CHAPTER GLOSSARY

Kyudo: Japanse Archery

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        "I need to meet that Ella girl," Cece states solemnly, and I chuckle at his reaction.

I meet with Cece the day after I met with Ella and Charlie, and after I stayed the whole night reading Earthquake until I finished it because I couldn't stop. That book blew my mind and I wanted to give Terry a very deep bow when I saw her this morning. She accepted a hug, although I wanted to be more formal and respectful. She didn't let me. But I was just so mind-blown with her work and how she wrapped everything, connecting every important dot and leaving enough for us to keep dreaming and imagining what happened after the last words of that book. And as I was reading I could imagine the film and I started thinking of all the things we would need, and I would work even harder to get a bigger budget, and change the director, and I could think of the actors for the new characters.

Then I remembered that I won't produce the third film, not even the second one.

However, that didn't stop me from being excited. I'm sure my father will make an even better job and those films will be outstanding. I can't wait.

But besides all my fangirling for the book, I also told Cece about what Ella said last night when I bought the book and how I am really thinking about it. I don't even know if I'm capable of trying to get Gareth's attention, or how Cece put it: 'seduce the Ice Prince.' I have no experience and I will probably get really flustered if I try anything.

"You don't have to be that blunt," Cece says when I mentioned that I doubted my abilities for such a thing.

"You don't understand. Ella's friend, Charlie, hit on me yesterday and I was left in a blushing mess. I didn't even know where to look at. And it wasn't that big of a thing, he just hinted that he was single as to keep him in consideration if things with Gareth didn't work out. Yet still!" I tell him and he just laughs at me. Cece even ruffles my hair, cooing as if I just told him the most adorable thing ever.

"You cute little thing," my friend coos. "I am already so surprised Gareth hasn't hopelessly fallen for you. There's something so cute about you that attacks you and one just wants to wrap you and strangle you." My eyes widen in horror at his words, but he just laughs. "I mean it in the sense that I just wanna hug the living days out of you."

"It still sounds scary," I mutter, what causes Cece to pinch my cheeks in his best granny imitation.

"But really, I think if you just keep being yourself with him, showing this adorable side of you, he won't be able to resists for too long. Now, we can make it even harder for him," proposes the man next to me.

"How so? Do you, by any chance, know hypnotism or voodoo magic?"

"Although I do—" my eyes widen in shock when he says that, and Cece just smirks before continuing, "—I didn't mean that because it wouldn't be real. But you see how I make you look a bit older for your meetings? Well, I can make you look even prettier."

"Are you gonna put five kilos of makeup on me to draw all my features again?" I ask and Cece seems annoyed by my comment, his expression becomes severe and he even folds my arms.

"Five kilos would be for a complete makeup like to turn you into a monster, let's say a werewolf or some alien. And no, I don't want to re-draw your natural features because these are precious. Ann, makeup isn't to disguise yourself or a thing to be embarrassed of. Wearing makeup won't make you fake or anything, it's just your choice to enhance your natural features to build confidence." I look down, embarrassed that he has to give me this lecture when I am very aware of this. "Makeup is just like wearing a pretty outfit that suits you. If makeup makes you a fake, then so does fashion. It's okay even if you wear five kilos and re-draw all your features. It's always okay because it's your face."

"I know," I mumble, still incapable of meeting his eyes.

"Then don't insult my life. I only forgive you because you're cute," he adds with a lighter tone, ruffling my hair again. I hesitantly look up to meet his eyes and notice he is smiling at me. "Just let me teach you new techniques so you look even cuter and that boy is left with his mouth hanging open when he sees you."

"And if it doesn't work?" I ask, my voice a whisper because everyone is giving hopes, as it is inevitable that Gareth will fall for me, but I can't be that confident. "What do I do then?"

"If he doesn't fall for you, then he's really made of ice and you said this Charlie boy is single. I like him already, he knows what's good."

I smile sadly. Although I am very touched that some people think so highly of me, I can't easily agree. How can one be confident? Is there a way, a secret recipe to believe in yourself and your abilities? Maybe it does take time and I'm still too young, but then there are kids who are more confident than I'll ever be.

It's probably because I grew up thinking little of me, because the expectations were too high and there was no way I could meet them. Maybe it's because I've never a the chance to prove myself and succeed at it. I don't even know my skills, I'm barely discovering myself as something else but your plain girl in a family of shiny stars.

"But you won't know unless you try, Ann. Ella told you the same. And if you try, try your best," Cece reminds me, bringing me back to the present and our topic, away from my own insecurities.

"Yeah," I mumble.

"Then," he stands up from the chairs we were resting, and then waits in front of me, holding up his hand for me to take. "Let's get down to business," he says, a cheeky smile spread across his face.

I gape, feeling suddenly offended.

"You didn't," I breathe out, but he grins even wider.

"I did it, I really did it," he laughs. "Let's go, Mulan. I'll make a man, I mean, an irresistible woman out of you."

"I'm gonna hit you!" I threaten as he keeps throwing film references at me.

