Reluctant Star

I: Pandora Cast:

*Pandora*

I don�t how this happened. One minute I was just in the background, designing clothes for my homework. The next, I am staring in Andy�s latest art film. Okay, maybe I should slow down a bit. Here is what happened:

Andy was going to shoot a new film in three weeks. It is really just an experimental film. I have seen a couple of them. They are okay. Not exactly Blockbuster material. But, he knows how to work with a camera. That is all I can see for his directing skills. Louis Cruz says that Andy�s a better artist than he is a director. Looking back on that now, I would have to agree with him there. Anyway, back to my story.

I was in the back of the Silver screen room as Andy liked to call it, doing my homework as he was casting for a lead female role. I wasn�t really paying any attention at the time. So, I wasn�t bothered at all. Andy on the other hand, looked to be hard at work. (Ironically, he doesn�t really work at all. He just likes to pretend to be working hard. He gets away with because he�s Andy. We just accept it quietly.) He through the different potential actresses like water. He is not really looking at any of them. Andy would just take one glance just reject her on the spot. The girls didn�t even get a chance to speak before being shot down. Andy sat began in stoic stress.

�This is no good,� he complained. �None of them are any good!� Ian lightly rubbed him on the shoulder.

�Shhh,� he whispered. �It�s okay, it�s okay. We�ll find the right girl.� Andy lowered his head and sighed. The search went on.

The parade of rejects seemed endless. Even Savannah and Ophelia didn�t even get to speak. That should say something right there. It�s hard to understand what exactly Andy wants in his movies at times. He just runs into plans blindly. That�s what Louis has a problem with. Today looked rather dry for Andy.

�I need some coffee,� he complained. He stood up and walked out of the room. That�s where the trouble started. Ian sat back sighing and looked around. He happened to look up and notice me looking back at him.

�Oh,� he said. �How long have you been there, Pandora-love?� I blinked once at him.

�Uh� this whole time�� I answered slowly. �I�ve been working on some homework for my class.� Ian stared on at me in that creepy way that he does sometimes. I began to feel quite uncomfortable.

�What?� I asked. Ian at me like a creepy old man to a little girl.

�Oh yes!� he said. �You�ll do just fine!�

�What do you mean?� I asked. �I�ll do just fine for what?� Then, the door slid open and we looked up. Andy looked at us both with his coffee in his hand. Ian stood up, smiling.

�Andy,� he said. �I have found you the perfect star!� The boss kept his stoic face.

�Who?� he asked. Ian motioned over at me. I looked around confused for one moment. It all slowly sank in for me. I quickly shook my head.

�Oh, no, no!� I protested. �I can�t act! I�m just a designer student!� Neither walked listened to me. Andy walked over to me and took me by my face. He examined me closely. I quickly became nervous. This was just like the first time we met; only much more intense. �Please turn me down! Please turn me down!� I thought over and over again. But, he smiled instead.

�She has the potential,� Andy replied. �We do a screen test for her!� He turned back to me.

�We start at six tomorrow, don�t be late,� the boss advised. That bulletin robbed me of my voice. I only could nod. Andy smiled at me like Dracula.

�Very good,� he said. �Don�t disappoint me.� The boss let go of my cheeks. Then, he and Ian left the screen room. I just stood there all alone in the dark. Now, I have opened myself up to another world of headaches.

II: School Celebrity:

Not only does everyone at the Factory know about my debuting in acting, now people at me school treat me like I�m some sort of a star. It�s so creepy. I used to just be on the outside of the circle because I was from England. I never expected to fit in a mostly Japanese university. Even the bullies ignored me. The only person that paid me any attention was Evan�and he went to the Stardust Factory as well. But now, even the local students are talking to me. I don�t know how to take it. I had just used to just Evan and me talking. But now� It�s just crazy!

It all sank in the day that we started shooting. I had gotten back to my dorm at two in the morning. Shooting drained me dry. I was even too tired to eat. I just wanted to crash on our sofa and go to sleep. Lucky for me, I got my wish�blissfully unaware of what was coming next.

The next day started out rather normal. I just got up, got dressed, packed up my schoolwork, ate breakfast, and handed off to school. On the walk there, things started to get weird. I started out by just walking alone to class. Evan met up with me outside of my dorm hall. (We use in same sex dorms. Co-eds dorms are rare on Tokyo Sakura Art University. That is slowly changing with each year.) He greeted me with that charming Scottish smile of his.

�Good mornin� lass!� he said. I giggled at him sweetly.

�Good morn, Evan,� I said.

�Shall we go, lass?� he asked.

�Sure,� I replied. My prince gently took me by the arm and we walked to our classes. I just love when he calls me �lass.� It just makes him sound so perfect. Walking to class with him in the morning always brightens up my day. However, something else would kill it just the same.

Once Evan and I made to our respective classes, we part for the morning. I didn�t expect anything to rock me so violently. I through the hall of Bara Hall like I normally did. I had just thought it was going to be just another boring day.

�Hi Pandora!� a voice chirped behind me. I was so startled that I quickly whipped around, jumping. Sayako, the student body president, stood behind me smiling. I waved at her confused.

�Hi�� I said to her almost lost. Sayako stared at me grinning. I trembled as I began to think of Ian grinning at me when he�s not taping me. I began to feel uncomfortable.

�Uh� can I help you?� I asked. Sayako stepped forward grinning. I stepped back. Okay, her smile is scaring me! *Sweat drop on my head*

�What?� I asked, bewildered. �What is wrong?� Sayako edged in closer to me.

�Are you starting in an Andy Teach, movie?� she asked like a hyper fangirl. Okay, I was not expecting this at all. What else could I say?

�Yes�� I said. That proved to be a BIG mistake! Sayako�s eyes lit up bright than Tokyo Tower at night.

�This is so cool!!!� she yelled. Then, the student president grabbed me by the arm and dragged me down the hall. I screamed the whole way.

�Hey! Slow down!� I cried. �Where are you taking me?!?�

�To the principal�s office!� she yelled. �The press are waiting for you there!� Shock smacked me so hard in the face that I didn�t have time to think.

�PRESS?!?� I screamed. �WHY?!?� Sayako didn�t answer me; we just kept walking further down the hall. From there, I became an instant star. Everyone kept trying to talk to me and be my friend. It just felt really creepy. I didn�t even know how to take it. But, my problems didn�t stop there.

III: Why Do They Hate Me?:

�Lucky bitch!�

�You think you�re so great!�

�Enjoy it all now, because just won�t last when it�s all over!�

�Tart!�

�Slut!�

�Did you fuck Andy for the role?�

�How long did you have to suck his dick for?�

�Slut!�

�Whore!�

�Tart!�

�Cheap little tart!�

�Slut!�

�Bitch!�

�Slut!�

�Slut!�

The girls at the Factory hate me. I don�t understand why. I did not ask to be the star. They can have that role if they want. Ian and Andy forced me into the spotlight. I keep trying to tell the girls that, but they don�t believe me. I don�t understand it. I don�t understand it all!

IV: The Screen Premiere:

In a week, the movie came out to the Factory. I have to admit; it was terrible. I didn�t talk at all. The only thing I had to do was sit there and let the lights flash over me so many times that I didn�t even care to count anymore. I got so bored in the middle of production that I had to fight to keep myself awake the whole time. It was just awful! Andy and Ian liked it though. Oh crap! If they like that means� I�ll be starring in more films! I can�t do that. I just can�t!

Black Laments