For which part of it?
Petra
All. Everything. This is universal good luck.
Eva
Dear Universe, I would pretty please like a pony, a change in style, and a pack that falls deeply in love with me.
Petra
I’ll speak to the universe and see what I can do.
Eva
Appreciate that.
Sloane was right. I needed some fucking cheese fries to make it through the show. This was the most fun of the award shows, but it was still an award show, and was ten times as boring when you weren’t watching it on television.
I made my way to where they had food for the guests, dodging acquaintances and everyone else. Fries first, then I’d worry about the rest of it.
CHAPTER TWO
________
EVA
The cheese fries were better than last year. I wasn’t sure how that was possible, but it was.
Eva
Fries were bomb, by the way.
Sloane
So jealous. I’m going to have to order cheese fries and they won’t be nearly as good so I’ll be sad AND jealous.
I covered my mouth so my laugh didn’t disrupt the show. We were nearing the end when the bigger awards were announced. Only a couple more performances and awards, and then I could go home. There was probably an after party I could go to, but I wasn’t in the mood. I wanted to snuggle down into something comfortable and relax.
At the edge of the seating, I saw Jasmine appear and nod her head. Waiting until there were no live cameras on my section, I slipped away and allowed a pretty Beta to take my seat. The volunteers made it look like the show was always full of people, despite many of us having to duck in and out.
“Teeth?” I asked Jasmine as I handed her my phone and clutch.
“You’re good.”
“Thanks.” We made our way backstage, and it was different from past years. Normally the venue was so thoroughly soaked in scent canceller that everything smelled pristine. This time they must have lit a candle or something, because it smelled amazing.
I stepped out of the way of the background singers who had just come off stage. “Jas, you know who sets everything up back here, right?”
“Yeah. Why?”
“Whatever candle or air freshener they have back here is incredible. You smell that? Like apple cinnamon. Maybe a bit of mint? I can’t quite tell. But if you can find out what it is, I’d love to know.”
She stared at me for a second. “Eva?—”
One of the stagehands spotted me. “Miss Williams, this way.”
Security guarded the envelopes containing the winners to make sure they weren’t tampered with. But just like with everything else about the DCAs, it was more casual. There were still some presenters from earlier back here chatting and hanging out. Crew ran back and forth prepping things. The rock band performing after my award presentation was gearing themselves up in the corner.
