บท 247: Reunite
Lucas's shoulders relaxed as he emerged from the meeting with Todd Phillips. A small but confident smile crept onto his face. His movie script for "Joker" had impressed renowned writer, and now, the idea of bringing a villain-centric story to the big screen felt more attainable than ever.
But he knew there was still a ways to go; he would need to win over Scott Silver's approval, too. For now, he had a few days until their meeting, so Lucas returned to his apartment, settling in to work on "Blue Jasmine," the other script he'd been polishing for Jennifer.
---
In the meantime, as Lucas was consumed with his scriptwriting, his music video "Let Her Go" featuring Taylor Swift continued its viral ascent on YouTube. The catchy tune and heartfelt visuals drew in viewers by the millions, soon surpassing even the most popular songs by Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars and other popular artists in 2011. The internet couldn't get enough, and the video remained on repeat for countless fans.
On Twitter, the conversation raged on.
"Lucas Knight's incredible feat in the music industry, alongside his acting career, is just astounding! I wonder if he'll choose music over acting now," one user tweeted, inciting a flurry of replies.
"Lucas is such an incredible actor! I'd hate to see him leave the big screen!"
"Why does he have to choose? Can't he have both?"
"But wouldn't that split his focus between two careers?"
As the debate raged on, Lucas remained blissfully unaware, completely absorbed in his endeavors within the sanctuary of his spacious apartment.
As the internet buzzed with speculation about Lucas's future in the entertainment industry, a new viral video started to make the rounds. It featured none other than Keanu Reeves, the beloved actor known for his humble demeanor, casually riding the subway. The video showed him giving up his seat for a woman who was standing, a gesture that was met with applause from on social media. But the video didn't end there.
It turned out Keanu sat down next to none other than Lucas Knight, the very same actor whose music video was taking the internet by storm right now. The pair were seen chatting casually, as if they were just two regular people having a conversation on their daily commute. Fans couldn't believe their luck at spotting two famous actors together in such an ordinary setting. News outlets and social media alike picked up the story, sharing the video on YouTube and Twitter, where it promptly went viral.
"So this is where Lucas has been hiding out since his music video blew up," one user commented, earning thousands of likes. "Just casually chatting it up with Keanu Reeves on the train. The internet can't get enough of these two."
"Keanu is so down-to-earth, isn't he? I mean, he's filthy rich, but here he is, riding the subway like the rest of us," one person commented on the video. "I swear, I thought he was the only one with that kind of humility, and then he sits down next to... Lucas! I can't believe it!"
"How are these people so chill? Sitting next to not one, but two stars? I get Keanu, but it's Lucas! He's everywhere right now, and they don't even ask for a selfie!" another user gushed in disbelief.
The internet couldn't get enough of the unexpected encounter between the two celebrities, and the video continued to rack up views, only adding fuel to the fire of Lucas's rapidly growing stardom.
---
In his spacious apartment, Lucas was fully immersed in the script for "Blue Jasmine," oblivious to the commotion his viral subway video with Keanu Reeves had caused online. Todd Phillips, who'd been helping him with the "Joker" script, studied the pages Lucas had written so far.
"Lucas, in this train scene where he's being chased by the police, what if we did this instead?" Todd suggested, highlighting a particular section.
Lucas considered the idea, nodding thoughtfully as the two engaged in a lively discussion. Just as they were about to hash out the final details, Lucas's phone rang, buzzing with a call from none other than his girlfriend, J-Law.
"Just a moment, Todd," Lucas said, excusing himself before answering the call.
"Hey, babe," Lucas greeted her with a smile.
"You're worse than I thought, you know that?" Jennifer chuckled, amused. "Aren't you even keeping up with the news lately?"
Lucas furrowed his brows. "What do you mean? Is it about the music video?"
"No, it's not that," she teased. "You've got another viral video on your hands, you know?"
"Wait, what? I have another one?" he asked, clearly baffled.
"Seriously, are you living under a rock?" she asked, unable to contain her laughter.
"Sorry, I've just been a bit preoccupied lately," Lucas said, gesturing to the script in his hand.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bother you," Jennifer said, suddenly concerned.
"Not at all," he assured her, and the two continued their warm conversation before hanging up.
