Dreams of Stardom (Hollywood SI)

April 2005, London

The ride back home was tense and filled with silence. I wanted to say so much to Emily, but the words wouldn't come. What could I even say to her? I had no idea. From the way she kept glancing at me out of the corner of her eye, I knew she had sensed that something had shifted between us.

When the car finally stopped at our destination, I got out as quickly as I could. I wanted to head straight to my room to avoid any uncomfortable conversations, but fate had other plans. 

BARK

My dearest Loki came bounding toward me before I could even step inside.

"Hey, boy," I crouched down and ran my hands over his head and back, hugging him tightly. No matter how good or bad my day had been, holding Loki always made it better. He licked my cheek affectionately in return. 

"Hi, Loki," Emily said, crouching down beside me to pat his head. He barked happily at her as I let him go. Over the last month, Loki had gotten used to having her around as well. 

I glanced at her face, so innocent and beautiful, and couldn't help but think about the circumstances that had brought her here. Emily's parents were understandably hesitant to send her to another continent all alone. She wasn't even eighteen yet and had never lived on her own. It was an easy fix—one conversation with my parents, and they'd agreed to house her for a few months. With our abundance of rooms and staff, it hadn't been an issue. 

And now, in just a week or so, filming would be over. In that moment, I knew that I had to say something or I will regret this moment forever.

"I don't think you should go out with Rob tomorrow," I blurted out before I could think this through. 

Emily looked up from petting Loki, confusion written all over her face. "Why?" 

"Because he—" I hesitated, searching for the words. I'd wanted to say something mean, but I couldn't. Rob was many things, but he wasn't a bad guy. In fact, he was one of the most straightforward people my age I'd ever met. Unlike others who acted differently in front of girls as compared to guys, Rob was honest through and through irrespective of his audience.

I shifted my approach. "Because I like you." 

We sat there silently, petting Loki, the words hanging between us. 

"I'm not kidding," I said, breaking the quiet. "I really like you. I never said it out loud because I didn't think there was anyone else to compete with. I know you like me as well, but if you go on that date tomorrow, I don't think something can ever happen between us."

"It's not a date," Emily replied quickly. 

I raised an eyebrow, skeptical. "You really think he needs acting lessons from you? Something he prefers getting from a 'pretty girl' over me? If you believe that, you're more naive than I thought." 

Emily looked away, her expression conflicted. For a few moments, she seemed to wrestle with something internally. Then, she turned to me and said something that left me completely shaken. 

"I don't wanna end up the same way as Emma Watson," she said softly but clearly. 

"What?" I asked reflexively, utterly taken aback.

"You heard me," she said with quiet confidence. "You're a great guy, Troy. My best friend, and someone I trust more than anyone else in the world besides my family. If you'd asked me a year ago, I would've been over the moon and said yes without a second thought. But now…" 

"Now?" I prompted. 

She took a deep breath before continuing, "Even if we were to get together now, keep in mind that most teen relationships don't last forever. What if we break up tomorrow? I'd lose my best friend too." 

I opened my mouth to say, 'You won't,' but I couldn't. The words felt hollow. Years ago, I'd said something similar to Emma when she confessed her feelings for me. We'd made a pact to stay friends even if we broke up. But when the breakup came, I hadn't kept my word because it hurt too much to remain friends. 

And now, the memory made me feel like absolute shit. 

Seeing my somber expression, Emily added with a small smile, "Just so you know, my gold-digger self is furious at me for not accepting your proposal." 

Despite myself, I snorted at her terrible attempt at a joke. Her sense of humor was a little unconventional, but something I loved about her.

I stood up and offered her my hand to help her stand, which she took. As I looked at her resolute expression, I realized I'd lost this battle before it even started. It felt awful being relegated to the friend zone by such an incredible girl, but some things couldn't be forced. 

"Why don't you head inside?" I suggested, motioning toward the house. "Loki and I need to burn off some calories with a run." 

"Are you okay?" Emily asked, concern softening her tone. 

"I will be," I reassured her. "Just need to clear my head. You gave me a lot to think about." I turned to Loki. "Come on, boy." 

Loki barked happily and trotted after me as I left Emily standing on the driveway. 

(Break)

"Cut!" 

Evan had lost track of how many times he'd shouted that word today. Frustration etched deep lines into his forehead as he rubbed his temples. He turned toward Troy, who, bafflingly, had delivered the worst performance of the day—even worse than the new girl shooting her first music video. 

"Everybody take five," Evan called out to the crew, exhaling deeply as he walked toward his brother. 

"What happened?" Troy asked, feigning nonchalance. "Is everything okay?" 

