From Flower Vase to Film Emperor in Hollywood

Thump!

With his skateboard in hand, Anson leaped nimbly over the garden's low wall, his footsteps light as he moved past the lounge chairs and round tables.

Through the side door's French windows, he could see James Franco and Chris Evans playing video games in the hall.

The two were completely engrossed in the game, trash-talking with gusto, oblivious to the movements outside.

Anson quietly opened the side door, but the moment he pulled it ajar, the sharp creak of the hinges made him freeze, every muscle in his body tensing.

He blinked, glanced at the two guys' backs, and, after confirming they hadn't noticed him, moved decisively.

He yanked the door open.

Whoosh, a gust of wind swept in.

"Surprise!"

He jumped forward, bursting into the room, and threw down a bombshell, instantly detonating chaos.

"Jesus Christ!"

"Shit!"

"God damn it!"

A string of curses erupted as James and Chris nearly pissed themselves, then a figure tumbled down like a clumsy gourd, but the bulky form couldn't roll far, thudding to the ground like a deflated goblin, slowly dispersing—

Who else could it be but Hayden Christensen?

His awkward and sluggish movements made him more like a sloth than a goblin.

Wait, or maybe a giraffe?

Imagine a giraffe falling; though never witnessed in the animal kingdom, it must look something like this.

A beat late, James finally spotted Anson amidst his frantic, retreating scramble, and, consumed by rage, he lay flat on his back, howling at the ceiling.

"Anson, I'm going to kill you, God, you're such a bastard!"

Anson, thoroughly pleased, surveyed the chaos before him, feeling no remorse as he burst into unrestrained laughter, mercilessly mocking his friends.

"Haha, you guys should see how close you came to wetting yourselves."

Middle finger.

Middle finger.

Middle finger—even Hayden, face down on the floor, managed to extend a digit.

Anson's laughter only intensified.

"Hey, guys, I landed a new role."

They needed good news like this more than anyone.

A pause—

As if someone had pressed the pause button, all sounds and movements in the room ceased.

After a moment of stunned silence.

Chris was the first to snap out of it, jumping to his feet and staring at Anson, his eyes wide.

"Really?"

He tried to suppress it, but his voice trembled slightly, betraying his excitement.

A smile spread across Anson's face.

"A movie, a Disney production; and, it's a major role."

Chris gasped.

"The kind with lots of lines?"

Anson laughed heartily.

"Yes, the kind with lots of lines."

"Ah!" Chris cheered, throwing his hands up and rushing towards Anson, giving him a bear hug, then pounding him playfully on the shoulder, his laughter uncontrollable.

"Ah, ah, ah, Anson's going to be in a movie, Anson's going to be in a movie!"

Just then, James finally came to his senses, vaulting over the obstacles in the living room with a hurdler's grace, leaping off the sofa, soaring through the air like a flying squirrel, arms outstretched, ready to glide.

He aimed to tackle Anson and Chris.

Unexpectedly, Anson and Chris stepped back in perfect unison, causing James to crash and burn.

James lay on the floor.

"Shit, shit, shit, you two guys."

James simply stayed put, rolling over to look up at Anson.

"Weren't you going skateboarding? How did you suddenly get a role? Wait, when did you audition? I didn't hear you mention it."

After all, Anson was holding his skateboard.

Anson shrugged nonchalantly.

"Irresistible charm, it's a burden, really."

"Roll!"

"Puke!"

"I never thought you were like this, Anson!"

Amidst the chorus of jeers, Anson briefly recounted the afternoon's events; a few words could hardly capture the ups and downs of the past few hours, but his friends couldn't help but exclaim in amazement, their faces filled with wonder.

"Wow, it really is Hollywood; I've heard stories like this before, but I always thought they were just stories, I never thought it would actually happen."

Chris repeatedly praised him, then gave Anson another hug.

Anson: ???

Why the hug now?

Completely unprepared, he couldn't escape; Chris, the hug-addict, was truly impossible to guard against.

Seeing Anson's disgusted expression, Chris burst into unrestrained laughter.

Changing the subject, Chris had an idea.

"Could it be because of 'GQ'? The photoshoot was especially good this time; maybe they saw Anson and thought he might be suitable for the role?"

The others exchanged glances.

James looked disgusted.

"No…"

He paused, turning the idea over in his mind, becoming even more certain of his view.

"Impossible.

If they cast a role based on a magazine, then what about Hayden?"

Hayden: ???

Shot even without saying anything?

Chris looked at Hayden.

"Still no news from New York?"

Hayden had been back for a while; after one audition after another, his agent told him to come back and wait for news, but he'd been waiting for over half a month, without a word, without a peep.

If Hayden hadn't spent a month in New York, it would all seem like a dream, making him doubt whether those auditions had even happened.

Anson wasn't surprised by this.

He could tell from Harry Smith's situation that Natalie Portman must be going through the same torment—

Not for herself, but for the male lead.

"Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace" had already been released last year, and Natalie had already appeared in the movie; now Lucasfilm was casting for "Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones," and because the male lead was about to develop a love line with Natalie, she was naturally paying close attention.

However, even Natalie hadn't heard anything, let alone Hayden?

Hayden's expression was somewhat conflicted.

On the one hand, he was telling himself not to expect too much; without expectation, there would be no disappointment, and the control was no longer in his hands.

But on the other hand, he couldn't help but hold onto hope; after all, he had endured so many auditions, and the flames of expectation and hope were burning brighter and brighter.

However, dragging on and on, the "Star Wars" crew still hadn't been able to make a decision.

Not just Hayden, but the other actors who participated in the auditions were also being grilled over a fire, waiting for a result, a result that could lead them to heaven or hell.

"No…" Hayden shook his head.

"Maybe they need to audition other actors."

James immediately picked up on the implication in Hayden's words.

"What, have there been rumors again? They've started auditioning again? Are you sure it's the same project?"

Chris noticed the disappointment in Hayden's expression and reminded him, "James."

James' understanding was slightly off.

"That crew is always so secretive, without a word of news; there are big project auditions in Hollywood every day, who knows if the rumored re-audition is for Hayden's project?"

It seemed… there was some truth to that.

First chapter.