章節 16: Chapter 15: A Star Before the Spotlight
Chapter 15: A Star Before the Spotlight
The warmth of May 13, 1992, had settled into the streets, The golden hour in Los Angeles painted the skyline in hues of amber and rose, as Jake Morris strolled down Melrose Avenue, drawing eyes from passersby. His face, already plastered across billboards and magazines from his meteoric rise as a model and actor, was impossible to miss. Over the past year, Jake had become the face of Hollywood's next generation—Aladdin had shattered expectations, his name was buzzing across studios as the young prodigy behind Jurassic Park's buzz-worthy reshoots, and even the fashion world was still reeling from his last Calvin Klein campaign.
He glanced at his watch—5:00 PM. His schedule was clear for the evening, but his thoughts weren't. The past few months had been a whirlwind of negotiations, strategic moves, and globe-trotting. But now, something more personal pulled at his focus.
At just 19 years old, Jake Morris wasn't just a name but a phenomenon.
It was moments like this, though, when the weight of his fame felt distant. The steady hum of conversation, the occasional honk of cars, and the scent of espresso drifting from nearby cafes grounded him. He wasn't here to be the star but to relax. Or at least, that's what he told himself.
As he approached a corner bookstore, his phone buzzed. A glance revealed a text from Eddie:
"Don't forget your next meeting. And try to enjoy being a teenager once in a while."
Jake smirked. Typical Eddie—his father meant well, but the pressure to balance business with youth wasn't something Jake could easily embrace. Slipping the phone into his pocket, he pushed open the door to the bookstore.
The familiar scent of paper and ink-filled his senses, and the soft chime of the bell overhead drew the attention of a few patrons. Jake didn't mind the glances—he was used to them by now. But one pair of eyes lingered longer than most.
Standing near a display of magazines was a young woman, her blonde hair loosely framing her face. She held a magazine in her hands, but her gaze had locked onto Jake the moment he entered. Her blue eyes widened slightly in recognition, and then her lips parted as if she was about to say something but caught herself.
Jake met her gaze with a small, polite smile before wandering toward a nearby shelf. He could feel her eyes still on him, and after a moment, he turned back.
"Is that magazine as interesting as I am?" he teased lightly, nodding toward the one in her hands.
The woman blinked, as if snapping out of a daze, and then laughed nervously. "Sorry, it's just—you're Jake Morris, aren't you?"
"Guilty," Jake said, leaning casually against the shelf.
"You're...wow," she stammered. "I've seen your Calvin Klein ads everywhere. And Aladdin—that's you, right? And wasn't there something about Jurassic Park? The premiere's coming up soon, isn't it?"
Jake chuckled. "Sounds like you've been keeping tabs on me."
Her cheeks flushed slightly, but she recovered quickly. "It's kind of hard not to. You're everywhere these days."
"And yet, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting you before," Jake said, his tone warm and inviting. "What's your name?"
"Jennifer. Jennifer Aniston."
Jake pretended to think for a moment, though he already knew exactly who she was—and who she would become. "Jennifer. I like it. So, Jennifer, what brings you to a bookstore on a day like this?"
"I could ask you the same thing," she replied, her nervousness giving way to a more playful tone. "Shouldn't you be off at some glamorous party or jet-setting to Paris?"
Jake smiled. "Even superstars need a good book now and then. But seriously, I'm here to unwind. Sometimes it's nice to step away from all the noise."
Jennifer nodded, clearly intrigued. "I get that. I'm not exactly in the same world as you, but trying to break into acting isn't exactly quiet either."
"You're an actress?" Jake asked, feigning surprise.
"Trying to be," she said with a shrug. "Right now, it's mostly auditions and rejection letters. The usual."
"Well," Jake said, meeting her eyes, "if you're as good as your first impression, I'd say Hollywood doesn't stand a chance."
Jennifer laughed, the sound light and genuine. "Flattery from Jake Morris. I can cross that off my bucket list."
"It's not flattery," Jake said earnestly. "It's foresight."
Her smile faltered for a moment, and she tilted her head curiously. "Foresight?"
Jake grinned. "Let's just say I have a good eye for talent."
Jake stepped away from the shelf and moved closer to Jennifer, his posture relaxed but his eyes focused, as if he were sizing her up in the best way possible.
"So, Jennifer," he began, his voice as smooth as silk, "what's the dream? Leading roles, Oscars, or maybe your name on Hollywood Boulevard?"
Jennifer leaned against the magazine rack, crossing her arms with a self-deprecating smile. "Honestly? Right now, the dream is just to book a part that doesn't involve being ' My Girl 2.
Jake chuckled, his laughter warm and inviting. "Hey, everyone starts somewhere. I hear even Meryl Streep had to play a tree in her high school play."
Jennifer laughed too, the sound genuine, easing the tension she seemed to carry. "If that's true, then maybe there's hope for me yet. What about you? Is this...everything you imagined? Fame, modeling, movies?"