"You're asking me that?" Evan shot back incredulously. "What's wrong with you? Are you purposefully trying to sabotage my music video? Because if you are, then you're a shitty person." 

Troy avoided his gaze, his eyes darting everywhere except at Evan. 

"Listen, Troy," Evan said, his tone hardening. "This is my fucking career on the line here. You've already got your life figured out, but I don't. If you mess this up, no one's going to blame you—they'll judge me. If you can't take this seriously, just say so now, and I'll call Daldry to take over this job. He was reluctant to let me do it as is."

Troy closed his eyes for a few seconds, seemingly centering himself, before meeting Evan's gaze. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again." 

"You sure?" Evan pressed. "If you need to talk about something, let's get it out of the way now so we can move forward." 

"No," Troy shook his head firmly. "It's fine. I had something on my mind and hadn't realized that it was affecting my performance, now I know better." 

Evan wasn't entirely reassured, but he had no choice but to wait for everyone to return so they could restart the scene. 

"Is… everything okay?" asked a beautiful girl standing nearby, her tone hesitant. Her dark skin, paired with striking hazel eyes, gave her an ethereal, exotic beauty. 

"Yes, Ri," Troy smiled warmly at her. "The problem was mine. I had my head elsewhere. I'm sorry for that." 

Robyn—better known as Rihanna to her growing fanbase—was Troy's co-star for this music video. When Steve Kloves and Stephen Daldry had sought out a fresh female vocal talent for Troy's duet, it was Jay-Z who reached out, recommending Rihanna. Though she was signed exclusively to him for six albums, an exception was made for this project since her presence in the film would skyrocket her visibility. Among all the singers who submitted audition tapes, Rihanna had stood out for her vocal range and stage presence. She'd already recorded the studio version of the duet with Troy, leaving only the video shoot for the weekend when Evan could take the reins as director between his school commitments. 

"Alright, everyone," Evan called out again, raising his voice to bring the team back to focus. "Take your positions." 

(Break)

Rihanna walked to the bed where her next scene was to be filmed. She lay down, wearing a long white t-shirt that skimmed her thighs, with no trousers. I sat on the edge of the bed beside her, my upper body bare, dressed only in a pair of jeans.

I turned to her with a teasing grin. "Wanna mess with them?" 

Her hazel eyes lit up with mischief. "How?" 

"Let's make out during the song. I'm pretty sure Evan will lose his shit if we break his flow." 

She gave me a skeptical look, one brow arched. "Are you sure this isn't just an excuse for you to make out with me?" 

I shrugged, playing it cool. "Does it matter? We'll have to do it eventually anyway. Also, he's way too uptight." 

Rihanna considered it for a moment before shrugging in return. "Alright, but only when it feels right." 

I nodded in agreement. 

Just then, Evan pressed a button on his remote, starting the music playback. We'd decided early on that playing the track was smoother and more effective than saying "action." As the instrumental swelled, I began lip-syncing to ensure my mouth matched the lyrics perfectly for the final cut.

(Closer - Chainsmokers)

~: Hey, I was doing just fine before I met you

I think too much and that's an issue, but I'm okay :~

I sang the song seated on the edge of the bed, my voice syncing effortlessly with the playback as Rihanna lay in the background, her figure bathed in soft, ambient lighting. She moved with deliberate grace, crawling toward me until her arms wrapped around my bare shoulders. 

Her movements exuded seduction, her touch light yet deliberate, but I kept my composure. Ignoring her attempts to fluster me, I remained cool and confident, my gaze focused forward as I continued singing as though utterly unaffected.

~: Hey, you tell your friends it was nice to meet them

But I hope I never see them again :~

Suddenly, Rihanna pulled me closer, her hazel eyes locking onto mine in a heated, magnetic stare. For a brief moment, the intensity between us made me forget my cue to sing along to the track. Unfortunately, the music system didn't share my lapse in concentration, and the song continued playing in the background.

~: I know it breaks your heart

Moved to the city in a broke-down car

And… four years, no calls

Now you're lookin' pretty despite that scar :~

I reached up and gently traced the faint scar painted on Rihanna's cheek by the makeup team, my thumb brushing over it with care. I had changed the lyrics a little to emove all reference to alcohol and bar, changing it for scar.

Rihanna glanced downward shyly, only to look back up, her gaze filled with an emotion that matched the crackling energy between us. The chemistry was undeniable, and before we realized it, our movements synchronized, drawing us closer until we met in the middle for our first kiss.

