Free Other Places 2: Road Blocks by P. S. Power

isn't going to be in for an easy time, poor thing. It was dark last night, and I didn't give a name, so I don't think she understood who I was. It's one of the tricks I've learned over the years to keep people from thinking I'm a giant slut. That goes without saying, but the press can be brutal about things like that still. I doubt they'll catch on to my location yet. Not doing what we did to get here. As long as I don't get a hotel room it should be all right."
     Zack nodded, looking at her for a moment. She was nice and pretty enough, in a fresh faced way. Probably more of an eight than a nine or ten, which, he realized, was probably why she got to be the famous actress and the others kind of hid in the woodwork. Some of them were so good looking it would draw too much attention. Actresses could be pretty, but the fantastically good looking ones were often hated too.
    A bite of buttered pancake went into his mouth and he savored it, still remembering when all he had was the ramen that Troy had bought them. It hadn't been enough food by far. Now he had four pancakes on his plate and had made them really big, using their old griddle. Four eggs too.
    "That has to be a pain. Being famous I mean."
    "Not really. People complain about paparazzo, in the industry, but you don't go into the profession of acting unless you're a bit of an attention hog. Behind the scenes they spend more time counting how many magazine covers they have, and the number of hits they get on Google than they do actually being worried that someone will catch them eating at McDonald's. It's part of the game, for all of us. You try to hide a little, so they have to work to find you, and so it's a big deal when they do. Right now I don't particularly want attention, because it could be drawn to Westfield." She ate for a while too, finishing half her food before continuing the thought. "It's a bit hard to explain that I have both a daughter and a granddaughter to the masses. They just wouldn't believe it at all, but attention can lead to stalkers and that kind of thing, which is already a big enough danger for my kind."
    That was news to him, but Zack didn't bother asking if she meant Kaitlyn and Valerie Swanson. It didn't take a Mensa member to work out that Judy Swan might just be a shortening of that last name. She didn't look that old at all, but then, she looked almost exactly the same age as Val. The perfect age to have sex with in American culture. About twenty-four or so, give or take. Old enough to clearly be legal, young enough that nothing would be expected to sag much yet.
    Thankfully a mouthful of food kept him from saying that out loud.
    When they finished he washed up immediately, since dirty plates bred, he'd noticed, and started to leave about eleven-thirty.
    Judy looked around and let her eyes light up.
    "I guess I should get my stuff?"
    "Or stay, if it's a good enough place to hide. Want to come with me? I can get you back whenever you want." Or provide the address to her people, so they could pick up her things, whichever was needed first.
    "Thanks, I was worried I'd have to beg. This place is nearly ideal for me right now."
    They had to wait for a bit by the tree the rift across the street was near, but then timed it pretty well. She stumbled a bit on the landing, but managed not to take the both of them to the ground. The problem there was that the door was locked when they tried it. He scrambled, trying to think about what to do, considering a multi-shortcut jump to another Nexus, so that he could enter through the back, when Mirror Him sighed in his head. Loudly.
    'I can't even call you stupid, because that would be too easy. Just go around and pound on the back door, so they can let you in.'
    That made more sense and for once would probably take less time. It was a droopy eyed Hiram that was there, alone, running the Embassy. The very idea made Zack grin.
    "See, in charge already . Why at this rate you'll be the Guild Chair in no time."