Jake's expression shifted, becoming more introspective. "It's...complicated. Don't get me wrong—I'm grateful for every opportunity I've had. But sometimes it feels like people only see the surface, you know? The ads, the premieres, the magazine covers. They don't see the late nights, the doubts, or the constant pressure to be...more."
Jennifer studied him for a moment, her initial awe of his stardom fading into something more grounded. "That makes a lot of sense," she said softly. "I mean, people look at you and probably think you've got it all figured out. But you're, what, eighteen? Nineteen?"
Jake smiled, impressed by her perceptiveness. "I turn twenty in December."
Her eyebrows shot up. "twenty? That's insane. You're already doing all this, and I'm over here trying to figure out how to pay rent."
"Hey," Jake said, his tone gentle, "it's not a race. Success doesn't have a deadline. And trust me, you've got time."
Jennifer tilted her head, her curiosity piqued. "You say that like you know something I don't."
Jake's smile widened, a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. "Let's just say I have a good feeling about you. Call it intuition."
She laughed again, shaking her head. "You're something else, Jake Morris. But I guess I'll take that as a compliment."
"You should," he said, his voice dropping slightly, his tone more serious. "Because I don't hand them out lightly."
Jennifer's cheeks flushed again, and she quickly looked away, pretending to inspect the magazine in her hands. "So, intuition aside, what are you doing in L.A. today? You don't exactly seem like the 'browse a bookstore' type."
Jake leaned against the rack beside her, his proximity close but not overbearing. "I was supposed to be in a meeting about some future projects, but I decided to play hooky. Sometimes you have to make time for the things that really matter."
Jennifer raised an eyebrow. "And what matters today?"
Jake's gaze held hers, steady and sincere. "Right now? This conversation."
Her breath caught, the air between them charged with something unspoken but undeniable. For a moment, she didn't know what to say, so she deflected with humor. "Wow. Do you practice these lines in front of a mirror, or are you just naturally this smooth?"
Jake laughed, the sound warm and infectious. "Let's just say I've got a knack for knowing what to say."
"Well, it's working," she admitted with a playful roll of her eyes.
They spent the next hour talking, their conversation flowing effortlessly from light banter to deeper topics. Jake was careful to ask about her dreams, her family, her struggles in the industry—anything that made her feel seen and heard. Jennifer, in turn, found herself opening up in a way she hadn't with anyone else.
"I guess I never really thought about what it means to actually make it," she said at one point, her voice thoughtful. "Everyone wants to be famous, but no one talks about how hard it is to stay grounded once you get there."
Jake nodded, his expression understanding. "That's the trick, isn't it? Staying true to yourself when the world wants to turn you into something else."
"Do you think you've done that?" she asked, her tone curious.
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "I try. But it helps to have people around who remind you who you are. That's why I think you'll be fine, Jennifer. You seem like the kind of person who doesn't let the world tell you who to be."
She smiled at that, a hint of vulnerability in her eyes. "Thanks, Jake. That...means a lot."
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, Jake glanced at his watch and sighed. "I should probably get going before my team thinks I've disappeared off the face of the Earth."
Jennifer laughed. "Yeah, can't have Hollywood's golden boy going AWOL."
"Before I go," he said, pulling a pen from his pocket, "can I give you something?"
She watched curiously as he scribbled a phone number on the back of a receipt and handed it to her. "If you ever need someone to remind you how amazing you are—or just someone to talk to—give me a call."
Jennifer took the receipt, her fingers brushing his briefly. "I might just take you up on that."
"I hope you do," he said with a grin. "Because something tells me this isn't the last time we'll see each other."
With that, he left, the bell above the door chiming as he walked out into the evening light. Jennifer stood there for a moment, staring at the receipt in her hand and wondering what exactly had just happened.
Outside, Jake smiled to himself. He knew the future held great things for Jennifer Aniston—and now, perhaps, for both of them.
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mohammed_hussein_9049 Author’s Note: A Holiday Break
Dear Amazing Readers,
As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to take a moment to thank you all for your incredible support, kind words, and unwavering enthusiasm for this story. You’ve made this journey unforgettable, and I’m truly grateful to have such a fantastic audience.
Now, here’s the thing—your humble author is about to do something radical... take a vacation. Yes, that’s right! From December 25th to January 5th, I’ll be trading my keyboard for a suitcase, and my endless cups of coffee for holiday treats. It’s time to recharge the creative batteries with some family time, terrible Christmas sweaters, and maybe an embarrassing karaoke session or two (Mariah Carey, here I come!).
But don’t worry—while I may be away, the gears of imagination are still turning. When I return, get ready for something extraordinary. The next chapter, The Crown of Dreams, will be worth the wait. I won’t spoil anything, but let’s just say it’s going to be a rollercoaster of emotions, bold moves, and plot twists that might just leave you gasping for air.
So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you for being part of this adventure. Your comments, theories, and excitement mean the world to me, and I can’t wait to dive back in after the holidays with even more epic storytelling.
Until then, happy holidays and new years, and see you all in 2025!
Yours goofily,
Your Favorite Overcaffeinated Author
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