"You live around here, don't you?" Britney asked as she stepped out of her car into the morning sun. Slipping on a hat and sunglasses, she walked over to Matthew. "The restaurant where we had dinner was sowhere close."
Standing at the entrance to a small park, Matthew gestured vaguely in one direction. "I live in that apartnt building over there," he said.
"Co on." He led the way into the park. It was a weekday, so there were very few people around.
He had chosen this spot carefully, a place where fewer people would pester Britney. It was also an open area, unlike his apartnt, which might have made her uncomfortable or given her the wrong idea.
Full of curiosity, Britney followed Matthew into the park. "Aren't we going to your place?"
Matthew thought about the state of his apartnt and answered firmly, "I'd rather not."
Her curiosity piqued, Britney pressed him. "Why not?"
"Ahem." Matthew coughed, turning to look at her as his mind raced. "There are two reasons, one true and one false. Which one do you want to hear?"
Britney smiled. "Let's start with the false one, then."
Matthew returned her smile. "I wanted to take a walk with you last ti, so I picked out this park because it has such a nice view."
"I wanted to walk with you last ti, too." A shadow crossed Britney's eyes. "But..."
"It's okay." Matthew's sunny smile didn't waver. "Your father. I know."
Britney felt that he was incredibly understanding. She smiled sweetly, prompting, "And the real reason?"
As he led her deeper into the park, he confessed, "I haven't cleaned my apartnt in a while. It's a complete ss, and I'd be embarrassed for you to see it."
"Is there a stinking pile of unwashed laundry?" Britney asked, thinking back to her own past. "Or boxes of junk all over the floor?"
Matthew nodded, then asked, "You too?"
Britney didn't hide her past embarrassnts from him. "Back when I was on the Mickey Mouse Club, I once left a pile of wet clothes under my bed, aning to wash them later. I completely forgot about them until they started to sll awful. Stuff like that happened all the ti, so you can imagine what a ss my room was."
Matthew turned onto a stone path. "That's nothing," he said. "I once worked a job in the desert where I didn't shower for a week or wash my clothes for a month."
"You must have reeked," Britney said, realizing he was talking about his past. "And since you were working in Texas, I feel sorry for anyone who had to be near you."
Following the stone path, Matthew led her to the sa spot where he had last t with Ilana. He pointed to a shaded bench and asked, "Want to sit?"
Britney followed him over. "Of course," she said. "I ca here today to keep you company."
They sat on the bench and talked for a while, but when Britney realized Matthew's phone hadn't rung, she glanced at her watch. A look of concern crossed her face. "Haven't they called you yet?"
"No." Matthew shook his head.
"Do you even have your phone on you?" Britney seed more anxious than he was. "Did you mute it?"
Matthew pulled out his phone and pressed a button. "It's on," he confird.
Britney glanced at her watch again. "Then why haven't they called?"
Her words finally cracked his calm composure. The role was too important. He couldn't help but feel a surge of anxiety, pulling out his phone to check the settings and make sure he hadn't accidentally silenced it.
Just as he'd said, everything was fine.
Clearly more agitated than Matthew, Britney got up and started pacing around the bench. "Why don't you call your agent?" she suggested.
More to soothe her than anything, Matthew dialed Helen's number. She answered imdiately.
"Is sothing wrong?" Helen asked.
"Any news about the audition?" Matthew asked, getting straight to the point.
"No," Helen's voice was calm. "I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything."
With that, she hung up. Matthew stared at his phone as Britney walked over. "Well? What did your agent say?"
"No news yet."
Britney took off her hat and sunglasses, setting them on the bench. She started pacing in circles, clearly anxious on Matthew's behalf.
Matthew had far more self-control than Britney, but anxiety was contagious. Before long, he couldn't sit still either and got up to join her pacing.
They paced together, Britney constantly checking her watch while Matthew kept glancing at his phone. They must have been a strange sight.
Luckily, the park was deserted on a weekday, and this secluded spot among the trees was even more so.
Matthew and Britney paced, but the more they walked, the more anxious they beca. Gradually, the worry that was so plain on Britney's face began to show on Matthew's as well.
