The shooting for the day was yet to begin, and since we were filming outdoors, I decided to chee of my financials in the meahe report from my business manager, Andrew , had been more than encing. Thanks to my active involvement in Crocs, their business was booming. The 2004 revenue had already reached 250 million, and it would almost certainly cross 500 million in 2005. I ughed inwardly, knowing that the pany founders were probably regretting their ck of fht in agreeing to my terms. By this time year, I would own 20% of the pany.

  My other iments were doing exceptionally well too, making me one of the wealthiest actors in the world already, with my worth nearing 400 million. If things kept going this way, it wouldn't be long before I reached billioatus.

  "Oh my God!" a nky teenager called out nervously, pag the room.

  I looked up from the report on my ptop to see that my fellow se partner didn't look too good.

  "Are you okay?" I asked him.

  "Do I look okay?" he shot back before l his voice. "Sorry, that came out wrong. It's just… this is my first big se in this film, and I'm a little nervous about it."

  It was a bit surprising to see a future superstar in aimeline panig over a supp role. My involvement in this timeline had ged things so much that Robert Pattinson, who would have bee world-famous for leading roles in films like [Twilight] and [The Batman], was now making his film debut with this musical. Since he didn't get the role of Cedric Diggory in this timeline, he hadn't had any other major roles either.

  When Dad sent me headshots of prospective actors for one of the supp roles in the movie, I selected 18-year-old Rob without a sed thought. He may not be the best actor yet, but he would grow to be one of the best. Not to mention, he was a good-looking guy. Stephen Daldry had taken his audition, which he cleared, so he must have done something right.

  If only he had a little more fiden his ag skills.

  "Rob," I called out firmly, motioning toward the seat opposite me. "Sit."

  He looked like he waue but thought better of it and sat down as suggested.

  "What exactly is the problem?" I asked.

  He was quiet for a few moments before admitting, "I feel as if I'll mess it all up somehow."

  "Why?" I prodded.

  For a moment, I thought he wouldn't share, but eventually, he did.

  "I've only dowo films so far," he said. "Ihey hated me so much they cut my part out entirely. Iher, a TV movie, although my part stayed in, I got terrible reviews. When I read them, I felt like my career would end before it even began. I wasn't expeg to get this role or any role at all after that disaster. But now that I have, I 't help but think, 'What if I do badly this time as well?'"

  "You won't," I said with certainty.

  He scoffed, "You don't know that for sure."

  "Stephen Daldry selected you," I said. "He's the best when it es tnizing talent. He picked me for [Billy Elliot] before [The Sixth Sense] even came out. You just o stay positive about yourself, and you'll do fine. I'll help you with that. Tell me, what do you think of your character?"

  He pondered silently for a moment before replying, "He's a scumbag who 't eve his girlfriend properly."

  "That's a good start," I nodded. "What about his motivations?"

  "What do you mealy?" he asked cluelessly.

  This guy is a total novice when it es to ag. I 't exactly bme him for not having any experience, but for some reason, I had thought he would have some teical knowledge or an ag process. Every actor has a method uo them that helps them break down whatever character they want to py. At least good actors do. That is the biggest part of preparing for a role. The better prepared you are, the better your ag will be. I have worked with so many experienced actors till now that I had kind of fotten what it felt like to work with a newbie. The cast of [Harry Potter] retty experienced by now. Even Emily had taken professional ag csses upon my suggestion, so she had a process of her own.

  "I mean," I began slowly. "Think back to your character and decide why he is the way he is. If the script doesn't give you enough to go on, like in this case because yours is a small supp character, make stuff up for your crity. Maybe he had a tough childhood. Maybe his father abused him, and he is taking out his frustration on his girlfriend, or something like that. Whatever story you e up with, keep it to yourself, but stick to it closely in your head."

  This advice didn't apply to most of the roles I have pyed because all of my roles to date have been the lead with fully fleshed-out pasts and motivations, but if I were to ever py a limited supp role, this is what I would do to prepare for it. And from the ptive look on Rob's face, he seemed to like my advice as well.

  Suddenly, the door to our shared ging room opened and Jay, one of the ADs, poked his head in. "The se is ready, Troy, Rob."

  "I am as well," I stood up before looking at Rob, who gave a firming nod of his own.

  "Let's go then." The AD left the pce.

  I followed behind, only to hear the other teenager behihanks, Troy."

