cheerfire | girls don't like boys

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the bodyguard timeline

girls don't like boys

[ Eddie had never been able to figure out what he'd do once he actually graduated. But then one day he had found himself with a piece of paper clasped in his hands and completely directionless. Part of him had wanted his band to take off, to be famous in his own right. They had made a go of it, had built their own little fanbase, but ultimately, Corroded Coffin had never quite gotten off the ground. Just hoping to be famous wasn't enough, and Eddie had to face reality and find a different direction for his life.

Gareth is the one that had offered him a job a the private security company he worked for, and Eddie was surprised at how much he enjoyed the gig. Most of the guys were physically imposing, tough looking, even if on their off time they were sweethearts. It didn't take him long to realize that half the job was just about image. Eddie himself wasn't the sort of buff, muscled protector, but he quickly found he didn't need to be. Being tatted and tall took care of a lot.

He can hardly believe when he's handed his next assignment, working security for pop princess Chrissy Cunningham. He knows that name, he's sure of it, and an ancient memory rings through him. Middle school, he thinks, cheer routines and a school talent show. Eddie keeps all of that to himself, folds the paper with the details of his job and tucks it away the same as he does the memory.

All things considered, it's a good gig. She's got plenty of security, and at first Eddie barely needs to do anything. He just exists among a squad of men that are designated to hold back screaming fangirls. It's several days onto her tours before Eddie finds himself assigned as one of her personal body guards. She's just finished up a show, and Eddie is the one that shepherds her from stage to dressing room. He can still hear the screams of delight as he finally closes the door behind them.

Her dressing room is bright and airy, filled with floral arrangements and cards proclaiming love and well wishes. Eddie positions himself in front of the door, watching Chrissy as she begins her routine in unwinding after a show. ]

Let me know if you need anything, okay?

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[ Protocol is out the window, because Eddie can't imagine pushing her away in the name of professionalism. She's trembling against him, and all he can do is hold her close, hoping it might provide some comfort. It's hard not to feel like he's failed her, even when there's little he could have done against the surprise attack. He keeps his arms around her as they make their way down the hall to her room, only releasing her so he can examine things.

Eddie takes his time, examines every corner of the suite, picks things up and examines them with intensity. There's no such thing as being too careful, not now. Once he feels confident that her room is safe, he returns to her, finding her settled on the couch. ]

Yeah, I... I'm sure.

[ That's the price of fame, he supposes. Without the crazies of the world, Eddie wouldn't have job, but that doesn't mean he likes the fact. He hesitates a moment, standing in front of her, before deciding to settle himself on the couch beside Chrissy. He doesn't touch her, despite the fact that part of him wants to. ]

Are you going to be okay?

[ He hates the fact that he's even asking, thinks he knows the answer. But strictly speaking, his job is done, and he should be heading out now. ]

[She tries nodding, but her heart isn't in pretending like everything's fine. The thought of being left here alone shakes her to her core, and it's because of that she scoots in closer to him. Her hand rests on his arm, a gesture to signal that she's not okay before she's able to put it into words.]

No.

[It's hard to say that, even though it's just a single word. Chrissy doesn't like to inconvenience others. Doesn't want to show that she's not as put together as the world wants to think.]

I'm a little freaked out after what happened. Do you...

[Hesitating, her hand drops away from his arm, and she looks away from him. This is a new low point. Begging for company.]

Do you think you could stay tonight?

[ The rational answer is, of course: absolutely not. It violates about every rule that's been laid down by the company works for, and yet, Eddie can't imagine telling her no. All things considered, he's officially off the clock now, having returned her to her room. If he wants to make bad decisions on his free time, then that's on him. ]

Yeah... [ His voice is soft, purposefully gentle. He lifts a tentative hand to curl his arms around her shoulders, trying to offer comfort. ] Yeah, okay.

[ Eddie gives her a little grin, ignores the way his heart gives a kick inside his chest. ]

Just promise you won't tell my boss.

I wouldn't.

