Hollywood Snowfall

by Heather C. Myers

  Johnny Barker, she thought to herself, feeling the hot sprinkles fall on her naked body. Johnny freaking Barker. I can’t freaking believe it.

  Stepping out of the shower, she breathed in the thick air with a smile on her face. Even if Johnny Barker never showed up today, or any other day for that matter, she was a lucky person. She met him, she conversed with him, she got his autograph, and she made an impression on him. No matter how crazy Zoë sounded at times, it was true. Johnny Barker remembered her, and that moment in time would be hers, alone, forever.

  Erin slipped on her mint green robe and stepped out of the bathroom, a smile on her face. She sauntered into her room, and after closing the door, began to dry herself off. Her eyes caught sight of herself in her full-length mirror, and she started to study herself. Unlike Jessica and Zoë, Erin was quite short, standing roughly at five foot five. With her colorful eyes, and short, upturned nose, she was incredibly cute. She had straight, white teeth, and although she appreciated her smile now, she sacrificed her four years in high school to attain it with braces. Her jaw line was sharp and well-defined, as were her cheekbones, and specks of freckles littering themselves across her cheeks. She did appreciate the curves of her body, but when her eyes caught sight of her thighs, she frowned a bit. My stomach could be flatter too, she thought to herself. She turned around, and glanced over her shoulder, smiling when she saw her back. Her favorite body part was definitely her back; long and smooth, with a sway, finishing up with dimples that led down to her butt. Her eyes traveled past her butt, and she frowned again when she saw her thighs. Even a little bit of cellulite is still cellulite, she thought disdainfully.

  “Erin?!” Zoë exclaimed, and began to pound on the door. “What are you doing in there?”

  “Getting ready for work!”Erin called back, which was true. Her clothes were lying on her bed, a thong in her hands, ready to be slipped on.

  “Okay,” Zoë murmured, and Erin heard her footsteps depart from her door.

  Erin grinned and rolled her eyes. Apparently, Zoë was possibly even more excited that Johnny Barker might be coming in than she was. She slipped on matching undergarments, and then her tight, black slacks and flats. She put on a white wife beater and then went back out her door and into the bathroom to put on her deodorant and some body spray. Afterwards, she went back into her room, and ever so skillfully, so that she would not get any deodorant on her shirt, slid into her collared shirt and buttoned it up.

  “Jessica!” she called, grabbing her black bowtie from on top of her desk and walking back into the living room. When her friend came out to meet her, she stuck out her hand with the bowtie. “Will you tie this for me?” she asked.

  “You’re never even going to attempt to learn to tie your bow, are you?” Jessica asked, and began to do as Erin requested of her. After a quick moment, Jessica stepped back, admiring her work. “God, what would you do without me?”

  Erin shrugged. “Probably play on the freeway,” she said, just as Zoë walked in the living room with her own uniform on.

  “Erin, what are you going to do with your hair?” Zoë asked. “You should pull it all the way back instead of leaving long strands of hair - that does not count as bangs, by the way - in your face. Oh, and you should definitely put on make-up!”

  “What?” Erin asked, pushing her brows together. She never wore make-up unless it was a very special occasion because she was flat-out lazy; she hated taking the time to put it on in the morning, and then take it all off at night.

  “He’s going to come in,” Zoë said. “At least put on eyeliner. You have gorgeous eyes.”

  “No!” Erin exclaimed, and then inhaled sharply so that she had enough breath to say what she needed to say. “Because then he’ll notice that I have make-up on, and then he’ll realize that some crazy lunatic who works with me happened to tell him that I was working this particular shift. Being the smart and capable person he is, he will go on to put two and two together that I put on make-up to impress him, and he’ll be all weirded out that some girl ten years younger than he is, is trying to look good for him, and that’s if he even comes at all!” She began to pant, and then managed to catch her breath.

  Zoë looked at her friend with an odd look on her face, and even Jessica was surprised at Erin’s outburst. “You think too much,” Zoë said flatly.

