March 2, 2009.
Gibson Amphitheater.
Los Angeles, California.
The soft cranking of the limousine engine was the only sound inside the vehicle. Paul Walker sat back against the leather seat, his fingers happily drumming lightly on his knee as the limousine turned the corner toward the Gibson Amphitheatre.
Outside, fans were already packed behind barricades, cara flashes twinkling like stars in the night sky. It was a mont that only a few people could savor, people who could personally see their idols.
He glanced at the rearview mirror and caught his expression. His eyes showed nervousness, but they were also calm. He was excited but collected. After all, this was not the first ti he had experienced attending a red carpet.
'I still can't believe it. Sotis I feel like I'm in a dream. Decades ago, I was just an actor who wasn't even well-known. But now, these people are waiting outside to cheer .'
Paul Walker had been in the industry since the 80s. Despite being in the industry for decades, he still couldn't find his big break.
Until he was cast in one of the franchises of the Continental Cinematic Universe, the Fast and Furious franchise. His career had leveled up.
The franchise was successful from the first movie, especially since the scriptwriter was Kazir Grey.
Although Paul couldn't deny that there were monts he thought the franchise might just fade away, just another cool street racing flick that lived and died in the early 2000s.
Even now, so people were still skeptical about the longevity of the Continental Cinematic Universe.
But here they were, at Fast & Furious 3, the third installnt, bringing most of the original cast back.
And the hype? It was super insane.
He tugged at the collar of his white shirt. He had no tie. He liked keeping it comfortable, even on red carpets. The navy suit was clean and sharp and made him feel like he was a superstar.
Even though Paul Walker hadn't reached the superstar level, he still received annual projects, and his salary was also satisfactory. He owed it all to Fast and Furious.
He was actually happy that he had a project he could lean on whenever he needed exposure and money. At least he wouldn't fade away as long as Fast and Furious was relevant.
His salary alone was $5 million, plus the studio promised a bonus if the movie achieved a milestone.
He also had so conversations with Kazir, the head of the overall CCU project. Whenever Kazir and Paul had a conversation, it always lingered around driving.
Kazir adamantly said that having a personal driver was important. Especially when going to a party or charity event and drinking alcohol, having a designated or personal driver was crucial.
Paul didn't know why the conversation always veered into that topic, but he decided to listen to Kazir. After all, Kazir had experienced so traumatic stuff, and his opinion regarding personal drivers was valid. So, as much as possible, Paul had a personal driver, especially when he was drunk.
As the limo slowed to a stop, the muffled roar of the crowd outside grew louder. He took a deep breath and put on a charming smile.
"Let's roll," he said.
The driver opened the door, and Paul stepped out into a storm of flashing lights and cheering voices.
The cool breeze touched his face as he raised his hand in a waving motion. He offered a relaxed smile that had chard the audience.
"Paul! Over here!"
"Paul, give us a smile!"
"Brian O'Conner lives!"
"Paul, you're so fucking cool—!"
He laughed at that last one, pausing to pose for the caras before making his way down the carpet.
The Fast & Furious banner lood behind him, massive and glowing with lights. His na, Paul Walker, was there, written on the poster, easy to see. He was one of the protagonists of Fast and Furious, after all.
He stopped for interviews, nodding and answering with thoughtful pauses.
"How does it feel to return to the franchise?" a reporter asked.
"It's amazing. There's sothing about the cast, the crew, every ti we're together, it just clicks. It's not just about cars or action. It's about family," Paul smiled.
That word. Family. It was more than a tagline now. It was the motto of this whole franchise.
Nothing beats family. You can do everything when you're with your family. You can jump onto a running tank if you have a family. You can go parachuting in your car with your family. Also, you can go to outer space with your family.
Suddenly, a cheer erupted from the crowd as Vin Diesel erged from his own limousine.
Speaking of the devil, the guy who promotes "family" had arrived.
Vin Diesel had projects such as Chronicles of Riddick and XXX. Out of all the cast of Fast and Furious, Vin Diesel was probably the most successful. The Rock was still steadying his fa in Hollywood in this era.
Vin walked over and imdiately pulled Paul into a firm hug. Was this a form of promotion or a genuine act?
Was Vin Diesel really friends with Paul Walker? Perhaps they were just coworkers? Perhaps they hated each other? Only close friends could know the answer.
"Happy to see you tonight, Paul," Vin said.
Paul nodded. "Yeah. Let's give them a show."
They stood together for the caras, Dominic Toretto and Brian O'Conner, side by side as they promoted Fast and Furious 3.
As they headed toward the theater, Paul glanced back at the sea of fans. He felt grateful, deeply and profoundly grateful. Not just for the fa or the franchise, but for the chance to be part of a huge project that people would rember for a very long ti.
"Let's see where the road takes us this ti," he thought, stepping inside with a smile.
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