Disclaimer: These are not my characters, I’m just borrowing them
Author’s Note: This little fic came into being because of photo mrswalkerwrites sent me of our Seth faceclaim and the conversation we had afterwards. Thank you for inspiring and contributing to this, A!
Summary: Seth notices Kaylee looking stressed at a party and enacts a plan to help her relax.
A gentle evening breeze ruffles my carefully coiffed locks as I scan the elegantly dressed crowd. Many of the faces which flicker past my gaze are familiar by now; this isn’t my first event with the Hollywood elite, nor, I assume, will it be my last.
Nearly a year and a half ago I was a struggling stand up comedian and part-time underwhelmed chauffeur to the stars. Now I am the star being carted off to the fancy restaurants with too tiny portions of food I can never pronounce and spas with only the best “organic mud from Spain”.
Not that I’m complaining exactly.
My life has changed so much since I met my plucky neighbor from Iowa, primarily for the better. But the constant attention and pressure to be “on” and Hollywood ready at all times tends to eat at me after a while at events like this one. And, knowing her better than I know myself, if I’m crippling under the thousand tons of pressure from the stardom anvil, she will be succumbing to it soon as well.
My heart surges when I finally manage to spot her, a singular ornate flower in a bed of overgrown weeds, then promptly plummets upon further inspection. Her lips curve in a polite smile, eyes focusing intently on the balding gentleman across from her.
To most people, nothing would appear amiss, she’s the perfect picture of a contented go-getting star on the rise; the exact portrait she intended to paint. But I know better. I notice the subtle twitch of her bottom lip as she nibbles on it briefly before catching herself, and the miniscule circles her left heel draws on the stone terrace.
I detest seeing her like this, shoulders tense from the weight of social obligations. She always works too hard at these events, willingly chatting with everyone who approaches her with little regard for her own needs.
Lucky for her, I’m always prepared for moments such as this.
Grease from the hair gel I glopped on earlier slicks my fingers as I part my hair entirely to one side. I shuffle sideways until I’m surely in her peripheral view. When her gaze finally flickers to me, her olive green eyes flashing with recognition, I set my plan in motion.
My lips contort into a large off-kilter smile, my tightly clenched teeth completely visible, and my eyelids open a tad too wide.
The sparkle of genuine happiness flashes in her eyes, her right cheek twitching as her dimple makes far too brief an appearance. And in the blink of an eye it vanishes, only apparent to someone paying the strictest attention to her, someone like me.
Spurred by her reaction, however fleeting it was, I continue bargaining my girlfriend with silly faces, each one more extravagant than the previous. At one point, a voice of reason whispers for me to stop and let her finish her clearly serious conversation in peace. But every lip curl in an attempt to hold in a laugh and quiver of real contentment on her features sends an electric shock of joyful warmth to my heart.
I’m addicted to seeing her smile and craving my next fix.
The furrowed brows and deep frown I’m greeted with a time later don’t manage to sober me up much.
“What did you do that for?” Kaylee demands.
“Whatever are you talking about?” My eyes widen and I flash the most innocent grin I can muster.
“The faces, Seth,” She snaps, but I notice her perturbed facade crumbling under my cheesily handsome stare. “I was discussing a possible new role and nearly burst out laughing five times! Now Ron Howard probably thinks I’m crazy.”
Despite her discontentment toward my antics, my calm, jolly demeanor refuses to falter.
“He’s a major director, I’m sure seemingly random fits of laughter are nothing compare to the crazy he’s seen. Besides, were you actually happy for those split seconds? Real life happy, not Hollywood happy?”
“Well… yeah.” She admits, her face softening in realization, her petit hand squeezing mine in appreciation.
“Then my mission was a success.” My hands cup her soft cheeks, tilting her chin up slightly as I bend down to brush a kiss to her forehead. “Ready to head home, Iowa?”
“Now that a rumor of my lunacy is sure to be the headline of every major tabloid tomorrow?” Kaylee’s teasing grin brightens the farthest corners of my soul. “Of course, Ohio. As long as it’s with you, I’m ready to go anywhere.”
– The End
