First fanfic on my new account! Woo! This is pretty long, hehe...

Take 1: "My armpits were sweating out lava"

"Showbiz is a place full of actors, actresses, artists, and musicians etc. that light up our televisions whether we're all alone in the living room or with a whole flock of our annoying relatives that we love regardless. Whatever the season the showbiz industry will always make us smile or let loose some tears to stream down our ugly, crying faces (let's face it, who looks beautiful when they're crying?) or even make us laugh that we somehow end up doubled-over on the coffee table wheezing like Wheezy the Penguin in Toy Story. Well I end up like that anyway, I don't know about you.

The thing is: I loved how it always did that – it almost seemed like magic. So being the 10-year old little girl I was, who got dazzled by the light of showbiz, I set up this lifelong goal of becoming one of those people and pursued being in the showbiz industry. As I grew up, the goal disappeared of course since we come to those adolescent years and the road wasn't easy to drive on with its bumps, but I finally got here." I let out a breath and smiled at the interviewer behind the camera, resting my arms on the armrests of the chair. I was doing this for work, yes, but I always wondered if interviewers ever ran out of questions. It was so hot in this room that my armpits were sweating out lava, if that was possible, but I had to look cool and collected which was easier thought than done.

"What do you think of the title the public gave you, 'The Actress of the Century'?" The interviewer asked another question once again, pausing only to adjust his glasses. I gulped and tried to give him another smile but my armpits were just so hot...

"To-To be honest I feel honoured but I don't think I really am worthy of the title. I mean, there are so many actresses out there who are so much better than me. But if the public thinks that, then so be it, I'm grateful for the support and the faith they've given me," I answered then gave another smile that was directed at the camera this time, proud of the speech I gave.

The interviewer seemed to approve of my speech as well for he gave a little nod and a grin at my direction. I think I even heard him mumble: "An angel on the inside as well..." I sheepishly smiled at him and he looked at his notebook once more. No more please, have mercy on my pits. I really needed to go to a bathroom right now.

"Okay, Miss McGarden, one last question..." He trailed off, staring at me in a serious manner with his fingertips all 'I need to get to my mind palace. Get out' kind of way. Like Sherlock Holmes from that British TV series, Sherlock. "Is it true that you and Mr Redfox are dating?"

Silence filled the air as tension slowly sneaked in.

What?

That literally hit me in the face with shock. Imagine an iron dropping on your face and it was heated to its maximum power, that's how it felt.

Was he talking about that egotistical playboy back from my elementary and high school days that somehow became an actor and somehow became my rival in the industry and somehow became my new love partner in a new drama/soap I was starring in that my agent thought was a good idea? If yes, then someone better hold me back because the lava pouring out of my armpits just increased to its own maximum power! And this time it's full of anger!

I frickin' hated the guy not only because of his disgusting personality but he basically was my first crush when I was in 2nd grade and my first relationship too (and that was in the same grade, yep), but he crushed all that when he used me for donuts! Donuts! I know that was all back in elementary but I just couldn't let it go. The nerve of that guy. Then high school came along and I was a pissed teenager all throughout because I was hoping he'd turn into poo but turned into a hawty instead, picking on me in the hallways, always telling me I was a midget. If he wasn't so big, I'd have squashed his face by now. He even forgot who I was and the 'Donut Incident'. Ugh just thinking about it now makes me want to pop little girls' balloons and rip them to shreds.

"Um... Miss McGarden are you okay? You look a bit, err, red..."

Oh crap, I totally forgot about the interview. I quickly shook my head and gave the interviewer a sweet smile. I trained myself to handle my facial expressions and body language in situations like these, but this was a first for me and I wasn't even surprised Donut McDick was somewhat involved in a way.

"Oh-Oh no, I'm fine. And to answer your question, I am not, most definitely not, never in my life am or will be dating Mr Gajeel Redfox," I replied, gripping the armrests for support, "does that conclude the interview?" I needed to get out of the room ASAP.

The interviewer looked at me in concern but stood up nonetheless, reaching out with his hand for a hand shake. I stood up and quickly shook his outstretched hand, careful not to make him notice the pit stains that was probably under my armpits at the moment. I'm so disgusting, but hey we all sweat, don't judge.

With that, I scurried out of the room and lunged to the nearest bathroom, locking myself in and taking a breather. Bathrooms always seemed to be one of the coldest places whether it was in a house or any other building, so I was grateful for the cold air (my pits were too). I sat on the toilet seat with the lid down and sighed, calming myself and ridding of thoughts or awful memories that had to do with Gajeel Redfox when my phone started ringing. I opened my purse and took out my phone, smiling when I saw it was Lucy that was calling.

Hitting the 'Answer' button, I greeted her: "'Sup homie?" A chuckle escaped from my phone and an overly amused Lucy greeted me back.

"Oh an Adventure Time reference, niiiiice," she replied before changing the topic to the interview. "So how was it?" She asked me and I sighed another sigh before replying. Lucy and I starred in a movie together playing two best friends but after it was finished and the movie was successful, we instantly became real best friends.

"Oh you know the usual... I get asked questions, I answer them..."

