"Gryffindor wins!" a male voinounced over the loudspeakers. "Four hundred and fifty to one hundred and forty!"

  I was hahe Quidditch Cup by Madam Hooch because I was the captain of the team.

  "We won the Quidditch Cup!" Jamie as Ron yelled excitedly, hugging me like his life depended on it. We were both in our full Quidditch gear, soaki from head to toe. Our brooms y fotten on the ground, just like the rest of the team's. It was meant to be raining lightly during the game, but it had intensified by the time it cluded.

  I had a huge grin pstered on my face as I hugged him back. The entire Gryffindor house seemed to have e down to the field to celebrate, not g about getti. After handing the cup to Jamie, I hugged other teammates as well, until there was just one perso.

  Imogen and I locked eyes for a moment. The fieress with which she had pyed the game had melted me, and I knew right then and there that this was the girl for me.

  Without a sed thought, I walked over to her, only to realize she was walking toward me too. We raced toward each other, finally bridging the gap, and hugged. That hug was everything I needed and more. Yet, I wasn't satisfied. I pulled back, but only for a moment, before kissing her right then and there on the lips, with tens of people witnessing the se. I didn't care about them—or the fake rain hitting us from above.

  That kiss was everything I had imagi to be. It was fierce yet tender, warm yet chilly because of the rain. After a few moments, I ehe kiss and hugged her again as we both grinned like crazy. Everyone around us had started catcalling and shouting as I sought out my friends for their implicit or explicit approval.

  The actors pyihomas and Romilda Vane looked dht pissed at the revetion. Emma Watson, as Hermione, was beaming, but my eyes sought out the one person I o see the most. Jamie stht beside Emma with a plicated expression on his face, but only for a sed, before he ined his head in acceptance. My grin widened—if that was even possible—and I scooped up Imogen in my arms. She squealed in delight as I kissed her again, and the wolf whistles grew signifitly louder.

  "Cut!" Rian Johnson called out for what felt like the huh time. "That's exactly what I wanted, guys. This was ematic perfe—great passion and roman just the right amounts. Great job!"

  I let go of Imogen and stepped back food measure. It's always a little weird kissing someone for a se, especially someone like Imogen, whom I'd known since we were kids. Sure, I'd been in a retionship with Emma as well, and this was the biggest reason we couldn't move past kissing. A small part of me felt as if I had taken unfair advantage of her.

  I had lost t of the number of girls I'd kissed ever since my first on-s kiss with Léa Seydoux in [Goblet of Fire], but eae had been quite different and unique. Rian Johnson had wanted something ematid picturesque for Harry and Ginny's first kiss. That's why he had the great idea to ge the plot slightly, with Rowling's permission, of course.

  In the book, Harry was serviion with Snape and couldn't participate ich. It's excellent for character development but terrible from the movie's point of view. So, Rian, Eric Roth, and Dad had altered it so that Harry was also part of the team as the captain, and that's where his retionship with Ginny began. Their first kiss was shot in the rain, making it more romantic—or so Rian thought.

  Kissing in the rain might seem magical in films like [Spider-Man] or [The Notebook], but iy, it's awful. You're wet, cold, and just want it to end so you ge into something warm and cozy.

  As soon as Rian approved the se and the water was cut off, I peeled off the top half of my Quidditiform. Two crew members immediately ran up with warm, dry towels. I quickly dried my upper body before turning to Imogen, who was already ed in a towel herself—though, for obvious reasons, she hadn't removed her clothes. Not to be sexist, but sometimes, being a guy is so much better and ve.

  "How was I?" Imogen asked versationally.

  "You were good," I said with a smile. "So much better than some of the irls I've kissed."

  "Oh?" she asked with a grin. "Eveer than Rihanna?"

  "Nah," I denied immediately. "I haven't found a better kisser than Rihanna. She's simply the best, no offense."

  "Is that so, Troy?" asked a female voice, feigning innoce.

  I turned around to see Emma Watson.

  "I didn't know that either, Troy," Rihanna chimed in this time. "I'm gd to know it, but you could've told that to me personally."

  Rihanna had arrived in London just today while we were shooting. She po stay here with me for the en days or so before we flew together—along with my family—for the Oscars.