[Chrissy's answer is immediate, and she looks up at him with wide eyes. Yes, his arms around her feels nice. And it makes her feel safe. But she realizes there's a little of an imbalance here, with her being a client and asking him to break the rules.]

I don't want to lose you.

[Which sounds dramatic, and she visibly winces at the realization. She's really messing this up tonight.]

I just like having you as my personal bodyguard, is all.

[It's a poor cover up, and she hates herself for not trying harder.]

It's fine, really.

[ He wants to reassure her, and as long as word doesn't get back to his boss, it really is fine. Even if he knew this would be found out, if he would lose his job for it, Eddie can't imagine leaving her now. He pulls her close for a moment, giving her a squeezing hug. Then he stands, surveying the room. ]

You want something to drink? Water, coffee? [ His gaze drifts towards the corner where a great many of gift baskets have been heaped together, a mess of flowers and balloons and snacks. ] I think there's a few bottles of champagne tucked in there, if you need something to take the edge off.

[ It isn't the smartest idea, but then, neither is him staying. He just wants to help her feel a little more comfortable, more relaxed. As many security jobs as he's worked, he can't imagine what it really feels like to have to worry about some insane fan taking things too far. ]

[This has terrible idea written all over it. And yet, Chrissy doesn't tell herself to let him go home. She doesn't insist on water or coffee.]

Champagne sounds great actually.

[Anything to relax a little. She knows that it's stupid to be this freaked out by a crazed fan. It happens regularly enough she never really feels safe. But Eddie's her new bodyguard. Something could have happened to the both of them, and the thought of that scares her. She tries not to think about what worrying about his safety means, because when he grabs the champagne and some glasses and makes his way back over to the couch, she's smiling a little. It's natural to feel at ease with him there.]

What was your last assignment?

[She wonders as he opens the bottle, and gives a little jump at the sound of it practically popping open.]

I mean, I'm not your first one. Am I?

[ Champagne is definitely a bad idea. That doesn't stop him from springing to his feet the moment she decides upon it, returning quickly with a bottle in one hand and a pair of glasses in the other. Eddie pops the cork with relative ease, pouring both of them a glass that is just shy of spilling over. He passes a glass to her, before raising his own so they can bring their glasses together in a toast. ]

I'm not really supposed to say.

[ But then, he's also not supposed to be spending time with a client after hours. All sorts of rules are being broken tonight, so what's one more. Eddie takes a sip, enjoys the tingling of carbonation against his lips as he watches her. ]

Ah, let's see. You're the first pop artist I've worked for, but I recently did detail for Jason Carver. You know, the basketball player? He's kind of a dick, between you and me. Did a stint in New York for a while with an author. Nancy Wheeler, maybe you've read one her books? She's a big true crime author.

[ For someone that's not supposed to be spilling industry secrets, the names bubble out of him without restraint. There's just something about talking with Chrissy that lowers his inhibitions, and he hopes that it provides something of a distraction for her. ]

[He's not really supposed to say, but he tells her anyway. Chrissy's amused when he quickly winds up spilling some details, laughing as he mentions Jason Carver. Of course he's worked for Jason.]

I dated Jason for a little while, actually.

[But she doesn't ask when Eddie worked guarding him, doesn't really want to know. Because bodyguards often walk in or see things they don't really want to with their clients and whoever is falling into bed with them. Things with jason hadn't been serious, but they had been fun. ]

He's a total asshole.

[She can agree on that much, at least. It's after raising her glass to a toast to that sentiment that Chrissy takes a sip. She's not ever a huge fan of champagne, but she needs to get at least a little tipsy tonight. So a second drink is chased right after the first, this one a bigger gulp that she swallows down with no regard to actually tasting what's in her glass.]

No shit.

[ Eddie looks amused, watching Chrissy from over the rim of his champagne glass. He's never been one for celebrity gossip, so this is all news to him. He tries to picture Chrissy and Jason together, his hands on her, and the image simply refuses to form in head. Good, he thinks, that they're no longer together and that she confirms he's an asshole. Not that it should matter to him-- but of course it does. ]

Easy there.

