Welcome to the Blog, y’all. It’s Gavins Gal here, your underground source for everything Aliyah Gavins. I tell you, what is it with this year and axes? I’m still hurting from the one Junior drove in our backs. I can’t believe they killed her off on the season premiere! Not gonna lie, I haven’t watched an episode since. What’s worse, I heard our girl has had two projects axed this summer. Two! She only had two. Let’s hope she’s doing okay. The good news is, if you’re a local fan, Li’s been dropping more pop-up signings than ever. I’ve already hit four this year. You got to be quick, though. Our girl moves fast and vanishes even faster.
Kelvin raced through the plaza, dodging people left and right. Shoppers crossed in front of him without warning. Under his arm, he carried a manila folder with Aliyah’s picture inside. He held it over his head to squeeze through some groups. A guy walking his dog nearly tangled him in the leash.
Traffic coming in was bad. He ended up parking a couple blocks away. In a quick decision, he took off his work shirt and grabbed his hat. His work pants didn’t match his undershirt, but he thought he looked corny in a button-up.
The Hotel Enamor stood at the heart of an upscale shopping district. Name-brand outlets lined the street with lush greenery between them. The storefronts shimmered in the light. Racks of chic apparel filled every window. The air smelled of perfume and the bistro down the block.
When Kelvin reached the hotel, he found he only made it by a minute. Fans cluttered the alley with dozens still in line. Agroup of guys huddled at the end. The actress couldn’t be seen among them, but her bodyguard towered over everybody.
While Aliyah signed, Markus kept watch over her shoulder. The big man dwarfed his client. His suit read quadruple-XL. He went without a tie for safety reasons. A pencil-thin beard ran along his jaw and drew over his upper lip. His hair was cut in a crisp low fade with equal precision. He had keen eyes, a mean scowl. On good days, he scared fans.
Around his client, pens and markers traded hands frequently. Magazines and movie sleeves switched out with phones and tablets. They took selfies, filmed. Empty hands concerned him the most. Last week, a guy tried to grab her. Markus broke his wrist.
The big man sized up every new person who got in line. He spotted Kelvin as he jogged across the alley. The scrawny kid elbowed his way into the huddle. He wore a hat that advertised for a shoe company and a T-shirt that promoted snowboarding. Markus was familiar with the type. They weren’t uncommon among Aliyah’s fans.
Once Kelvin got in line, he finally caught his breath. His heart pounded in his head. He wedged himself between two guys and the wall. They all bumped shoulders trying to fit. His hands trembled pulling out her picture. His hair fell in his face. He re-tucked it in his hat.
“Relax,” he told himself, “Just pretend she’s Imani. That’s it.”
A nice breeze blew through the area. Aliyah’s picture curled at a corner. The shrubs around the building rustled. It was beautiful for mid-May.
Beside him, the guys showered her with praise. They told her their favorite movie, spilled about her best role. Some said they liked her dress. Others liked how she filled it. Not all comments were appropriate.
Aliyah didn’t care. She moved through the line without batting an eyelash. “Yeah, it’s a tight dress.”
With a pop, Kelvin uncapped his marker. He paused when he saw the color. The cap was wrong. He thought he grabbed black. It was blue. In her picture, her outfit was blue. The two blues clashed.
“Doesn’t matter,” he said, shaking his head. His hair fell in his face again.
The guys beside him chuckled. He noticed Aliyah was left-handed while she signed for them. He switched hands with everything at the last moment. Markus glanced over because of it.
The next breeze whisked her picture away.
EJShaun.com 