SuperStar!

January 3rd, 2022

Ethan walked through the bustling Los Angeles airport, a mix of excitement and nostalgia coursing through him. He had just said goodbye to his parents, Precious, and Isaiah—the latter of whom his family planned to drop off soon. Despite the goodbyes, Ethan felt energized and rested. He had finally caught up on all his favorite series and even indulged in his sister's insistence to watch "Squid Game," which he now couldn't stop raving about. He also managed to squeeze in some movie time, becoming obsessed with "Dune" to the point of sharing his love for it online. Ethan's spirits were sky-high; he could feel it in his gut—2022 was going to be a special year.

The tour was set to kick off on January 5th at the iconic Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where he would perform in front of 77,500 people. Almost every venue on the tour was sold out, save for a few spots like Maine and a handful of others. But Ethan wasn't worried. He was pumped and ready to perform.

As he approached the pickup area, a sleek black SUV waited for him. Wearing sunglasses and a hoodie for some semblance of anonymity, Ethan waved at the man holding a sign with his name.

"Hi, Jeff. Happy New Year," Ethan said, climbing into the car.

"Happy New Year to you too, sir. How were the holidays?" Jeff asked warmly.

"They were nice. What about you?" Ethan replied.

Before Jeff could answer, Ethan's attention shifted. Sitting in the SUV, looking utterly exhausted with dark circles under her eyes, was Rebecca, his publicist.

"How are you?" Ethan asked cautiously.

Rebecca's eyes narrowed. "I would be fine if someone would consult their publicist before posting certain things," she snapped. Her glare was sharp enough to cut through steel.

Ethan rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Okay, to be fair, I didn't think it would cause such a big deal."

Rebecca sighed, clearly not amused. "Ethan, do you know how much damage control I've had to do because of your Spotify Wrapped post?" She didn't wait for a response. "Posting that you're your own number one artist? People are calling you self-centered and arrogant. Magazines are running with headlines about your supposed narcissism."

Ethan leaned back, groaning. "I love listening to my own music. Is that a crime?"

Rebecca pinched the bridge of her nose. "Thankfully, I spun it as you wanting to hear how your songs sound from a fan's perspective. But Ethan, next time, just let me know before you post anything."

Ethan grinned cheekily. "And they believed that?"

Rebecca rolled her eyes. "It's the best I could do given the circumstances. Don't worry. Once the tour starts and your performances take the spotlight, people will forget about this."

Jeff pulled up to the company headquarters. "We're here," he announced.

Rebecca stepped out immediately, Ethan following close behind. "Thanks, Jeff. See you later. And thanks for agreeing to be my tour driver."

Jeff chuckled. "For the pay, sir, I should be thanking you instead."

Ethan jogged to catch up with Rebecca, greeting employees on the way with a cheerful "Happy New Year." When he reached her side, he said, "Rebecca, I'm really sorry. I didn't know how big it would get."

Rebecca didn't reply, pushing open the conference room door instead. Inside were Bill, his agent, and Jessica, the label's overseer. Bill hastily shuffled some papers as Ethan entered, clearly trying to hide something.

"Hey, superstar! Happy New Year!" Bill greeted, overly enthusiastic.

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Yeah… You know I saw that, right? What's the paper about?" He reached forward, but Bill pulled the papers away, panicking.

"Wait, wait! When it's ready, I'll tell you," Bill stammered.

Jessica smirked. "It's about—"

"No!" Bill cut her off. "Don't tell him!"

Ethan gave Bill a look. "You're terrible at hiding things. Just tell me."

Bill shook his head. "What I have here will cement your legacy. It's groundbreaking. Just trust me and wait."

Ethan hummed in mock suspicion but let it go. "Alright, fine."

After they sat down, Jessica turned to Rebecca, who was still focused on her tablet. "Rebecca, how's the public reacting to the album?"

Rebecca finally looked up. "The response has been phenomenal. Influencers and celebrities are asking for tickets. We've approved many of them." She turned her gaze to Ethan. "Speaking of the tour, are you absolutely sure about your setlist especially that last song Ethan you know you don't have too?"

Ethan's eyes gleamed with confidence. "Yes, I'm sure and I want to the song is important to me too."

Jessica leaned back, grinning. "Well, you're the man. This tour is about to be Legen—wait for it—dary."

Laughter erupted in the room, breaking the tension. Ethan couldn't help but feel a surge of pride. The year was just beginning, but he was ready to take it by storm.