Sparks Fly

The room was bathed in light, illuminating the vibrant green screen behind her. The director beamed with pride at the success of the shoot.

"Cut!" he exclaimed with evident joy. "That's a wrap."

He gracefully hopped off his director's seat, landing on his toes like a seasoned ballet dancer—his not-so-secret hobby.

"Thank you, Ryan, for that brilliance. Amanda, you are a goddess—have I mentioned that?" His arms moved animatedly, showering praise on everyone.

His multicolored spiky hair and adorned ears gleamed under the lights, and suspicions about his "love" preferences were well-known.

"Phew," he sighed dramatically, pretending to wipe away sweat. "All that emotion must've ruined my mascara. Jessi! Makeup STAT," he called out, striding away in his brisk fashion.

Footsteps echoed as his secretary and the makeup artist hurriedly followed him. His hands were outstretched, revealing that he was truly in his element.

Meanwhile, the star of the show, Ryan Barnes, lounged comfortably in his actor's chair, smirking with satisfaction. Accustomed to praise, he licked his lips in pride, while checking his eye-lined eyes in the mirror. They made him even more captivating.

The ladies' man was far from an eyesore, and his makeup artists guarded him with awe. As he sipped Campari on the rocks, he knew that his character, Prince Nikolas, would soon be a distant memory.

He pulled out his phone, going live on The Gram as his makeup was expertly removed. The heartthrob was basking in every moment.

His dark, clear eyes—deep cola brown, almost black—captivated, paired with a well-defined nose and red lips that curved just enough to soften his features. He was what they loved.

Amanda joined him, still in Vanessa's scarlet mid-thigh halter gown—her character's costume. She sat beside him, stretching her long, sexy legs.

"Ryan, the Black Dawn movie premiere is on Friday," she informed him casually.

"Yeah?" he sighed.

"I need you to attend with me. That means Us, together," she insisted, sitting up and turning to face him.

"Of course, I know what it means," he replied, rolling his eyes.

"Wait, isn't Black Dawn that movie we did together?" he asked, his interest piqued.

She frowned, irritated. "Seriously? Is your memory that short-term?"

"Hey, I'm a really busy guy," he defended himself.

"Yeah, sure you are," she scoffed. "Ryan, I'm serious about this. Come pick me up by eight. I want us to make a grand entrance."

"Of course, Vanessa," he replied.

"It's Amanda," she corrected with a weak voice, signaling her frustration with his shenanigans.

"I got your back," he assured, smiling at her.

"Are you being serious right now?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm down for you, always," he declared, getting up and walking into a frosted glass compartment.

A few minutes later, he emerged in a black leather jacket over a white T-shirt, his face printed on it. Paired with white pants and black Nike sneakers, he grabbed reflecting shades and swaggered out the door, leaving female attendants sighing after him.

Ryan faced a mob of reporters as he stepped outside, nine out of ten of them female. They bombarded him with questions about the next release and details about his lifestyle.

With his trademark smile, he silenced the first one with a gentle touch to her jawline, captivated the rest with his eyes, and slipped away—straight into another mob.

This time, it was his fans, tearing him apart. He tried to be gentle with them, reminding himself they were all women. Security intervened, rescuing him with lopsided glasses and smeared lipstick.

As he opened the door of his Lamborghini Veneno, he thanked them with a salute and left a generous tip that made them giddy.

---

"Jessi, I don't even understand why you and everyone else seem to go nuts whenever you hear that guy's name," the raven-haired woman said to her blonde friend, handing her a can of Coca-Cola before settling onto the sofa beside her.

"Sofia Delacruz," her best friend exclaimed, her excitement evident as she collected the can."Look, Ryan Barnes is everything a woman could want. So, I don't know if you intend on becoming a nun, but I'm gonna stick to my nuts, okay?" She nodded with finality before popping open her drink.

The drink fizzed as it opened while Sofia sighed in resignation.

Jessi took a long sip and let out a satisfied sigh, savoring the refreshing taste.

"Look, Soph," she continued, placing a hand on Sofia's knee, "You aren't getting out of being my plus one on Friday at all. Don't even think about it. Both of us are attending that premiere."

They were in Sofia's apartment, one of the units in Jessi's semi-detached property.

"Jessi," Sofia sighed, "You know I'm not really a fan of the whole glitz and glam biz. Abuela, God bless her soul," she made the sign of the cross and kissed her hand, Jessi following suit, "taught me so much. There's more to life than the big screen, and I can't even afford to go to such parties."

"Come on, Soph," Jessi scoffed, turning to her on the couch. "Was that your big shot at changing my mind? We already talked about this. First off, you're not joining them on the big screen—"

"-Of course not," Sofia cut in, horrified.

"—and second off, I'm a stylist at the agency he uses. Today I even got to—"

"-Select his pants," Sofia completed, then sighed. "Yeah, I know, I know. You've told me this story a zillion times in the space of five minutes. Okay, I give in. I knew you'd win, but I just had to try."

"You're not getting out of this one anytime soon, babe," Jessi said with a wink.

Sofia leaned back, her lips curling. "Jessi, you know I hate it when you talk and also look that way."

Jessi let out a chorus of laughter. "Just pulling your leg, dear," she said with a satisfied sigh. "This movie premiere is going to be an unforgettable one, I promise," Jessi winked.