He must believe me when I say I'm going to hit him, because he turns around and starts running. I, of course, chase him, trying to shut him up when he goes singing the damn song. How many times did I have kids singing that to me? They thought it was funny, I thought it was torture. How awful is it that every time you introduce yourself, or your name is said, a bunch of idiots start singing I'll Make A Man Out Of You? Let me tell you: It's bloody annoying! And I'm going to kill Cece for teasing me like that.

"Did they send me daughteeeers, when I— ouch!" he exclaims when I stop to take my shoe off and throw it at him. "Rude!" He turns to shout that at me, and I threaten to take off my other shoe. "Okay, okay. No more songs. Ff, you are no fun. I waited my whole life to make that joke." I just stare at him in my most ferocious pose, even with one shoe less. "You break all my hopes and dreams. But that aside, you have a good aim. You hit me in the head from there. Wow."

Not to brag but I'm at least ten metres away from him and yes, I did hit him on the head. Good thing today I'm wearing trainers instead of heels. That could've been dangerous.

"I tried archery when I was ten. Grandma said I was important to learn Kyudo," I shrug, walking up to him.

I get my shoe back and Cece helps me to maintain my balance as I put my trainer back on. I look around just to see who else caught us in this game, and I only find Zoe paying attention. She wears an amused smile and I blush when I confirm we've been caught. She gives me a thumb up and I stick my tongue out in a sheepish gesture, she then continues heading where she was going before she saw me throwing my trainer at Cece's head.

Cece and I leave to where he has all his stuff and does the makeup for the actors. No one the one assigned to him is waiting because they are taking a break for lunch, so my friend makes me sit where normally just actors do and then stands in front of me.

"I'll teach you the basics, and as I can't always do your makeup, you need to learn and practice. A bit more than what you already know, okay? You already have a lovely milky skin, so we won't need much work for your skin, but I'll teach you to play with the highlights and shadows to make your features show better," he starts speaking and I try to pay attention so I will absorb all this new knowledge.

"Remember to talk in normal speech for me to understand," I tell him and he smiles happily.

Cece teaches me how to do my make up in a natural way so I'll feel comfortable, telling me what products to buy and exactly the tones for my skin. The brushes and how to use them. He teaches me how to use eyeliner and enhance the shape of my eyes, and how to profile my eyebrows and curl my eyelashes. By when we end, I still look the same but as Cece mentioned, my familiar features are just more defined. My eyes look a bit bigger, but that's because you can actually see my eyelashes now and there's a thin black line across the eyelid making them look a bit thicker. It's a very glossy and pink makeup, and I feel like I'm glowing. I feel pretty when I look at myself, and at the same time I do feel like just Ann.

"It shouldn't take more than ten minutes to do this makeup. It's a very refreshing and natural makeup, it suits you and your personality. Don't wear it for meetings because it doesn't make you look older," Cece recommends, helping me to stand up and fixing a bit my hair. "Now go and find Gareth. Let's try this."

He basically pushes me away and I feel a bit self-conscious as I walk away. I actually keep my eyes on the floor, so maybe that way they will not notice I'm wearing makeup. Even if I know it shouldn't matter, I'm still very susceptible to comments and people's remarks, and it's a fact that society, although strongly encourages women to wear makeup, also judges them equally strongly for doing it. I should be used to people judging me by now, but I still try to avoid it if I can. I don't enjoy people looking at me with such displeasing stand, with such judgmental grimace and a patronising gaze.

After a while, I find Drew—Gareth's manager—, and where Drew is, Gareth is always around, so it's not hard to find the actor next. In fact, I run into him exactly after he's finished a take. I smile brightly when we are face to face.

"Oh, hi, Ann. I didn't know you were around," he greets me, a little smile on his lips. I try to control my racing heart so I won't blush that much in front of him.

"I had a little break from meetings and decided to check on things. How is everything going?" I ask. "Any problem to report."

"Nope," is his response. "Everything going smoothly."

"That's a relief," I comment and then I don't know what else to say.

He doesn't look at me differently, he doesn't seem surprised or taken aback. He doesn't even look fazed now that we are face to face. He seems as comfortable as ever and I'm not even sure if he's noticed I'm wearing makeup and that I actually look better, prettier than I am.

"How about you?" he breaks the awkward silence that was growing. "How are all your meetings going?"

"Still breaking my skull," I reply and he smiles more sympathetically now.

"But you look less exhausted now. Did you have a good sleep then?" he assumes but I shake my head.

"In fact, I didn't sleep. Stayed all night reading Earthquake," I reply and he seems slightly surprised.

"Really? It doesn't look like it." I press my lips together, trying to find what to say next. "Well, I need to change for the next scene. See you around?"

"Oh," I mutter. "Yeah, see you around if I'm still on set. If not, good luck."

He only smiles and waves his hand goodbye before walking past me. I stay there, with my makeup still on but all my confidence on the floor. He didn't even notice. He only thought I was well rested. Even after doing this, he didn't notice it. How do I take that?

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I had so much fun writing this chapter. I hope you had fun reading it. I'm also glad you missed Charlie and if you forgot who is his other half, re-read the epilogue of CME because it's mentioned there. And no, it is not Blanca. There's another person for her.

Dedication to denka27 

Bel, xx

NU: Tuesday. 
However if you get 1K votes again before that day, it'll be early update!