He glanced at his phone again. It was almost nine-thirty. He knew they had only said they would call soti in the morning, not at a specific ti, but his growing anxiety was making him impatient.
He'd never waited for a phone call so desperately. But the phone remained silent, as if it were turned off.
"Still nothing?" Britney asked again.
Matthew shook his head and was about to speak when, without warning, the iconic Nokia ringtone blared out.
Britney took a step closer to him. "Answer it! Quick!"
Helen's na flashed on the screen. Matthew hit the answer button and pressed the phone to his ear, imdiately hearing her voice.
"Congratulations, Matthew Horner."
Helen's voice was the sweetest sound he had ever heard. A wave of incredible relief washed over him.
"You got the part."
Matthew's anxiety vanished in an instant.
He had worked so hard for the role of Ronald Speirs over the past month, even enduring ten days of intense paramilitary training.
In that mont, Matthew felt it had all been worth it. With a grin spreading across his face, he ended the call without a second thought.
"Did you get it?" Britney's face was a mask of anticipation.
"Hell yes, I got the part! I got it!"
He was just a young man, after all, and he couldn't stop himself from pumping a fist in the air. A wave of pure ecstasy shot through him.
"That's amazing!" Britney exclaid, her voice filled with excitent.
Overco with excitent, Matthew grabbed Britney by the shoulders.
In response, Britney threw her arms open to hug him.
Swept up in the mont, Matthew pulled Britney into a tight hug and kissed her on the forehead.
Britney froze for a second before hugging him back even tighter.
The two of them held each other close in a joyful embrace.
For a brief mont, they fell into a comfortable silence, neither of them speaking, simply holding each other tighter and tighter.
Matthew held Britney, feeling her boundless, youthful energy. It felt like a fire had been lit in his heart, and the thrill of landing the role made him want to do sothing reckless.
Matthew looked down, the initial haze of ecstasy slowly clearing from his eyes. He leaned in, his lips close to her ear. "Ever since we first t, there's been sothing I've wanted to ask you... Will you be my girlfriend?"
Britney lifted her head to look at him, thinking for only a few seconds before she answered, "Yes."
With that, she closed her eyes, rose onto her tiptoes, and leaned in toward his lips.
Matthew lowered his head. Both were inexperienced; she rose too quickly, and he leaned down too far. First, their noses bumped, and then their teeth awkwardly clicked together.
They pulled back, looked into each other's eyes, and burst out laughing together.
Matthew leaned in again, and this ti his lips found hers smoothly. Britney wrapped her arms around his neck and began to kiss him back passionately.
It was a long mont before they finally pulled apart, both breathless.
"I like you too, Matthew Horner."
Young love is often a sudden and passionate affair, especially for young singers and actors who are more open with their feelings. Britney was no exception. As she hugged Matthew, feeling nothing but sweetness inside, she whispered, "I love you."
Matthew reached out and gently caressed her cheek. " too."
She was young, sexy, beautiful, and a little silly—utterly captivating.
He knew he wasn't exactly a "good guy," and he had to admit his feelings for her were driven more by her raw, feminine appeal than anything else.
Britney had accepted him, and that was undeniably a good thing for him.
Suddenly, the Nokia in Matthew's pocket rang again.
Britney took a step back as Matthew pulled out his phone. It was Helen again.
"Is there sothing else?" he asked.
"Why did you hang up on ? I wasn't finished," Helen said, a hint of irritation in her voice.
Matthew shot Britney an apologetic smile before answering, "Sorry, I was so excited I just hung up without thinking."
"Get over to the Angel Agency now." Helen didn't waste ti on pleasantries. "Production wants you and
at Warner Studios this afternoon."
"Okay." Matthew knew his priorities. A production crew wasn't going to wait around for a minor actor like him. "I'll be right there."
"Don't be late," Helen added.
Then she hung up.
Matthew put his phone away and turned to Britney. "My agent needs
at the office."
With a look of reluctance, Britney took his hand. "I'll drive you."
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