  “I’m sorry,” Erin said, her shoulders drooping and her head hanging low. Her brows were pushed together, conveying a helpless look. “I just… do you really think he’s going to come in tonight?”

  “Of course, Holl,” Zoë replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. “He remembered you by name, so obviously you have left some sort of impression on him. Plus, you are gorgeous. Why wouldn’t he like you?”

  “Although it goes totally against my morals, I would have to agree,” Jessica added. “You’re smart and friendly too. You’re more than pretty, Erin.”

  “But he’s Johnny Barker,” Erin said, looking away.

  “And Johnny Barker is a human being,” Zoë cut in.

  “And not blind,” Jessica said, pointing her index finger up into the sky.

  “Thanks you, guys,” Erin said with a genuine smile. “Even if he doesn’t show up today, I’m just thankful that Johnny Barker remembered my name.”

  “He will show up though,” Zoë said, placing a comforting hand on Erin’s shoulder. “Trust me.”

  ---

  Friday proved to be so incredibly busy that Erin did not have time to even think about Johnny Barker coming in or not. At around three thirty, aide popped in, right before the second set, but Bert told Erin to go and help the ushers and that he would take over her drawer at the box office. Erin sighed; now she might not encounter Johnny Barker if he did come in because she would be hiding away, cleaning theatres. Sometimes, Erin loved being an usher because she wouldn’t have to deal the general public and she could goof off with her friends. Sure, a manager would accompany the ushers and whatnot, but said manager was usually a chill manager and goof off with them. Bert quickly printed her out an usher schedule and then she was out of the box office and into the storage closet to grab a broom and butler. After taking out the schedule to see where everyone was, she quickly yet professionally glided over to theatre, only to encounter two other ushers and Brad.

  Brad was a pretty laidback guy; there was rarely anything anybody could do to get him upset. In fact, Erin had never seen him angry before, and while that was an amazing quality (especially when working at a movie theatre), Erin got kind of annoyed because there were times when she would try to piss him off and fail miserably. The one thing that annoyed Erin to some degree about Brad (besides, of course, the fact that he always closed her out late) was that he was lazy. He was helping clean, of course, but he didn’t do as much as he could have.

  After three messy theatres, Erin took a quick fifteen, along with the other two ushers; Ryan and Cameron. Ryan was of Hispanic decent, with short, black hair and dark brown eyes. He was tall but a bit too scrawny for Erin’s taste, although whenever the two ushered together, they were quite close. Cameron was tall and African American, very well-built and a dynamite smile.

  “I hate messy theatres,” Erin said, taking a sip out of her Fiji Water bottle.

  “I know,” Ryan agreed. “Everybody leaves their stuff as though it’s our job to pick it up, when really, there would be no such things as ushers if people didn’t leave their crap.”

  “I say that one day, we just don’t clean the theatres, and if people complain, we can be like, ‘Well, this is how everybody leaves it; if you can’t pick up your shit, then we’ll leave it in there’, you know?” Cameron said, and Ryan nodded in agreement.

  “I mean, I don’t necessarily mind cleaning up stuff from our theatres, or whatever, but a lot of the times, people sneak in their own food, and it’s just like, if you don’t pay big bucks for our food, you better believe you’re picking up after yourself,” Erin said, putting the water bottle back in her
locker. “Well, boys, back to cleaning.”

  The two grunted dismally in reply, but before Erin could go and grab her broom and butler, Bert stopped her. “Erin,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest and staring at her with slight suspicion mixed in with curiosity.

  Erin gulped. Standing next to Bert really made her feel just how short she really was. He was pushing six foot six; a whole foot taller than her, plus an additional inch. “Yes…?” Erin asked.

  He sighed and then dropped his arms. “Johnny Barker’s here again,” Bert informed her. Again, Erin’s heart began to hammer in her chest with excitement. “It’s so busy, though, and the paparazzi has been following him, so once he stepped in line, the customers started to harass him. I got security to escort him inside and put him in my office, but I need a favor from you.” He stopped, waiting for her to respond.

  Erin crossed her arms over her chest this time, and quirked a brow. “Go on,” she prompted him.

