“Oh. My. God. You’re Ashley Davies!”

I smile. I smile the most genuine smile I possess because she doesn’t know how grateful I am for her intrusion. She doesn’t get how thankful I feel.

“I love you. I-I just love you!” She’s smiling wider than I’ve seen anyone smile lately and that makes me feel good, makes me feel special.

“Thank you,” The words leave my lips and she’s already fumbling in her purse for a camera. She’s pulling out a little hot pink digital camera and shyly looking from me to it.

“Do…do you mind?” She asks pointing to the device in her hands. She asks it so unsurely that it causes me to smile.

“Sure,” With another scream of excitement escaping her lips, she hands the camera to her friend and moves beside me, smiling wide and facing the camera. I smile too and with a flash, the picture is taken. A moment is savored and she is beyond overjoyed.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

“No problem.”

She disappears in the crowd and just like that my moment of distraction is over. And nothing is holding me from making my way to that table. I take a big gulp of my beer and start walking. I can see Kyla’s eyes light up the closer I get, I see her smile widen. I know she’s grateful for the distraction from the awkwardness she always feels when left alone with Kelly. I reach the table and take the seat that was formerly mine, the seat beside the girl I call a girlfriend, the girl whose breathing is starting to work my nerves.

“How does that not get old?” It’s Glen who says this, he looks directly at me and for just a second I’m not sure what he’s referring to.

“What?” I hold my breath. Surely he wouldn’t, not here, not with the knowledge he holds, and the body so close to mine listening eagerly.

“The fans and the picture taking.”

I breathe a sigh of relief, and although from the outside looking in it appears normal, it feels strained and uncomfortable. I feel like I’m just a few moments away from gasping for air but I know nothing could be further from the truth. “I don’t know. I guess I never really got used to it.”