I was afraid to look directly at anyone, in case they took that as an invitation for an interview. Please don’t talk to me, I chanted in my head as I shadowed Jack. I kept my eyes averted and almost ran right into him when he stopped halfway up the walkway. A woman with a familiar face asked him about the movie, and as he responded he casually reached over and took my hand. A frenzy of flashbulbs exploded. I was grateful for the connection, not knowing what I was supposed to be doing during the interviews. I suddenly realized it might look incredibly rude for me to not at least look engaged in the conversation, so I stepped in closer to Jack and tried to look available without intruding.

“And who is this with you tonight?” the bubbly voiced woman asked, then thrust the microphone back toward Jack. I looked quickly to her and then Jack, trying to appear nonchalant but positive I was coming off like a deer caught in headlights.

“This is Grace Winslowe; she’s a friend of mine who was kind enough to join me for the evening,” Jack answered smoothly. I smiled at her as he continued talking, then watched as she pulled the microphone back to herself and began to say, “Miss Winslowe, what do you—”

My heart stopped as I realized she was asking me a question, but then Jack began to walk away, pulling me along with him and calling over his shoulder, “Enjoy the movie!” to the reporter. I looked back at her with what I hoped looked like an apologetic “Gotta run, sorry!” kind of expression and not the “I’m so glad I didn’t have to answer you!” kind. She watched us move on for about half a second, then turned her attention to another actress who had just arrived.

As we approached the theatre, I leaned in to say, “Excellent timing.”

He laughed. “I was afraid for a second there that you were going to freeze.”

“I probably would have. I didn’t even realize at first that she was talking to me!”

We were stopped a second later by another photographer, and Jack smiled and talked to him as though he knew him as he snapped our picture over and over. Another reporter took advantage of the fact that we weren’t moving and pounced with microphone in hand to ask the same questions the first reporter had started. This time I smiled and tried to look charming. When she asked what I thought of all the festivities, I replied, “It’s wonderful. I feel honored to be here.”

“Is this your first premiere?” she asked.

“Yes—and it’s a little overwhelming.” She and Jack both laughed, and I could tell the difference in his demeanor as compared to the ride up; the glitz and glamour facade was on full force.