Lucas's eyes widened as he scrolled through the trending videos on YouTube. Sure enough, at the very top was a familiar scene: Keanu Reeves, and right beside him, none other than himself. He clicked on the video and watched as Keanu politely offered his seat to a lady and then sat down next to Lucas. A small smile crept onto his face. "Figures it would go viral this fast. Keanu's a legend, huh?" he mused to himself before turning off his phone.
His Twitter notifications were blowing up as well, but he decided to ignore them for now. There'd be time for that later.
Returning to the living room, he and Todd resumed their discussion on the script. The evening flew by, and soon enough, it was time for dinner. Joined by his two security, Jack and Simon, as well as Todd, they enjoyed a relaxed meal together, catching up on life as they brainstormed more ideas for the movie.
Before they knew it, the day of their meeting with Scott Silver had arrived.
Lucas found himself in a familiar situation, this time discussing the "Joker" script with Scott Silver. To his relief, the screenwriter was just as impressed as Todd Phillips had been. The three of them huddled together, brainstorming and refining the story, with Scott adding his own touches to make it even more gritty and realistic.
The character development and plotline began to take shape, and with Lucas's solid outline and thick draft, they made significant progress. It was clear that with all hands on deck, they could have a finalized script ready in a matter of weeks.
As the days flew by, the trio was caught up in their creative bubble, pouring over the script late into the night. Eventually, Lucas remembered to check his phone and saw a message from Jennifer. She'd be in town soon, and she wanted to see him.
A day later.
"Guys, I'm going to have to take a rain check on the script today. My girlfriend's in town," Lucas announced, much to the surprise of both Todd and Scott. Even his security, Jack and Simon, looked taken aback.
"You have a girlfriend?" Todd blurted out, eyebrows raised.
"Seriously, Lucas? You managed to keep her a secret," Scott added, impressed.
Lucas chuckled, glancing at his guards. "Guys, I got this. I'll be back in a few days. I need some time alone."
"Are you sure, man?" Simon asked, his concern evident.
"I'll be fine," Lucas reassured them, grabbing a hoodie and a cap before slipping on some sunglasses.
In no time, he'd transformed himself into a typical, low-key New Yorker, his usual celebrity status well-hidden. Pockets stuffed with his essentials, he headed out the door, ready to spend some quality time with Jennifer.
---
Lucas slipped out of his apartment complex, relieved to see a much smaller crowd of paparazzi than before. He'd been cooped up for days, so he needed some fresh air.
Thankfully, it seemed like the paparazzi had thinned out, only a few remaining. None of them even gave him a second glance as he hailed a taxi.
As the taxi merges into the bustling New York traffic, the driver was humming along to a catchy tune. Lucas recognized it immediately: it was the song, "Let Her Go." He couldn't help but smirk to himself.
Another passenger, a young woman, hopped in and nodded her approval. "This song's been stuck in my head all day. It's so good!"
"Tell me about it," the driver agreed.
"I mean, it's no wonder it's so popular. It's the kind of song that grows on you, you know?" she continued.
"Couldn't agree more," the driver replied, oblivious to the fact that the very person responsible for the catchy tune was sitting right behind him.
"Lucas is just incredible, isn't he? All his songs are great," the driver continued.
The young woman next to Lucas couldn't help but agree, but she couldn't shake the feeling that the quiet guy beside her looked familiar.
"Wait, don't tell me..." she thought, but quickly shook her head, dismissing the idea. She couldn't be that lucky, right?
However, her curiosity got the better of her, and she snapped a discreet picture of Lucas on her phone.
Lucas tried to tune out their conversation, but he couldn't help but smirk. It was surreal to hear strangers fawn over his work without knowing it was him, the very person they were talking about, sitting right beside them.
By the time they reached the airport, Lucas had paid the fare and exited the taxi, leaving the woman who's still unsure if it was really him.
"Guess I'm just that famous now, huh?" Lucas chuckled to himself as he made his way to meet Jennifer.
Lucas made his way into the airport terminal, his hoodie and sunglasses still in place. The arrivals and departure boards flickered above him, guiding the stream of travelers to their respective gates. He scanned the crowds, his eyes scanning the faces for a familiar one.
There she was, Jennifer, standing by the Starbucks counter.
A smile tugged at her lips as she spotted him, and before they knew it, they were in each other's arms, hugging like they'd been apart for years instead of just a few months.
Lucas couldn't help but grin.
"Hey, babe," he said, wrapping her in a tight hug as he reached her.
"Hey yourself," she said, leaning into his embrace. "It's been too long."
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