present

ALICE.

I didn't realize it had been an entire two hours we had been on the flight until I asked Sebastian to to check the time. The time read 6 a.m. I only had another half hour until I was in the Atlanta airport, and my mind was racing.

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open and I jerked my head to look at Sebastian, stifling a giggle from the song that had begun playing through the earbuds.

"Oh my God," he murmured as he unlocked his phone. "This is embarrassing," he laughed. He began scrolling through his playlist until I gently placed a hand over his wrist, halting him from changing the song.

"Don't change it," I murmured as I offered him a small smile.

He offered me a quick glance before chuckling. "I feel like I should give you some type of explanation as to why 'Shout Out to My Ex' by Little Mix is apart of my playlist," he giggled while rubbing the back of his head.

I laughed. "If it makes you feel better, then go for it," I replied.

"Well," he murmured, lost in thought. "I actually don't have a good explanation for it besides that it makes me feel good," he chortled.

I burst out laughing, muffling my laughter with my hand as I did so. "Such an amazing explanation," I chuckled.

"What?" He asked as he gasped. "Do you have some sort of reason to be against a grown ass man listening to Little Mix?" He asked while feigning disbelief.

I rolled my eyes. "The only men in my life either listen to rap, classic rock, or alternative rock," I chuckled. "And also heavy metal."

He rolled his eyes dramatically. "I had a My Chemical Romance song on my playlist. Don't forget that," he insisted with a smile.

I nodded my head and flashed him a smile, which resulted in me only giggling more.

"I'm changing it," he said as he began scrolling through his playlist once again.

"No!" I insisted through laughter. "I love it! It makes me feel good about myself too," I remarked as I held in my laughter to the best of my ability.

Sebastian flashed me a look before he continued scrolling through his playlist.

I closed my eyes as I let him pick out a song for the two of us to listen. Suddenly, slow and electronic noises began filling my earbud, along with a man singing "Ooh yeah" repeatedly.

"Since you said the men in your life only listen to four kinds of music, I figured I'd show my worth," he murmured, causing me to open my eyes and meet his. He had a small smile on his face as the music continued to fill the earbuds.

"It's good," I murmured as I offered him a soft smile.

Sebastian winked back. "I listen to only the best," he murmured before smirking at me.

The two of us sat in silence for a few moments before I began to mouth out the words to the song dramatically.

"Baby I can make that pussy rain, often," I mouthed out while dancing dramatically, clutching my chest as I bore my eyes into his.

Sebastian watched me for a few moments before he hurt out laughing, throwing his head back as he did so. By doing this, the earbud was yanked out of my ear.

"Sebastian," I gasped, feigning disbelief. "You made my earbud leave my body," I gasped, my mouth left agape as I clutched my chest.

"I am so sorry," he said sarcastically as he handed me back my earbud. Our fingers brushed against one another for only a short moment, resulting in me smiling internally.

I just touched a movie star's hand! Wait, I touched his wrist a few minutes ago. And he touched my bicep a little while ago. I guess this isn't all that new.

Multiple songs wafted through the earbuds until our flight was over. I handed him back his earbud as the plane landed, resulting in him mouthing a 'thank you,' not wanting to yell over the turbulence from the plane landing.

The two of us continued to stay seated as the pilot said some things over the intercom. I was smiling ear to ear as I gazed out the window for a short moment.

I'm fucking here.

People began standing up, prompting Sebastian to stand and me to follow. He grabbed his carryon and then gave me some room to stand behind him in the aisle of people. I grabbed my purse from between my feet and then reached up and gathered my carryon from the overhead bin.

"Do you need any help?" He asked as he watched me pull my carryon down.

"I'm good," I murmured as I finally got my carryon bag down from the overhead bin. "But thank you."

Sebastian flashed me a kind smile before proceeding to walk down the aisle with me in tow.

I followed him through the tunnel that connects the plane to the terminal, and he slowed down once we were out of people's way so I could walk beside him.

