This is the thirteenth part in a series, so if you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, Part IX, Part X, Part XI, and Part XII before contuing.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m too tired to cook anything,” Angela said as she hauled the last of Eliza’s bags into the hotel room the movie studio was paying for Eliza to stay in. “I vote we order in. I know a great Chinese place that has the best dumplings you have ever tasted.”
Eliza cringed. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to do that. The best I can do is sushi, and even then I can only get sashimi.”
Angela rolled her eyes. “Oh my god. Are you one of those actresses already?”
“Sorry, but it’s literally in the job description. I’m actually under contractual obligation to not gain any weight as long as the show lasts.”
“Is that even legal?”
“Probably not, but I don’t see the point in fighting it. They can always give another reason for canceling my contract if they want, and it’s not like every other producer in Hollywood isn’t doing the exact same thing.”
“Whatever. Lucky for you, we’re probably in the best city for sushi outside of Tokyo.”
Once Angela had finished ordering, she helped Eliza unpack while they waited for their food to arrive. Angela was still thinking about how weird it had been to have strangers asking to take pictures with them.
“So what’s the wildest story you have about being famous?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean, I know it was weird to have all those people asking for our picture, but that’s the kind of thing you expect to deal with when you get famous. But what’s the craziest thing that’s happened to you so far? Has there been anything that’s made you go, ‘Oh my god, I never, in a million years, would have thought this would happen to me’?”
Eliza giggled. “That’s easy. The guy who showed me the tattoo of my face on his chest.”
“Oh, that’s right, you told me about that!”
“Hands down, the creepiest thing I’ve ever seen. I mean, in a way it’s certainly flattering.”
“Your face will be on his chest forever and ever and ever.”
“Not necessarily. He could always get it removed, but yeah, I think that was the thing that surprised me the most.” As she transferred a pile of clothes to the dresser, she thought about it. “Actually, I think the weirdest part has been all the adoring letters I’ve been getting from teenage and preteen girls.”
“Why is that weird? Isn’t that your show’s biggest demographic?”
“Yeah, but I never really thought about people looking up to me as a role model. I mean, I know I always looked to celebrities to know how to handle being famous, but these girls are looking to me to tell them how to navigate everyday life. It’s a huge responsibility, but it’s also kind of awesome.”
“Oh God, a whole generation of Elizas. I don’t think the world is ready for this.”
Eliza threw a sock at her friend, then went to answer the door and pay for their food.
To be continued…
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