  “I need you to watch his movie with him,” Bert said. “I need you to stay with him, watch his movie, and escort him to his car. Security will escort you to and from the theatre, from the theatre, and to his car, but you need to actually sit down with him and watch his movie so nobody bothers him.”

  “I doubt my presence next to him will keep people from bothering him,” I said, doubtful.

  “You have a uniform on,” Bert said. “Unless people want to deal with theatre employees to deal with Johnny Barker, then they will not bother you. I doubt people will even recognize him once the lights go out and the movie begins to play.”

  Erin snorted, a bad habit she picked up from Jessica. “You do not know women,” she murmured, but nodded her agreement, feeling her face flush. “Why me, though?”

  Bert shrugged. “Because it seems you know him which will result in him being comfortable,” Bert explained. “Go!” He pointed across the lobby, thrusting out his arm impatiently. “He’s waiting for you in my office.” He plopped a bunch of keys in Erin’s hands. “These are Brad’s keys. Why are you still here? Go!”

  With that, Erin walked over to Bert’s office. She was incredibly nervous. Although it obviously wasn’t a date, she couldn’t help but wish she had brought body spray or an extra shirt. If only she knew she would be ushering… She knew her hair was messy, her shirt might be dirty, and she was utterly exhausted, but she couldn’t help feeling some joy in the fact that she was going to a movie with Johnny Barker. And when she reached the door, she realized that Zoë was right; he had come.

  Erin opened the door, surprised to find Victoria standing in there with him. Victoria was drop-dead gorgeous. She had long, straight dark hair and gold eyes. Although her pale skin was not in fashion, it beautifully contrasted with her dark hair. She was four years older than Erin, and was training to become a manager. Her eyes narrowed at Erin when she saw the younger girl open the door. It seemed as though Erin’s sudden presence caused an abrupt interruption of their conversation. Erin suddenly wondered what, exactly, they were talking about.

  “Erin!” Johnny exclaimed. “So you do work tonight. I didn’t see you in the box office.”

  Erin couldn’t keep the smile off of her face if she tried so she didn’t. “Hey, Johnny,” Erin replied.

  “Erin, please address our guests more formally,” Victoria said firmly.

  “Oh, no, it’s okay,” Johnny said, waving his arm as if to brush Victoria’s statement away. “We know each other.”

  “I’m here to escort Mister Barker to his movie,” Erin informed her soon-to-be manager.

  “It was a pleasure to meet you,” Victoria said, sticking her hand out.

  Johnny shook it, and smiled at her warmly. “And you, as well,” he replied.

  The action caught Erin off-guard because in the short time that she had known the man, they had never touched, not even when passing his credit card between them. As Victoria left, she threw a grin over her shoulder as if she knew this and then she disappeared out the door.

  “Hey,” Erin said, suddenly nervous that she was in the same room with Johnny Barker. Alone. Tonight, he was wearing blue jeans and a long-sleeved blue shirt with a black fedora. God, he looked good… but then again, he always looked good. “I’m supposed to be your shadow for tonight; you know, stick with you during the movie and escort you to your car.” She sighed. “I’m really sorry about all of this.”

  “What do you mean?” Johnny asked, raising a brow.

  “It just seems awkward to have an escort follow you around to do every little thing,” Erin replied.

  Johnny shrugged. “It does come with the territory,” he said. “I mean, I only really need an escort when I come to a tourist-filled place like this. I actually live a very quiet neighborhood and go to much smaller theatres and whatnot. I mean, sometimes the paparazzi finds me, but other than that, my life is pretty relaxed.”

  “You should go to smaller theatres, then,” Erin said. She could not take her eyes off of him and she didn’t even attempt to try. He was a magnet, drawing her eyes to him, unable to look anywhere but at him.

  Johnny shook his head and shot Erin a smile. Every time he smiled at her, she seemed to always blush, and that was not fair. “Nah,” he said, “I like this theatre.”

