To Catch a Falling Star

6-"Normalcy is Your Appeal"

Seb's POV

So, maybe using a fake name wasn't the ideal way to begin an interpersonal relationship. But I hadn't wanted to run the risk of Marykate recognizing my name. It'd been everywhere lately, especially the tabloids. Hell, it felt like every time I turned on the television, there I was, being put of blast. Except, of course, all the pictures they had up of me were old, so my hair was still dark. Marykate had no idea who I was, and I wanted to keep it that way, for as long as possible. Which would be, oh, ten more minutes, before we made a public appearance at Nobu in northern LA.

Sue me for wanting to keep her in the dark. I just didn't want her googling me, or treating me different. Last night, she'd yelled at me. To a normal person, that's not an exactly pleasant experience. To me, though, it was refreshing. I liked her spunk. I was tired of being able to push everyone in my life around simply because I had clout in Hollywood. When she'd yelled at me, I got a glimpse of normal living.

Of course, when I'd been high and paranoid, I hadn't pondered any of that. My only focus had been using my fame to buy her silence. I hadn't accounted for the fact that she had no idea who Sebastian Winthrop was and that a date with me would literally just be a date with her neighbor, not a date with a A list movie star. Normally, I would've let the whole thing go.

But Cole, my manager, had instructed me to find a normal, decent girl and take her on a date. Apparently, despite my drug use, I still had one good thing going for me: the fact that I didn't sleep around. This was something they wanted to monopolize on. They wanted me to seem down to earth, chivalrous...

Normal.

That's your selling point, bud. Your ticket outta here. Your normalcy is your appeal.

That's what Cole had said to me, after telling me to find a girl to take out.

Listen, I didn't feel good about using Marykate to get my career back on its tracks, but I'd been desperate. And, if I was being honest, part of me wanted to go on a real date with her. She was beautiful, in a simple way, with that long dark hair falling down her back, and golden eyes and skin. What I really liked was how she seemed to leech sunshine. She glowed from the inside out. Not to mention, she was such a fiery spirit.

Shut up, Seb. Don't get  attached. This isn't a real date. Focus on the things that matter. Like positive media coverage. You need to get another film deal so you can pay for mom. Get your head out of the clouds. No time for dating.

My voice rang through my head, a mixture of remarks from Cole and my older brother. They sobered me up, and I attempted to turn my focus from the rear view mirror, where I'd been admiring the little awe filled smile playing on Marykate's lips as she gazed out at my city, to the road.

I didn't have time to date. Marykate would be no exception.