Fan Service

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Skai was in awe of the way Lucille so gracefully (and successfully) sued the five biggest gossip empire in North America for defamation of character. Originally eleven companies were served but only five were brave enough to take it to court. The others settled for nine hundred thousand each. Lucille seemed to be some kind of superhuman, a goddess walking amongst mere humans, a divine, omnipotent presence that could not only raise judicial hell but also begin a campaign that brought all of the USA on their knees begging their princess for forgiveness.

For three days straight, the hashtag, #SkaiIsInnocent, trended worldwide and interviews with the redeemed star started at five thousand dollars for the first thirty minutes. Facebook posts, letters,  and Instagram messages all rang with the same tune: Skai Jennings is an angel the world didn't deserve her. Hardcore stans tattoed her face on their arms with inspirational quotes like down but never out, and tagged her incessantly. Sometimes she'd even double tap and leave a sweet comment.

At 24 years old, Skai made the comeback of all comebacks. As though she was a gift that kept on giving, she released a studio album, a blockbuster action movie, a book of essays about life, and began a foundation that supported the ACLU in fighting for worker's rights and better treatment of low wage workers in the service industry.

She took Jayden, the accosted bartender, on a vacation to the Bahamas and paid for his final year of university along with a year's worth of treatments for his little sister. She was unstoppable, and with Lucille calling the shots with such a keen eye, there were no mistakes to be made. These two were forces to be reckoned with and God help those that dared go against either of them.

These two women moved so effortlessly, flowing in and out of one another, placing utter trust in one another; a type of relationship not often seen in business relationships between women. Lucille hadn't intended to actually deeply care for Skai because celebrity statuses come and go, but there was something special about this young actress. Her soft brown eyes seemed to tear down a person's defences in just a single glance. If someone went up against Skai, Lucille took it personally and Lucille never loses.

Despite all of this new claimed success, Skai couldn't let go of her anger against that bitch, Kelly. With each day and sponsored Instagram post, Kelly's career grew and grew. With over three million followers, she was on the track to becoming a successful C rate actress and make cameos in films geared towards millennials and horny middle-aged men. "That dirtbag didn't even apologize", she muttered to herself daily. Lucille had finessed the whole world so well, even Skai herself believed that she didn't tell Jayden his mother should have just swallowed instead of give birth to an incompetent bartender.

Sure enough, Kelly's internet fame offered her more opportunities to get her face on a screen. The plan was to start off in small, unimportant background rolls and eventually grow with time. Sylvester Stallone had done it, surely she could too. One day, she was invited to read for a character in a suspense film starring Skai as Dr. Rev and some pop star as Captain Dean, and couldn't do it without having her fiance there as emotional support (and of course as her photographer for her next Instagram post, #Movie #Star #Actress).  But that was the exact moment that Skai's diabolical plan hatched in her pretty little head.

In the corner of the room, looking like a vulnerable buck in unfamiliar territory, gripping a fake Chanel handbag was a nervous yet hopeful Zayn St.James. Zayn, as in the fiance of Kelly the Bitch (trademark pending). A smile eerily crept up the lips of Skai and suddenly something she's never felt before exploded inside of her. Giddy and excited, she quickly called Lucille and laid out a prospective plan for revenge. Lucille wasn't one for grudges, but she did love a sweet revenge plot. "Real revenge is a long-term game," she said back to her on the phone, "Forget the whole 'karma's a bitch' thing. You have to be your own karma. Be your own karma." 

And with that advice in hand, Skai hung up the phone and ran back to her dressing room to reapply a new coat of Moulin Rouge on her lips and a few more spritzes of Temptation on her neck.  The Diabolical Duo knew they could ruin Kelly's life through Zayn but they still had to iron out the details. Lucille liked the concept that Skai pitched but for this to be perfect, they would need more than a two-minute phone call to figure it out. Just as she was about to leave her room and go have a little chat with Zayn, Lucille appeared in her doorway, out of breath.

"Wait, I have a better plan," said Lucille, grasping for air.

"I thought you liked the plan!"

"I do, I do. But I just had an idea," Lucille stumbled into the room and grabbed the first bottle of water she saw and dumped all of its contents into her mouth. "We need to make this thing happen organically."

"Organically?" Puzzled ad slightly disappointed, Skai plopped down on the velvet couch and welcomed her cat, Sugar, onto her lap.

"Yes. Take notes on your phone. We will do this in phases."

"Oh, that sounds, interesting. Why phases?"

"Shh! Don't disrupt the flow!" Lucille pinched her eyes closed. It's something she always did when a really big idea comes to her. She often said the ideas come in like tidal waves and unless she really focuses, it becomes so overwhelming she can't even make simple, coherent thoughts.

"Ok, got it. Phase one: Distrust. You need to somehow implant yourself in Zayn's mind. Its got to be personal, memorable. That way when shit hits the fan, he'll come running to you all by himself."

"How can I do that? Perhaps... a chance encounter?"

"No," she said firmly. "It has to be something more memorable than that. And you'll need a business card, some kind of physical manifestation of his means to contact you."

"No problem, I'll print some out. Maybe a party could do the trick."

"Aha! That's perfect. We'll have a Movember Party in two weeks and invite him along with a few other male companions of celebrities. And we'll make sure Kelly gets this role so that she'll be too busy to come to the event. I'm sure Elaine would love to plan this. Theme parties are her favourite."

"Gotcha," responded Skai, uneasy yet eager to enact this plan. It wasn't the first time Lucille had a better idea than her, but sometimes it annoyed her just how good Lucille is at seemingly everything. If there were ever anyone Skai thought could take her on, it'd be her best friend.

"What happens after the party?" she asked Lucille but her only answer was a meow from Sugar. Whenever her friend wanted to keep something a secret, she just wouldn't respond. Its a trick she's picked up from all those years to putting out celebrity caused fires.

"Trust me," Lucille came over to Skai and kissed the space between her furrowed brows. "I know what I'm doing."

As always, thought Skai.