  I him once before heading out of the door. Time to show everyone some real ag.

  (Break)

  Rob and Emily were having a heated argument some te away from me. Suddenly, Rob grabbed her wrist and pushed her against the wall where they were standing, then started kissing her.

  (Treat you better - Shawn Mendes)

  ~: I know I treat you better than he

  And any girl like you deserves a gentleman

  Tell me, why are we wasting time

  On all your wasted '

  When you should be with me instead?

  I know I treat you better

  Better than he :~

  I shouted the st line of the chorus while the song pyed in the background. As soon as the chorus ended, I dropped to my knees, feeliy inside, knowing that the girl I loved so much was so near yet unattainable—because she chose that jerk over me. The fake rain p down only added to my misery.

  It didn't help that they were kissing right in front of me. The story of the se was that Emily's character, Bailey, was already in a retionship with Rob's character, whe me at my cert. But theirs wasn't the best retionship. It was based more on passion than real feelings.

  Yet, the feelings inside me felt more and more real as I watched. For some reason, I wanted Rob to stay as far away from Emily as possible. She was a sweet, i girl, while he was her sweet nor i—nirl.

  "Cut!" Stephen Daldry's voice rang out across the parking lot where we were shooting. "Print! Check the gate!"

  As soon as he said that, Emily and Rob separated, and the water was cut off. I really hated bei for the cameras.

  "Good job, everyone," Daldry announced. "We're doh this song now. Let's tinue shooting tomorrow."

  I heaved a sigh of relief. Our filming schedule was getting more and more hectic by the day. We'd start early in the m, and sometimes we'd be shooting even in the middle of the night, just like we were now. Although the se was meant to take pce around 8 PM, crowd trol would have been difficult at that time, so we'd decided to shoot at midnight when the pce was empty.

  I got up from the floor and walked over to Emily and Rob, who were talking amiably now that the se was over. Before I could reach them, Rob said something to Emily that must've been hirious, because she burst out ughing, leaning her forehead on his shoulder.

  I had to stop this, whatever it was, at all costs. This felt wrong. Emily was just sixteen. Not to mention, she was a great friend.

  Yes. I was just trying to protect my friend.

  "Hey, guys," I said, stepping up beside Emily. "Mind sharing the joke with me?"

  "Rob is so funny!" Emily announced. "Did he tell you about the time he got expelled from school for selling adult magazio his cssmates?"

  "No, he didn't," I said smoothly. "I would've loved to hear that and more stories, but we didn't have many ses together. Too bad today's Rob's st day of filming."

  I couldn't shake the feeling that the boy who was so insecure just a month ago had bee overly fident now, flirting openly with Emily. Was it all an act back then, or was it one now?

  "Well," Rob interrupted my thoughts, "I was actually thinking I could stick around, maybe do some odd jobs and learn something about filmmaking, while making a little extra cash on the side. I asked Stephen, and he didn't mind."

  A lot of odd jobs were avaible on the crew, typically offered to supp cast members first so they could make some extra cash. Supp actors' saries are retively low, after all. For this entire film, Rob had likely been paid less thahousand pounds. While that was det money for an 18-year-old still living with his parents, it wouldn't go far if he po live on his own.

  "Don't you have school?" I asked. "Last I knew, you hadn't fi."

  He shrugged. "I'll manage. I rarely go anyway. If anyone asks, I'll just say my ses got extended."

  I wao find some reason to refuse him, but I didn't have one. Besides, I k would be cruel to stop someone from earning a little extra.

  "It's getting te," Rob said suddenly. "If you want, I drop you off, Emily. It's not safe this time of night. I–"

  "That won't be necessary," I cut him off with a grin. "She's staying at my pce, so we'll head there together."

  Despite what Emily or Rob might say, my tone wasn't smug at all.

  Rob looked betweewo of us in surprise.

  Never oo let a versation pass without adding her input, Emily expined, "When he offered me the film, Troy also invited me to stay with his family. He even arranged a car and driver for me. Troy's parents are just the best."

  I didn't uand why she felt the o expin it to him. Let him make whatever assumptions he wanted. As long as he uood that Emily was off-limits, I didn't mind him drawing his own clusions.

  Rob nodded slowly before stepping back. My smile grew with each step he took. The best part was that he knew I'd won this round. He gave me a nod before turning to Emily. "See you ter, then."

