"Yes, I was able to get him a ticket."
"That's so nice, sweetie. I know he's happy about that. Turn just a little toward the light. Good."
Yes he'll be happy to be there, Les thought, but he should be sitting next to me, not up in the balcony like some nobody in my life.
* * * *
That night Tommy drove Les's limousine to his apartment, got out, and opened the door for him. The studio had decided to have both Tiffany and Hillary ride with Les. That seemed to Les to be a bit overdone in protecting his sexual integrity, but, he went along with it. After collecting Les, Tommy picked up the girls.
The threesome got out of the car to the cheers and applause of the crowd of fans. Les walked the red carpet with the two young women dressed to the nines, on his arm.
Long-term, make sure I get to walk the red carpet when you get your first Oscar nomination, Les thought, remembering Russ's words from before any of this had begun. That seemed so long ago now. Les had promised Russ he would be at his side. At the time Les never dreamed that he would be walking the carpet, at least not this early in his career. But he was. And Russ? Well, Russ was somewhere in the crowd but not at his side. How many other promises would Les have to break to the man he loved so that his career could proceed unencumbered by a relationship --- a relationship all his advisors were sure would sabotage it?
The trio was stopped frequently so they could be photographed from every angle. Then the women were escorted separately to the area where they were posed to model the dresses and jewelry donated to them by the world famous designers. Les was taken to that area as well. He couldn't figure out why. All the men, well, nearly all of them, were dressed alike in black tie.
Then they were interviewed repeatedly by every network and magazine as they slowly made their way to the entrance to the Kodak Theater where they were led down the aisle to their seats in the nominees' section. They greeted fellow actors and well-wishers along the way.
According to the schedule, Les had to be backstage right after the host's opening monologue to get ready for his presentation with Hillary. After they made the presentation they could take their seats in the audience and wait for the supporting actor category which came an hour later---not that he thought it mattered.
He and Hillary stood in the wings as the presenters announced Best Supporting Actress. Tiffany won. Les was overjoyed for her. She came offstage with the statuette and threw her arms around Les.
"I never could have done this without you," she said, kissing him. "Now get yours when the time comes!"
The stage managers whisked her away to the winners' interview area before he could respond.
A few presentations later the announcer said, "Presenting the Oscar for Best Animated Short are Hillary Swenson and Les Bannister."
Les took a deep breath, clasped Hillary's hand, and walked onto the stage to an appreciable round of applause. The teleprompter rolled and they gave their lines including a joke about how the red carpet was good practice for their walking down the aisle together sometime soon.
After they had presented the award, which went to a production company for a film Les had never seen, let alone heard of, they returned to their seats.
Les just sat and took it all in. He never gave another thought to the possibility of winning. For him the phrase It is an honor just to be nominated, was the truth. It was an honor and was enough for him. His only thought was of how the night would have been perfect if only Russ were by his side.
The time came for the presentation of the Best Supporting Actor. The presenters were Mo'Nique and Tim Robbins, former winners of the supporting actor and actress awards. They engaged in the required banter, then read the names of the nominees while a short clip of each of the performances was shown on the big screens around the stage.
Hillary took Les's hand and smiled at him.
"And the winner is..." Tim Robbins opened the envelope and announced, "Les Bannister for Survival!"
The theme from the movie swelled, as did the applause.
Les just sat there staring dumbly around, not quite comprehending that he'd heard.
Hilly said, "Get up! You won! You won!"
It finally sank in. He had won---won the Oscar. He got to his feet, as did Hillary. He hugged and kissed her. Then he bounded up the stairs and across the stage where Mo'Nique hugged him, and handed him the gilded statuette. He stared at it for a few seconds and then took the podium after shaking hands with Tim.
"Oh my God!" he started. "Gosh. I never in a million years thought I'd win, so I didn't even think about what to say." He ran his fingers through his hair and the audience tittered appreciatively. "There are so many fine actors nominated here tonight that deserve this more than me. But, well..." He swallowed, "Thanks go to Nolan and Jason. Tiffany, of course."
He blew a kiss to his Oscar-winning counterpart, who had returned to her seat in the auditorium. "Our director, Sam Collins, Joel Anderson the producer, the crew, Skylar Randolf who directed my audition DVD, Sid Galloway, my agent..."
Les stopped. He thought of something Sid had said the day they'd first met. The price of fame. Ya want it...ya gotta be willing to pay for it.
As he stood there, Les realized there was one price he was no longer willing to pay.
"...and there's one more person who deserves my thanks and more. Someone whose patience, unselfishness, and love made this all possible."
The cameraman to Les's left who carried a shoulder camera, walked down the stairs into the audience ostensibly to take a shot of Hillary as she acknowledged the gratitude of her man.
"You see," Les said softly. "I'm not really who you think I am. I'm not Les Bannister. He was created by Hollywood." He paused and took a deep breath. "I'm just Freddy Perkins from Newton, Iowa." He looked at the statuette he held in his hand.
"This Oscar and my heart belong to my boyfriend and partner, Russ Williams. And if this statue has any real meaning, that fact won't make a damned bit of difference to anyone. Russ, stand up and take a bow. It's time the world knew who you really are."
The lights and cameras swept the audience and finally found Russ standing in the upper balcony, waving to Les.
"Russ," Les said, choking back tears, "I love you now--- and forever."
Les waved back to Russ and left the stage to tumultuous applause and a standing ovation.
THE END
ABOUT TERRY O'REILLY
Terry O'Reilly is a retired school teacher living a quiet life in the Midwest with his three dogs and his horse. He began writing several years ago at the urging of a friend and fellow author. Writing has become an important part of his life, allowing him to explore his thoughts, needs, and feelings as well as learn about other cultures and eras as he researches his stories. His books were formerly published with Aspen Mountain Press, eXcessica, and Amber Allure.
Visit him online at terry-oreilly.com.
ABOUT JMS BOOKS LLC
Founded in 2010, JMS Books LLC is owned and operated by author J.M. Snyder. We publish a variety of genres, including gay erotic romance, fantasy, young adult, poetry, and nonfiction.
Short stories and novellas are available as e-books and compiled into single-author print anthologies, while stories over 30k in length may go into print. Visit us at jms-books.com for our latest releases and submission guidelines!
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