Rise To Stardom - Chapter 150

Chapter 150: Cheeseburger
{The Curator – Eleventh Season | 6th of August 2020 | Act 1 | Scene 7 | Take 3}

Slowly swinging back and forth on a playground swing, a hint of loneliness in her eyes, The Curator, dressed in a matte-black trench-coat, inner white shirt and a black bow-tie, closed the last page of a novel she was reading.

Raising her head, she casually gazed at the playground before her, watching as a bunch of children played around and had fun.

A few minutes later, a gloomy-looking young girl who had no friends her age to play with so to speak, found her way towards the swing and took a seat on the empty swing beside her.

“Hello.” she greeted after a short while.

Glancing over to her, the 11th Curator responded with a light smile;

“Hello.”

“Why are you sitting on a swing?” the young girl asked, her tone quiet yet curious.

“Why can’t I?” The Curator, questioned instead with a slightly arched eyebrow.

“Because you’re old?” the young girl responded, her expression almost concerning.

“Oh that I am… I’m as old as old can get.” The 11th Curator chuckled in amusement as the young girl spoke again.

“You’re strange… Our teacher says I shouldn’t talk to strange people…”

“Well your teacher’s right but, and I kid you not, I’m way past strange, darling. I’m without a doubt, awemazing.” The Curator’s tone was obviously narcissistic as she praised herself.

“Awemazing’s not a word.” the young girl countered with a slight chuckle, her honey-colored irises and her mood, similarly brightening up as she found the strange lady’s proud expression funny.

“Yes it is. It’s in this novel I read.” The Curator, in response, handed over the book to her.

Contemplating over if she should receive the book or not, especially from a stranger no less even though she did seem fun, the young girl’s thirst to experience a new world, eventually won and she received it.

“The Impossible Man.” she quietly muttered to herself as she read the title of said novel.

Getting a bit curious about it, a young Kiera flipped the first page open and at the same time, the 11th Curator, having done what she came here to do, silently got off the swing and left the playground.

As for the young Kiera, by the time she was done reading the prologue, she had raised her head to ask the strange lady a question, only to realize that said lady, had seemingly vanished into thin air.

“Cut. Print. Check The Gate.”

–

Kiera, having completed the novel she had written a few months after the events of season 10’s last episode, finally remembered how exactly she had gotten the name, ‘The Impossible Man’ before The Curator himself had ever even told her his actual name.

And that, was because she remembered that someone in the past, a lady in a trench coat to be precise, handed over a novel to her with that exact name.

Having figured this out, she then informed The 11th Curator that she wanted to have her memories of her adventures with The Curator erased as she didn’t want another situation with her getting into trouble because of her.

At the same time, Kiera also announced that she didn’t want to travel with her anymore as she would be more of a liability than anything else in the long run.

Fulfilling her wishes, The Curator did as she asked and invented a gizmo that would do exactly just that.

That was how Kiera finally went back to her normal college life, and The Curator, began to travel alone again.

That said, due to their many adventures they had together, the lady, even after having her memories of The Curator wiped clean, had a crap ton of inspiration swirling in her head, a tool every aspiring author needed.

As for the 11th Curator, having returned back to her Index after secretly seeing Kiera off, found a curious novel placed on the Horologium’s dashboard with a note attached to it that read;

A strange lady in a trench coat, gave this to me when I was six years old…

Widening her eyes in realization, The 11th Curator, finally figured out where the actual, subverted bootstrap paradox came from.

And it was exactly because of this reason that she knew that she had to hand over the novel to a young Kiera Snow.

This essentially, was what constituted the bulk of the first episode of the 11th season.

The resolving of the subverted bootstrap paradox from the tenth season.

…

…

…

“How did you and Kyle consistently pull off such perfect takes for two whole months?” Lily asked Jasmine as they wrapped up filming for the day in the dressing room.

It was also going to be Jasmine’s last day on set.

“Well, I’ve had experience working with Tiana before so I’m pretty used to not making mistakes…” Jasmine responded as she took off Kiera’s clothing.

“As for Sapphire… beats me. He’s evidently a force of nature.” she chuckled while Lily, loosened the bow-tie on her neck with a sigh of resignation.

As much as the lady tried to make sure she got a single take most times, there were just moments where she wanted to retake the scenes because she felt like she could’ve put in even more effort to polish a scene.

The playground scene they had shot before rounding up for the day, was one she had to do over three times until a strict Tiana was satisfied… although it wasn’t actually because she didn’t act well.

The real reason why she had that much leeway and opportunity for retakes, was because a child actor had been on set today and their Director evidently, was very receptive and extremely tolerant with children.

“Don’t worry. You’ll get the hang of it eventually. It took me roughly two months before I effortlessly started doing single takes without issues while filming [Evermore Chronicles].” Jasmine, now dressed in a baggy dark-olive blouse and black jeans, hugged an appreciative Lily who was grateful for the hug.

“I’m gonna miss you.” Lily lightly tapped her back while fondly speaking, a hint of sadness to her tone.

“So will I…” Jasmine responded in similar fashion.

“Still, now that you have the month off, wanna hang out with me, Christina and the girls at Carl Finch’s mini-tour?”

“Sure. I’d love that. Amy and I were already planning to attend it anyway.” Lily smiled in response to Jasmine’s offer.

“Oh really?” her co-star questioned curiously, slightly intrigued by the information.