[ He laughs a little as she practically inhales two drinks, one after the other. He knows what it feels like to need to take the edge off, so he can't say he blames her. It should probably be his job to make sure she doesn't go too crazy, and yet his train of thought veers in a different direction. ]

Hey, why don't we play a game? [ Eddie finishes his glass, drains it in one last swallow. ] To take your mind off things.

A game?

[Chrissy tries to remember the last time she had played a game. It's been a while, she realizes. She doesn't really surround herself with people who want her to take the time to do things like relax. So to have Eddie suggest a game is so charming to her that she can't stop smiling from behind her glass.]

What did you have in mind?

[Even without knowing what he's planning, she already has a look on her face that says she's going to play.]

You familiar with 'never have I ever'?

[ He's reaching for the bottle, tops off her glass and pours the last dregs into his own. He needs to open a second bottle to top off his glass. It's a little careless, and champagne spills over the glass and runs down his fingers. He leans back, licks the few drops from his knuckles before looking back at her. ]

One of says something we've never done, and if you've done it, you drink.

[ Eddie raises his glass as though to toast, waits for her to do the same. ]

So I could say, never have I ever sung in front of thousands of people, and you'd have to drink. [ He grins at her, mischievous. ] I mean, I assume you've done that.

[She laughs at the fact he chose the most obvious route to get her to have to drink, and all she can do is smirk in amusement as she raises her glass in a toast before taking a drink.]

So if I said, never have I ever had long hair, you'd have to drink?

[Both eyebrows arch as she grins impishly up at him.]

Or do I have to actually be telling the truth?

[Her eyes glance to his hands, taking note of the fact his fingers are still wet from the champagne. She wouldn't mind watching him lick off more once they get tipsy enough. It takes great effort to shake that though from her mind, and she glances back to his face to wait for his answer.]

If you don't tell the truth, then the game's no fun.

[ He gives her a wink, raises his glass to take a drink. What he's just said is true, under normal circumstances. But the way his heart flips when she asks the question makes him think she could lie to him all evening and he'd still enjoy it. ]

You barely squeak by with that, you know.

[ Eddie smirks in her direction, openly eyeing the length of her hair. It's more to make her laugh than anything, rather than open up a debate about whether her hair counts as long or medium. ]

My turn. [ He thinks for a moment, trying to stick to more innocent questions, for now. ] Never have I ever... cried at a party.

I haven't!

[She gasps as she answers the question verbally, forgetting she can just not take a drink. But then she's left laughing right after she says it, giving a light shrug of her shoulders.]

Unless you count laughing so hard you almost cry.

[But she's not taking a drink, and instead runs her finger along the rim of her glass as she thinks something over.]

Never have I ever fell asleep watching TV.

Nah, I said cry, after all. Not almost.

[ Though he's glad to hear it's never happened, at least not in the way he had imagined. Something about her strikes him as being a crier, but he keeps that thought to himself. Besides, she's nailed him with her next question, and he raises his glass to drink. ]

I can't believe you never have. [ Eddie has spent far too many nights passing out in front of the tv, but thankfully this game doesn't include follow up questions. ] Never have I ever been outside the country.

[ Which is a little bit cheating, seeing as he knows she's done at least one world tour. But she's gotten one up on him, and he'd like to even things up. ]

[She gives him a look that says you know I have, before she takes a drink. And since he can play to win, she can too. Laughing, she leans over to rest her head against the back of the couch. But she turns so she's watching him completely.]

I've fallen asleep reading books. I've even fallen asleep in a movie premiere once or twice. But never in front of the tv.

[She takes another little sip, just because she wants to.]

Hmmmm...never have I ever peed standing up.

[Yes, she knows that it's tacky. But she's hoping to surprise him enough that he laughs. And takes a drink, of course.]

Wow, talk about a low blow.

[ Eddie looks offended, pressing a hand to his chest. It’s all an act, of course, evidenced by the way he laughs as he finishes his glass. He reaches to refill and nearly finished the bottle, reaching to tip the last bit into Chrissy’s. ]

If that’s how you wanna play… [ His grin is wolfish as he formulates his next question. ] Never have I ever worn a bra.

