Oscar Magic

"Up...definitely up!"

"But her dress is strapless it would look nicer down."

"No this is the fuckin Oscars, no one except Whoopi is gonna have her hair down!"

"Fine! But it has to be delicate looking, perhaps a lower loose bun..."

"With light curls..."

"YES!"

I was about to kick both Mikey and Claudio out of my room and do my hair myself if they didn't start to shut up.  I was nervous enough as it is.  In less than three hours, I would be walking the red carpet of the Oscars.  I was going to go in a limo with Robert, his agent Ritz and his manager Nick.  There will be fans, interviewers, and lots of glamorous people.  I think I needed to pee again for the fifth time this hour...

"I like the idea of the loose bun with the curls...do that." I told the two stylists who Robert hired to help me get ready.  I told Robert that I was completely capable of doing my hair and makeup myself but he is really stubborn...

"Are you going to have a stylist do YOUR hair and makeup?"  I asked Robert as I began to unpack my clothes in my new L.A. hotel room.

Robert took his eyes off the view from the hotel window and turned to me wearing a smirk on his face, "No."

"So okay then, I don't need one either."  I crossed my arms and nodded my head making it my final statement. 

"Just let me get them to help you with it.  I asked you to come all the way here and its the least I can do.  Please."  He said that last word with such a puppy dog look I almost wanted to pet him.

"Okay, I guess it can't be that bad, having someone play Barbie with me."  I said shrugging my shoulders.

I was beginning to take that statement back.

"Okie so hair is settled.  Now on to makeup..."

"Hmmm...??  I think a smokey eye will look fabulous with the dress..dark on dark."

"No no no!!  Lighter is better, you don't want her looking like she IS a vampire."

"Ughhh!!"  I put my head in my hands.

There was a knock on the room door.  "I'll get it!" I jumped off the chair Mikey and Claudio had me sitting in and went to the door.  It was Ritz, Robert's agent.  

"Hey Ritz...you look really nice!" She was wearing a simple blue taffeta gown but it fell very elegantly on her.

"Thank you" she said with a smile.  "I just came to make sure everything is all right."

 "Okay I guess, we seem to be having a dilemma over what makeup I should have.  Mikey says light and Claudio said dark and I don't know what would work."

"What if you go light but have liner around the eyes with long lashes and a nice pink lip?" Ritz voiced over to the two men still waiting by my chair.  They seem to like that idea.

"Yes there is always that option.." Claudio pondered tapping a brush to his chin while staring at the floor.

Before the debate went on any longer I interjected, "Yes do that, I like that idea best."

Ritz then nodded her head, "Ok so you get moving along  with that and call me when you need help getting your dress on."

"Okie dokie" I answered back.  I closed the door when Ritz left and sat back in the chair letting my two stylists who can't make up their minds work on me again.

After an hour, my hair and makeup were done and I actually really loved it.  "I'm calling you when I have my wedding. You did an amazing job." I told them both of them as I examined myself in the mirror.

"Thank you hunny." Mikey said as they began to pack up their things.

I then called up Ritz for her to come over and help me with my dress.  I loved my dress so much I wish I could keep it, too bad I would have to fork over $5,000 if I did.  It was going to really hard to part with...

"Have you found anything yet?"  Rob asked for the umpteenth time.

"No, nothing is catching my eye."  Rob wanted to me to look at designer's websites so I could find a gown for the Oscars.  I was two hours into the search on my laptop and still found nothing.  Either something was too plain for the Oscars or too "out there" for me.

"Just google "Oscar gown"."  Rob thought he was funny.

Something clicked.  Oscar dress.  A dress for the Oscars.  Oscar...Oscar De La Renta! I quickly went to Oscar De La Renta's site and searched their fall collection and there it was.

"I found it." And I turned the laptop so Robert could see.  It was a strapless gown with the top in white encrusted with intricate beading and the rest of the gown was black and it had a small train.

After 10 seconds of staring at the dress, he finally says, "That's sexy" and with that, I made my decision.  

In a matter of an hour, Ritz had called Oscar's store and we drove to get me fitted for that dress.  When I got home, I tried it on once more just because I loved it so much.

Ritz arrived at my room in five minutes and Mikey and Claudio let themselves out when Ritz came in.  "Okay where's the gown?" She asked looking around.

"It's hanging behind the bathroom door, hold on." And I went to grab the garment bag containing my gown.  I wonder if Oscar would let me at least keep the garment bag.

I stepped into my gown rather than putting it over my head to make sure I didn't mess up my hair as Ritz held the dress for me.  The material felt so nice as it went up my body, all $5,000 of it.  And like butter, the zipper went right up.

"Wow," Ritz said as she walked to face to the front of me, "this dress is gorgeous on you Steph."

I blushed, "Thanks, it's killing me inside that I don't get to keep it" I said as swayed around in my gown like a little girl.

"Oh man! Heels!" she suddenly remembered.  "Where are they?"

"On the floor in the closet."  I would have gotten them myself but I was afraid of tripping.

The shoes were my own, Nine West t-strap four inch heels.  I was probably going to be unable to walk by the end of the night in these things but I'll suck it up for one night of glitz and glamour.

Once the shoes were on, I sat on the small table near the window and Ritz then proceeded to go over all the details about how this event will take place.  I already heard what she was about to say so I prepared myself for the series of low-blows that are soon going to follow.

"Okay so just a few reminders...because of the publicity surrounding Robert, we cannot have you too close on the carpet..."

I felt my heart sink but I tried to look like that line didn't phase me...again.

"If anyone does infer as to who you are, you can pretend you didn't hear them, especially if they are kind of far away or you introduce yourself as his assistant..."