  Once he was out of earshot, Emily turo me and spped my arm.

  "Ouch," I yelped. "What?"

  "What the heck was that?" she asked heatedly. "What exactly were you doing back there? And why were you ag so… different?"

  "Was I?" I feigned innoce. "Didn't realize. Anyway, we should go. He was right, It's getting pretty te."

  Emily gave me a suspicious look but nodded heless. We headed toward my car.

  (Break)

  I pyed the final notes of the song on my guitar. The crowd in front of me went wild, but I didn't care about them. All I cared about was the girl I loved more than anything in the world. I dropped my guitar oage and rushed out through the back dn what anyone might think. I sprioward the road and fgged down the first car that came by.

  "Holy shit!" A girl in her early twenties opehe door and stepped out. "I'm ygest fan, Troy."

  "Then do something for me," I said urgently. "I need your car. I'll pay for your time and any invenience, but please, this is a matter of life or death."

  She quickly slid into the passenger seat, and I jumped behind the wheel, hitting the gas as the car sped dowively empty streets. I reached my destination: the railway station.

  I pulled my wallet from my pocket and ha to the girl as pensation for the car, then bolted toward the ptform. Only then did I realize I'd left my wallet behind with her. Now, I didn't even have money for a ticket. Not g, I jumped over the barriers to avoid ticket checks a running.

  Unfortunately, the security guards weren't pleased and tried to stop me. Tried being the key word here, because a few female fans saw me, and ohey realized my iions, they held off the guards.

  "Thanks, girls!" I shouted back, but didn't slow down. Finally, I spotted the girl I'd been dying to see.

  "Bailey!" I shouted, makiurn around. The more I looked at her, the more I realized she was one of the most beautiful girls I had ever id eyes on. I ran up to her and pulled her into a big hug.

  "Why are you doing this to me, Bailey!?" I demanded after stepping back, holding Emily's fa my hands. "Don't you realize that I fug love you? I don't want fame or fans or anything like that. I want you, first and foremost."

  Sihe Motion Pictures Association of Amerily allows one f-word in a PG-13 movie, we might as well use it here to add to the se's iy.

  Emily's eyes watered, and soon she was sobbing in my arms.

  "I'm sorry, Troy," she whispered in my ear. "But she's gone. I o fulfill her st wish."

  "Then I'll e with you and help you do it," I replied firmly.

  "But your world tour—"

  I pced a finger on her lips. "Shhh," I whispered softly. "I don't care about that." Then I closed the space between us and kissed her.

  Her lips fit perfectly against mine, as if they were always meant to be together. We moved slowly, sav each sed, oblivious to the world around us. I ehe kiss with a goofy grin and leaned my forehead against hers, met by her soft smile.

  inally, we'd po shoot this se at an airport, but then Daldry pointed out how overdone airports were in romantic films. So, we shifted the setting to a train station instead.

  "And cut!" Stephen Daldry's voice echoed across the ptform. "Perfect shot, everyohat's a for today. Just one more week, and we'll be doh the movie." I relutly released Emily. Though we'd filmed the kiss multiple times, I couldn't help wishing the moment could have sted a bit longer.

  "You were incredible," I told her.

  "Thank you," she replied with a smile. "But you were eveer."

  Before I could respond, Robert Pattinson walked over, handing each of us a bottle of water.

  "That was an Oscar-level performance, Emily," he plimented her. "You're such a talented actress. Think you could give me some tips?"

  Emily smiled. "Now I know you're teasing. Troy was way better in this se. You should ask him."

  Rob shrugged with a grin in my dire. "No offeroy, but I'd rather learn from someone as pretty as Emily than a bloke."

  Certified asshole.

  "Why don't you take some professional ag csses?" I suggested. "If it's the cost, I cover it for you."

  "I don't want a teacher who's just in it for the money," Rob replied sagely, as though it were a reasonable excuse.

  I started to respond, but Emily cut me off. "Okay," she said, surprising both Rob and me.

  "Okay?" Rob asked.

  "I'll show you my ag method," she agreed. "When and where do you want to meet?"

  Rob's grin widened. "There's this lovely little out-of-the-way café near my pce. I could pick you up tomorrow m if you're free"

  "Okay," Emily nodded. "I don't have any se tomorrow."

  If Rob hadn't already ed up his ses, I'd have fired him right then and there.

  ___________________________________________

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