"What hotel you staying in? Or are you staying with your cousin?" He asked as he walked towards the baggage claim with me beside him.

"I'm staying in a hotel today," I murmured. "But with my cousin the rest of my time here," I lied. I was honestly surprised he remembered the lie I told at the beginning of the flight. I continued on, "I'm staying at The Toldstead."

Sebastian flashed me a surprised smile. "Really? Me too," he gasped. "But it's not just me. The entire cast of Civil War is staying there," he said.

I raised my eyebrows. "So, basically what you're saying is that I'm going to be surrounded by celebrities for a day," I declared.

He nodded his head as we descended down the escalator. "Lucky you," he murmured.

"Lucky me," I whispered while remaining eye contact with him.

Sebastian giggled before stepping off of the escalator with me a few steps behind. He once again stopped so I could catch up to him, and then he carried on walking towards baggage claim.

"Sebastian," I mumbled, thinking of an idea.

"Hmm?" He hummed back.

"Is it maybe ok if I catch a ride with you to the hotel?" I asked while raising my eyebrows. "I don't really know anyone out here besides my- um- cousin and he's not in town right now," I murmured. "That and I didn't reserve a rental car," I muttered, silently cursing Billy for not doing that.

Sebastian flashed me a toothy grin. "Of course," he exclaimed. "I was gonna offer that we go together anyway," he said.

I flashed him a smile in response. "Thank you," I praised.

Sebastian shook his head as we reached baggage claim and waved off my comment with his hand. "It's nothing, really," he murmured.

The two of us were now standing at baggage claim and awaiting his bags.

"If you see any of your bags, just let me know and I can grab them for you," he murmured.

I smiled at him and held up my carryon bag. "This is all I got," I said.

Sebastian raised his eyebrows before responding. "I can honestly say I have never met a woman that doesn't pack her entire closet into at least two suitcases," he said.

I flashed him a smile. "I'm not your average woman, then," I mumbled.

He flashed me a small smile. "I guess you're not." Sebastian glanced towards the baggage claim area and cursed. "Shit," he murmured before apologizing to me. He stepped forward and grabbed his bag before setting it down next to me and adjusting his items.

"Are you good?" I asked while giggling.

Sebastian nodded his head and sighed before giggling as he pulled the handle out from his suitcase. "I am now," he mumbled. He tilted his head in the direction of the doors leading out of the airport and we walked out together.

I glanced up and down the aisle of taxis, Ubers, and buses. "No limo," I murmured, glancing up at him.

Sebastian burst out laughing at my comment. "You think I take a limo everywhere?" He asked while tilting his head down in laughter.

"You're a movie star, aren't you?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.

Sebastian shook his head before pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'm not that kind of movie star, Alice. I'm not a selflish douchebag," he giggled. Sebastian looked left and right down the aisle of cars before nodding his head and motioning for me to follow.

The two of us arrived at a black SUV, and he began shoving his suitcase into the trunk.

"I Uber everywhere, if you must know," he joked with a goofy grin upon his face.

I simply rolled my eyes and chuckled in response as I began shoving my carryon in the trunk.

Sebastian shut the trunk for us and he walked to the left side of the car while I walked to the right.

The two of us gathered into the backseats of the car and the driver spoke up.

"Hello, Mr. Stan," he chuckled as he looked at him through the mirror. "And hello to you, Miss..."

"Hartsfield," I responded with a small smile.

"I didn't know Sebastian would have any lady friends joining us," he stated as he began pulling out of the aisle of cars.

Sebastian shook his head and giggled. "I didn't know either until a few minutes ago," he chuckled.

"Ah," the driver breathed out as he looked left and right before driving off. "I see now."

Sebastian flashed me an apologetic smile and I waved it off while holding in my laughter.

"Well," the driver began. "I'm Daniel, in case you're curious, Miss Hartsfield."