Ouch..

"Try to remember that you never know who might be taking your picture so always be prepared for that, that means no silly faces or disgruntled looks or yawns...try not to sneeze either..."

"I gotcha" I interupted, she was really killing my buzz.

"Well then okay, we're ready," she said as she clapped her hands together.

I quickly checked myself in the mirror to see if anything was out of place and then we both left the room.  Ritz was checking her blackberry when she told me, "Nick and Robert should be leaving through the emergency exit and then we'll be meeting them in the front lobby."

And we got off the elevator to the lobby, my stomach was doing backflips.  I thought my legs were going to give out as we stood outside the hotel entrance waiting for the limo to pull up.  No more than a minute passes when I suddenly see a limo drive up.  "Okie, it's this one," Ritz announced as if I didn't realize the difference between a cab and a limo.

My heart was pounding.  I had no idea what to expect Robert to look like.  Ever since I met him, he's only worn ripped jeans, beanies, and hoodies.  In his past events, he would sometimes wear a suit but the shirt wouldn't be tucked in and his hair would be in its usual crazy position.  As the limo driver opened the door for me and I stepped in, nothing could have prepared me for the what I was about to see.

Was this Rob?  He looked completely different that how I would ever imagine he would look like.  It was BETTER than what I imagined.  He had on a form fitting tuxedo (which I later found out was Dolce and Gabbana) and everything about his outfit was perfect, his shirt was tucked in, the shoulders of his jacket were in the right place, his bow tie was excellently tied, he was even wearing cuff links and I could see my reflection through his shiny black shoes.

I took my focus off Robert for just a second to make sure I didn't fall as I maneuvered my way into the limo.  I sat down next to Robert while Ritz made her way to the side of the limo where Nick was.  

"You look beautiful." I heard coming from my left side.  I looked up and saw that Robert was smiling at me and his eyes were for lacking of a better term, "dazzling."  I think I caught my breathe at that brief moment as I got lost in his eyes.  Just like his outfit, his face was perfect. His hair was neatly done in a slightly disheveled look, his facial hair was neatly trimmed and he smelled amazing...Gucci Envy.

Realizing that I was basically ogling him, I looked down and bit my lip in embarrassment. "Thank you.  You look great too," I managed to get out while trying to suppress to squealing fan-girl instead of me that wanted have her way with him right there in the limo with his manager and agent watching.

"Thank you very much," He said with a grin, "So...are you excited?"

OMG OMG OMG...Robert Pattinson is sitting right next to you and he looks like sex on a stick and why aren't you jumping him right now...SHUT UP YOU STUPID FAN-GIRL BEFORE YOU GET US CAUGHT!  "Yeah I am.  I have no idea what to expect, I'm kind of nervous."

"Yeah that makes two of us" he said in agreement.

I realized when we were close to the venue because we were in the middle of huge limo traffic.  It was hard to fathom that I was about to see of crap load of celebrities and be in the epitome of the movie industry.

"Ryan Seacrest is going to be interviewing for E," Ritz announced mainly for Robert.

"Lovely," Robert said with a stroke of sarcasm.  I knew why he said that, it was because Ryan announced on his talk show he thought Robert has no personality.  "Just to piss him off, I'm going to be the most boring person he interviews today."

I gave a little laugh and proceeded to look out the window.  I was began to see the crowd where the red carpet was.  I actually saw the flashes of all the cameras go off too.  I turned around to find that Robert was fidgeting with his hands.  "Nervous?" I asked him.

"Extremely," he admitted.  "And I can't even touch my hair!  It's killing me!" and he laughed.

"Okay it's time to get out," Nick said his first line since the entire limo ride.  He was a man of few words...

Robert briefly grabbed my hand and gave it tight squeeze before he sighed and said, "here goes."

Of course, Nick, Ritz, and I had to go out from the door by the road while Robert was the only one who got out on the carpet side and here began the pretending.  As we walked to onto the red carpet, there was always a space between Robert and the rest of us, his posse.

Robert stopped to pose against a wall that was covered in little Oscar men so that photographers can get their shot in.  I tried watching it but I was quickly blinded by so many cameras going off at once so instead I looking around the red carpet. 

I saw so many celebrities that I think my body became completely numb to any amount of star-struck.  My highschool musical kicked in when I was Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens and I resisted the urge to ask for an autograph.  I saw the lady who I always forget her name but she was in the movie "Only You".  I nearly fell over as I saw Beyonce...

"Stephanie! We're moving." Ritz had to practically yell to me to wake me up from my trance.  Maybe I should just stare at the carpet the entire time...

--

I had to walk away when it came time for Ryan Seacrest to interview Robert because I was laughing too much.  Every question Ryan asked him was answered with, as promised, something boring.

"Who are you looking forward to seeing tonight?"

He pretends to think, "Uh...I don't know."

"What's it like to be in the middle of all this craze Robert?"

"I really can't bring my mind to it...it's just really...bizarre."

--

--

After a half hour of walking down the red carpet we sat down in our seats.  I was so surprised how close we were, just two rows back, and he's not even nominated for anything.  I had a feeling that we were put there so the camera can make all the Twifans happy.

The show was completely star-strucking.  The amount of celebrities and people that I only see on the big screen were now all around me in person.  It was the wierdest thing to fathom and at the same time very awesome.

When Rob presented he looked nervous as shit.  Yes, a small role was perfect for him.  Despite reading down the teleprompter he still looked amazing and I could only imagine how fast it will take for his presentation to be on youtube.

When he came back to his seat he seemed really giddy.  "I met Zac Efron backstage!" and he flailed his arms like a fanatic.  Kinda reminded me of me...