  I gnced between Emma, Imogen, and Rihanna: my ex-girlfriend, my on-s girlfriend, and my fake girlfriend. All in the same frame with me. For some guys, this might be a dream e true—being surrounded by three beautiful girls—but I k was nothing but trouble. I o get out of this situation fast.

  "I need a hot shower," I announced. "I'm cold, and from the shivering I see, so are you, Emma and Imogen. At least ge into something warm before you catch a cold or something."

  I turo Rihanna and took her hand. "e on, Ri. Let's go to my trailer. It has a bathroom installed, too."

  Then I led her away, leaving behind a blushing Imogen and an irritated-looking Emma. Something about the whole situatio off, as if I were missing a crucial detail. When we were just outside my trailer, I turo Rihanna, notig she seemed flustered too.

  "Everything okay, Rihanna?" I asked.

  "You're a dumbass," she said, shaking her head. "Fet it."

  "What?" I pressed as we stepped ihe trailer.

  She sighed but didn't eborate, brushing it off again with, "Just leave it be."

  As soon as the door was closed, without waiting for Rihanna to turn around, I stripped off the rest of my clothes as well. I had nothing to hide, especially from her, so I didn't care if she saw me in the buff.

  True to form, she only raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "You're impossible," she muttered, but there was a eager edge to her tone as she feasted on my body with her eyes.

  "I'll be back before you know it," I said, heading to the bathroom.

  Onside the tiny space, I turned on the shower, yelping wheer came out scalding hot. I fiddled with the knob until it reached the perfect temperature, letting the warm water cascade over me.

  I was lost in the soothi when I felt fingers gently trailing down my back. I turned around before Rihanna could grab my ass, only to see her in a simir state of dress as me. I grinned with excitement before pulling her inside and pnting a firm kiss on her lips. The pce was very cramped, because it wasn't made for two people, but we managed somehow. Our hands roamed each other's bodies from top to bottom, everywhere imaginable. My to hers in a fiery dispy of affe, as her body pressed against mine.

  This kiss uhe rain was nothing like the one I'd filmed earlier. It wasn't about ematic perfe or dramatic effect; it was real, with someoruly cared about. It helped that the water was the perfect temperature in this cold weather.

  Then Rihanna separated from me a down on her knees. "I wao thank you properly for the birthday gift that you gave me." I closed my eyes in pleasure as she chose to use her mouth for other purposes than talking.

  (Break)

  "Troy!" Tobias banged on the locked door of my trailer again. "At least let me know you're okay."

  Rihanna lifted her head from my bare chest and shot a gre toward the do away, Tobias. We're fihe banging stopped immediately.

  I chuckled, trailing a finger down her back. "You just had to ruin it. Half the fun was making him squirm, not knowing what's going on or who's in here with me."

  She turo me sharply, her brow arched. "How many girls have been in here with you?"

  The realization of my careless remark hit me instantly. Although no irl had been in here, I o crify before she misuood.

  "We're not exclusive, Rihanna," I said, keeping my toeady and soft. "Don't fet, you live in Los Angeles while I'm here in London. I thought we had an uanding."

  "I…" Rihanated, her expression softening.

  I cupped her face gently, pressing a kiss to her temple. "We end this arra whenever you want. You don't owe me anything."

  Even as I said the words, I knew I didn't want it to end. Sure, I wasn't the perfect man—It's hard to be when girls are literally throwing themselves at you—but Rihanna was different. She wasn't like anyone else I had ever been with.

  "No," she said firmly, cutting through my thoughts. "I don't want this to end. Not at all. But I don't want to be in a fake retionship anymore either. Holy, I don't think this has been fake for quite some time."

  She wasirely wrong. We talked nearly every day, sharing everything signifit in our lives. When we were together, it wasn't just about the passion—it was about e as well. I genuinely enjoyed her pany a lot beyond the sex. But the geographical distaween us was a gring obstacle.

  I stayed quiet, the words stuewhere between my brain and my tongue. Sensing my hesitation, Rihanna snuggled closer, her voice softening.

  "Today," she began, "when I saw you kissing Imogen, I felt bad. I didn't want to see you with her. Or with anyone else. But I know that's your job, and I 't be mad at you for it."

