10 × The Stars

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Shooting was still weeks away, the bosses said.  Her supervisor told her the first episodes of the show's next season would be shot outside of Hollywood, as originally planned by the showrunners. 

According to him, it would require some adjustment due to the location change, but Jessi could already feel the daily grind mentality kicking in as the day progressed. 

She had just met the entire cast of the famous TV series.  They were funny, charismatic, fun to be around but also took their job seriously. 

The official photo shoot for the promotional materials and the cast interviews lasted only five and a half hours instead of eight hours, because the entire cast had been so adept and professional during the whole shoot.

The photographers and the creative team did not have any trouble working with them at all.  Except for her, because she had to take on the responsibilities of her co-worker who had suddenly called in sick today.

The workload tired her out three hours in—her back and limbs now ached from pure exhaustion.  But Jessi couldn't stop smiling to herself because she got to work with nice, highly talented people while brushing up her makeup skills.  Her boss even praised her earlier for a job well done.

A win-win situation, minus her exhausted arms, aching back and strained legs.  Jessi zipped up her cosmetic kits, then glanced at the crew packing up their equipment. Her first job for the day was to help doll up the other half of the main cast:

Niko Fabian - a cute child actor and Darren's character's brother in the show;

Margaux Brenton - an established Hollywood actress playing Jenson's character's mom in the story; and

Kara Leahy - the female love interest of the two leads in the crime, fantasy and horror-themed storyline. 

Then Jenson arrived an hour late on set.  Jessi had to put makeup on him and prep his hair in less than 20 minutes to get the shoot going—not that he needed much hair-styling or makeup. 

His hairstyle wasn't much longer than a crew cut, a medium brown shade like his beard the first time she met him.  Jenson also had a five o'clock shadow in almost every photo of him she'd seen online.

He just had the look that could be summed up as "effortlessly masculine", which she supposed  suited his TV character's dominant, mysterious persona. 

Darren, on the other hand, had longer, darker and wavy hair, plus a thicker beard that mostly hid his angular jawline.  He resembled some Italian and Spanish actors because of his hair, complexion, and picturesque features. 

The guy was a total goofball, too, as she'd witnessed herself just today.  Jessi suppressed a grin at the thought. 

Darren just seemed the type to prank his co-workers during work hours, on a daily basis.  He seemed as down-to-earth and easygoing as the other stars.  Perhaps even friendlier and more welcoming than Jenson and the rest of the cast members.

Looks-wise, Darren Jablonsky had the "Mr. Mysterious" appeal down pat, especially on-screen.  But in reality, Jenson was the epitome of the 'tall, dark and brooding' stereotype. 

Jenson would crack a few jokes at times when put on the spot by his coworkers, but he appeared to be the quietest among the cast.  Some moments, he just seemed like he very much preferred solitude. 

There was just this unpretentious sense of confidence and authority around him whenever he wasn't in "actor mode". 

Minding his quite aloof behavior all day, Jessi resumed packing her belongings beside the makeup chairs.  The others hung out in the other corner.  The lead actors went on chatting with the photographers and some staff. 

They were still in their costumes, in leather jackets and boots, picture-perfect hair, and some dark goth-inspired outfits for the women.  Margaux and Niko was already leaving the set, while Jenson, Darren and Kara sat next to Zach, the show's key makeup artist and Jessi's boss.

"Have a nice evening, y'all!" someone yelled from the other side of the venue.

Jessi glanced behind again and saw Tom, one of the big bosses slash showrunners, walking out of the room while waving his hand.  She glimpsed the time on her phone. 

Almost dinner time.  She could use a nap.  The minute she got home, she would relax with a hot shower and enjoy a hot meal for dinner.  Then off to dreamland.  So appetizing to think of right now.  She stretched her back, recalling the unpacked boxes in her cramped and new living space.

It was a one-bed, one-bath small bedspace rental near the production company's office building, which Zach said would be convenient for her during the first few months of shooting, since she would be half an hour away to the show's new set. 

Quite pricey for such a small space, but she favored the convenience of its short distance to her workplace.  For now, it was the most convenient option she had.

"Hey there."

She turned to her left and saw a leather jacket-clad Darren approaching her with a friendly and dimpled grin.  She smiled at him, hoping she no longer looked star-struck by his presence.

"Welcome to the fam, again." Darren high-fived her and stood closer to her now. 

"Thanks. Again," she joked.

Darren chuckled. "So, we're gonna get some grub downstairs in a sec, with Kara, Zach and the others. Wanna hang for a bit?"

"Uh..." She glanced past him and saw Jenson eyeing Darren from afar. 

Was Darren inviting her to hang out with them over dinner?  Or was he just being nice and polite to the newcomer? 

Perhaps.  "No, but thank you. Really." Jessi smiled another time, her nerves making her palms sweat a little.  Jenson was now all eyes on her and Darren.  "Need to get home now. Next time?" was her alibi.