  Erin’s heart pounded again, and she inwardly cursed her inability to control her emotions. She just hoped that none appeared on her face. “Well, whatever you like,” she said with a small smile. She glanced at the ticking clock, hanging above Bert’s desk, the only noise in the room besides their own voices. “We should go. Security is waiting outside, so it won’t just be me.”

  “All right,” Johnny said and opened the door before Erin could get to it. He let her out and then followed her. Sure enough, two big men dressed in sharp, black suits, with dark glasses and ear buds were waiting there patiently.

  “Hello, Miss Erin,” the man on the left, smiling at her.

  “Hello, Jordan,” she said, returning the smile. “Hello, Sam. Well, we are ready to go.”

  “Yes, Miss Erin,” Jordan replied, and the four made their way across the theatre.

  Erin could not help but smile as she walked alongside Johnny Barker. Guests were beginning to stare, some pulled out their cameras or picture phones and began snapping away, despite the fact that managers would come around and confiscate them. Some tried to follow, but when Jordan turned to look at them, they turned into the bathroom. A loud whistle caused Erin to turn her head sharply; there was only one person who whistled like that. Her eyes connected to Zoë’s and she winked, giving Erin the thumbs up. Erin’s face turned beat-red, mouthing at her best friend, ‘Stop!’

  “Isn’t that the girl I talked to?” Johnny asked, looking at her as well. When Johnny looked at Zoë, the girl burst into coughs, having to go in the back room of the concession stand to sort herself out. His brow rose, and then glanced at Erin. “Do you know her?”

  “Sadly, yes,” Erin said. “I am so sorry. She’s crazy sometimes, and when I say sometimes, I really mean all the time.”

  Johnny chuckled, but didn’t respond.

  The two made it to the theatre, and once they were seated comfortably, the security guards turned to leave. Jordan asked if either wanted anything from the concession stand, but both politely declined, and with that, they were gone. Erin was nervous again. She was really sitting down to watch a movie with Johnny Barker. She tried to glance at him from the corner of her eyes without being too obvious; his profile was as beautiful as the frontal view of his face; his defined jaw line, his high cheekbone, his nose. God, she loved his nose. I am such a freak, Erin thought to herself, and then bit her tongue to keep from giggling aloud.

  “So, how are you this evening?” Johnny asked turning to her.

  “Oh, I’m good,” Erin said, turning as well. She sucked in her stomach when she realized how close their faces were. She told herself not to blush, not to turn red, not to embarrass herself. “Kind of sore, though,” she went on to explain, leaning back a bit so t
heir faces were not as close. “We were short a couple of ushers because they called out sick, so my general manager pulled me from the box office to help.” She scrunched her nose in disgust. “People can be very messy.”

  “I was wondering why you weren’t up in the box office,” Johnny said, nodding.

  “I’m not the only person who works here, you know,” Erin said with a teasing smile.

  Johnny shrugged, leaning back into his chair. “Well, you’re the only one I like,” he murmured.

  All self-control was lost on Erin and she turned a bright crimson, sinking lowly into her chair, but luck seemed to be on her side, however, because, just then, the lights turned low and the previews began to play. Erin loved the previews nearly as much as she loved the movie. When the opening credits began to roll, Erin began to doze. Having been woken up at six thirty and then seven fifteen, and then busting her ass off at work, it was hard not to, considering she was in a comfortable chair and the lights were low. She just had to make sure she was up when the ending credits started to roll.

  ---

  Johnny felt pressure on his shoulder, and he turned, thinking Erin wanted to ask him a question. He was surprised when he saw that it was not her hand but her head. Her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes meeting their counterparts, and her full lips were parted slightly. Her nostrils flared as she breathed in with her nose. She looked so peaceful, so serene, that he would not dare to wake her. It wasn’t as though he was uncomfortable with her there or anything. In fact, he kind of liked it.

  It was hard to watch the rest of the movie, feeling her hot breath on him, but the movie wasn’t as good as he thought anyway, so it didn’t matter. When the ending credits finally began to roll, he nudged the young girl gently. Smiling, he watched as she yawned, crinkling her nose tiredly. When she realized where she was, she immediately apologized. “I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed, blushing as she picked herself up from the chair.