"Did you really?" So lucky.

"Yeah I did" he got more serious.  "He told me life has been easier now that the paps are off of him because now their on me" he added with a laugh.

"Oh by the way, do you know all the actors who have been mentioned so far?"  I keep forgetting he doesn't live in the U.S.

"Yeah most of them.  I have no idea who any of the slumdog people are though," shrugging his shoulders.

"Yeah I don't either but they are going to win best movie" I nodded to emphasize my confidence in this prediction.

He eyed me questionably, "Okie who did you sleep with while I was gone that you know this?"

I knew he was being sarcastic but still the fangirl inside me squealed.  Rob made a sex comment! "No one you dork...it's just...everytime a movie wins for best movie, its always the movie I know absolutely nothing about.  So that's why Slumdog is gonna win."

"We shall see,"  slowly nodding his head and pursing his lips.  His words reminded me of Victoria...STOP IT!

--

--

"And the award for best movie goes to.............Slumdog Millionaire!"

Everyone stood up and clapped for the Slumdog people and I turned to Rob and gave him my best "I-told-you-so" face and he in return winked at me.  That wink sent shivers through me...

--

--

Four hours and about a million applauses later, the show was over and I was absolutely starving.  The after parties were a fantastic blur.  I met so many actors and actresses, even the Slumdog people and Zac Efron!  

It was 4 in the morning when we finally were back into the hotel.  We all went through the emergency exit Rob and Nick went through earlier today.  I was nervous if fans were going to be there in the lobby but thankfully it was dead except for a man at the concierge desk.  

Ritz and Nick got off the 11th floor to go to their rooms leaving Rob and me to go to the 12th.  As we walked to our rooms Rob was already putting his hands into his hair and loosening his collar, "So how did you like tonight?"

Amazingly fantastic! "Amazingly fantastic!"  So much for the brain filter, I guess it shut off at this time of night. 

Rob just laughed.

 "Thank you so much for asking me, I had an incredible time." This time the words seemed to come out better.

"It was my pleasure, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." He was stiffling a yawn after he spoke.

When I got to my door, I turned to Rob and thanked him again for the night.  It got a little awkward right before I put my key into the door because I was wondering how we were going to say goodnight...a hand shake, a wave and walk away??, a kiss???

"Okay well have a good night" I said with a small smile.

"You too hunny" and he opened his arms for a hug.  It was going to be a hug.

I opened my arms and went to hug him.  I loved how his arms completely surrounded...What the fuck...did he just sniff me?!?!

All too soon we pulled away and he gave a little smile as he walked to his room a few doors down.  

My hands were trembling with excitement so much that it was difficult to put my key card through the door.  The second I opened the door I then remembered that there was no way in hell I would be able to unzip this entire dress without stretching the zipper.  I felt bad calling Ritz to come up here but I didn't know what else to do.  

Hmm..well there was always... "Um..Rob?"  I called out down the hall. 

 He was by his door but his jerked his head my way when I called him, "What's the matter?"

Now I felt stupid but I knew it had to be done.  "I'm really sorry but Ritz had to help me get my dress on and now I kinda need help with the zipper cause its really long and I don't wanna rip it cause I mean it's 5,000 dollars and I don't want to ruin it"  I was probably blushing as I rambled this speech.

He gave a small smile and turned to walk back to me.  "Turn around" he said in a low voice.

As innocent as that line meant to be, I still found it extremely sexy.  I did as he told me and turned around so my back was facing him.  Slowly, or at least to me it seemed like ages, he leaned towards me and placed one hand on the top of the back of my dress and the other hand on the zipper.  His touch on my skin sent thrill through me and my stomach got those butterflies you get when you're crushing on someone and he's by you.

After a little nudge on the zipper, he slowly pulled the zipper down.  I felt his hand hitch when the zipper got past my bra, I forgot he would be seeing it...well, at least it's a cute bra.  He continued to unzip until it was at my lower back and then he let go.  I heard him clear his throat, "Yeah uh you should be able to reach the rest of it."

I turned back to face him and gave him a smile.  "Thank you."

"Anytime." His face was an emotionless mask and I didn't know why.  "Goodnight Stephanie," he said in a quiet voice.  Just as he walked back to his room, I coulda sworn I saw his lips slightly turn up into a smile.

I went into my room and could feel myself blushing as I closed the door.  Once I was sure he was in his room, I finally let it out.  I squealed like a fan girl and jumped up and down in my half zipped Oscar De La Renta gown!

London Looking Up??

After that awkward conversation I had with Rob, I spent the rest of the day at what had to be the equivalent of Starbucks here reading Pillars of the Earth..it's quite good by the way.

Things were finally turning up for me in London. I still hadn't found a job but I filed for unemployment = ). So now the United States is paying me...yay..I really hope I don't have to fly back to the US just for a workshop though, can I just attend one here?? But anyway, now I have six months to find something.

A few days ago, me, Iaco, Rob and a few of his friends attended a Vogue party. To tell you the truth, it was pretty intimidating. Everyone just felt so fake there or maybe it was just the British accents that were throwing me off. I did meet some cool people there though like that girl who played Hermione in Harry Potter. Rob asked me to dance with him at the party which did cause some looks. The next morning I checked online to see if I showed up and it said he was dancing with Hermione LOL well that's ok. 

It seems as if that night at Club Groucho was the ice breaker for me and Rob because after that we began to hang out a lot more often. We went back to that coffee shop alot just to chill somewhere other than the apartment. It was a small place so he didn't really get recognized there and the owner was an old guy who probably had no clue who he was. On one of our outings there, he told me some really awesome news.

