Birth of a star

Ayden

Ayden starting working in movies as an assistant makeup artist. It wasn't the worst start, except the makeup artist they worked under was overbearing, and was known to belittle everyone who worked under her. Ayden worked on the film Olympia under her and vowed they never would again.

They bounced around films and studios for a bit before deciding to make the leap of being solo. Working as a makeup artist without having anyone backing you with their name was especially difficult at that point in time. That time in makeup had gotten the nickname "the great setting powder drought" because of a large cooperation's factory burning down, meaning that their best selling product, setting powder, was rarer than hens teeth. That April though, Ayden signed to work on Moonlit.

The best memory they were left with was pulling into the parking lot, low on gas, running on two hours of sleep and an energy drink, and having no clue where they would be set up. They had no clue what they were going to do, or where they were going to do it, so they just stepped off the cliff of the unknown. They were quickly grabbed by the director to come meet with him, the plans for natural makeup had completely changed and the director was more panicked than ever. Ayden took it in stride and the actors and actresses wound up wearing eyeshadow from CVS and eyeliner from Target.

When Ayden met Bryan they barely noticed him at first, they assumed he was part of the sound crew or something. But then he lined up for one of the stunts, Ayden never remembered that scene quite right because they weren't watching anything other than Bryan. Bryan looked scared, but he still did it.

Ayden finished the film, but they never got the chance to get his number, even after the radiator incident. Fate just didn't line up the stars at that time.

After the film, the drought of work ended, and Ayden found permanent work at a large movie studio. Every other movie they worked on for the next year were shot inside, but they missed the heat of Southern California for the rest of that time.

They laid down their hairbrush now, tired of the reminiscing on what wasn't with Bryan when they were both younger. Ayden was more mature now, and so was Bryan, they weren't kids fresh out of highschool and looking for a fresh start anymore. Now Ayden had a new makeup line they were working on, and Bryan had decided to go into security.

The weather was sunny, but not hot yet, early spring in California was always kind to the redhead. They walked to The Plaza, a short walk from their apartment.  Though makeup payed well, it didn't pay well enough for a place like Amber's though.

The Plaza's front came out into the sidewalk, with canopies over tables fluttering in the late spring breeze.

"Table for two, under Kelly"

"Yes s-, this way" the hostess corrected herself.

Ayden sat down at the table and after they got water they pulled out a book to read until Bryan got there. They got lost in the pages until they saw him walk in the restaurant. They lifted there eyes off the page and smiled at the figure approaching.

"Hey"

"Hey"

Neither knew what to say, there was familiarity between them, but they didn't know how to change that into something more.

"So what have you been up to lately A?"

"Oh a lot honestly" Ayden said, the conversation started slow.

They talked for a long bit, both discussing how far they had come. What strikingly different individuals they had become...