Sebastian
“Where are you?” Staring out over the mountain range, I take a deep breath and
slowly let it out at the sound of my agent’s voice coming through the phone. She didn’t
even bother with a ‘hello’. When did it become normal to not say hello to people when
we picked up the phone? Where are the manners? The etiquette?
“I’m... away.” I cringe. That won’t be good enough. In the entire time she’s known me,
I’ve never been one to go ‘away’ for anything that wasn’t for work.
Work.
How the hell did my passion become labeled as ‘work’ in my head? It used to
be the only thing that I loved to do. The adrenaline rush, the excitement that would
course through my veins at the prospect of new adventures. Now it’s just... tarnished.
Like an old penny.
“Away where? We have an awards banquet for you in one month.”
“I’ll be back before that.” I promise her knowing full well I have no clue when I will be
back.
“We have a crazy load of things to do before then.” Her exasperated tone makes me
smirk, I’ve spent the better part of six years since I hired her making her crazy. It’s part of the fun.
“I just...” Pausing, I think of how to phrase what’s been plaguing me. Ever since I
started my video channel eight years ago, everything has been about the ‘next best
video’. The next big adventure. For a while there, it was a blast. I enjoyed the hell out of
traveling the world, doing death-defying stunts and acts. It brought me joy. And
eventually, it brought in a ton of money. “I just need a damn break.”
I’m one of the richest influencer’s in the world. I didn’t know that was a thing until a
few years ago. Now, I’m practically a celebrity. At least, to the people who watch my
videos, which is damn near everyone.
Life gave me a great hand. One I’m grateful for. I was able to pay off all my college
debt and my grandmother’s debt. Which she deserved after the hell I put her through
growing up.
Gran raised me, she gave up everything to give me the world and I’d do anything for that crazy woman.
I’ve lived an amazing life. But with that life, comes demands. Demands of my time,
my money, my entire freaking existence. In all that time, I’ve never taken a break. I know what you’re thinking, “But you travel the world! You see everything! You don’t have a care in the world! You never have to wear dirty underwear!”
Okay, maybe not that last one.
But yes, I’ve had it good. I am one thing though; damn tired. I can’t keep going at the
rate I have been. I’m exhausted and tired of everyone knowing my business twenty-four
seven. All I wat ta do is hide in anonymity, to have a break from all the demands and
pressure that my life has turned into. I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to do it.
The second the thought popped into my head, I grabbed a hat and sunglasses,
packed a bag, booked a flight and headed out of LA and into Colorado, sending a prayer
up that I’d be able to avoid anyone who might recognize me. I owned a place in Aspen.
It’s not the most incognito place in the world, at least not if I go into town, but my house is up on the hill and tucked away from civilization. I’ve been here three times in the six
years I’ve owned it. My Gran lives in the town over from here which is why I bought it.
I can’t remember the last time I was here for more than a night or two and it was
damn time I made that change.
Sheila scoffs. “A break? Levi,” I hate that everyone calls me that. My real name is
Sebastian Levi Marks, which was obviously too complicated and so my ‘persona’ was
shortened. Levi Marks was born, and spiraled way out of control. “You are at the height
of your career. Everything you’ve worked for is right at your fingertips. You’re up for
Most Liked MediaWire Videos this year!” Her enthusiasm makes me roll my eyes, that title wasn’t even a
thing until two years ago. These fucks just keep making things up and for some reason,
everyone cares.
I plop down into the recliner that faces the wall of windows overlooking the mountains.
Its gorgeous here. The way the sun rises over the mountains and sends rays into my
window, the clouds sometimes settle just above the mountains making it feel like we’re
literally in one. And the way that the air smells like... well, real live fresh air.
“Taking a break isn’t going to change anything. I need some R&R.”
A deep, disgruntled sigh comes through the line. “I hope you know what you’re risking
here.”
“I’m not risking shit.” I snap, my temper rising. Amazing how Sheila practically begged
for this job and now she thinks she can push me around.
“Just,” she pauses, her voice softening and I know she knows I’m on the edge of
losing it. “Tell me where you are. I can work there too.”
I’m already shaking my head before she can finish her sentence. “No offense, She,
but I need a break from everyone. I need some normal.” I bite my tongue from
mentioning Gran, that’s all I need is my agent following me down and hassling me in
front of her.
“Fine. Fine. But you better answer when I call you.”
“Yeah, sure.” Before she can say another word, I hang up the phone and drop it on
the side table.
It’s time for a freaking vacation.
Pulling my rental onto the semi-paved drive, I look around at the area. The
house is in decent shape but definitely needs a little work. Gran is getting older, but
given that my mother had me when she was only fifteen, Gran wasn’t nearly the
normal age of a grandma to a thirty-year-old man.