~: And I-I-I can't stop

No, I-I-I can't stop :~

It started with soft, teasing pecks, growing in intensity with each passing moment. Soon, I found myself leaning over her, my body pressing hers against the bed as our lips danced in a fiery rhythm. The cameras, the crew, and the entire set faded into irrelevance. All that mattered was the magnetic pull of the moment, her warmth grounding me as everything else in my life felt like chaos.

Maybe, it was an escape from all the other drama happening in my life, but I didn't care much about it. All I wanted was to enjoy that moment.

"Are you kidding me!?" Evan's voice cut through the haze, sharp and incredulous. "Couldn't you two control your hormones for just a few hours?"

Mission accomplished.

I pulled away from Rihanna, and before long, the both of us were laughing hysterically.

"Oh my God!" Rihanna said between her fits of giggles. "That was, hands down, the best kiss I've ever had. You're a very good kisser, Troy."

"Why, thank you," I replied with a mock bow. "You're my best as well."

And it wasn't just flattery. There was a technique to her kiss that I couldn't quite put into words. She was simply much better than any other girl I had ever kissed.

"Are you guys done?" Evan's exasperation was palpable. "Can we move on now?"

I rolled my eyes at him. "Lighten up, will you? We were just having some fun. And hey, you got the kissing shots, so two birds with one stone."

"Please don't deviate from the plan like that again," Evan said, his tone bordering on pleading. "We still need to shoot the video for 'We Found Love', and we're on a tight schedule."

I sighed, realizing I might have pushed too far. This project meant everything to Evan, and my carefree attitude wasn't helping.

"Alright," I said with genuine seriousness, before turning to Rihanna. "No more jokes until we wrap up filming."

"Aye aye, captain," Rihanna teased, tossing a playful salute. Her joke made me smile despite myself, though I quickly suppressed it.

"Okay," Evan said, regaining control of the set. "For the next scene, Rihanna, you'll be behind Troy again, and Troy, you'll…"

The rest of the shoot was grueling, and I quickly learned that Evan was a perfectionist. He wasn't rude or unreasonable, just relentlessly focused. Every shot had to be precise, every expression on point. His seriousness didn't waver once, and though his intensity was a bit much, I couldn't fault him. This was his first commercial project, and he clearly wanted it to be flawless.

Maybe with more experience, he'd find a way to lighten up. Until then, all I could do was respect his determination and give him my best.

"You're good," Rihanna remarked idly from beside me as we reviewed the raw footage from the video we'd just shot. Though it still needed extensive editing, the shots were striking, showcasing Rihanna's beauty in a way that elevated the visuals to another level. 

"If I'm good, then you're going to set theaters on fire when this film is out," I said with utmost sincerity. "Be ready to become the crush of millions of boys across the world overnight. Not that you'd need this film to succeed. Your voice alone is magical enough to make you a superstar." 

"Definitely," Evan chimed in from the other side, nodding in agreement. 

Rihanna didn't reply immediately, instead tilting her head to the side in thought. She looked effortlessly cute when she did that. 

"Troy," she said suddenly, her tone more serious now, "can we talk alone?" 

Evan and I exchanged a glance before he gave me a small nod and walked away, leaving me alone with the Barbadian star. 

"What's up?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. 

"It's something Jay-Z suggested," she began, her tone matter-of-fact. "Please don't judge me too harshly." 

Her words confused me even more. 

"What exactly did he say?" 

She hesitated for a moment before answering, "He suggested that, if possible, I should try to initiate a relationship with you. He thought it would boost my career a lot. But I'm not the type of girl who would deceive someone like that. So I was thinking, if you agree, we could try going out for a while. If we like each other, we can move forward with it. If we don't, we could just say we were dating and maybe make some public appearances together." 

I blinked, trying to process her words. It wasn't unheard of in the entertainment world—relationships orchestrated to generate buzz and elevate public profiles. But this was the first time someone had directly proposed the idea to me. 

"If I were to agree, how would it even work?" I asked, my tone neutral. "I'll be shooting the next [Harry Potter] in a few months here in London, while you'll be in the States, promoting your debut album." 

"You could come to L.A. when you're not shooting," she suggested. "And when I'm free, I'd come here to see you." 

Hearing it laid out so plainly, it sounded more like a strategic arrangement than a genuine relationship. And yet, I wasn't entirely put off by the idea. 

"I'll have to think about it," I said after a pause. "I can't make this decision on a whim." 

"Okay," she agreed easily. "Let me know when you do." 

Her words lingered in my mind as I watched her walk away. Before I could consider starting something new—real or not—I had something much more pressing to address. 

Emily's words from earlier replayed in my head, reminding me of how much I'd failed Emma. I couldn't move forward without making things right with her first. Only then could I figure out what to do about Rihanna's proposition.

___________________________________________

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