"I got a call from Stephanie, (his agent) the academy wants me to present at the Oscars." He sounded as if he didn't believe it.

"That's awesome! You're doing it right?" He definitely should, how can you pass up a chance like that.

"I guess so, I don't know what they want me to do. They asked if I want a small or a large role. What's a large role there??"

"I have no idea."

"Yeah I hope this doesn't involve me getting gunged or something."

What?? "I'm sorry...gunged??"

"Oh..yeah like have some random goo thrown on top of you" he explained as he gestures with his hands how random goo can fall on someone.

"Oh like slimed! NOO..they would never do that...can you imagine!" And we both laughed.

"Yeah I think the smaller the role the better, I'm already nervous just thinking about it."

"That's so cool you've been asked though. Congratulations."

"Thanks" he said and then we moved on the different subjects.

I was very happy for Rob that he was given the opportunity to present at the Oscars but at the same time a sense of sadness washed over me. I have been spending more time with Rob than I have with Iaco lately. He was just beginning to become a constant in my life and now he's gonna be leaving on the 21st. In two days his schedule would start up again. First the Oscars, then he's off to Japan to promote Twilight and then he starts shooting for New Moon. Who knew the next time we would get together.

I couldn't help but develop feelings for him as we hung out. Had all this time we've hung out been to just pass the time? He never said anything about chilling again once he leaves London. But, I couldn't dwell on it, it would just sadden me more.

Later that day, we went to the British National Gallery which is a huge art museum in London.  I kept comparing it to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and in my head the MET won but the British museum was still cool to see.  Robert enjoyed looking at all the paintings and sculptures throughout the museum.  He seemed more at ease there as well, I guess knowing that most of the people in the building are looking at the walls and not at him.

He was eyeing a painting by Botticelli when he said, "When I get my own house, I want to have a few pieces of art work hanging around."

I couldn't help but sneeze laugh at his comment.  He looked at me like I had three heads and I quickly responded, "I'm sorry, its just funny you said that because that's what my parents do."

"They hang art on the walls?"  He was confused which made me laugh more.

"No!  They are in the framing business.  They frame art work for a living."  My parents own a daintly little frame shop where most of the family income used to come from.  Thanks to the recession, my dad had to get a second job because the shop wasn't making enough money.

Rob finally understood and laughed, "Oh! Ok, that's pretty cool.  Do they ever get anything really expensive to frame?"

"Sometimes they do.  They framed Billy Joel's college diploma once."  I tried to make that sentence sound interesting but I knew I just sounded lame.

"Hmm." He replied.  End of conversation.  

We continued to look around the museum for another hour or so and then left to go home.  Luckily, Iaco had dinner ready when we got home so we all ate together.  As I was eating, I couldn't help but think if this was the last time all three of us were going to be sitting at the same table together.  In another day, Robert was going to leave for Oscar rehearsals and who knows when I would see him again, maybe I would never see him again.  I suddenly lost my appetite thinking about it and excused myself to go into my room.

A few hours later, I was sitting on my bed checking my email on my laptop when someone knocked on my door.  "Stephanie, it's Rob. Can I come in?"

I quickly shut my laptop and check myself out in the mirror to see if my hair was ok and then said back, "Yeah go ahead."

He opened my door and leaned his head into my room.  "I'm kind of in the mood for a crepe at the coffee shop.  Do you wanna come with me?"

FUCK YES! "Oh..uh..sure.  I could go for a crepe."  I then looked at the pj's I was wearing, "just let me get changed and I'll be right out."

He smiled at me and if I was standing my knees would have given out.  "Ok, I'll be waiting on the couch" and he shut my door.

Like a madman, I quickly stripped out of my pajamas and put on regular clothes while almost falling into my dresser.  I don't think I have ever gotten changed so fast in my life.  As calm as I could, I walked into the living room where he was waiting and told him I was ready.  I hoped he didn't think I was suspiciously too fast.  We then both left the house to walk to the coffee shop.

Just like every time, the shop has a minimal number of customers which meant Rob didn't have to worry about being seen.  We sat down towards the back of the shop and didn't even bother to look over the menu.  I have been to the place so many times I practically had the damn menu memorized.

"I'll have the Latin Lovers crepe."  I told the waitress.  The crepe was bananas and nutella.  I always felt so stupid saying the name of the crepe.  Nutella isn't even Latin.

Rob had to do one up on me.  "And I'll have the Romeo and Juliet crepe."  That crepe was strawberry, bananas and nutella.  He sounded so romantic when he said Romeo and Juliet.  I couldn't wait to hear him say that title again in his American accent in the New Moon film.   Stop thinking about that Steph!!

When the waitress left, I struck up a conversation.  "What would the world be like without crepes?"  Wow, I am a dork.

Rob just sipped his soda and murmured "A sad and lonely world." and I just "mhmm"-ed back.

Okay well my conversation went far...not.  Luckily Rob spoke up before I could say something stupid again, "I'm glad you agreed to come with me here.  I didn't want to go by myself."

"Oh no problem, I didn't plan on doing anything tonight anyway." I admitted and took a sip of my coffee.

He looked down at his lap, "I also wanted to ask you something which is why I was hoping you would agree to come here too."  He slid one of his hands through his hair which caused me to temporarily slip out of reality.

"OK!  So one Latin Lovers and one Romeo and Juliet!"  The waitress proudly announced as she set our crepes in front of us.  Her announcement made me come back down to Earth and take in what he just said.

I began to cut my crepes into tiny pieces as I asked, "What is it you want to ask me?"  I shoved a piece of crepe in my mouth and it tasted like heaven.

Robert finished swallowing his piece before he spoke again, "It's kind of big what I am asking you and I completely understand if you can't."  He looked up at me kinda nervous.

