Chapter 6 STARSTRUCK(2)

In the heat of the moment, she had failed to notice his strong arm that was wrapped around her waist as he supported her from falling. What made it weird was the beautiful smile that never left his face. Her eyes studied his every feature like she was putting it to memory, his almost too-perfect dentition and the deep dimple on his left cheek. She did not know when she smiled back at him, showing him her pair of dimples. The sight before her was blinding. That was the right word to describe him, He was blinding! Looking at the man, one could tell that he was not just anyone.

"Ashley?"

While still lost in the deep gaze of the stranger whose hands were around her waist something clicked in her head drawing her back to reality, she hastily detangled herself from the hold of the stranger. Everything was wrong about this, he was a total stranger, she told herself repeatedly but she could not be angry. It was such a hot scene. She looked around in shame and then she noticed how people had gathered around them and some were even taking pictures. She wondered why they were taking pictures. It took a while for it to click in her head that maybe he was famous.

He seemed somewhat irritated by the cameras that were flashing in his face and the spectacle they had caused, his wide smile slowly eased into a frown. "What do you think you are doing?"

"Huh?" she was so confused, she did not know who the question was directed to nor did she have answers for him. He didn't wait for her before he manoeuvred his way through the crowd before she knew it. Her eyes searched for him. It didn't take long for her to spot the man as he stood tall and his black tuxedo was shiny.

"Ashley?" Leonard called out to her, "What are you doing?" he questioned. "Do you wish to go with him now?"

"I'm sorry, Leonard. I was quite dazed." she quickly apologized to him.

He shook his head. "Quite doesn't quite cut it"

She felt a pair of eyes on her, she turned in that direction, and she caught the man stealing glances at her, she looked away then back at the small crowd that was starting to dissipate.

"I think I might have embarrassed myself and him...I need to apologize to him..."

"You don't need to do anything. We should go get something to eat. You know that I still need to go back to the hospital"

"I know that, Leonard. I just...I was the one who bumped into him. People took videos, if he is as popular as I guessed then the media will get talking. I do not want to be roped into all of this I should go apologize to him before he leaves...It is the smallest thing I could do"

Leonard sighed, "Alright, alright! Go ahead and apologize to him then. But be fast with it", he glanced at the man who sat proudly, his chin in the air, his expression non too pleasant, he shrugged, "I don't think he cares though"

"There's no harm in trying I guess"

He knew that she would not knowingly wrong anyone no matter how trivial it was and he understood it was important to her to apologize. He picked out a seat for them, a far distance away from the man.

She walked closer to the man who was speaking with someone. They stopped talking immediately and he faced her. She could feel his eyes on her. She could swear that she had never been looked at in that manner before. He had an intense gaze. He noticed how silent she was and then he spoke in a really deep masculine voice

"Is there a problem, young lady?"

"I...um...I am sorry, Mr I am sorry that I... bumped into you I guess...on my way in. I wasn't looking. I am deeply sorry for...all of this"

"Yeah, you did bump into me. But it's okay, it was a simple accident. You don't need to worry about it", he said and right there, he gave her a beautiful smile. The same one he had flashed at her when he held on to her preventing her from falling. This simple action seemed to throw her off balance. He was as good-looking as his heart was.

"Thank you so much, Mr Thank you"

"You are welcome"

He responded and then he went back to whatever he was doing before. She walked back to where Leonard was sitting. He had picked a table away from everyone else. They silently studied the menu before she broke the silence, "Do you know that man, Leonard?"

"Why do you ask?"

Ashley stole one more glance at the man before she turned to stare at her friend, "Well it looks like everyone else knows him, except of course...me", she leaned closer even though there was no one near them who could hear her, "He looks quite popular, there were cameras..."

Leonard on the other hand had a bored expression on his face as he stared at her. He had never seen her behave that way in front of anyone, no one had ever had such an effect on her. She was quite the composed one at all times. So it came as more than a surprise when he saw her behave that way in front of everyone, "He did have such an effect on you didn't he?", he asked flatly.

She pondered on his words for a bit, she had indeed acted a little bit out of character if she was true to herself. She played with her fingers absent-mindedly, her cognitive abilities seemed to be non-existent, the moment his hands encircled her waist.

Leonard stared at her blue eyes as she appeared deep in thought. He cared for her more than he liked to admit even to himself. Her reaction had annoyed him and he would have loved more than anything to knock off the smug expression on the man's face but that would be assault and he would be arrested for it. He drummed his fingers on the table not saying a word. Her eyes looked up to meet his and they looked remorseful. Even he couldn't tell what for. She had no reason to be remorseful but it was Ashley, she was always the emotional one.

"Did I embarrass you?", she asked in a small voice.

He shook his head negatively, "No...no...", he reached for her hand, "Ash..."

"Good day Sir, ma'am. What would you like?", a waiter asked politely interrupting them.

They picked up the menu and stared at it. Technically she stared at it. Not him, however, he had his eyes fixated on her as she scanned the menu list. Her eyes peered through her long lashes. The waiter proceeded to ask again but Leonard saw him beforehand. He waved a finger at him to stop him. She finally looked up from her paper, "I will have burgers and fries", she answered.

He smiled at her, "With two bottles of coke, same for me", he said. The waiter took down their orders.

"You would see they make the tastiest junks", he remarked when the waiter was out of earshot.

"I did act strange around him didn't I?"

He nodded.

She thought for a while, "Today's incident has left me quite unsettled, that would explain it...", she took his hand in his, "I am sorry Leo..."

"Look you have nothing to be sorry for", he cut her off, "I was just really surprised. It looked like a scene straight out of a romance movie. His hand on your waist...", he tried to keep the disgust out of his tone, "Him peering over you like that. Your eyes locked. You were in that position for quite a while. The media will pounce on those pictures"

She blushed, "Now that you say it like that, it does sound extra"

He nodded, "It was quite extra"

Her eyes darted from him and the man whose back was to her at the far end of her restaurant, "Who is he?"

Their food arrived at the table, Leonard gulped his drink before answering her, "You do not know him?"

"No", she shook her head.

"Wow!"

"Come on just tell me already Leonard", she begged, "Is he that popular?"

He took a bite out of his burger and noticed she had not touched her food yet, he checked his watch, "You might want to eat your food, Ash. I don't have much time"

She took a bite, "Come on just tell me...mmm", she closed her eyes as she relished the taste, "This is so delicious"

He smiled, "I told you it was", his hands reached towards her face but he withdrew his hand, "Ashley", he pointed to the side of his face, "You have something at the corner of your mouth..."

Her hands shot up to her face, "Where? Where is it?..."

"Here...", he pointed to his face, "No, not there...right there, okay...go up"

"Just help me wipe it off already", she said in a whiny voice.

He took a paper towel and gently wiped at her face, "There you have it...", he whispered.

She smiled, "Thank you. So who is he?",

He sighed. "You won't drop this issue will you?"

Her mouth was stuffed full so she shook her head.

"He is only like very popular, always on the TV and in magazines"

"Really?", her eyes widened, "How do you know him?"

He gave her a look.

"Okay...Okay fine. I'll drop it. She popped a fry in her mouth", and they shared a look.

Leonard's mind went back to the scene that had played out not too long ago. Of course, he knew the man Mr Allen, not personally but he knew him asides from what the television stations put out and magazines wrote about him. He knew the kind of man that he was. An arrogant bastard, and so he didn't know if he was happy that he had smiled at Ashley politely or if he was angry that he smiled at her.