indentEzra looked out the car window, a lazy look in his eye as he took in the blurs of people walking around in the city. Everyone seemed to always be going somewhere. Never sitting down enough to relax. But they had a choice too. He knew most of them made that choice as well. They had the option after all. Of sitting under the sun and letting its rays wash over you. Laughing with a loved one, bells in your chest. Or having dinner with your children. A room full of fire. And yet they pursued the goal of having more, being more, living more. Survival was written in their genes after all.
indentSometimes Ezra wished he could get the choice of truly living.
indentMaybe he was getting too spoiled and rotten. He had everything he could possibly need. Enough money, enough fame, enough things. And yet he felt like he wasnโt living like the rest of the people on Earth. He was someone made of clay. To be molded and shaped to how others wanted to see him, not how he wanted to present himself. He wasnโt allowed to have those small choices of rest. He wouldnโt allow himself. Not after Haven.
indentHaven was the last family he had, and after that went to fire, he wouldnโt allow himself to start another spark. After their band broke up, he doubted he would speak to any of them ever again. Royalbeat Music, his company, made sure of that. Part of him was secretly grateful. Ezra knew that if he saw any of them again, he might just quit his solo career. But he couldnโt, not when he wasnโt good enough for them yet.
indentHe was also glad he didnโt need to speak to his parents anymore. That was another disaster in his life heโd much rather forget ever happened. They seemed content to do the same. Ezra joked sometimes that they probably told their friends that he had died in a terrible car accident, and they had no son anymore. Usually, Fleur only laughed at that one, pulling him aside later to ask if he was okay. And he always was. Couldnโt afford not to be.
indentEven though he was rich, he couldnโt afford a lot of things in this life.
indentSomeone was snapping their fingers in front of his face, and he was back to reality as he looked over at his manager. Fleur was looking at him with concern on her face. โYou okay? You seemed a bit lost. I was talking about where weโre going. You do know that youโre starting something new today, right? After your tour, I think you deserved something on a smaller scale. So, youโre getting into theater starting today.โ
indentEzra sighed. โAnd how do we know I can even act?โ
indentFleur rolled her eyes, adjusting her sunglasses before continuing. โBecause Iโve seen you do it your whole life.โ
indentโWow, very deep.โ
indentโShut it.โ
indentEzra raised his hands up in mock defense. โIโm only taking the piss out of you.โ
indentFleur shoved him hard, Ezra laughed as she said, โYouโre so damn annoying.โ
indentโYou love me.โ
indentFleur grumbled, โFor now. Anyways the director is Julian Dean. He seems legit. Playโs name is called โIn This Eternity.โ It sounded like a romance, and I thought you needed something to spice up your life so there you have it.โ
indentโThis is payback for the time I called you old,โ Ezra groaned.
indentโMaybe,โ Fleur grinned, all teeth. She pulled out her phone, looking at the time. โGood news, weโre going to be early. So, youโll have plenty of time to ask all the questions you want to Julian.โ
indentEzra nodded. Turning to look out the window once more. Fleur was probably the only person he could really be himself around. She understood him better than anyone, and even though she was getting paid to watch over him like his personal babysitter, he was glad that it was her than anyone else. She was a great friend to him even though she didnโt need to be. Which he appreciated. It helped him feel less alone in a world that wanted to keep him trapped in isolation. So many adoring fans and yet he still had no one to talk to like how he talks with Fleur.
indentHis private car pulled up to the theater, and he could see that the paparazzi had already found out his schedule for the day. He internally groaned so loud that he almost did it out loud. This was going to be fun. Fleur got out of the car first, making some space so he could get out. The sound of a million cameras shuttering when he got out was enough for him to go deaf as he made his way inside the building. He smiled at the camera even though heโd rather grab it and smash it against the ground and made it inside. The doors shut and he let out a breath of relief.
indentโCome, I think itโs just in here,โ Fleur said.
indentThey walked into the main theater and Ezra was amazed and how many seats there were. Not nearly as much as the concerts heโs done but a fair amount. He walked further into the theater, people buzzing around him. Fleur walked up to a tall skinny man with a beard, chatting with a younger man with glasses and light brown hair that was perfectly styled. They both turned to look his way, the man with the beard lighting up as his eyes landed on him.
indentโOh, youโve made it! Iโve been proper excited to meet you in person, Mr. Ngyuen. Iโm the director here. My name is Julian Dean. Big fan,โ he said, his words full of light as he held out his hand. Ezra took it, nodding with a smile.