  After a moment of silence, she tinued, "How about we make a pact? When I'm in another city, you do whatever you want with whoever you want, as long as I don't hear about it. But when we're together, you're pletely mine."

  I frowned. "I 't do that to you. You deserve better than that. I don't mind a real retionship, but—"

  "No buts," she interrupted, her tone resolute. "I know you're young, rich, and too good-looking for your own good. Keeping girls away from you would be impossible unless I'm here all the time. And I love my career too much to give it all up just to be arm dy by your side."

  I didn't speak for a few moments, letting her words sink in. This was every guy's dream—a free pass from yirlfriend to be with whoever you wanted while apart. But at the same time, I couldn't ignore how morally questio was.

  "We'll o set some rules if we're going to do this," I said finally, breaking the sileer weighing the situation in my mind.

  "Of course," Rihanna nodded against my chest fidently before sitting up on the couch we had been using for our extracurricur activities. "I've already thought of everything. First of all, the obvious one—you 't form any attat to any irl. No dates, ional es, and definitely no meaningful, super-expensive gifts like that car you gave me."

  "Done," I agreed easily. "What else?"

  "Don't talk to me about any irl, and do your best to hide it from me," she added. That one retty straightforward and didn't even need saying.

  "Go on," I prompted.

  "Finally, if you're ever caught by the media or anyone else, I'll immediately annouhat we broke up some time ago. That way, we avoid all the specution about you cheating on me."

  I couldn't help but admire how thhly she had thought this through. Rihanna had covered every angle, ensuring we wouldn't get caught up in unnecessary drama. There was just ohing I needed crity on.

  "What about you?" I asked. "Would you also be with someone else when we're not together?"

  "No," she replied vehemently. "I'm happy with the way my life is right now and have no iion of plig it. I'm only giving you this option so you don't bme me for holding back your sex life."

  I sat up, pulling her into a tight hug. "I accept, girlfriend," I said with a grin before releasing her and leaning in for a kiss.

  As we went for another round of lovemaking, only ohought lingered in my mind: she was too good for this, ae everything she'd offered, I had no iion of being with anyone else—even when she wasn't around.

  (Break)

  "Today, we are live from the red carpet of the 78th Academy Awards," a stunning woman announced with a bright smile. "I'm Vanessa Lachey, and stay tuned as we meet more celebrities here on the red carpet. We just spoke with the cast of [Brokeback Mountaih Ledger, Michelle Williams, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Ahaway. Let's see who's o grace us with their presence."

  Vanessa turo greet the arrival, and her excitement was quite visible when she saw her than Gee ey. Tonight, he was a triple nominee: writer, director, and actor.

  As soon as she caught sight of him, Vanessa let out an uncharacteristic squeal, momentarily breaking her polished demeanor.

  "Oh my God! I'm such a huge fan!" she gushed, her enthusiasm unmistakable.

  "Thank you," Gee said warmly, fshing his signature grin as he leaned in for a brief hug.

  Vanessa took a deep breath to steady herself, then tinued. "You're the favorite to win at least one Oscar tonight out of your three nominations."

  "That's a lie," Gee replied with a chuckle. "There's only one person guarao win an Oscar tonight, and it's not me."

  Vanessa's eyes sparkled as she picked up on his hint. "Have you met Troy?"

  "Oh, not really," Gee said thoughtfully. "Nothing worth mentioning, anyway. I think he was 11 or 12 at the time. I gratuted him briefly because he was so good in [The Sixth Sense] and [Billy Elliot]. I doubt he'd even remember meeting me."

  "I'm sure he would—"

  Before Vanessa could finish, a wave of noise erupted he start of the red carpet. The sound was unmistakable—a collective squeal, primarily from the female fans in attendance, followed by a frenzy of camera clicks.

  "Wanna make a bet?" Gee asked with a fident smirk. "I'm betting that's the boy wonder we ere talking about just now."

  "That's a losi," Vanessa said with a knowing grin. "No other teen idol is nomionight, so obviously it's him. I think you should wait for him here so you finally meet him properly."

  ey looked intrigued for a moment before shaking his head, "Nah, I don't wanna take away his thuonight."

  He looked ready to head ihe theater, but before he could, the boy iion walked up the red carpet, right where ey and Vanessa were standing.

  ___________________________________

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