Sometime yesterday,
There was another way
Of dreaming....
But there's another way
You don't have to be a hero....
God, it's not easy
There's a lot to keep you holding
On forever....
Whatever gets you through today -- The Radio (Whatever Gets You Through Today)
"Wow, you're really making the rounds huh?" Tove asked, holding up the magazine.
"Shut up man," the voice on the phone replied.
"I'm sorry...I know - but you've gotta learn to let this roll off your back. It comes with the territory, you know that, you've always known that."
"I know," Hayden replied. "I just keep thinking of how this is going to affect Cara....she's such a private person too, ya know?"
"Have you talked to her about it yet?" Tove asked.
"No...I figured you all were just coming in to work," Hayden replied. "This isn't the sort of thing I wanted to tell her over the phone...but I guess I really have no choice."
"Hey, why don't I go get her and have her come in and talk to you," Tove said.
Hayden sighed. Now was as good a time as any - and chances were better that she hadn't heard about it yet. He wanted to be the one to tell her this time.
"Alright...."
Tove put him on hold and stepped out into the office. Melissa and Cara were sleepily beginning the morning's activities.
"Hey, Cara?" Tove called, walking toward her desk.
Cara looked up, "Good morning Tove, what's up?"
"Um...can I talk to you in my office for a second?" Tove asked as quietly as possible.
Cara nodded, and hesitantly followed him back to her office.
This is strange, Cara thought to herself.
Tove shut the door behind her.
"My brother is on the phone and needs to talk to you about something...." Tove said after a second, sending Cara into a wave of panic.
"Why?? Tove, what's going on?" she asked.
Tove nodded, "It's okay...Hayden just wants to talk to you."
Cara nodded, a knot forming in her throat.
"I'm just going down to the conference room to leave you some privacy," Tove said, shutting the door behind him.
Cara took a breath and picked up the receiver.
"Hello?"
"Hey sweetheart....how are you doing?" Hayden asked in a bright voice.
"I'm okay...are you alright??" Cara asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine...there's just something I wanted to talk to you about -- and I wanted you to hear it from me first this time."
Oh no, not again, Cara thought.
"Oh, Hayden....are there photos again?" Cara asked.
Hayden was taken aback, surprised that she could even immediately guess that. "....well, yes."
Cara fumed in silence, "...ya know, its really hard for me to believe that this time was an accident too!"
"What? No! Not pictures of me and Sienna!" Hayden said. "There are pictures of me and you....from yesterday, in the Beverly Center."
Cara wasn't sure whether to be relieved or further alarmed.
Sure she was glad the pictures were not of him with another woman (namely Sienna), but she certainly didn't want her face splashed across magazines for the countless masses either.
"I just wanted to warn you about it first, that's all," Hayden said. "I'm sorry about all of this...I should have been more careful....I guess there are times I'd like to think I can have a normal afternoon out with my girlfriend and her family...naive, I know."
"...you're not naive, you should be able to do those things....I'm sorry...." Cara replied.
"Don't be sorry....I stepped into all of this knowing what it would bring," Hayden said. "I'm just sorry that it may cause issues for you....I don't want it to, but it could."
"Well, I hope not...I mean, no one knows who I am," Cara replied.
"Maybe not at the moment...but believe me - they will try to find out - its in their line of work to find out that sort of thing," Hayden said.
Cara sighed, "...well the people here at work know who I am so I wonder what that's going to do for my position here..."
"Don't even worry about that," Hayden said. "Your job is not in any danger, I can promise you that....if anything Tove knows all about it and he's just sorry that you're in this position at all."
Cara breathed a sigh of relief.
"We'll get through this, ok?" Hayden said, trying to sound reassuring.
"I know....we will," Cara said.
The two hung up shortly thereafter.
Cara noticed a magazine on Tove's desk.
It must have been the one in question -- Tove had picked it up en route to work after receiving an angry message from Hayden regarding the photos.
Cara knew she shouldn't but she couldn't resist. She picked up the magazine and flipped through the pages. She had to know what was said about her.
She read the blurb that accompanied the photos of her and Hayden. --'Actor Hayden Christensen was spotted in Beverly Hills over the weekend appearing quite cozy with a mystery brunette. The two were accompanied by another couple who appeared to be the girl's parents. The question on all of our minds is where is Sienna and what would she think of her man canoodling with another woman?'
Cara fumed silently. 'Her man canoodling with another woman?!' How ridiculous! They were so completely off -- it couldn't be further from the truth! The article actually made Cara appear as a part of some 'twisted love triangle' in which she was the conniving mistress!
Cara became so frustrated. She wanted to think that no one could possibly believe such lies....but deep down, she knew that there would be a lot of people questioning every thing she did from now on -- her thoughts, her feelings and more importantly, her motives.