112 Festival de Cannes (part 1)

The day had finally arrived and I was at the rehab to pick up Rob to take him to the movie festival. As I was waiting for him in the waiting room I watched the tv above as I sat in a chair. It was on MTV and they were discussing new music artist that have been making waves in the music industry. 

I got a bit bored of it and so I picked up a magazine to my left from the table beside me and began to flip through it. Not much later I heard something very familiar and looked up to see myself on the tv above. They first showed video footage of my concert in Gotham where I did the punk version of Blinding Lights and then they switched over to my most recent performance where I stuck to The Weeknd's original version that was a mashup with Dua Lupa. 

The host's on the tv were comparing the two and talking about my artistic range and how I didn't seem to have a set genre at all. As I watched my heartbeat began to speed up a bit. My goals were slowly being accomplished, It felt nice to see myself on tv in a positive way and not just on a local station. Suddenly my sharp senses alerted me and I realized I was being watched. 

Looking over I found the receptionist staring at me as she talked to her older female co worker beside her. It was apparent that they were talking about me as the one that initiated the conversation was pointing at the tv and then motioning in my direction with her eyes. Id probably have to start wearing sunglasses and a hat when I went out now. I made a mental note to pick some up before the flight. It wasn't as bad here as It would be in other places because this rehab facility often had celebrities in and out of it. Seeing another one wasn't a huge ordeal to them I was sure. 

After waiting for around fifteen minutes, Rob was escorted to the waiting room to me. The staff member escorting him was a man in his late twenties. The man looked my way and spoke to me before Rob had a chance. "Aeric right? Since Rob voluntarily came to our facility we have agreed to issue him an extended two day pass instead of the usual day passes we give out, but we hope for you to stick near him and make sure he doesn't relapse. No alcohol, drugs, or even over the counter items. His sobriety will partly hinge on your ability to pay attention to him". 

Rob rolled his eyes hearing the staff member beside him. "I'm not going to relapse, I'm feeling great. After going through withdraws, I really don't want to go through that ever again in my life. You don't have to worry about me."

I smiled upon seeing my friend looking a whole lot healthier than before. "Sounds like you have made a lot of progress". 

Rob nodded. "I saw you on BET yesterday, seems like you are also doing well for yourself."

I laughed. "You watch black entertainment television? Id like to say I'm surprised, but somehow I'm not. Why would they have had me on BET? I'm clearly not black." 

Rob shrugged his shoulders. "All my black friends think of me as a brotha from another mother. I consider myself part of the community. You also don't have to be black to enjoy good music or be featured on BET, but to be fair they did seem a bit more focused on your opening acts more than you."

I nodded my head. "Understandable, my openers were all handpicked by myself and were talented artist. I was just on MTV a second ago anyway, to even be mentioned on BET is good enough for me. I'm one step closer to having Carson daily interview me on TRL. So maybe I'll be on VH1 next."

Rob looked at me confused. "Who?" 

Oh yeah, Carson probably didn't exist in this universe, that was a slip on my part. It's a bad habit I needed to kick sooner than later. Luckily we were interrupted by the receptionist at this time. "You guys are free to go whenever, just make sure Rob is back at the time he's supposed to be back or things get messy around here and eventually the police will have to be called because technically he is a ward of the state until we release him." 

Rob and I told the receptionist that we understood before walking out the doors of the facility and heading to the airport. When we arrived at the airport a police car honked at us and I looked over to see an old man with thick rimmed black glasses at the steering wheel that looked a little familiar, but I couldn't immediately place who he was.

"Aeric right? I don't much like you Hollywood types, but my daughter claims you're a good guy. Just looking at your face I can't help but question that now though. You look like every criminal I have ever locked up. She's an adult and she makes her own decisions though so I can't stop her, but you should know that I'm a police commissioner out of Gotham and I'll seriously f#ck up your whole world if my daughter isn't returned safely." 

Rob who was beside me couldn't help but laugh.

The old man frowned. "You don't look much better either young man, both of you look like you're up to no good. You both look like young masters that like to play with the hearts of women and commit crimes in your spare time." 

If I hadn't finally realized that the old man in front of me was commissioner Jim Gordon, I probably would have backhanded him a couple of words back, but if I did I wouldn't only have an upset Batman on my hands, but also an upset house guest on my hands as well. 

At this moment I heard a voice from the back seat of the police car. "Daddy stop! I already told you not to judge him on his face alone. I admit he may look like he kills kittens for fun, but he's a great guy once you get to know him."

Rob was laughing his ass off next to me to the point he couldn't catch his breath and tears were coming out of his eyes as he wiped them away. The nerve to badmouth my face when I was standing beside them. I was about to say something, but then the back door of the police car opened up revealing two beauty's in gorgeous dresses as they stepped out. 

Barbara was to be my date for the film festival and I had asked her to bring a single friend to be my friends date. Rob was unmarried and without children in this universe, so I figured he wouldn't mind. The woman beside Barbara seemed just as attractive as her as she got out and approached Rob and spoke.

"Robert right? You're a bit of a cutie huh? My name is Helena, I've never been to a film festival before so I'm quite looking forward to it."

Rob had stopped laughing the moment he saw her, the usual suave and quick witted him found himself in a bit of a trance when looking at Helena. "I knew being friends with Aeric would pay off eventually. You have to be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I know you are supposed to be my part time arm candy for the festival, but how about you and I get to know each other a little more after over dinner?" 

Helena giggled at the Robs words. "Are you inviting me or my chest to dinner? I can't tell because you aren't looking at my eyes."

At this time Jim Gordon could only sigh as he looked at the bastards picking up his precious daughter and her friend. "See you later Angel, stay safe." 

Barbara ran and gave her dad a hug. "Don't worry daddy, see you later". 

Jim Gordon looked my way once more with a face that said he didn't trust me before he drove off in defeat. I wouldn't trust my daughter around someone like me either, so I understood to some degree.