Camera flashes blinded me as I stepped out onto the red carpet. I blushed self-consciously, lifting my head slightly so as to not look nervous in front of the Paparazzi.
My legs felt horribly exposed in this tight dress and strappy heels, but my stylist had assured me I looked amazing. I better look amazing - God knows I paid her enough. Tonight she’d dressed me in a sophisticated strapless red dress, which dipped low at the back. My hair was carefully styled so that it fell in soft, flowing waves over my shoulders. The dress hugged my curves, boosted my breasts and showed more skin than I would have liked – But she’d said I needed to make a statement. “This is your big night,” she’d said, “We need to show the world you’re an adult now.”
I was at the premier for the new film, ‘Don’t Trust Those Tears’, the second in the series. The film was a mix of fantasy, adventure and romance, set in the world of the fey and filled with terror and heartbreak. It was very dark, and co-starred other famous actors such as Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lawrence, Liam Hemsworth and Emma Stone. The fact that it was directed by Peter Jackson added to the star-studded list.
I had started out as an actor, and had played supporting roles in a few minor films before landing my big break – the lead in the box-office hit A Life Like Mine. A wave of movie offers, interviews and photo-shoots followed, and suddenly I was the biggest name in Hollywood – at only 16. Tegan Grey, smalltown-girl turned superstar.
It was a lot of stress, so I’d taken time off and tried writing. My first book had gone through the roof, and by the time the second in the series had been published I had 3 directors fighting to have the right to make a movie. I was asked to help write the script, and to star in it. My performance had earned me an Oscar nomination, and suddenly I was a household name. I had enough twitter followers to equal the population of a decent-sized country, and every word I uttered was documented and placed on posters to sell to adoring fans.
It was a strange experience, living the world of both an author and an actor. Things like this just didn’t happen to a small-town girl like me. But I was so happy now. I felt my life was complete – Well, almost. The only thing I longed for was a special person to call my own.
I was shaken from my thoughts as the paparazzi started yelling at me to smile. I blinked a couple of times, remembered where I was and plastered a confident grin on my face, trying to cover up how tense I was. Crowds always made me nervous. It was a relief to get inside, away from the chaos and lights.
The huge hall was also filled with people, but at least in here not everyone was completely focussed on me. Merinda, my agent, hurried up beside me and I shared with her what was the first genuine smile of the evening. Merinda was my rock, always there to jump in and finish a sentence if I froze, always there to politely move me away if I was talking to a particularly boring or annoying person. That was one of my regrettable traits. I could never say no to anybody – even if continuing to talk to them would make me late or bore me to death. That’s why Merinda was there.
Merinda led me into the theatre, where I met Emma, Liam, Jennifer, Johnny and Peter onstage. We each made a small speech, then descended the steps to take our seats and watch the movie. It was still amazing for me to see my own face on such a huge screen, for the whole world to see. To see the words that I had written being uttered by Johnny Depp and Jennifer Lawrence. I almost felt like crying. When the movie was over, the cast went back up on stage and said our final thanks.
“There are a couple of people for you to meet before we go to the after-party.” Merinda said briskly, once I was out of the theatre. She consulted her iPad. “Then you have to meet up with Sir Jackson, Johnny and Emma to take a few more photos.”
“Right.” I looked around self-consciously. “Who’s first?”
“Follow me.” Merinda led me through the throng. People stopped me to offer congratulations, but I barely had time to smile at them before I was dragged on. We were on a tight schedule.
“You didn’t say who I’m meeting,” I said, avoiding a guest’s trailing skirts.
“Right, sorry.” Merinda looked over her shoulder at me. “Have you heard of the boy band One Direction?”
