"Yes, can I get a double-double with cheese?" I shouted into the intercom, half crouched in my seat, a vision of messy yellow fabric as I leaned out the window. I looked at Aiden who sat across from me in the back of the limo. "Want anything?"

He shook his head.

"Oh! With fries and a vanilla shake!" I finished before leaning back inside and settling into my seat, satisfied.

Aiden raised a brow at me. "What?" I asked.

He shrugged, judging me in silence with his stupid face.

I rolled my eyes. "Don't hate. They make good burgers here." I crossed my arms and stared out the window, determined to stay silent. The quiet had another level to it. Aiden wasn't driving the limo that was headed to the movie premiere. And the divider to the driver's side was up.

So now Aiden had nothing else to focus on but me eating a cheeseburger in a fancy dress. I am one classy lady.

Unwrapping the beautiful greasy meal, I took a large bite, ignoring Aiden's look of disapproval. I was halfway through my burger before Aiden seemed ready to jump out of his skin and broke the silence. "Don't they serve food at these things?"

"I thought you weren't talking," I muttered, determined to enjoy my piece of heaven before being thrown in front of hundreds of strangers.

"It's a fair question. You're going to get food all over your dress."

I rolled my eyes and shot him an irritated face. "Don't doubt my eating skills. I am a very graceful eater." And in true me fashion, it was at that moment that a glop of ketchup made a break for it, betraying me as it rolled off the side of my burger and fell towards my dress.

A napkin appeared out of nowhere, catching the ketchup. Aiden was crouched in front of me, saving me from going down the red carpet in a ketchup-stained dress. "Right..." he replied, doubtful. "What was that about being a graceful eater?"

"Shut it," I snapped, shoving a large number of fries into my mouth.

He rolled up the napkin and tossed it into my fast food bag. "I will. But first I should warn you..." He gestured out the window. "We're almost there, you should finish up."

Crap! Crap! Crap! I shoved the rest of the fries into my mouth and sucked down a bunch of the shake, stopping when I got a brain freeze. "Ow! Eat through the pain!" I muttered to myself before sucking down more shake.

A surprised laugh caught me off guard. The rich baritone warmed me like silky sweet honey, working its way into my bones. But before I could even look up at him, Aiden's laugh was gone, his face serious, the light that filled the limo with his laughter seeping away.

The limo stopped and Aiden leaned towards the door. "Ready?"

I quickly wiped my hands and dropped my now empty shake cup into the trash bag with the rest of my fast-food wrappers. I swallowed, suddenly nervous. "As ready as I'll ever be."

We left the car, and I caught a glimpse of the TLC Chinese Theatre before I was blinded by camera flashes. Squinting, I nearly lost my balance, when I misjudged the curb. Aiden's hand was suddenly around my arm, steadying me. "I've got you," Aiden murmured near my ear.

"Thanks," I replied breathlessly as the flashes continued.

"Smile and keep walking. I'll guide you." I plastered on a large smile, focusing on what I had practiced so many times before when I got ready for my book tours. Walking. Just one foot in front of the other.

I tried to ignore the journalists and the flashing cameras as my pulse roared in my ears, my heart hammering wildly. I moved in a near sprint desperate to see, to hear anything other than the excited shouting.

But when I nearly lost my balance again, I forced myself to walk slower and not like some drunk, uncoordinated, terrified newborn puppy. I refused to be a meme or a GIF that would haunt me until I was old and grey.

My vision came back as I grew accustomed to the flashes and soon I wish it hadn't. There were cameras everywhere, like insects swarming, all abuzz with wild energy. Microphones stuck out towards me, hovering inches away from my face whenever I slowed down, and voices demanded answers to questions I couldn't hear.

I really wanted to get away from the chaos. I couldn't keep this most likely crazed-looking smile on my face. I didn't want to stay in this deathtrap pair of shoes. I was feeling light-headed, and frankly, terrified. I was not meant for anything involving media. I had no idea how people who worked in movies did this.

I just wanted to go inside, slink into my movie seat and enjoy the story, like the antisocial human that I apparently was. This is way more terrifying than any book signing.

One journalist stepped into our path and shoved a microphone into my face. I took a step back, startled. When the microphone followed me, I nearly turned around, eager to get away. I'm not cut out for this.

Just as I was about to give in to my fears, turn, run, and most likely never be invited to a red carpet event again, Aiden moved the microphone out of my face. Then he stepped between us, offering himself up as a shield to let me pass.

Other interviewers tried to talk to me, and yes I should have engaged, but I had never felt so overwhelmed. When fear hits, you can't always fight it in the chaos of the situation. Sometimes you need to walk away and give yourself a moment to breathe.

Sensing my apprehension, Aiden lead me directly past the cameras and journalists without a word. As if it was the most normal thing in the world for someone to ignore all the glitz and glamour. I had a sudden shield, a buffer that muted the chaos. He moved everything and everyone out of the way with ease.

It was like walking with someone who had force powers. My very own Luke Skywalker that could force push people out of our path. But more like if Luke Skywalker was more of the quiet type like Din Djarin, aka The Mandalorian. If Aiden had a Baby Yoda, he'd be freaking irresistible.

Soon, we reached the inside of the theater, the tall archways a beautiful glistening gold color. The theater entrance was still empty. I found a private spot behind a large pillar and slumped to the ground. I focused on breathing, trying to calm down my racing heart and tell myself I wasn't in danger or going to die.

"Summers."

I peered up at Aiden through my fingers to find him holding a water bottle. "Here." I took it with shaky hands. He crouched down in front of me. "You okay?"

I nodded unconvincingly, as black spots filled my vision.

"Take deep breaths and drink. These events are a lot."

I swallowed several mouth fulls of water and after taking in several deep breaths, my heart began to slow down. "I nearly ran away like a coward," I said, my voice uneven. "How do people do this?"

"With lots of practice." His voice lost some of its matter-of-fact tone, slightly softer. "You'll get used to it." He looked over his shoulder. "More people are coming in. You ready to stand?"

I nodded and he pulled me to my feet, his hands warm. "Thanks."

Aiden shrugged, and stepped back, letting go of my hands, "just doing my job."

Right. Duh, earth to Laliana. It's his number one rule to protect me. So why does him saying that make me sad?

I wasn't looking forward to the rest of the evening. My brain felt scrambled, making it hard to think. The socializing was far from over and I had just learned that I was terrified of cameras. How was I going to act like a normal human in front of hundreds of them?

---

Do you get nervous in front of large groups of people? What do you do to help with that?