[She takes a drink while he's asking his question, feeling nice and pleasantly relaxed now. There's a laugh as she reaches over to gently hit at his arm. She knows she's owed a low blow, but really? Of course, Chrissy takes a drink. This one she makes a show out of, downing about half of her glass in a single gulp.]

Never have I ever rode a motorcycle?

[It comes out a question because while she never has, she can't tell if he's a motorcycle kind of guy or not. He looks like he might be, but he may not have the time to mess around with them if he's guarding high profile clients.]

[ That little bit of contact does more to him than it has any business doing. Eddie feels a little shiver run through him, and tries to assure himself that it's nothing. Must have been a gust of the air conditioner or something. ]

Ooh, nice try, but that's a miss.

[ He seems pleased at the miss, holds his glass defiantly away from him, despite the fact that he'd like to drain the whole thing. ]

Okay, I'll go easy on you. Never have I ever broken a bone.

[Giggling, she raises her glass in a toast before taking another drink. This guzzle drains her glass, and she's warm and a little fuzzy headed as she makes her way over to the gift baskets to find another bottle to pop open. She manages to get it open before she's back at the couch, and laughs loudly as champagne bubbles out the top and goes everywhere.

Her glass is filled as soon as she's able.]

I fell off the jungle gym at school when I was little.

[If he wanted to know. They don't have to explain, but she likes telling him about herself. It's almost like he wants to know the real her, not just her stage persona.]

How about...never have I ever been rejected.

[ Eddie jerks back suddenly, as though he's been shot, a hand flying to his chest. Some of the champagne spills down from the glass, runs over his fingers, but Eddie is committed to the bit. He sits slowly, his expression pained as he licks droplets of wine from his fingers. ]

I can't believe you'd make me admit that. [ He adds a fake sniffle to his show, looks downright broken hearted as he takes a long swallow from his glass. ] Guess it doesn't surprise me that you've never been rejected.

[ And he chooses not to elaborate further on why he thinks that is. Eddie drums his fingers against his thigh, trying to come up with something good. ]

Never have I ever flashed someone.

[ He quirks a brow, very interested in her answer. ]

[She snorts, laughing as she rolls her eyes.]

You'll be disappointed to know that I haven't.

[Tipsy by now though, she doesn't even think before she takes another drink. She just smiles, pleased that they're still playing this silly game at all.]

What about you, never have I ever...called someone the wrong name in bed.

Edited 2022-09-09 04:26 (UTC)

You know what? I am disappointed.

[ He thinks he can only admit that because of the several glasses of champagne swirling inside him, beginning to make things just a touch hazy around the edges. It's of course completely inappropriate for him to say something like that, but it's also inappropriate that he's here right now, so what does it really matter? ]

I'm more of a gentleman than that. [ But he takes a sip anyway, mostly because he wants to drink. ] Let the record show that this is only because I'm thirsty, not because I've done that.

[ He's starting to feel a little too warm, shrugs out of his suit jacket and loosens his tie. ]

Never have I ever faked an orgasm.

[She's not bothered that he says it. Maybe she should be, she thinks. But she's nice and relaxed, eyebrows arched as she watches him loosen his tie. Well, he's going to be smug after this.

Chrissy holds eye contact with him long enough that it's definitely inappropriate. But she's had enough to drink that she no longer cares. And when she takes another drink, her head is left swimming.

Maybe that has to do with the fact he hasn't looked away from her though.]

Never have I ever kissed on the first date.

[ Somehow, the answer makes him sad. Maybe because he thinks that if it were in his control, she'd never have to fave an orgasm. But that's none of his business, not even when she's flushed from drinking and practically glowing. It's impossible to look anywhere but at her, and he makes eye contact as he empties his glass once again. ]

Honestly, I don't consider it a successful first date if there isn't a kiss.

[ He's reaching for the bottle, a little clumsy as he refills his glass. By now he's lost count of how many glasses they've gone through, and no longer finds himself caring. The next question spills out of him without thinking, because if he were, he never would have asked it. ]

Never have I ever been in love.

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