I nodded my head. "You can call me Alice, Daniel," I murmured with a smile.

He flashed me a toothy grin through the mirror. "Whatever you say, Alice," he murmured.

Daniel, from what I could see of him, looked to be somewhere in his fifties. He had a large mustache beneath his nose, and he looked like the happiest person I'd ever seen.

The three of us sat in silence for the remainder of the drive. I gazed out the window at the passing scenery, watching as building after building passed by. I had never been anywhere but New York before, so this was all entirely new to me.

Upon arriving at the hotel, Daniel parked outside of the front doors and offered to gather our bags for us, but we both politely declined. Sebastian paid for Daniel's service before glancing over at me.

"You ready?" He murmured, offering me small smile.

I wore a look of confusion on my face. "Ready for what?" I asked.

Sebastian simply offered me a big smile as he stepped out of the car. I stepped out of the car a few seconds later to be met with flashing lights all around me.

"Shit," I whispered as I covered my face.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This was not apart of the plan. If any article got out with my face in it....

"Here," Sebastian mumbled as he handed me my carryon before acquiring his two bags.

"Sebastian! Sebastian!" A reporter called out to him, somewhere in his twenties. "Who's this girl you're with? Is she an upgrade since Margarita, or is she just a hookup?"

Sebastian rolled his eyes and I trailed him into the hotel, still covering my face with my hair and my forearm as best as I could.

"Sorry," he mumbled as we walked to the front desk. "I didn't know that they would be like that," he grumbled.

"It's ok," I whispered, practically shaking in my shoes.

It was not ok. This was not ok. I would have to start praying in order for this to not turn into a shit show, and it's not like praying could help me now.

"How much money you think one could pay them to not release whatever they plan on releasing?" I asked, worry strung throughout my voice.

Sebastian shook his head as he checked into the hotel. "You'd have to be Tommy Redford in order to have enough money to stop them from releasing dumb shit," he murmured, referring to Billy's dad. Tommy Redford was the fifth richest man in the world because of his cigarette and cigar company, and Billy was the youngest billionaire in the world. Billy didn't really have a choice when he got maimed the youngest billionaire in the world, but luckily my parents hid their wealth as best as they could. My parents protected me from the media and the backlash of it, thankfully.

I simply offered him a small smile as I began checking into the hotel.

"But I highly doubt they'll release anything," he murmured. "They don't know your name or anything. The only reason we would have to worry is if TMZ was out there or something," he stated.

I nodded my head, feeling the smallest dose of hope creep into my mind.

After the two of us were checked in to our rooms, we began making our way to them.

"What room are you?" I asked as we stepped into the elevator.

He responded, "I'm in 463. You?"

I quietly replied, "231."

He smiled as the elevator reached my floor.

I began stepping out of the elevator until he stopped me.

"Wait," he insisted, causing me to turn around outside of the elevator. "Do you maybe wanna get breakfast or lunch, uh, in a few hours?" He asked while laughing.

I nodded my head and smiled. "Sure," I mumbled.

"Great," he exclaimed as he smiled. "Does 2 work for you?"

I nodded my head once again. "I'll set an alarm," I murmured.

Sebastian flashed me a smile. "I'll see you then," he murmured. "I'll meet you at your room?" He raised an eyebrow.

I giggled. "That's fine, Sebastian," I chuckled as I began walking towards my room. "I'll see you in a few hours."

"I'll see you later," he murmured before the elevator doors closed.

I smiled to myself as I unlocked the door to my room and stepped inside. I couldn't even take that much notice of the room and how gigantic it was because of how tired I was. I noticed the clock next to the bed read 6:47 a.m, causing me to sigh as I threw myself onto the bed. I picked my head up so I could see the clock as I continued pressing buttons while setting an alarm for 12:30 p.m. After all, I more than likely needed to shower and whatnot, so setting an alarm an hour and a half early was my best bet.

