Chapter Text
(Aiden POV)
“Are you listening to me?” Alex, Aiden's manager questions. He folds his arms. His annoyance seeps into his voice.
His long brunette hair is in a messy man bun accompanied by black prescription glasses fighting the urge to not slip down.
Aiden shifts on the couch, leaning closer to his Nintendo Switch that shows his Tomadachi Life gameplay. Currently, Tyler is in love with Alex. “Yeah, yeah, table read in two weeks, show filming and stuff”
Aiden's newest role is one of the male leads for this new thriller show coming out called “School Bus Graveyard” It's about six teenagers who went to visit a haunted house on a field trip and that causes them to see monsters at night, blah blah blah.
“Aiden.”
“Alex.”
Alex stares at him, sighs deeply like a disappointed parent, and then proceeds to throw a 90-page script to Aiden's face, “The table read is scheduled for this Thursday, FYI.”
“Hey!” he peels his eyes from his switch. “Do you know how much this gorgeous face of mine is worth!”
Aiden didn't wait for his response—which was most likely to be an insult anyway, “This face is carrying my career.” He squints, attempting to put on an angry face, which he is failing miserably at because of the huge grin currently plaster on his face.
Alex scowls at me. That says a lot more than any insult could. But, he's just jealous of a hot, successful young millionaire like me. And to be humble on top of all of that? I really am amazing.
—
8 missed calls from my mom.
“Are you going to answer her calls?” Alex asks, not once looking up from the road as he drives Aiden to the table read.
The road was busy today. Cars lining up behind each other. Good thing they woke up two hours earlier than usual. (Which Aiden complained about)
Aiden glances at his phone, considering it, but imagining the conversation already got him mentally exhausted, “I could already predict what she's going to say” He hums.
His parents aren't bad. Maybe a bit controlling. But they're not downright harsh. They just want the best for him. Their version of what's best from me. Which was sort of fine by him because he doesn't know what's best for him either.
Aiden's mom always gives the same grand speech every time he films a new show or movie about how much they sacrifice for him to be in this position and how he shouldn't disappoint and how he's wasting my “potential” and how—
His phone rings again.
Of course, they broke through his DND for the hundredth time.
Alex breaks eye contact with the road and glances at Aiden, “You know if you don't answer, they're going to end up calling me, and I have to answer.” He ssearches Aiden's eyes for a reaction, Aiden yields.
Aiden reaches for his phone, his fingers hover over the call button for a second before he taps it, “Hello?” he ask cautiously.
His mother's harsh town echoes through my ear, “Aiden Clark! How many times do I have to call you for you to answer?”
“Oops?”
He can feel her glaring at him through her phone.
“Drop the attitude, Aiden. I raised you better than this. Who do you get this reckless streak from? Me and your father have sacrificed…” blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah.
Same dialogue every single day. You would think after repeating it for 15 years, it would change, but nope, it was an endless loop of disappointment.
“Are you listening to me?!” She questions. Damn she caught on fast. Aiden runs his hand through his strategically messy blonde hair.
“Yeah yeah, bye, mom.”
“No—” He hangs up on her, not letting her finish her monologue. Alex snickers at his abrupt hangup.
--
A few minutes later, they make the last couple of turns until he parks the car in its designated place. They were at some tall picturesque brick building.
Alex hands him a copy of the script that he needs for the table read today. Alex's eyes soften, “Don't do anything stupid, okay?”
Aiden smiles his trademark grin at him, “I'll try not to,” He answers.
___
Aiden enters the building. He wasn't the first person to arrive, but he wasn't the last. He recognizes some actors from shows he's watched or that they both star in.
When he sees Tyler, his best friend, he jogs towards him.
“You look worse every time I see you” Tyler taunts
Aiden bats his eyes, “Aww I'm blushing”
Tyler flips him off.
Their conversation eventually shifts from annoying each other to their co-stars, “So what'd you think about the super rookie,” Tyler asks Aiden.
Super rookie? He remembers hearing Alex talk about that during his hour-long rant.”Also you're going to be working with Ashlyn Banner, the new super rookie. Her first movie was a hit because of her amazing acting… Don't do anything stupid, okay?”
Before Aiden could ask Tyler about her, a lady with soft, fiery hair brushed past him.
He freezes.
She turns around to talk to a staff member, and Aiden sees a glimpse of her enthralling green eyes. Freckles light a path on her skin that his eyes gladly follow.
A red tee that hugs her body perfectly with low-rise baggy designed jeans with a pair of red samba perfectly neat. Her sunset color hair glides down her back in two long braids, ending in a bow on each side that moves gracefully as she shifts her weight to her right leg.
Everything else fades into the background. Aiden swallows forcefully.
She's beautiful.
Aiden nudges Tyler on the shoulder. His eyes still focus on the ginger, “Don't tell me that's the super rookie.”