indentโItโs great to meet you too,โ Ezra said, his eyes wandering to the other man who shifted on his feet awkwardly.
indentโAh, right. This is your new stylist. Heโll be helping you and your new costar and some supporting cast with clothing choices, accessories, hair, the whole lot. Introduce yourself,โ Julian said, nudging the shorter man. His new stylist looked shocked to be noticed but quickly recovered. Clearing his throat, he held out his hand.
indentโLuke Felton. Your new stylist, as youโฆalready know,โ Luke said, his eyes nervously looking anywhere but Ezraโs face.
indentEzra took his hand. โEzra. Itโs great to meet my new stylist. Hope you donโt mess up my mug too much,โ Ezra joked, a tiny laugh escaping him.
indentLuke seemed shocked at the laugh, only nodding with a tiny smile. โRight.โ
indentโWell!โ Fleur said, her eyes taking in everything behind her sunglasses. โItโs great to meet you all. My nameโs Fleur Leeuwen. Iโm Ezraโs manager.โ
indentThe director looked at her blankly. โAh, yes. Pleasure. Anyways! Ezra, I bet youโre excited to see the script.โ
indentEzra laughed behind his hand as Fleur looked absolutely shocked at being dismissed so quickly. She punched him rather hard in the arm as Julian dug through his bag and brought out a script, handing it to Ezra. Ezra took it, skimming through the first lines and then looking back at the director. โAnd who is going to be my costar?โ
indentAs if on cue, the door to the theater opened, and in walked Jaime Takeshita.
indentFleurโs mouth dropped, and Ezra felt like he was on fire suddenly. Some fuse inside him lit itself at his toes and then exploded in his chest. He felt so blown away by the familiar face that he started walking. His actions were not his own as he felt Jaimeโs dark eyes turn on him, shock written across his features as Ezra approached. Then Ezra was reeling back his fist and punching him square in the jaw. Everyone seemed to pause at that moment, like the silence after a gun went off. Everything was in slow motion. Ezra was moving through seawater now. His lungs suffocating in the salt and his head swimming with the fish as he felt someone pull him back.
indentSuddenly he was pulled back to reality, as Fleur shook him. Her expression was one full of worry. One of the girls that was with Jaime was holding him up. Her dark hair bounced in her ponytail as she questioned if he was alright. The other one, a blonde, looked at him like she was about to set him on fire. The fury had died in Ezraโs heart, now all that was left was stinging hurt as he shook in Fleurโs grasp.
indentโWhat the hell was that?!โ Fleur yelled. His brown eyes were still trained on Jaime though. Fleur shook him again. โEzra look at me! What the hell were you thinking?!โ
indentEzra finally looked at her now. โNo, what the hell were you thinking?โ he hissed.
indentFleur glared at him. โI didnโt know.โ
indentJulian was in between them now, nervously laughing. โAh, I see things have already gotten a bigโฆuhโฆheated. Ah-ha. Anyways, Ezra. To answer your question, your new costar isโฆwell Mr. Takeshita.โ
indentEzra was still shaking as the director turned to Jaime. โSo sorry, Mr. Takeshita. Can I get you an ice pack?โ
indentEzra turned on his heel, only half walking as he tried to get as far away from whatever this was as possible. Fleur was right on his heels though, even as he entered the men's bathroom. Ezra grasped the sink, tears stinging his eyes as he let out a shaky breath. Fleur slowly walked to him, making sure not to touch him as she leaned against the sink right next to the one, he was grasping. โAre you okay?โ
indentโDo I look okay?โ
indentโNo, but I thought I would ask. Iโm sorry, I didnโt know that he was going to be your costar. Or that he would even be here,โ Fleur said quietly.
indentEzra shook his head. Closing his eyes tightly to keep the tears from falling.
indentโIf you want to quit, I could talk to the director-โ
indentโNo!โ Ezra shouted, his eyes springing open. His shoulders relaxed. โNo. Iโm not going to give him the satisfaction of having me leave. IโmโฆIโm doing this.โ
indentFleur nodded. โOkay. Iโm going to go back and talk to Jaime. Apologize for yโknow. You punching him across the face. Come out when youโre ready.โ
indentFleur walked to the exit and then left. Her heels clicking the only thing he heard until even that faded from his ears. Ezra took another shaky breath and finally looked at himself in the mirror. He relaxed his face and shoulders. Looking blankly in the mirror. He faked a smile, trying to make it look realistic until it looked real enough. He could do this. He steadied himself, put on his smile, and then exited the bathroom.