I snuggled into my pillow and soon drifted off into a dreamless slumber, just enjoying the warmth of my bed.

—————
BILLY.

It was around 10 a.m. when the shit show had officially begun. I was laying on the couch with my jacket draped over my head when I heard Austin's footsteps running down the stairs.

"Alice?" He called, frantically moving about the room. I heard his footsteps walk over to me and rip the jacket off of my face. "Billy, have you seen Alice?"

I shook my head and rubbed my eyes. "No, man. I've been sleeping the entire time, just like you," I murmured.

Austin threw my jacket back at me and I began to sit up while slowly looking to my left to see Austin barging inside of the guest room.

"Matt! Wake the fuck up!" Austin screamed as he threw something at Matt's head, presumably a pillow.

I simply smirked to myself, listening as Austin screamed at Matt while asking if he knew where Alice was.

"Then call Kellan! Maybe he knows," Matt exclaimed as Austin barged out of the room with Matt following a few steps behind.

Austin typed something on his phone, presumably to Kellan, and then slammed his phone down on the kitchen counter.

"Shit!" Austin yelled as he picked up the bottle of Brandy and threw it at the wall. The glass shattered upon impact and the liquid cascaded down the wall slowly, almost as if it was bleeding.

"Check to see if anyone's seen her," Austin ordered Matt, causing Matt to begin looking up Alice on his phone.

"She's not even big, like Billy or you, Austin. No one would even know who she was," Matt murmured as I stood up from the couch. I slowly walked up to the two men to see Matt scrolling through pointless articles.

"We'll find her, Austin," I reassured, plastering on a fake smile as I patted him on the back. "Don't worry."

"I think we just did," Matt murmured as he clicked on an article that had appeared on his phone.

I quickly glanced over to see some article about some guy named Sebastian Stan being with a mystery woman, reported and written by the one and only TMZ.

"How do you know it's her?" Austin asked as Matt scrolled through the article, skipping past what the article had to say.

"Because of this," Matt stated as he zoomed in on the pictures the article had released.

My eyes bugged as I stared at Alice's face. The girl was clearly her, even if she was trying to coverup herself up.

"That's definitely her," Austin grumbled before picking up another bottle of alcohol and chucking it at the wall. "Shit!"

I gulped as I trained my gaze on the top of the kitchen counter.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. This was never supposed to happen, and it was never going to happen. How the hell does she even know this guy? And who the hell even is this guy?

"The article says that the entire cast of Captain America: Civil War are reportedly staying at The Toldstead in Atlanta," Matt murmured, causing my eyes to jerk back to his phone.

Austin shook his head quickly before replying. "I'm gonna have my guys in Atlanta set something up for me," he grumbled. "In the mean time, I'm gonna have Zayn finding out what room she's in and everything."

Matt nodded in response, which prompted me to nod as well.

I unlocked my phone and I began booking the earliest flight I could make to Atlanta.

Once I had booked the flight, I looked up to see Austin staring at me.

"What are you doing, Billy?" He murmured while his eyes bore into mine.

I plastered on a smile as I responded, "My dad's just texting me. He wants me to come down to Cuba for something."

Austin smiled and waved me off. "That's alright, Billy. Go to Cuba," he said while flashing me a reassuring smile. "We can handle this by ourselves."

I flashed him a thankful smile before stepping out of the house. Once the door was closed, I ran down the driveway to my car and reversed out of the driveway as fast as I could.

"Fuck!" I yelled as I began driving down the highway while hitting my hand against the wheel. "God-fucking-dammit!"

I stared at the road as I continued my drive to the airport. "Everything was fine," I whispered to myself. "Everything was supposed to be fine."

Jesus Christ, Alice Hartsfield.
Please be ok.
And don't do anything stupid.

DUN DUN DUNNNNN
shit is officially going down.
what do y'all think will happen?
will billy get to alice in time and get her out of there?
does austin even believe billy?

dun dUNN DUNNNN