Falling for a Star (Complete)

Chapter 5 - Speaking my Mind

"No," I laughed, shaking my head. "You're so far off base it's not even funny. I have no interest in dating some arrogant, spoiled celebrity that hooks up with a different woman every day of the week. Even if he was the least bit interested in me, which I'm positive he's not, he'd just break my heart. Why would I want that?"

"Then what do you want?" Scott asked, looking at me with scrunched eyebrows.

"Nothing," I laughed. "That's the honest truth. Have you seriously never had anyone offer to help you out of the kindness of their heart, without some ulterior motive?"

He looked across the yard at the others and started to laugh. "Honestly? No. In Hollywood, it's a dog eat dog world. Everyone is after something. Nothing is done for free without an expectation of getting something in return."

I stood there letting those words sink in.

"Wow. That's really sad," I said, shaking my head. "Back home in Iowa, people help each other out all the time without expecting to get something from it."

"Really?" he asked, sounding skeptical.

"Yeah, really," I nodded.

"Okay, well if you really want to help, let's try shooting this scene again, but with a LOT more excitement this time. What do you say?"

"Ok, I'll try," I told him with a smile. "But keep in mind, I'm a college student and a coffee barista, not an actress."

"Well, just give it your best shot kid," he said, patting my shoulder a couple times before calling out to everyone, "We're gonna film the introduction scene again from the top people! Dylan go back inside the house and wait for her to knock. Brenley go back to the bottom of the stairs. Places people!" he shouted, clapping his hands together.

I suddenly felt like I was on one of those scripted reality shows that the viewers think are real. I watched Dylan go back inside and close the door before taking my place at the bottom of the steps. As I waited I tried to imagine how my friend Ellie would react to meeting Dylan and I channeled that.

"Action!" Scott shouted before pointing at me.

I walked up the stairs towards the door with the cameras in my face again and took in a deep breath, letting out an exhale before I knocked three times. This time when Dylan opened the door my eyes widened and I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands. I stood there for a minute, looking at him in shock, acting like I was unable to speak. I finally lowered my hands and said, "Wow, I can't believe you're really standing in front of me," looking at him in awe.

He gave me a smile and took a step forward, holding his hand out. "Hi. I'm Dylan."

"I know who you are," I giggled nervously.

I smiled at him shyly as I reached out with a trembling hand and shook his hand hesitantly, before covering my mouth again and letting out a squeal, jumping up and down.

He laughed and gave me a flirty smile before saying, "Sorry, I didn't catch your name."

"Brenley. I'm Brenley. Sorry, I was freaking out so much that my brain shut off and I forgot to tell you," I laughed.

He smiled again and said, "Brenley. That's a pretty name. You wanna come inside so I can give you a tour of my house, where you'll be staying this week?"

"Really?" I asked in awe with wide eyes. "You want me to stay at YOUR house?" I squealed again and clapped my hands as I jumped up and down. Okay, so I was laying it on pretty thick, but hopefully it was believable.

Scott didn't stop us this time so I must be doing okay I thought. Him and the cameras followed us around as Dylan gave me a tour. It was by far the biggest, fanciest house I had ever seen in my life. He had a garage the size of an airport hangar that was full of exotic cars and his heated pool was so big it looked like a football field. I couldn't help but feel sorry for his pool guy that had to keep that thing clean. I had seen stars give house tours on TV that had an indoor basketball court, movie theater and bowling alley in their houses, but this guy literally had all that, PLUS an indoor hockey rink. A hockey rink! I mean, who does that?