I wanted to lighten the mood so I said a joke, "Do you want me to organize your fan mail?" 

He then looked up at me all serious and said, "How did you know?"

My eyes must have shot out of my head because he started to laugh, "I'm just kidding, I could never ask you to sort out that mess."

I breathed a sigh of relief knowing that I didn't have to spend the next three days with those large sacks of mail he had in his room.  But now I was really curious, "So what is it then?"  I asked as if took another piece of crepe in my mouth.

Rob once again became nervous but he tried not to look away from me as he said, "I know this is extremely last minute but...would you be my date to the Oscars?"

I almost choked on my crepe.  Did he really just..?  I swallowed and said, "I'm sorry...what did you say?"

It seemed like it was torture for him to say it the first time but I just had to make sure I wasn't hearing things.  "Will you come to the Oscars with me?"  He said again.

I couldn't believe it.  Robert Pattinson just asked me to be his date to the Oscars.  I was about to hyperventilate when, as if on cue, the waitress came back and asked if the food was alright and Rob told her everything was good.

I took a deep breath and quickly took his question in.  "I don't have a dress."  I muttered.  You stupid ass!  You're supposed to say YES!!  YES I WANNA GO WITH YOU!!!  Not "I don't have a dress"!!

Rob shook off my statement.  "I'll get you one don't worry about that.  It's just we have been spending so much time together... and...I was told I could bring a guest and I immediately thought of you."  He stared at me with hope in his eyes.  Hoping I would agree.  But then he looked down again.  "I understand if you can't do it, I know we would have to leave tomorrow ni-" 

 

I interupted him, "No no!  Of course I want to go!"  I realized I said that a little too excitedly and I tried to lower it a notch.  "Of course it's not a problem to go.  I would love to go to the Oscars with you Rob."  And I couldn't help but smile at him.  Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, it does.

Rob met my smile with his own.  "I just can't let you go so fast.  We've been hanging out so much ever since you came here I can't say goodbye just yet," he confessed.

"I couldn't agree with you more."  Oh how true that statement was.

Rob put his utensils down and then did something he never did before, he put his hands out in the middle of the table palms up.  In an almost instant response, I grabbed both of his hands and he gently closed his hands around mine.  He then looked up at me with a small smile on his face and said, "Thank you so much Stephanie."

At this point, I didn't notice anyone else around us.  "No Robert, thank you.  This is going to be so amazing.  I can't wait."

"Me neither."  He responded and gave my hands one final squeeze before he let them go and began to eat his crepe again as I did too.

The rest of the conversation in the coffee shop was spent talking about what kind of tuxedo he is going to get and what kind of dress I should get (which he said I won't spend a dime on), and how his schedule will be pretty crazy from here on out.

On the way back home from the shop, he took my hand and held it as we walked.  I was a bit surprised by his sudden affection towards me so I looked up at him.  He was staring right back at me with a warm smile on his face and with his eyes gazing into mine.  I was on cloud 9.  I was thanking the Lord above for laying me off from my job so that I ended up here in London holding hands with the man I have been falling in love with who I was now flying to Los Angeles with.

When we got back to the house, I noticed Iaco was already in her room asleep.  I wondered if she knew Rob was going to ask me to the Oscars.  Before I headed into my bedroom, I turned to Robert who was hanging up his hoodie in the closet and wished him a goodnight.  Rob, in return wished me a goodnight back and told me that in the morning I should pack for a few days worth.

I was just about to head into my room when Robert softly touch my left arm.  It gave me the chills. I turned around to find him staring directly in front of me now and his eyes were boring into me.  His eyes told me everything he was feeling.  He was happy...happy because of me!  

He slowly bent down towards my head as he put his hands around my shoulders.  Is he going to kiss me? I was about to raise my head up to meet his when all of a sudden, he placed a gentle kiss on the top of my forehead and I felt myself blush.  He then whispered, "Thank you again" and smiled and all I could do was smile back.  Rob then let go of me and began walking to his room as I then slowly turned back towards my bedroom, walked in, and closed the door behind me all the way while still having a smile on my face. 

I couldn't even think about getting changed into pjs.  I laid on my bed and took a large breath.  Robert Pattinson asked me to the Oscars.  He feels something for me...he has to.  That night, my feelings shifted for him.  I began to not see him as just the actor who played my favorite Twilight character.  I began to see the whole Robert.  I didn't freak out like any fan would do, instead I just felt love.  I was falling for this man, every single part of him.  It was almost impossible not to think he was falling for me too at this point.  He just asked me out to the Oscars, that had to mean something.  This was going to be an amazing experience.

The Morning After

RRggghh!" My head was killing me. "I will never get drunk again!"

I open my eyes and look around. I was still in the club clothes from last night only the belt I had on made its way up higher and my pillow was stained with streaks of mascara. I had actually danced on top of a bar last night and I basically had a staring contest with my roommate who I hope wasn't around.

I got out of my bed slowly as to not upset my stomach more and changed my clothes into something more normal and then went into the bathroom. "Wow, I look like shit" I told myself as I noticed the rat's nest that was my hair and how I looked more pale than usual.

I walked down the hallway and found that thankfully no one was home. Iaco must be still in class and I didn't want to think about Rob right now. I found some motrin and made coffee and sat in the living room. I was in no mood to go anywhere with this giant hangover so I decided to watch wedding shows. I was on my third episode of Platinum Weddings when the front door opened.

"Steph? Are you up?" It was Iaco.

"Yeah, I'm in here"

"How are you feeling hun? I didn't want to wake you up this morning. I know it was a hard night for you." She sat down next to me causing a wave in the couch that made me queasy.

