"It's on, it's on, it's on!" Emma squealed happily from beside me while grabbing my hand tightly. I smiled at her and turowards Jamie, who was trying to look nont. Trying was the keyword here.

  His posture didn't hide his excitement as we sat together in our living room past midnight, waiting for the award annou.

  It was nima to suggest that she would support me for my award ceremony. Jamie was not oo be left behind, so both of them had asked permission from their respective parents for a sleepover.

  It was more like a wakeover, however. The award ceremony started at 12:30 AM because of the time difference, and the award for Best Supp Actor wasn't for a couple of hours.

  So it was already nearing 3 AM, and all four of us (including Mum) were barely suppressing our yawns when finally Ben Affled Charlize Theron came on stage to annouhe award we were waiting for.

  "And the winner is…" Ben Affleck built up the suspense oelly as Emma gripped my hand even tighter. Even Jamie pced a supportive hand on my shoulder.

  "Tom Cruise for [Magnolia]."

  I defted a little. As I had expected, Tom Cruise is the winner. He will likely win the Oscars as well. The different awards before the Oscars are pretty mu indicator of your likelihood of winning that one. So with no momentum on my side, it would be difficult for me to win the big prize.

  "It's okay, Troy," Emma patted my back, "Your performance was better than any other out there, I know that."

  I snickered at her i attempt to pacify me, "It's not like you've seen any of the other actors' movies."

  She huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, "It's not my fault that I ot watch them because of my age."

  "By that logic," Jamie chipped in, "Both of you shouldn't have evehe Sixth Sense]. Isn't that PG-13?"

  Emma decided that that was the best time to practice her pung prowess on poor little Jamie.

  "Alright, kids," Mum cut over our bickering loudly, "It's time for bed. You know you have to be oomorrow. Or rather today."

  Emma and Jamie didn't protest because they were very sleepy and quickly acquiesced to Mum's cajoling.

  "Are you feeling okay, love?" Mum asked after showing Emma and Jamie their sleeping pce.

  "Why wouldn't I be?" I shrugged, "I mean, I never expected to win a Golden Globe this year as well. There are reater actors out there; I 't wihing all the time."

  "That's a very mature thing to say." Mum me proudly, "Good, now go to sleep. We have a long day ahead."

  (Break)

  Days turned into weeks, and I got engrossed in the filming of [Harry Potter] once more. The simplicity, yet the plexity of this fantasy pce was out of this world. Witnessing the entire produ in person, rather than on a s, was a unique and satisfying experience.

  Here, most of the cast sisted of kids, so the overall enviro was much more id-bad joyful pared to [Sex Education] or even [The Sixth Sehe first se we shot in the Great Hall was one I won't ever fet. As soon as I walked ihe hall in one of the two rows of my fellow kid actors, I was floored by the sight in front of me. Floating dles were everywhere in the hall, and I bet this was the reason they didn't let any of us visit this part of the set earlier—to get enuiions.

  The effect was slightly lessened by the ceiling, which was a green s to add in the fake sky effect, but that didn't diminish the impact of the floating dles too much. As the se was still being shot, I remained in character, looking around everywhere and nowhere curiously and in awe.

  "It's not real, the ceiling," Emma ented from behind me, "It's just bewitched to look like the night sky. I read about it in Hogwarts: A History."

  As soon as we reached the front of the hall, Maggie Smith, who pyed Professonagall, stepped up oage and said, " you wait along here, please? Now, before we begin, Professor Dumbledore would like to say a few words." She turowards Michael Gambon, who stood up.

  "Cut!" Chris bus' voice rang out in the hall. "Terrific job, kids. Let's take one more shot of the entrance, yeah? Quick, before the dles melt."

  We hurried back to the entrand took positions to redo the se.

  Yeah, it is the story of any film set. You go bad do things again and again. From what I remember, thank every god out there that David Fincher isn't direg [Harry Potter], or we'd be stuck doing one se tens, if not hundreds, of times. Chris passed the se on his fourth take. Luckily, it was the st one for the day.

  "Troy!" I turowards the voice, which turned out to be Mum. "You ready?"

  "Yeah, Mum," I nodded enthusiastically before defting, "Just wish the flight was shorter."

  "Don't we all?" Mum said. "But just imagine, you get to be present for the Oscars. How cool is that?"

  "Very," I replied with a smile. "Anyway, let me just ge out of my e, and then we go directly to the airport."

  "Go ahead."

  So, I may have skipped over some of the juicier parts about how I got my first Osomination at the tender age of 11. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sces (AMPAS) annouhe nominations for the 72nd Academy Awards on February 15, 2000. [Ameri Beauty], a film by Sam Mendes, domihe nominations with 9, while sed pce had a tie, [Cider House Rules] and [The Insider] both having 7 nominations. [The Sixth Sense] came in third with a total of 6 nominations iegories of Best Picture, Director, Spy, Editing, Supp Actress for Toni Collette, and to my greatest surprise, Best Supp Actor for yours truly.