"Sure. Sure. Hang out soon. We're shooting the first one next month near Calabasas, they said." Darren combed back his lush dark hair that almost reached his broad shoulders. "Heard you're gonna be on the call sheet then. Z-Dawg said you're replacing Jules—our, erm, last makeup girl."

Makeup girl? Z-Dawg? As in Zach, her boss?  Jessi held back a giggle.  Was Darren always this informal and charmingly funny?  "Yeah. Zach just informed us of the schedules."

"Awesome. Cool. Ayt!" He gave her a boyish grin and a quick wave, then started to back off. "See ya then."

"See ya. Enjoy your dinner." She smiled at his retreating six-foot-tall figure as she put away her bag of professional makeup brushes. 

When Darren started walking away, Jenson got up from his chair beside the other bosses,  frowning in a not-so-subtle manner.  Jenson kept watching Darren's every step, almost as though he was trying to make eye contact with his co-star.

Jessi pretended not to notice anything and resumed packing up her stuff.

For some reason, Darren ignored Jenson and kept walking towards the exit.

"Thanks for today, Jess. Mae says thanks, too. See you next week. But I'll call you if something comes up." Zach waved at her and got up from the chair near the backdrop of the shoot, where he and Jenson had been sitting.

"Thank you. Had lotsa fun today." She smiled at her boss.  Despite Zach's features being strikingly similar to her former employer's, reminding her of the arrogant scum, she liked having Zach as her boss and supervisor.  She liked him way more, definitely. 

Zach seemed the type of boss who actually cared about his subordinates.  He even thanked her twice for taking on her co-worker's job all day due to Mae being on sick leave.

"I'll be in my car. Darren out!" Darren said before he left through the exit doors.

"Sure you don't wanna come with us, Jess? We'll drop you off at your place after," Zach offered when she eyed the exit.

"Yeah. Next time. Still have to unpack some stuff tonight. But thanks, really." Jessi put on another polite smile as she waved at him and Jenson.

"Later, Jess." Jenson glanced at her, then briefly gave her a  tight grin.

She smiled back and waved at him, Zach, Kara and the other staff.  She pretended to be busy with her phone as she waited for them to leave.  Her weariness just made her prefer using the elevator by herself. 

Carrying a bag full of her makeup kits, Jessi proceeded to the parking lot where she would be waiting for her lift. The app notification said the driver was minutes away.  She waited for her ride and stood behind a large tree right outside the dim parking lot, just beside the building.

Then she heard some familiar voices talking, but in a suspiciously muted manner.  She turned around.

Two guys stood a couple feet behind her, standing in the shadows and behind a large vehicle.  SUV-type.  The shorter one was smoking, had a ponytail, and wearing a familiar leather jacket.  The other man was a few inches taller, his hands on his hips while standing too close to the guy with the cigarette.

Jenson and Darren.  Alone.  Or so they thought.

Darren took a long drag and seemed to be fidgeting as he leaned against the back of the large vehicle.  "I didn't tell anyone."

"Dude..." Jenson sighed.  

"Why would I lie?"

"If he finds out from someone else, we're done. Finished." It was Jenson talking now, almost whisper-yelling at Darren. "You know that."

"Calm down, man," Darren murmured. "He's not gonna...punish you or anything."

Punish him? Jessi pulled a face and stayed hidden in the shadow cast by the large tree.  Who were they talking about?  Where was Zach? And Kara and the others?

"I hope to God not." Jenson scoffed and let out another noisy sigh. 

"If he calls, I'll let you know."

"You seriously didn't tell Evie?"

Darren turned away from Jenson again, shook his head faintly, and didn't directly answer the question.  Then he put out his cigarette with his shoe.  "You worry too much." 

"Oh. I'm not allowed to?" Jenson spoke louder and sounded more irritated now.  The tension in his voice made it sound a bit deeper.

"Whatever. Let's just eat," Darren muttered.  "Then go straight home. Talk to Charm. Get some sleep."

"Easy for you to say. You're not the one with a..." Jenson breathed out a louder sigh and took a step backwards, his head hung low. "Just do me this one favor, yeah?  Shut up about the girl and stay sober for a few weeks at least."

Jessi scowled and remained dead quiet beside the thick tree trunk.  What girl?

"Think you could do that?"

"Alright," Darren snapped back at Jenson before cussing under his breath.  "Come on. They're waiting."

The next second, the two guys left their hiding spot and walked off without another word.  Darren made hasty steps towards the other end of the parking lot. 

Jenson was just a couple of steps behind him, feigning calmness as he walked on with his phone in his hand. He shook his head as he caught up to Darren.

Jessi stood still.  Her heart pounded fast while she tried to recall every bit of their conversation.  It was rude to eavesdrop, but she just couldn't help it, especially after noticing the tension between the two.

Stay sober?  What did Jenson mean?  Who would punish him?  And what girl was he talking about?

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