"I'll be ok. Just a little hungover I guess. How was the rest of the night?" How was Rob? Who were those girls?

"It was alright, I was finally able to get to Rob, good move with that bar dancing thing. He asked why you left so soon. I just said you weren't feeling well."

"Mmm. Who was he with?" I couldn't help myself for asking.

"I knew you didn't like those girls!" She laughed. "No wonder you danced on the bar. He was with Tom and Sam and the two girls were Tom's friends. Well, I feel like he only met them that night just for Rob. You missed it last night, Steph. Those two pratically stalked him out of the club."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah they followed us for like a good two blocks on our way out. Rob was getting annoyed by them. They were so drunk oh my God and the paparazzi somehow found us too! You had to see them just flashing away yelling out Roberto!! Roberto!! I had to actually tell the girls to go their seperate ways and that we were going home and so I grabbed Rob's hand and yanked him into a cab."

I was kind of glad he got annoyed, at least I wouldn't have to be the only one with crappy emotions. "That was quite an eventful night. Did the both of you come home right after?" I wonder if she notices the reason why I'm asking all these questions.

"Yeah we got home around 4. It was miserable trying to get up this morning for class. I noticed Rob was still asleep when I left but I have no idea where he is now." She gets off the couch and walks down the hall. "I'm gonna take a nap, I'm exhausted." And she goes into her bedroom.

I wasn't about to sit there and wait til Rob gets home so I decide to get out of the house. I didn't want to drive anywhere knowing I would probably cause about 20 accidents turning onto the right side of the road but I knew I could go to that coffee shop three blocks away.  I grabbed the house keys from my bedroom and was putting on my shoes when I heard the front door open...great...Just fuckin great!  I walked towards the door and there he is in all his glory.

"Hey" I half-ass mutter just to be nice.

"Oh hey, you steppin' out?"

Yeah and you're not invited. "Yeah I just need to get a few things."

"Oh okay...uh..I saw you last night at the bar...nice" He added that last word with a mischievous. Shit Why did he need to bring it up? Wow, his smile is really sexy...

"Oh...u did huh...yeah that was me, I don't know what got into me." I tried to shrug the subject off.

He looked down at the floor. "You dance really good." He stared up at me. Green meeting brown.

 "Oh yeah, Iaco wanted to get your attention cause security wasn't letting us up where you were.  She tried to call your name so when that didn't work we thought dancing on the bar would." That sounded like a believable story.  My breathing was picking up pace. It's really dangerous to be this close to him. He couldn't know why I was doing what I did last night. He couldn't know how much I felt for him.

"You left so fast." He almost sounded sad about this fact. Nah, maybe he just felt bad for me that I had to leave.

"Oh..uh yeah I wasn't feeling very well after, I just needed to go home before I got worse." I had to go cry my eyes out over you and everything else going wrong with me. "But Iaco told me you had quite an adventure with a couple of stalker girls" I said trying desperately to change the subject off of my bar dancing.

Rob rolled his eyes and laughed, "Yeah that was horrible. My agent called to tell me the entire scene is displayed online" laughing even more. "Iaco saved my ass though by being the rude one instead of me having to say "fuck off" in front of the cameras."

"Yeah that does sound horrible. Are you friends with those girls?" I was really masochistic wasn't I.

"Me? No no...I don't even know where Tom met them. They were so annoying."

I think I breathed a small sigh of relief knowing I won't be seeing those girls in this apartment. I just laughed a little, "Oh cool." I had to leave now. "I gotta go, I'll see you later" I said as I waved my hand as I left the apartment.

"Oh ok bye" he said sounding a little discouraged. He couldn't possibly have been sad because I was leaving. Yeah maybe I should stick to clubs in New York.

Club Groucho

As I make my way on top of the bar my legs feel a bit wobbly but I didn't care. This entire week I have felt overwhelmed by everything. London was so different from New York, I am completely spastic driving around town, I have absolutely no job, my parents can't stop fighting with each other, I can't get a boyfriend for the life of me, and now...the guy who've I been secretly crushing on...the guy who I have been living with for the past week...the guy who had been talking at length with me all day...THAT guy is now wrapped in the arms of some girl whom he failed to ever mention.

As if some higher authority knew I needed help, "Pokerface" by Lady Gaga starts playing. It was the perfect song for me. I started moving to the beat of the chorus by swaying my hips from side to side while waving my arms around. I was sure to shake my ass around too. Pretty soon I heard a few cheers from the guys in the crowd which was the reaction I was intending to get. Iaco soon found me on top of the bar and I told her to come up with me and she did. We started grinding against each other which got even more cheers from the crowd.  Thankfully I had the tequila in my body so my intuitions were loose otherwise I don't know how I would be able to do what I was doing. My body was filled with adrenaline and it seems that everything I have been feeling this past week was slowly leaking its way out of me. I decided to look up to the second floor to see what my new friend was doing and I almost regretted looking up.

Rob's green eyes were boring into me. I couldn't tell if he was concerned for me or if he was angry. It was actually the same look he gives in Twilight when Mike was asking Bella out to prom. I couldn't tear my eyes off of his as I continued dancing on the bar.

"He's like... fucking you with his eyes" Iaco talked into my ear. I guess she realized it too. That was the plan this whole time I guess. I guess I just wanted his attention off those girls and on me instead. I couldn't even pay attention to where those girls were, I was too focused on his eyes to care.

When the song ended and changed into a new song, I tore my face away from his and I stepped off the bar. I didn't feel like staying any longer. I knew he knew I was there, but I didn't feel like talking to him. I had nothing else to say to him.

