Her Perfect Gift

et out of there, she went crazy because of me and Seth.”

“Hmmm…” I can tell that Ivy isn’t totally convinced herself, which is fair enough. I can’t expect her to be fully accepting of this because unlike my mother she does know what happened before, all of it, but at least she’s stepping backwards and allowing me to do what I know is right. “Okay, well as long as Seth is being good…”

“Oh, he’s being amazing.” I swell with happiness. The last couple of days have been amazing here. He has been doing whatever he can to make me feel welcome, make me happy… he really is different this time around. He’s been a real gentleman with me, fully committed in every single way.”

“That’s good,” Ivy replies a little cautiously. “I’m glad to hear it. He has a lot of making up to do.”

“I know, I know, but he’s doing well. He’s out at a meeting with his agent right now, but when he comes back, he’s bringing a fancy dinner with him. Then we’re going to a Hollywood party tonight…”

“Now that makes me jealous,” she admits. “Because me and Adam are just going to the local bar before heading home for a quiet night in. We will be watching the Times Square ball drop on TV.”

I weirdly get a little pang of jealousy myself because that sounds so simple and lovely. I don’t want to feel that way because I know how lucky I am, but I kinda wish that me and Seth could do the same. I’m nervous about mingling with other celebrities, because that will be really strange. Especially when Seth is used to it, because this is his world. I’m scared that I will be out of my comfort zone and make a mess of things.

“Oh, but that sounds fun too, Ivy,” I tell her. “I would like to be there with you.”

“No, you wouldn’t! You are going to be living the freaking dream. I bet you even have designers sending you dresses to wear tonight because they all want to be seen on Seth Bishop’s girlfriend on your unveiling. Your first official night out in the public eye and you need to look amazing.”

I dart my eyes over to the rack of dresses in the corner of the room… dresses which I haven’t yet looked at because I’m filled with nerves. Seth has told me that I won’t offend anyone by not picking their clothes because it happens all the time. He encouraged me to try them all on to see which one feels best, but I haven’t yet gotten around to it. I’m going to have to though because I don’t have much time…

“I do actually. And I have hair and makeup people coming around later on.”

“Another hairdresser?” Ivy demands in mock horror. “How dare you? I am so offended.”

“I’m sorry. You know I wouldn’t go to anyone else if I didn’t have to. I would much prefer you here.”

“Well, maybe when you are famous in your own right, I will be your personal stylist.”

“Now that isn’t going to happen, I’m not chasing fame, but yes… you can be.”

We chat for a little while longer which makes me more home sick than I thought I was going to be, but soon me and Ivy have to end our conversation. I can’t think about my friends and my other life right now, because I need to find an outfit that fits around my diamond necklace to live the Hollywood dream. I do what I can to push the nerves to one side and concentrate on the excitement because I need to make the most of this amazing opportunity. I need to enjoy it in place of all the people who can’t. I need to show Ivy how incredible my life here can be, how being with Seth is the right choice for me. I know, I just need to let everyone else see that my judgement can be trusted. That me and Seth are meant to be after all.

“I am a princess,” I whisper to myself, reminding myself of the fun. “I can be a princess. Even if being Hollywood royalty makes me nervous. Being in the public eye makes me scared, but I can do anything…”

I can. I roll my shoulders back and hold my head high. Yep, I can.

“I don’t look like me,” I tell Seth nervously as the car pulls up outside the party. “There are all those photographers there, people who are going to want to see us together, and I don’t look like myself.”

“You look like a princess, Darcy,” Seth chuckles, not really getting my point. “You look amazing. Like a real LA princess. People are going to be thinking that you’re a model or something.”

Hmm, a model, the sort of woman who is normally on Seth’s arm. That’s just a way to make me feel even more insecure right now. Sure, I look better than normal, like a doll or an airbrushed version of myself in a magazine, but instead of taking that and feeling good about it, I’m just stiff and uncomfortable.

“Don’t worry.” Seth pulls me to him and kisses me on top of the head. “I know this is a bit much the first time, I was really nervous as well when I had to do something like this, but I can assure you that the attention on you only lasts for a moment before they move on to someone else. It’s fast. Then we will be inside the party and we can have a drink and enjoy ourselves. It will be great. Trust me.”

I send him a smile, trying to let him know that I’m okay, but really, I’m a mess. Seth takes this at face value and slides out the car before holding his hand out to me. I’m too scared to get out of the car because it’s safe here and there is a lot of noise out there, but I feel like Seth really needs me right now. He wants my help.

So, with a deep breath, I drag my ass along the seat and let him take me with him. Then we walk along a bright red carpet, an actual red carpet which is something that I have only seen in magazines before now. My legs are trembling and shaking as I go, but thankfully I have Seth there to hold me upright.

“Smile,” he whispers to me, his words tickling my ear. “The cameras are on us right now.”

I do as he commands, but I feel like my smile might be stiff and forced. I don’t know how to smile to make myself look good, and to be honest, I have been on the Internet before. I don’t think that it matters how I will look; people will find something negative to say about me anyway. I don’t stand a chance.

“Seth who is this? Your new girlfriend? Tell us about her!”

“Does this mean you and Arianna are over? What does she think about this?”

“Is this new girlfriend the reason why your career has changed?”

Questions fire from every angle and I’m surprised that Seth doesn’t bother to answer them at all. Instead, he turns away from the crowd and he guides me inside. It seems like he thinks that he has given them enough. It’s good he knows what to do because I sure as shit don’t have a clue. Especially when it seems like they are already trying to dig around, find a reason why they don’t like me. I haven’t changed his career, I didn’t make him split up with whoever they were talking about, I haven’t done anything wrong.