The Beautiful Ones

“What errands do we have to do?” Cassandra asked as the room emptied. Criss smiled mysteriously.

“I think, young grasshopper, it’s time for me to show you the ways of being my assistant.”

“You mean like, answering the phones and getting you coffee?” Cassandra tucked some of her hair behind her ears. Criss shook his head.

“Come on,” he grabbed a set of car keys off his desk. “It’s easier if I show you rather than tell you.”

Fifteen minutes later, she was neatly tucked into the passenger seat of a sleek, expensive looking black car. It was the sort of car that she was afraid to sneeze it, lest it decrease the value of the thing. She knew this wasn’t the kind of car that you slept in and kept your dirty panties in the pockets in the back of the seat.

“Where are we going?” she yelled over the revving of the engine. Once again, the illusionist next to her just smiled and shook his head. She was beginning to get pretty frustrated with that.

“Here we are!” Criss finally said, turning off the car. Cassandra sat, dumbstruck.

“So, this is the big secret? Picking up your dry cleaning?” she raised an eyebrow. “And how do you even have dry cleaning? I have the funny feeling that all you ever wear are t-shirts and blue jeans.”

“I wear dress shirts once in awhile.” Criss mumbled, turning red.

“You could have just told me to come and get your dry cleaning, which I guess must be your super awesome cape that you wear on stage or something. I just don’t understand what else you could need dry cleaned.”

“Look, it’s not my dry cleaning, okay?” he cut her off somewhat roughly. She blinked several times.

“Okay. Then who are you picking up cleaning for? Your brother or something?” she undid her belt and slipped out.

“My mom.”

There was a pregnant pause while they walked towards the door of the cleaner’s. Criss glanced at her face and saw the cutesy expression that girls got when they thought something was just precious.

“Oh, that’s so sweet!” she gushed. Criss smiled internally. He knew it.

“Okay, here we go.” He murmured to her. “Hey, Joe!” A short boy with thick glasses looked up and smiled.

“Hey, Criss.” His cheeks turned a tiny bit red, clearly pleased with being able to be on a first name basis with someone so famous. The boy’s green eyes landed on Cassandra and widened. She smiled shyly.

“This is my new assistant, Cassandra. She’ll be picking up my things from now on. That’s okay, isn’t it?”

“Th-that’s just fine.” Joe stammered. He glanced again at Cassandra, redness creeping up his ears. “Shall I continue to charge everything to your account?”

Criss nodded and the kid disappeared to the back and came back with several dresses wrapped in the thin plastic. He thanked the boy and they left, putting the dry cleaning in the backseat.

“Okay, next we need to go grocery shopping.” He said as he put the car in drive.