Iaco wanted to stay a little more so I told her to just go to Rob now that he knows we were around. I hobbled my way out of the club and called over a cab to come drop me off. On the way home, I suddenly started bawling my eyes out. I guess being drunk can do that to you. You go from angry to estatic to upset in a matter of 15 minutes. I was upset that he didn't recognize me from the get-go. I was angry with myself for thinking how I ever had a shot at him. Everything that I have been holding inside me had finally come out and I cried.

I was barely audible as I thanked the cab driver and paid him and I wobbled over to the stoop of the apartment building. It felt like forever trying to open the front door of the building, climbing the two flights of stairs to the room and then to open the door to the apartment. I walked into my room and nearly fell over in tears as I cried myself to sleep.

Piles and Pillars

A week passed since I came to London.  I hardly saw Robert.  Our conversations were very bland and once while watching television he found out that I knew who he was, meaning the guy who plays a vampire but that was about it.  I think the most intimate conversation we had so far was him asking me how do I like London so far and I answered that I missed the italian food.

 

When Iaco was in school, I pretty had the house to myself which quickly became pretty boring.  On the second day of staying there, I walked around the neighboring blocks and found a a coffee shop and thought that maybe there is a heaven.  I also noticed a deli and a Rite Aid (go figure).  

On the third day, I did the unthinkable, I rented a car.  You would think they would notice that I was an American before lending a car over but whatever.  I felt like I was riding in a toy, the car was so small...almost like a rice rocket.  I basically just tried to ignore that the traffic was on my right and pretended all the roads were one way and my turns were a little off too.  I did find some good shopping however. About a week into my stay, I decided to spend my afternoon at the coffee shop I found and just read.  I quickly realized that maybe that wasn't such a good idea since all I had with me was Twilight, New Moon, Eclipse, and Breaking Dawn. Yeah, not a good idea at all.

 I remembered that Iaco told me Rob loves to read so he probably had a shit load of books in his room. He wouldn't notice if I took just one little book for a while. I opened his bedroom door and I could smell him everywhere.  It was a typical guy bedroom. Apart from the bed being unmade, clothes were strewn in a pile near his closet door, his laptop was on a table covered with wires and wires of shit I can't even begin to examine and next to his bed was a big white sack filled with something.  Are those fan letters??

 It took every ounce of will I had to not peek into that sack and read what his fans have been filling his ego with.  I finally found the piles of books on the floor near his desk and squatted down to read the titles.

 Das Kapitale no, I do not feel like taking theory all over again. New Moon ha! The Pillars of the Earth now we're talking. I was just about to remove the book from the pile when I heard "Hey um what you doing?" That wasn't Iaco.

 I whipped my body up so incredibly fast as if standing would be any better than squatting in his room. "Im really sorry! Ijustwantedabooktoreadand ...and..I remembered you like to read so I thought I could borrow one..Im sorry I shouldn’t have just come in." Please dont be angry please dont be angry.

 Rob just smiled and walked towards the pile of books, "Oh that's ok, yeah you can borrow them. Which one did you want?" He asked as he bent over towards the pile.

 "Um Pillars of the Earth?" I said it as a question.

 He pulled out the book from the pile and stood up and gave it to me. God how he towered over me, he's so intimidating. "Thanks" I managed to get out as I took the book from him.

 It was at that moment that began our first real conversation. He finally asked what the hell I was doing here and so I told him everything. How I didn’t want to be in NY with my family problems, how I just got laid off from my job because of recession problems and how Iaco and I had been the best of friends since we were in 7th grade. Rob told me he lived in London his whole life but recently he's been traveling around ALOT eversince he signed on to do the Twilight Saga. I pretended I had no idea.

Our conversation shifted over to the dining room and we talked for an hour.  I kind of felt like it was the conversation Edward and Bella had in Edward’s Volvo in front of Bella’s house until Charlie came home, and in their conversation they spoke about everything. We spoke about our likes in music and what we like to do in our free time. As it turns out, I found that he spends his free time a lot like I do, by not doing much at all. Rob mentioned he loves to read and I said that I do too...I left out the facts that all the books I’ve read recently have been Stephenie Meyers. He mentioned he liked just being on his own a lot and I could relate to that but at the same time, we loved to go out at night as well.

I suddenly realized how hungry I was and finally remembered that I planned to go to coffee shop. Well, plans could change.  I got up to look in the fridge to find something to eat...not much of anything for lunch. I sighed and close the door and mentioned to him that I would just wait until Iaco comes home to start making a dinner which was a few hours from then. Rob instead mentioned that we walk to Cherry Valley two blocks away from the apartment and get some sandwiches to bring back to the apartment so I agreed.

As I put on my shoes and jacket, I noticed Rob waiting by the door with a pair of glasses on and a beanie. I knew fully well why he had to go out like that and I felt empathy for him because I would hate to have to hide myself in public so as to not get recognized. I hate his beanie. It reminds me of the teal one my dad used to wear when he went hunting and how he looked like a turtle. I didn’t say he looked stupid in it thought because who was I to tell him so, I only knew him for an hour.

The walk to Cherry Valley was a continuation of the conversation we had upstairs. I mentioned my love for most types of music and how I love going to rock concerts. When he asked who were my favorite rock bands I blurted out a whole list which probably sounded like a whole jumble of words until I got to bands like Bon Jovi, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin which he has heard in the UK. He told me he liked Van Morrison who I have heard by name but I have never really heard their music. I knew he recorded music but I didn’t want to bring it up just like that so I nonchalantly mentioned how I wanted to learn how to play piano someday and that’s when he said he knew how and how he records music with some of his friends.  Like a good little listener, I oohed and aahed my way through his story.

