After sitting in a chair for hours, with my eyes closed, people smearing stuff all over my face, which still hurts like heck, by the way, I get to look in a mirror again.
     This time my mouth drops open in shock. My reflection's does too. Her skin is smooth as glass, her eyes an eerie green, accented by perfectly shaped brows. Her surprised mouth is adorable. I feel a pang of jealousy before I realize that this is me. I touch my new nose, my new mouth. I widen my eyes - they feel a little heavy with all that mascara. My hair falls perfectly to my shoulders in soft, coppery waves.
     My reflection doesn't look a thing like me, but I feel exhilarated.
     "What do you think?" Edward Patterson asks, his face coming very close to mine. For once I don't feel like a complete loser next to him. I feel empowered. They say beauty is only skin deep, but I can feel this down to my bones. I feel bold enough to stick my tongue down his throat right here and now... but I don't.
     "Well, my high school crush won't recognize me now." I reply, giving a half smile.
     A stylist with big blonde hair and a purple skirt bustles in and stands in front of my chair, blocking my view of myself. "Hello, Kyla. My name is Anya, and I am your personal stylist." She has a subtle accent that I can't place. "What do you think of Kyla Nicholl?" she asks, practically bubbling over. 
     "Amazing. Thank you." I say politely.
     "You're welcome, dear. Come with me."
     She trots over to another trailer, her dangerous-looking heels nearly poking holes in the cement floor.
     I follow, warily. I've had enough surprises for one day.
     "This," Anya announces dramatically, gesturing towards a large motor home, "is your trailer. Inside are a few clothes and things donated by my favourite designers, for you to be seen in, of course. There is also a package of lotions and things from Dr. Kelly - follow his instructions carefully. Your face is now your most prized posession." She laughs a bubbly laugh. "I will take over from here," she tells Edward, who had followed us. Edward nods, but stays where he is. 
     Anya frowns, then smiles again when she turns back to me. "I will be keeping track of your agenda and things until everything is settled and you can hire your own assistant. Today you have a photo shoot for your new movie. Luckily, your makeup is already expertly done, so we will be taking a limo to the shoot. I will be back here to pick you up in an hour. Go ahead, 'check out' your new trailer!" She laughs again and clips away, swinging her hips like a pro. 
     I look at Edward, who just smiles. 
     I want to say something snarky to him, but nothing comes to mind, so I decide to explore my new trailer instead. 
     "Wow."
     Inside, it is like a miniature palace. There is a big screen TV, a huge, soft-looking bed, a little bathroom (I sneak another peek at my new face), and one huge walk-in closet, which takes up most of the trailer. The closet is overflowing with shoes and gorgeous dresses, and more shoes, and purses, and baskets of girly products like perfumes and makeup and lotions and who knows what else. I don't even know where to start. I pull out a flowy orange dress and hold it up to my chest, examining it in the full-length mirror. It actually looks nice with my new hair. I hold up more dresses, realizing that they all actually look good on me! I feel like a little girl with a new Barbie and endless beautiful clothes... except I am the Barbie - and this is real!
     I run my hand over the smooth lid of a brand new laptop, sighing contentedly.
     Edward chuckles behind me. "You can even keep it, you know." 
     "It's like Christmas except a million times better!"
    "Wait till you see your new appartment."
     "I get an appartment?!"
     "Fully furnished."
     "What about my dad?"
     "He can't see you again. If you two are seen together, it could blow your story. Don't worry, he has already agreed to this. And you can talk to him on your new cell phone all you want."
     I sit down on my new bed, my joy fading. "I can never see my dad again?"
     "There are exceptions to every rule."
     "I'm on my own." I should probably be ecstatic or something, but instead I feel empty.
     "You can also talk to him on webcam. And there's me, and all your other new Star friends. And soon enough you'll have a ton of fans. You can always pick one or two of them for company."
     "Not the same."
     Edward sighs. "I know. God, I know it. This is not as fun as it looks. Sure, we get all the material things that everyone thinks they want, but we have to give up the things that normal people get to have: going in public without wearing huge sunglasses... true friends and family that like us for our humour and not our fame... donuts..."
     I smile.
     "Things will change, Kyla." My smile fades when I hear my false name. "We sacrifice everything. In the words of Spiderman's uncle, 'With great power comes great responsibility'. But you are not alone. Don't forget that."
     His words make me want to cry. Everything is changing so fast, and the cutest boy in the world is being so sweet... I look into his eyes, feeling my knees go weak (who knew this actually happened? I thought romance novels just made it up!). If this were a movie, it would be right about time for a kiss. He knows it too. I see him debating internally. Then, just like a movie, a phone rings and the moment is lost. We both grin, and he gets up to find the source of the ring - my new phone. I frown. Who could be calling? Even I don't know my own number.
    "Hello?"
    It's Anya. "Hello, dearie," she coos, a bit too loud. I hold the phone a bit further from my ear. "I am outside the warehouse with your limo, come on out. Bring Edward, he is in the shoot as well. Don't worry about what to wear, they will have costumes for you. Ciao!"
     "Chow," I repeat, but she has already hung up. "Guess we better go," I say.
     Edward is already holding the door for me.

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Author guidance for This story

Go ahead! You probably know about as much about the life of a star as I do!
Maybe throw in a couple more celebrity characters. I'm thinking a bit of a rivalry between Kyla and "Kaylee Cyprus", who is now pretty much yesterdays news :)
Have fun!
~Larina

updated Mar 5 '10 by Larina