  Although I knew already that this role was meant to have Oscar potential with Haley Joel Osment bagging a nomination in my past life as well, it was a big doubt whether I'd get it or not because my presence ged things.

  The fact that I got the nomination was a big relief for me, firming that my performance was good enough that people in the industry sidered it one of the best of the year.

  The day the nominations were announced was a big celebration on the [Harry Potter] set, with everyone radiating their happiness for me. I lost t of the number of times people would e up to me and shake hands or simply say gratutions.

  Things became even weirder two weeks ter when the BAFTA nominations came out, and I got another nomination, but this time iegory of Best Actor in a Leading Role. My role was big enough in the film that people were divided oher to sider my performance supp or leading. It didn't help that Disney marketed me as a lead in the UK. If I'm being pletely ho, I have more s time than Bruce Willis. It's just people's perception of me being a little kid that stopped me from getting a Best Actor nod at the Oscars as well. And BAFTA tends to favor British actors and movies over Ameris more often than not.

  Anyway, as I had decided earlier, I would definitely attend the Oscar ceremony in person. BAFTA as well. The tter because they were less than an hour's drive away from [Harry Potter]'s set, so that wouldn't disturb the shooting too much.

  (Break)

  I straightened out my bck three-piece suit o time befetting out of our rented limousih a huge grin on my face. Immediately, camera fshes went off everywhere, capturing my first appearan the carpet.

  My parents had already given me instrus that they would follow a few steps behind me because they werely celebrities themselves. The reporters and paparazzi weren't very excited about clig them. I waved to a crowd of people standihe entrance, and for some reason, they went wild. I mean, I khe reason, but it was still bizarre seeing that se in front of me where many people, mostly grown-ups, acted insane upon seeing a kid.

  Seeing the outstretched hands, posters, and whatnot, I stepped forward and shook a few hands while signing a few posters. The usual.

  "Troy! Shake my hand!" "Oograph, please!" "One photo!"

  Such requests had already bee on for me by now. I obliged a few requests and ighers. While I loved engaging with fans, I couldn't humor ead every person who wao meet me. What I found the biggest advantage of being a kid actor is the ability to ht ignore many people without offending them greatly. Some people would still feel ed, but you 't exactly please everyone.

  It seemed like almost a lifetime ter when I finally ehe Shrine Auditorium, where this year's Academy Awards were being held. To be ho, it felt great being part of this year's ceremony given how 1999 was sidered a ndmark year for the film industry. One of the greatest years in the history of ema. Even if I knew I wouldn't be winning tonight, anyone revisiting the year would remember my film, and for that alone, I'm more than thankful for the sed ce that life gave me.

  "Troy Armitage?" A voiterrupted my thoughts, and I turowards it to see an i standing there.

  "Oh, my God!" I let out unsciously. "You know me?"

  Tom Cruise chuckled heartily before stepping forward and shaking my hand, "Of course I do. We are peting for the same award after all. Not to mention, I loved you in your film."

  "Thank you, Mr. Cruise." I gri his response. "Although, I know you will be winning tonight, so you rest assured, we are not peting at all."

  "Just call me Tom. And I wouldn't be too sure about that," he waved off before motioning toward the geous woman standing beside him. "Have you met my wife Nicole?"

  "Pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Cruise." I greeted her with a kiss on her hand before saying, "Do you have a mini version of you stowed away somewhere, like a younger sister? I would've waited for you a few years, but you don't seem avaible." I tilted my head towards her husband.

  "He's smooth," Nicole Kidman whispered between her giggles. Then she bent forward towards me and lightly pinched my cheek, "Sadly for you, young man, my sister's also married. And seeing this behavior of yours, I would keep my daughter far away from you."

  "Sure about that?" I asked with a cocky grin when she released me. "Your daughter will miss the ce to befriend Harry Potter."

  "Well, you could always join my kids at this summer camp our church anizes," Tom said on behalf of his wife with a grin of his own. "It has a lot of activities. I'm sure you'd love it."

  I didn't know what to say to that. Being religious was ohing, but deliberately joining a 'religion' that is infamous for being beled as a cult in tries like Germany and France didn't sound good for my mental health.

  "I'm too busy filming [Harry Potter] right now," I deflected. "Maybe year?"

  "Work es first, after all," Nicole Kidman said with a nod, but not before shooting Tom Cruise a warning look that I don't think I was meant to see. "It's good that you uand that."

  At that moment, I wao be anywhere but there, between a disagreeing couple. I surreptitiously looked around and found Samuel L. Ja standing with someone. Seeing him, I grinned before turning to the Cruise couple, "Excuse me. If you don't mind, I o meet Sam Ja over there."

  "Go ahead," Nicole smiled at me, and I gdly left the duo. Dodged a bullet there.

  (Break)

  The ceremony finally began as it usually does, with Billy Crystal taking over the reins of hosting duties for the seventh time. He began his hosting as usual with a song about the movies that got nominated for Best Picture.