Gran is the best thing in my life. When my mother had turned eighteen, she
and her boyfriend— who was not my biological father— took off and never heard
from them again. My Gran had taken over raising me and never once did she
complain. Even when I got into my teen years and decided that being an
adrenaline junkie was the life for me, she never grew tired of my antics.
We had arguments here and there, obviously, but she never made me feel bad
or like a burden.
Which is the reason that the second I had a steady income, well, a stream of an
income more like, I was prepared to take care of her. So, I paid off the house I’m
currently parked in front of and told her not to argue. It didn’t work, but I tried.
I step up to the front door and decide knocking will give her less of a heart
attack than barging in when she’s not expecting me.
I hear a yap of a dog bark and quirk my brow, I didn’t know Gran got a dog.
“Yes, alright. I’m not deaf, Dog. I hear it, too.” The click of the door opens and
stands before me is Gran, not looking a day older than fifty even at her sixty-five
years.
“Sebastian?” Her eyes grow wide and she slings open the screen door that
separates us, a yell comes from her throat and suddenly her arms are wrapped
tightly around my neck and she’s trying to jump and hug me at the same time.
“What are you doing here?” She asks when she finally steps back, her hand
grasping mine.
“Thought it was time for a visit.”
“You bet you’re stubborn butt it was!” She replies, pulling me in the house, the
yapping dog is still going at it. “Hush, Dog.”
“When did you get a pup, Gran?” I squat down and let the little thing sniff my
hand before giving it a scratch behind the ear.
“Oh I’ve had Dog about three years now, I think.” She makes her way into the
living room and watches me pet the dog.
“Dog? Three years?” I mentally calculate the time. Have I really not been home
in that long?
“Yup. He’s a dog, ain’t he?” She crosses her arms and assesses me. Now that
the initial surprise of me being home is gone, she get the pensive look on her face
that I recognize as her, ‘you’re about to get it’ look.
“Gran...” I hedge. I stand and follow her into her small, outdated kitchen. I
wanted to buy her a brand new house, one with granite counter tops and new,
gleaming hardwood floors, her stubbornness stopped me.
“Don’t you start. I don’t wanna hear you’re poor excuses. I know you’re busy. I
get that.” She sighs and the disappointment behind it makes my stomach drop.
“Making time for family, even if it’s just one measly-old grandma is important too,
right?”
“Gran, damn.” She gives me a look. “Sorry. Dang. I’ve just been so busy, time
has literally gotten away from me.”
“In family relationships, love is really spelled T-I-M-E.” She gives me a pointed
look at my smirk. “Dieter F. Uchtdorf said that.”
“Bless you.”
“Don’t be smart with me, young man. You know I’m right.”
“Of course you’re right, you quoted some old dude. How could you not be
right?” I raise my arm to ward off the oven mitt that flies my way. “Hey!”
“I see being an accomplished celebrity loved by millions hasn’t taken away that
smart mouth, hm?”
I shake my head, smirking at her. “Not much could.”
She crosses her arms and leans against the small island, the bottom has metal
baskets full of potatoes and fruits. I remember building that makeshift island. “How
long are you here for? Just the night?”
“Uh, well I’m not sure.”
“Not sure?” Her brows furrow as worry sets in. “You in some trouble, Sebastian?”
“No trouble, Gran, just...” I lean my head side to side, trying to think of some
way to explain.
“Tired?”
Of course, without trying, she nails it on the head. “Yeah, Gran. I’m tired.” We
stand in silence for a moment while I gather my thoughts, Gran has always done
this during serious talks, she doesn’t butt in, she always lets me take the lead.
“This whole MediaWire thing just went nuts, ya know? And I’m grateful. So, so
grateful that I’m able to do what I love and be paid to do it. I just didn’t account for
the celebrity part.”
“Mm.”
“I thought it was cool at first, I made a ton a friends, I went to some parties—” Gran makes a noise. “At church...”
A loud laugh bursts out of her throat and she eyes me fondly. “You stinker. Continue.”
I smile. “Turns out, not very many are really very friendly. And not being able to
go to a grocery store or the movies or anything takes all the fun out of it. I guess I
just wanted to have a little normal.”
She studies me for a moment before speaking. “Normal is okay. Taking a break
is okay. Sebastian, you only get one life. And you picked a hard one to live, you’ll
never know if people are with you for you, or your money. It’s not easy.”
“No, I guess not.”
“Well,” She steps forward and grabs my shoulders, Gran still stands about a
foot shorter than me but her eyes hold me there. “Coming home is always the right
option. Stay low-key, honey. Recharge the batteries.” She pats my shoulders and says, “Well, so long as you’re here, I’ve got some things that need fixing. And you should consider a haircut, and is that an earring I see in your ear?”
Before I can say anything else, Gran is walking away, expecting me to follow and obey like I’m fifteen again.
This is the normal I was craving.