Beautiful Hue

I walk around my house looking for anything I could possibly leave behind before my month long trip to Cleveland. I sit my suitcases at the front door then I walk upstairs to grab my phone. As I enter my room, I see my phone light up. I open it and I see a text from Bridget pop-up.

“Good morning champ. I can’t wait to see you today.” Bridget texts, she immediately sends another text. “Good morning sir. Is there anything you need, before I leave for the airport?”

I smile and dial her number. As the phone rings I walk towards the stairs.

“Hello?” she answers.

“I told you. Stop calling me sir.” I say to her, as I smile walking down the stairs, with the phone up to my ear.

“I have to keep it professional.” She says, in a flirtatious voice.

“Well to respond to your first statement. I can’t wait to see you either.”

“Good.” She says. “And?”

“And no, I don’t need you to do anything.” I respond. “One second.” I say, as I look out of the front door. “Shit. Hey Bridget, I’ll see you at the airport, Ok?”

“Alright. See you soon,” She says.

I stare out of the window and watch Sarah put in the code to my gate from inside of her car. She drives down the driveway and I walk outside shaking my head.

“It’s almost time Benjamin!” She yells out of her Mercedes.

“This has to stop.” I say to myself. “I thought production was sending a van?!” I yell.

She gets out of the running car and walks up my stairs.

“I told them not to come.” she says, as she holds her arms open for a hug. I turn sideways and hug her back.

“So I’m riding with you?” I ask.

“Yeah, are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let me grab my things.”

I open the front door and I grab two of my suitcases. She grabs the third one. We put them into the backseat of her car next to her suitcases. I walk back into my house and I lock the doors. I go back to the car and we ride to the airport.

* * * *

Sarah drives on the packed highway. She gradually gets over to the carpool lane and traffic flows smoothly.

“Are you ready to work?” she asks.

“Yeah, the script is great.” I say to her.

She drives for a few moments until traffic stops abruptly.

“What in the shit-balls!” She yells.

“Shit-balls, Sarah?” I laugh.

“Sorry. I didn’t know what else to say,” she says, as she begins to laugh.

We suddenly approach stopped traffic.

“So what happened to you on Letterman?” She asks.

I get quiet and look out of the window. After a few moments I look back at her.

“I fucked it up.”I say to her.

“It was the moment about Kennedy. Wasn’t it?” she asks.

For a second I go quiet. “Yeah.” I say to her with reservation.

Traffic begins to pick back up and Sarah continues to drive. My phone rings and I quickly pick it up, trying to quickly escape the awkward silence.

“It’s Jeff.” I say.

“Answer it.” she suggests.

“Hello?”

“Hey Benjamin, how far are you guys?” Jeff asks.

“We’re about five minutes out.” I say to him.

“Alright, the rest of the gang is here. Sarah said she was driving is that right?” Jeff asks.

“Yeah, she’s going to park in the parking garage.”

“Perfect, we’ll meet you there in five.” Jeff says.

I hang up the phone and relay the message back to Sarah.

She continues to drive. She gets off of the freeway and swerves towards the airport.

* * * *

Sarah and I approach the LAX parking deck. As we approach we see Jeff, Bridget and William waiting for us. As she pulls into a parking lot the three of them approach us and we exit the car.

“It’s hot as hell out here.” I say as I take one of my suitcases out of the backseat. Sarah opens the door on her side of the car and takes out another suitcase. “What’s up everyone?” I say to the gang.

“Benjamin! How are you feeling?” William asks.

“I feel fine. Ready to work.” I say to William.

As I grab my last suit case, Bridget walks over to help me. Sarah looks at her confused.

“Sarah, this is Bridget. My assistant.” I say to her.

Bridget and Sarah shake hands. and smile at one another, the energy in the parking garage changes for a moment. I close the car door and the trunk. Jeff, William and Bridget help us take the suitcases inside to baggage claim.

* * * *

As we all approach the line for check-in, Bridget walks beside me and lists off everything in the itinerary for the week. I can feel Sarah glancing at me suspiciously, as she talks to William about her role. As we all get through check-in we all sit and wait for our flight to board.

Bridget sits down next to me and sends some last minute emails. Sarah walks over and sits on the other side of me.

“Hey, we never finished our conversation earlier.” she says.

“Yeah, everything is fine now. After the show I had a lot of time to think about it. Are you ready for Monday?” I ask.

“Oh... ok. Cool. Yeah, I’m ready. Are you?” She asks.

“Yeah, I’m ready.”

Bridget turns to me.

“Hey, do you want to stay at the Westin, or the Intercontinental?” she asks. “The Ritz had some issues.” she explains.

“Let’s go to the Intercontinental.” I say.

“Alright,” she replies. Bridget walks away to make my reservations.

“Oh, big baller.” Sarah says. “Mr. Oscar winner staying at the fancy places now.

“I just want to be comfortable. Where are you staying?” I ask.

“The Hilton.” she says.

“That’s just as good.”

“Sure.” she says. “I’m going to grab something to eat. Do you want anything?”

“I’m fine, thanks Sarah.”

As Sarah walks away, Bridget walks back over and sits next to me.

“Is she alright?” Bridget asks.

“She’ll be fine. I think she’s upset about you being here. I don’t know.”

“But I’m working for you.” Bridget replies, just as confused as I am.

“I know.” I respond. “Listen don’t worry about it.“

Our flight is called and we all walk over to boarding. As we enter through the tunnel and onto the plane I sit down next to Bridget an aisle across from Jeff. We all buckle into our seatbelts. The flight attendants do their routines and shortly after, the plane begins to move and we take off to Cleveland.