movie star

Beat.

"Sorry I missed you at the MET Gala," she says as she stirs the straw into her drink. "Nick's been away with filming and I came down with the flu last minute." In some ways, it was a relief. Events like those were always a bit like navigating a minefield, but she at least gets to see some people and Nick is usually on his best behavior around all of the cameras. Even though it's an event where people are meant to schmooze and rub elbows, Daya tries to find what silver lining she can in her life, and what girl hates to dress up and be doted on? On the other hand, she was glad to miss the armchair criticism from everyone and their mother on Twitter. "You looked amazing though. Did you have a good time?"

"Mh. No. No, that works out for me." He signals to Kristen -- one finger up in the air, translating to be with you in a second. He takes a sip of his wine, red -- as he likes it best. It's a work call, one he couldn't exactly turn down, not after seeing the mass of text messages flooding in. The Cartel is on fire -- and so will the Brotherhood be. "There was an explosion near one of my.. locations.", Ezra explains as he hangs up and puts his phone on the counter, walking back to sit next to her on the couch, "I just had to check if there was some damage control needed. If anyone died, and stuff."

The underboss pats his lap, looking over at the woman. "Come here now? Or what was it that you wanted to talk about?"

"I did but if you'd rather have me help you forget about the day, we can do that first?" Her lips lowered to his neck.

Because he would've -- "Well, but he isn't freaking here right now. And I thought you didn't like nice guys. Or is it just that you don't like me being nice?"

Then wow -- "I'm not telling you what to do.", Ezra groans out, and then slams the breaks as she's about to jump out. "Are you insane?", he almost yells, and it's not anger -- it's sincere fear. He's been there before with his kid, trying to jump out of a driving car. And in this dress? There's no fucking way. "Listen.", he bites out, "Where do you even want to go? Can you just please let me drive you home now? Get a good night's sleep and that alcohol out of the system, and we talk like grown ups in the morning, yeah? I'm not down for any discussions right now."

If she was weaker, she would have apologized. Would have told him that it was all her fault and that she shouldn't have been mean to him. But she wasn't and Kristen lived like the way she wanted to. She had already told him that she was staying at the after party until the next morning so she wasn't quite sure why he was complaining about waiting hours for her in the first place.

"You're being so fucking dramatic." And she knew dramatic. "Maybe not, but you are complaining about my behaviors when I already told you--" The car jerked to a halt; the seatbelt halting and straining against the skin of her neck. She knew without even looking in a mirror that there would be a read mark on her neck from it. Are you insane? "Are you?" She shouted at him as the seatbelt synched her in, no longer giving way when she moved.

Kristen let out an annoyed groan as she grabbed the seatbelt that was still across her body and yanked. It wouldn't give. "I want to get out of this fucking car!" She shouted. She was aware that she, too, was being dramatic. But she didn't care. That was part of her thing.

She wanted to punch him. She wanted to scream. But she also wanted to be home and if she walked, it would take her a lot longer. Kristen clenched her jaw and folded her arms across her chest. "Get me home. Now."

There's too much going on. Whatever Ricardo is doing. His plans with Felix. Missions with Raffa, Maya's potential second pregnancy. Caleb. Nick. "If you wanted me to come with, then you should have behaved a little differently." He gives a quick glance in her direction, and maybe he's being a little harsh, but maybe she deserves it for making him wait hours.

"Should've asked the other guy to get you home.", he then grumbles, "I'm sure he would have stayed over in a heartbeat." And he knows he would have. He definitely would have. "Keep the dress and wear it for me another time. Then we can talk about me staying over." The thoughts in his head are too loud, the street is too quiet. Everything feels strange. Too strange.

"And I'm not sure what you want me to nap for. I can sleep just fine all by myself." Bingo, he's sulky. "And get your freaking hand out of my face."

"Wow. Do all the women appreciate when you talk to them like a child?" Because I sure as fuck don't. Her eyes roll at his words and she hates that it fuels her anger more. And not only that, but she feels a sort of sadness, too. "You're right. I should have. I highly doubt he would have treated me the way you are right now." Because she would have had control. Not the other person.

And yet right now... Ezra was the one in control. The one calling the shots. "Maybe I'll burn it." She said as she lifted the skirt of the dress and then dropped it. "No one gets to tell me what to do. Not my agent. Not my parents. And definitely not you."

An ache in her chest began to radiate and she turned her face away from him. She would not cry. She would never cry. Not over a man who had rejected her several times. "Stop the fucking car." She said as one of her hands moved to the button to unlock the door, the other grabbed the door handle. "I can walk home." Her voice was hard -- not at all soft and gentle like it had been moments before. Sure, she was tipsy, but she refused to be at the mercy of someone else.

Zed breathes a laugh. It's unusual for him, but he's projecting his best attitude tonight. "Is this your first time?" It's certainly Zed's. And he hasn't got the first bit of knowledge from Eva's crash course on food arrangements.

He'd have assumed it was a series of things difficult to pronounce.

"Oh, no. Definitely not." Kristen said with a laugh. "These events... I go to pretty much all of them. Doesn't mean I care for the food they provide, though." Sometimes, she didn't mind. But tonight... she was craving pizza.

Ezra looks down at their hands, but doesn't move it, just lets it rest there. He's tired, and not ready for any discussions. "I don't attend public events, especially not red carpet ones, where the whole city attends. Events are not my thing in general, or else we would have met at that auction thing." Because well, he's done his research, and knows she was there.

He looks away for a beat. "The dress really does fit you well. It's a nice choice." Compared to his simple dress pants, and hoodie.

She did, however, roll her eyes as she buckled herself in -- the tightness of the belt crushing some of the golden flower on her dress. "Hm..." A hum escaped her lips as she glanced towards him. "Paying attention to my whereabouts, are you?" It wouldn't have been hard for him to figure it out. There were pictures of her attending on the internet.

"I know it does." She muttered, her eyes averting away from him and towards the passenger side window. She'd been given ample amounts of compliments all night. And while she appreciated his... Actions were better, in her opinion, than words. "Am I going home alone this morning?" She found herself asking before she could stop herself. Kristen knew it was selfish to want him all to herself. To want him to be with her and not the kid she had found out about not hours ago. But that was part of who she was. Selfish. Needy. Obsessive. And with her inhibitions lowered due to the alcohol, she had less control over her tongue and those wants.

"Why wait, though? You could be their hero." There must be a Domino's around the neighborhood, somewhere. Julian's gaze drops to her gown, then. "The yellow looks lovely — if you haven't heard it a million times already. It's very striking."

"What a label that would be. The Hero of the Met." Kristen couldn't help but laugh at the name. "But... I'd be a bit selfish, I fear, with the pizza. Only giving it to those that ask nicely. Maybe offer me something in return." She admitted as her hands then moved to her dress. She ran them down the bodice and towards the skirt. "I have but not by many people that truly matter." Kristen's smile widened as she looked up at him. "Thank you. You also look very nice." A bit boring for her taste, but still nice.