As we were waiting for our sandwiches, the girl behind the counter recognized him and said "Hows my favorite vampire?" Rob just laughed and said hi back to her using her name, he was obviously a regular at that deli. I was scared a fan riot was going to start if any more girls recognized him but thankfully we got our sandwiches and began to walk back to the apartment.

We finished talking while eating our lunch when Iaco came home.

Not so soon after that, Rob got up from his chair "Im gnna get ready for tonight" and he just leaves to go to his room leaving me at the table.

All this time we were talking and not once did he mention he had plans tonight. I know it was none of my business but I guess I was just caught off guard. A weird part of me wanted him to ask me to come with him. I guess I was upset at his actions but then again, why would he want to chill with me when he has his friends. Typical man, just lead a girl on and then leave her there staring at your bedroom door on the other side.

As I rolled my eyes at this thought, Iaco noticed it. “What’s the matter?”

I got up from the table and ask her not to tell Rob anything I was going to tell her, ever.  I told her how we spent the entire afternoon talking and joking around and how we walked together to get food and how he didn’t once mention he was going out and how I knew I was being stupid for being a little offended but still I was offended.

Iaco said not to overanalyze it, that he was a little selfish. "He tends to just think of himself but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t like you".

I was actually jealous that he was going out because I have been dying to go out to a bar ever since I got here. I mentioned this to Iaco and we decided that we would go out too. We would get dressed, go out to eat at this diner she knows and go to a club called Groucho.

I was so excited about tonight, I quickly started to pull all the club type clothes I could find. I put on some dark blue skinny jeans with black peep toe heels and a black strapless top with a leather belt going around the smallest part of my waist. I straightened my hair and put it up in a ponytail with a slight side part. I put on my light but big gold hoop earrings and makeup. I looked in the mirror and was quite pleased with how I looked. It was the best I looked since I arrived here.

When I was done I went out of my room and knocked on Iaco's room telling her I'm waiting. I went to sit in the living room and watched some tv or some “telli” as the Brits called it.  A few minute pass when I heard a door open and I figured it was Iaco since she told me she was almost done so I got up from the couch and started walking towards the front door. The door that opened wasn’t Iaco's door, it was Rob's instead...and we hadn’t told him we were going out as well. As he was walking towards the kitchen where the front door was, he spotted me and stopped.

Was his mouth open?? "..uh Hey" he muttered.

"Hey" I laughed a little, I knew I looked good.

"What u doing all dressed up?" yeah he just looked at my breasts..

"Me and Iaco are gonna go out tonight, sorta last minute shit"

"Oh really, where"

Pssha! Like I was really going to tell him. "Ohh…umm…I don't know, Iaco knows, Im just going go with her."

"Oh..wel-..okay cool have fun"

"Thanks" I said just as Iaco was joining me at the front door. Rob stared at us until we were out the door and I couldn’t help but feel a bit mischievous.

The diner we went to was uneventful…typical diner but then we took a cab to the club. I really didn’t know what to expect from there, I was nervous I would look different from the rest of the club goers.

"What a stupid name to call a club...Groucho" I said trying to joke around to calm my nerves.

Iaco laughed "Yeah I know right!  But its really cool in there and the drinks arent TOO expensive"

When we arrived there, we go on the line to get in. The line wasn’t too long but it was pretty cold out so I hope it would be fast. I saw three guys just pass by the line with two girls on their sides and they were immediately all let in...asswipes. Why did the bouncer even let a group in with more guys than girls anyway?? A half hour later and Iaco and I were let in.

We immediately flocked to the bar where we both ordered a shot of tequila. I pulled down the shot and cringed as it burned down my throat. We order another round and quickly inhaled that too. After finishing our third shot we decided to go on the dance floor. I didn’t feel the effects of the alcohol just yet but I knew it would come soon. Iaco and I started to dance and every so often shoo away some British creeper with bad teeth who tried to join in.  About a half hour into dancing I wanted to sit somewhere so I walked out of the crowd to find a place to sit and that was when I saw him.

On the second floor of the club near the balcony was Rob, his two friends and two girls…THEY were the asswipes who cut the line! I don’t know why but I was all of a sudden angry. A million things were running through my head...I was happy to be seeing him, I was pissed at those girls even though I had no idea who they were, and I was also mad all over again how he pretty much left out the little details of how he was going out. Iaco found where I was and I pointed out Rob and the others upstairs to her.

"Perfect! We could sit with them" Iaco said as she made her way towards the second floor stairs. I quickly followed her wondering what the hell I was going to say him once we met up. Would he be angry that we found him? Happy? Who knew.

We were just about to walk to his table when all of a sudden a big guy's arm just drapes itself across us and the guy replies, "Sorry, this is VIP only, you'll have to make your way downstairs."

Trying to fix the misunderstanding Iaco replies, "Oh no no we know him" and she points to Rob.

"Yeah I know...everyone knows him" He had a point.

"No really, I’m his roomate. ROB!! ROOOOBBBBB!!!" She tried to yell out his name to get his attention but it wasn’t working. In the meanwhile I couldn’t stop staring at the two girls in the short dresses sitting awfully close to him, practically about to strattle him.

At this point, Iaco was dialing Rob's cell to see if he could pick up and finally notice us but he didn’t even realize his phone was ringing. It didn't take me long to walk back down the stairs once I saw one of the girls start rustling their nasty ass fingers into Rob's hair as Rob just smiled away. If he knew we were there, he obviously didn't want us around. I banged down the stairs and went to bar again. I ordered a double shot of tequila and jammed it down my throat before I step onto a stool and then onto the top of the bar. I needed to dance it out.