  He mentiohe fact that the Oscar statuettes were stolen by someo were thankfully recovered by a man who aid 50,000 as a reward for finding 52 Oscars.

  "That's not a lot of money when you realize that Miramax and DreamWorks are spending millions of dolrs just to get one," Billy Crystal joked.

  I cpped alongside other audience members when I heard that. Sadly, Miramax and DreamWorks ged the awards season with their heavy campaigns ie 1990s. Before that, it was mostly simple work of talking to people, but now, it's press jus, heavy advertising, and whatnot.

  This was the biggest reason I was not expected to win tonight, as I didn't partake in any of those.

  "Now the great story this year was [The Sixth Sense] and the success of the great young actor Troy Armitage, who's sitting right over there. Hello, Troy." Billy poi me as the camera zoomed onto my face. I smiled and waved as people around me cpped.

  "Eleven years old, God, I have movies in development lohan that." Billy joked, elig ughter from everyone around. "Troy, this one's for you."

  Saying that, Billy started singing a song dedicated to [The Sixth Sense]. I heard M. Night Shyaman groaning audibly behind me when Billy sang about 'kids who see dead people'. I chuckled at that. Night hated anyone spoiling his stories, so as per him, Billy Crystal had just itted the greatest of sins. Night had had a great fight with Disney over the trailer which had the line, 'I see dead people,' but they didn't budge.

  The awards began soon enough with teical awards being given away first, like Best es, Makeup, Visual Effects, and the like. They threw in a few major awards like Best Supp Actress in the mix as well to keep the audiengaged, which went to Angelina Jolie firl, Interrupted]. I felt a little bad for Toni Collette, who didn't win.

  [The Matrix], one of my favorite movies of the year, took away four teical awards, which was totally deserved in my opinion. Then came the award for Best Adapted and inal Spy, two of the big awards of the night. Kevin Spacey gave away the award for Best Adapted Spy to the writers of [The Cider House Rules], an undeserving movie, nominated only because of the excessive campaigning of Miramax. All the other four nominees were much more deserving.

  I couldn't see that part of the ceremony because I was called backstage to present the big award of the night.

  "To present the Award for Best Adapted Spy, please wele the Osominated actor of [The Sixth Sense] and the uping [Harry Potter] movie, Troy Armitage."

  I briskly walked towards the ter of the stage as my name was called. Thankfully, they had the on seo lower the miy height, which I appreciated a lot. Despite what anyone may believe, this wasn't because of my nomination. Warner Bros endorsed this to let me gain iional highlight as [Harry Potter] would be released ter this year. A little ceited, but that's what every studio does while releasing a big blockbuster-level film of the year.

  "sider the writer," I began reading the introdu off a teleprompter. "Locked away in a lonely room, waiting for dy muse to alight gracefully and turark by void of a page into a masterpiece. Like the person who wrote this stuff. I 't possibly know what all that means, just look at me!" I made a fused face at that weird introdu, getting ughter from everywhere around me.

  After the ughter died down, I tinued, "For Best inal Spy, here are the nominees."

  I waited for a few moments before reading the names, "An Ball for [Ameri Beauty]; Charlie Kaufman for [Being John Malkovich]; Paul Thomas Anderson for [Magnolia]; Mike Leigh for [Topsy Turvy], and my personal favorite, M. Night Shyaman for [The Sixth Sense]."

  That gained another round of ughter from the people for my obvious bias. "And the oes to," I opehe envelope taining the name of the winner and stood there shocked for a whole two seds before loudly calling out, "M. Night Shyaman for [The Sixth Sense]!"

  Never had I imagihat my presence would ge history like that. M. Night Shyaman never got an Oscar. Hell, he never even got nominated again after this year. My presence surely ged some aspects of the script, and here we are.

  Night climbed up to the stage and gave me a big hug after bending down a little, "Thank you, Troy! Thank you so much!" I patted his back a little before we separated. I took the Oscar statuette from the dy beside me and ha to Night, before taking a few steps back, giving him the stage to talk.

  "Hooh!" Night let out. "Never imagined I would be getting this tonight. I have a lot of people to thank, so let's begin with the people who watched our film. To the Academy members, thank you so much for this great honor. I have to thank..." He went on to thank many people, from the producers to the crew members to his family, before ing to the cast.

  "I would like to thank Bruce Willis freeing to do this film. Without him, I wouldn't be standing here. Toni, Olivia, Donnie, and all other cast members, thank you. Last but not least, Troy Armitage fiving me my film. Thank you!" Saying the st word, he turo me and bowed his head. After that, we walked backstage where maers were ready to interview Night, while I was escorted bay seat.

  I was still trying to process everything while ba my seat, p the meaning of my presen the world and the signifit seque had. Was my presence limited to ging the films around me, or could it extend beyond that as well?

  The rest of the teical awards passed with me lost ihoughts, before finally, it was time for the award that mattered the most to me.

  ___________________________

  AN: Visit my Pat reon to read ahead, or participate in free polls about the story.

  Link: (dot)pat reon(dot)/fableweaver