It's Just Ann

Chapter 13 - Introvert

"Ann, Ann, Ann, Ann!" Cece calls me in a excessively high pitch just to make sure I can't miss him. I turn around, almost dropping my iPad that I was checking regarding the notes for the next meeting.

"What? Is something wrong?" I ask immediately, concerned when I see his anxious expression but once I get a closer look I realise he looks excited, not troubled.

"This is your chance!" he blurts out next and I tilt my head to the right in that confused-puppy expression. It must work at throwing him off because Cece stops on his track when we're face-to-face and seems to forget what he was about to say and just looks at me with an overcome expression.

"Oh, you cute little thing," he says, pinching my cheeks and making this excited face. "But no matter how adorable you look today, I didn't come to see that. Instead, you should be showing that adorable puppy face to our lead actor."

His words just confuse me, and I frown. As his hands are still on my cheeks he ends up basically squashing my face and I can't even utter a word.

"I just saw him, per usual, leave the set all alone, to a far, far away corner of the world to hunt deers," I can't stop frowning even if I know he's just exaggerating. I'm really used to his ways by now but that doesn't mean I can keep up all the time. "And as you are the only one he's slightly nice to maybe you should take advantage of that and befriend him. And on the way you totally figure him out and explain things to me because I'm curious."

"Who?" I ask, although it sounds more like 'fu' as Cece is still squashing my face.

He rolls his eyes and lets go of my face. "Who else? The Ice Prince. He's the only asocial in this enormous crew. Go to him and try to talk to him. He doesn't ignore you. I would go myself but he barely nodded when I greeted him. I wanna know if he's arrogant or something else. Can you help me? Come on, I know you're curious, too."

I blink, still a bit confused after that fast speech. I'm trying to arrange the words in my head so they make sense and it takes me a few seconds to manage that. Once I do, I feel my cheeks blushing although I can't exactly know why, I just feel embarrassed.

Cece is right, I am curious, especially because Gareth's been somewhat nice to me and I can't just believe what people tell about him, although he gives people evidence to say such things. But then, going to him and just trying to figure him out... well, that makes me anxious and a bit suffocated.

"M-me?" I stutter and I have to cough to clear my throat. But this doesn't go unnoticed by Cece, his expression tells me he knows exactly how I'm feeling.

"Y-yes, y-you," he teases me and I think even my ears are red now. "Come on, he'll talk to you. And come on, this is the perfect excuse to talk to your celebrity crush. Are you really telling me you're going to let this chance slip?"

"I-" I look away, trying to hide my blush.

I can't even deny my celebrity crush on Gareth. I admire him for the talented actor he is and I can't deny he is incredibly handsome. I mean, of course he is, he wouldn't be a famous movie actor if he weren't. That's how the industry works, it's not a secret or anything.

It's probably because Gareth is my celebrity crush that the idea of going to talk to him makes me so anxious. It's different when we run into each other. This time I would purposely go to him with the intention to talk. That is nerve wracking!

Cece just grabs my wrist and makes us hook arms and before I can protest we are walking.

"He should at least make a friend on set. Don't you feel pity for the poor boy? Always alone," he laments and I do feel a bit bad for him, but if that is his choice then I guess I can't do anything about that. Besides, I just realise now Cece is saying that to make me go. "It's not that hard. You've talked to him already."