leaves. I turn around to face Claire to see her avoiding eye contact. I'm about to ask her about the awkwardness from before when the staff members call Neha and me for our scenes. I head towards the screening area with Neha. I look over my shoulder at Claire. Claire timidly takes a seat and pulls out her phone. I'll ask Leah about this afterwards. I resume my work keeping that in mind.
After the shoot, I approach Leah outside the studio.
Leah: Back already? Where's your interviewer?
Ashton: She had something to do at work so she left.
I recall how she staggered and left the studio saying that she had some other work when I asked her if she wanted to continue the interview after the shoot.
Ashton: Speaking of which, what was up with you two?
Leah: What do you mean? I was just talking to her. What's so special in that?
Ashton: I'm not blind, Leah. Now, tell me.
Leah: Fine, it's about that thing 8 years ago.
Ashton: What thing?
Leah: After you guys broke up, she asked me for money countless times but, I refused; that's why she was embarrassed to see me.
Something tells me that she's lying. Moreover, Claire wasn't embarrassed, she was uncomfortable around her. Why do I feel like she's hiding something very important from me? But, even if I press her, she won't budge.
Ashton:... Okay then.
Leah: Man, I never thought that you would doubt me for an ex- prostitute.
Ashton: Watch it.
Leah: Whatever.
She rolls her eyes and starts to walk towards the car. Why is SHE irritated?! I should be the one angry when she called someone I... care(?) for an ex- prostitute! I clench my fists tightly in frustration and follow after her. She takes a seat beside the driver and I get seated in the backseat.
Leah: Oh, I almost forgot. There's this party tonight-
Ashton: I'm not going.
Leah: 'Thought you'd say that, but, it's very important.
Ashton: Didn't I just attend one the very day I came back?
Leah: Ash.
She calls me out, her voice stern.
Ashton: You can't make me go.
Leah: Drake will be there too.
Ashton: Pfft, like that'll work-... Wait, who did you say was going to be there?
Leah: Nevermind, you don't want to go either way.
Ashton: Don't be such a brat, you said Drake would be there, didn't you?
Leah: So, you're going or not?
Ashton: Going of course!
Leah: Easily persuaded, I see.
Ashton:...
I'll be meeting Drake Brown, my best friend (who ironically, I haven't been in touch with for 8 years), after eight long years. I heard that he inherited his family business, it's the most powerful company in the whole country; my family's business comes second. He must've changed a lot in the past years. I can't wait to meet him though. I look at the scenery outside the window thinking of the same as the car drives off.