The Greatest Showman #1388 - See the Seam

"So, do you admit it?" A reporter shouted with excitement, his eyes wide, as though he had finally captured substantial evidence. He couldn't help but jump slightly, barely containing his enthusiasm.

But as the moment passed, the reporter noticed that his colleagues were staring at him with expressions that ranged from pitying to incredulous. It was as if they were looking at someone who had made a monumental mistake.

And then it hit him: This wasn't an answer. This was irony.

"This isn't an answer. This is irony." The words echoed in his mind. He muttered them to himself a hundred times, hoping to get his bearings. Who sent such a rookie reporter to interview Renly? he thought. Really?

"Look, you already have the answer," Renly's voice cut through the reporter's thoughts.

As expected, Renly didn't miss the opportunity.

It wasn't that Renly was unkind or harsh; he never was. Renly's demeanor was always polite and calm, never giving in to the temptation to insult or shout. Yet, he always had a way of making reporters feel foolish without saying a word.

This was no exception.

"I hope my mates won't mind, but the truth is, Rooney isn't the only one on the 'date' tonight." Renly emphasized the word 'date', turning his head and gesturing to his side. Rooney, ever so composed, followed suit, nodding politely at the friends who had always been onlookers.

Simmons' smile tightened nervously as he glanced at the reporters. He had never faced so many in Hollywood, not in over ten years. Justin stood behind Simmons and Damien, staying out of the spotlight. Damien, a bit shy, folded his hands in front of him and slightly tucked his chin, his body language almost shy.

Then there was Melissa—who confidently raised her chin and flashed a bright smile, greeting the onslaught of camera flashes with an almost over-the-top composure. But it came across as too forceful, awkward even. She was clearly out of place, and it didn't go unnoticed by the reporters.

The reporters were stunned. They didn't recognize any of these people.

Was today some kind of reunion for Renly and his closest friends? Wait, that didn't make sense... so what was Rooney doing here?

Renly's voice again cut through the confusion. "This is the crew of Crackling Drummer. We came here to watch the jazz concert today in preparation for the shooting. It's an important piece on jazz, and I highly recommend you enjoy the performance tonight."

Renly glanced around, but the reporters remained silent. They now understood their mistake. But... was Rooney going to play too?

Anticipating the question, Renly spoke again, "Rooney is a very generous friend who accepted my invitation to avoid the awkwardness of attending alone."

"So, this is a date," the reporter asked, now seemingly fixated on the word.

Renly didn't speak this time. Neither did Rooney.

They both simply looked at the reporter, standing tall and calm, their silence speaking volumes. The reporters slowly began to feel the weight of their own embarrassment.

The silence hung thick in the air, each reporter glancing nervously at the other, unsure of what to do next.

"They're just friends," a clear, bright voice broke the silence.

Everyone turned to look.

Melissa, a bit nervous but still trying to remain composed, lifted her chin and smiled, trying to seem at ease. "We're all just friends. Renly invited Rooney, and I invited Blake. We're all just friends."

Blake Jenner, standing next to her, gave a small, stiff smile, trying to maintain his composure.

The reporters' eyes fell on Melissa, scrutinizing her closely. She wasn't a familiar face, and her sudden appearance seemed too blatant, almost desperate for attention. It was all too obvious to be missed. They silently judged her attempt to steal the spotlight, and the scene became almost comical.

"I'm Melissa Benoist! I'm the lead in Crackling Drummer," she said, trying to establish her identity.

At this point, even Renly and Rooney seemed taken aback by Melissa's antics. Damien, who had little experience with these situations, frowned and exchanged a confused look with Justin. What's going on?

After Melissa called out her name, the awkwardness only deepened. The reporters gave her a fleeting glance before quickly returning their attention to Renly. They began asking him questions about Crackling Drummer, avoiding the subject of Melissa entirely.

The truth was, there was little interest in Melissa. If there was any potential scandal with Renly, that would have been a different story, but this wasn't the case. They didn't have anything substantial to ask her.

The impromptu interview lasted about twenty minutes before it finally ended.

As the reporters began to disperse, Renly and his group slowly made their way out of Lincoln Center.

Then, a voice called out behind them, "Renly, Renly."

Renly and the others stopped and turned. A young reporter, red-faced and panting from running, rushed toward them.

After catching his breath, he spoke eagerly, "I just called the hospital. The delivery man is fine. He's been discharged and doesn't need further observation. He's okay. I thought you'd want to know."

After a brief pause, the reporter looked awkward, unsure of what else to say.

Renly grinned and called back, "Thanks for letting me know. That's the most important news."

The reporter stopped, then turned and gave a nervous chuckle.

"What's your name? Which media outlet do you work for?" Renly asked, showing genuine interest.

The young reporter hesitated before answering, "Ronan Farrow. I'm interning with the New York Times."

Renly nodded in recognition, "Nice to meet you, Mr. Farrow. Please give my regards to Bradley Adams and your mother."

Ronan paused, caught off guard by the personal connection Renly had made. His mother was Mia Farrow, and his father—Woody Allen—had a complicated and tumultuous history that Ronan had worked hard to distance himself from.

Yet, here was Renly, effortlessly making the connection.

Ronan stood still for a moment, taken aback by Renly's awareness, and then nodded silently as Renly and his group walked away.

For Ronan, it wasn't about the connections he had with Hollywood—he had seen his fair share of scandals. But Renly's poise and understanding made him stand out. This encounter would stay with him.

In the end, Ronan couldn't help but marvel at how small New York's circle really was.