“Yeah. In fact, Katie and Ryan said they’d also show up. One of the many things they shoved in at the last minute for their honeymoon.” Lily replied whilst chuckling, to which she then added;

“Steven and Joe will also be around so there’s that…”

“Dreamboat, on the other hand, said he’d be busy with work so he wouldn’t be able to attend the concert alongside us.”

“Well, that’s to be expected with his ever increasing fame. My gals were really looking forward to meeting him again though…” Jasmine sighed in resignation, after which she then commented in acceptance;

“Oh well. They’ll get to meet him at Dreamland Inc’s Red Carpet Event at the end of this month.”

* * *

(A few days later…)

“Kyle, did you know, that men, especially in their teenage years, use the image of female perfection to motivate themselves?”

“Is that so? Fascinating…” Kyle tilted his head in response, an amused expression on his features as his host, kept speaking.

“I know, right! It’s like, they don’t even know this girl at all and yet, they’re willing to go the absolute extra mile, just to impress her… well at least the perfect image of her they have in their heads…”

“But what really sucks, is when they realize, that the reverse, isn’t the case. Cheeseburger?” Carl Finch offered Kyle the other in his plastic bag while munching on one.

His agent, Allen, had been the one to make a detour and grab it for him on his little trip out to the shopping mall to get a few necessities for the upcoming concert.

“Hell of a welcome.” Kyle on the other hand, chuckled a bit as he indulged in Carl’s offer by receiving the extra cheeseburger he held out.

“I do love making strong impressions.” the superstar, casually shrugged, a light grin present on his face as he grinned at the young star.

“Want some soda too?” he gestured to the plastic bag again.

“Sure. Why not?” Kyle received the tossed can of soda with a thankful smile as Carl took another bite of his cheeseburger.

His beanie was navy-blue and he was wearing a similar navy-blue sweatshirt and black joggers as he and Kyle walked across the lawn of his mansion in L.A.

A bunch of workers whom were working on the grounds, gardeners and the likes, paid both individuals no mind as they went about their duties.

At the same time, what seemed to be a mix of housekeepers, attendants and overall, Carl’s professional team of employees, moved about the expanse of the lawn with planners in their hands.

The gate was even being opened again to welcome what seemed to be session musicians who would be tasked with the instrumentals for their chosen songs at the mini-tour.

That said, Carl’s blonde hair, which had a short and messy texture with a side-swept fringe that accentuated his straight-edged nose, strong jawline and heartthrob look, was well-kept even under the beanie while his expressive irises were emerald-green.

Oliver and Allen, agents of the two celebrities, both of whom had just met, were still exchanging pleasantries as Kyle trailed behind Carl Finch who showed him about as their conversation continued.

Considering Kyle and Carl had actually been in contact with each other a few days prior to their actual meeting, especially with the superstar even going as far to make a video call with the young celebrity to converse even further, it had been so easy for them to pick up from where they had left IRL without an issue.

From pretty mundane things, to funny stories, to chosen songs and ideas for the mini-tour and even a few personal stories, both individuals had gotten along really well as they ended up discussing a ton of things.

One of such things, included a question that Kyle had asked but they hadn’t been able to converse more on whilst they had been on call.

Why wasn’t [Dancin’ On The Edge] anywhere as good as the others in the album?

“So, back to our previous convo, the reason why that song sucked ass when I made it, was exactly because of my previously aforementioned reason.”

“You tried to impress a lady and she did you dirty, didn’t she?” Kyle put two and two together so fast, it baffled an impressed Carl who blinked his eyes a few times.

“Spot on, Kyle.” he soon recovered and then grinned as he continued;

“I’ll skip most of the details but I was eighteen and didn’t realize that ladies could be such diabolical heartbreakers. By the time I’d written the lyrics to the song, things had gone south between us, fast.”

“But I didn’t wanna lose the progress I’d made with the song so I figured; Eh screw it! I’ll release it regardless.” he explained further.

“And that, is how what should’ve been one of my best songs, became my least passionate work and the black sheep of the entire album.” Carl concluded as he popped open the soda.

Both were now in the lavish living room of the mansion as he and Kyle chuckled at his story.

“But you want to right those wrongs now, by performing it as you should’ve, way back then?” Kyle then asked as he took a bite of the cheeseburger.

“Yes. Which is why, right after your opening, we’ll sing you and the boy’s cover of the song from Rising Voices, to the audience.” Carl affirmed with a light smile and a small nod.

“Sucks that I couldn’t have them all show up though. I mean, me even having openers for a mini-tour after all, which mind you, is quite the rarity in its own thing, shouldn’t be feasible, typically at least.” he then added with a small sigh of acceptance.

“Well, if it makes you feel any better, I’ve been working on landing backflips expertly…” Kyle stated in response after which he then added;

“At the very least, even though it won’t be perfect, I hope that I can replicate some of the spirit they brought to the song, dance-wise…”

“That’s… great!” Carl had a surprised yet evidently impressed expression on his face.

“Also, I don’t think it has gotten out to any news or media outlet that I’m even gonna be having openers for the mini-tour.” Carl slightly grinned while pointing to Kyle who simply took another bite out of the cheeseburger.

“That’s perfect. I was planning to give my friends quite the surprise too.” Kyle, in reply, had a light smile of his own nestling on his lips along with a mischievous glint in his sapphire irises.