"I know that, baka. What I wanted to know was how you handled them... did it look like the interviewer liked you and your answers? It's the crucial part!"

"I know, I know. At first I was quite nervous then towards the end… I was even more nervous! Someone as shy as me couldn't have made it this far, it's unbelievable."

"But you diiiid!" She sang, causing me to roll my eyes.

"Anyway, it seemed like he did like me, he even called me an angel!" I replied to her, my insides dancing the happy dance for surviving the interview. Being the shy girl I was, I really didn't like interviews since the camera was on me and my face which was odd with me being an actress and all – but while you're acting, you're not really conscious of its presence and in interviews you are. Which I didn't fancy.

"Good! That means he has a good impression on you! I just hope you didn't ruin it with your goofy-weird personality," Lucy answered, giggling slightly.

"Hey!" I shouted, but grinned anyway because I was just so happy that I got through with it.

"Okay, I'm gonna hang up now. I'm still at the set and am about to shoot an exciting ocean-chase scene, so I better run! Remember, behave yourself tomorrow. It's the first scene you and him will have together and if people find out you have some kind of beef going on with him, it'll bound to appear in the media."

"Not like they don't know... I got asked today if I was dating him. Ugh it made me want to vomit. Well, have fun, at least you have a decent leading man at your side." We said our 'goodbye's and hung up and I found myself walking out of the bathroom feeling like a new person.

On my way out, I came across the interviewer again who was scribbling violently in his notebook as if the new source of information he got needed to be recorded before he left this world. When I walked past him, his head jerked up as he called my name. "Um, Miss McGarden!"

I abruptly stopped and turned around, a sweet smile directed at him when all I wanted was to get out of the building before anyone noticed the pit stains. "Yes?" I answered and he instantly walked over and held out his notebook. "I-I forgot to ask, can I have your autograph please?" He asked, his eyes twinkling like stars. I grinned and grabbed the pen in his hand. "Who should I make it out to?"

"Um, can you please make it out to Jet? He-He's a really big fan of your work."

"Oh, is Jet your little brother or something?" I asked and raised an eyebrow when he scratched the back of his head and gave a stuttered laugh. "S-Something like that," he replied as I signed his notebook and gave him another sweet smile before turning to leave.

"It was nice meeting you, Miss McGarden!" Giving him a wave, I quickly speed-walked over to my car once I got out and unlocked it, turning on the AC as I got in. I let out a breath and relaxed, slumping against my seat and feeling utterly proud of myself. Now I just had to survive the shoot tomorrow but if the moron did anything to provoke me, I assure you he won't be leaving without a few bruises on his face.

"Are you my new secretary?" Baron asked the eager little girl whose eyes twinkled like the stars in the night sky in front of him. He raised an eyebrow and eyed her from head to toe. According to her résumé, Iris Nakamura was a 21-year old woman who finished college with honours, but looking down at her now, Baron wasn't sure if she was even 21. Bringing her hand up to a salute, Iris replied: "Yes sir, Nakamura ready for duty sir!"

Scratching his cheek, he eyed her once again. "Are you really 21? Aren't you a bit too small?" Iris slowly brought her hand down and made a mental note to wear heels tomorrow instead of ballet flats. "Yes I am, sir. Just because I'm small doesn't mean I'm a kid. For your information, there are people out there who're the same height as me."

Baron sighed, giving up as he gave her an uncertain smile. "Welcome to Igarashi Company then Miss Nakamura," he greeted, reaching out a hand and shaking her own. With the touch of their hands, an invisible spark was created. The two felt it only faintly, but still wondered about the journey that was ahead.

"Okay… Cut! Yes! That was a perfect ending for the first episode!" Everyone rejoiced and started clapping on the set with the director's words and I grinned at the atmosphere – but of course it was ruined when Donut McDick had to utter a word.

"You were totally blocking my light, shrimp. Next time, please get out of my way," Gajeel said with a smirk thrown in my direction. He was wearing one of those suits you would usually wear in a formal party and his long, black hair was tied in a manly ponytail. I chose to ignore the fact that his attractiveness blinded me – and the fact that with my height, I wasn't blocking his light anyway – and raised a fist.

"One day… one day, Redfox… you'll be grovelling on the ground before me!" I replied and made a gesture of pounding his head like what you did when you pounded meat. He raised his hands as if he was frightened, "Oooh, I'm so scared. A shrimp is going to kill me."

"That does it!" With a growl, I made to tackle him but he only held me back with one hand. "God damn it! At least make it look like I'm winning!" I exclaimed which caused him to laugh at my misery of course. Thinking that I was only embarrassing myself, I was going to push his hand away, but the director's own laughter boomed all throughout the set, causing our little bickering to stop.

"You two are so amusing! Now I know why they put you two together, you seem to get along so well!" The director said after he finished laughing and to be frank I almost wanted to scream at the director's face and the person who put us together in the first place to get lost and die in a hole. But that was a bit too extreme so I didn't.

Giving us a peace sign, the director turned to leave before saying his farewells. "Keep up the good work, Gajevy!" Was that what they called us? How disgusting. I mean it hasn't even been one day before we started working together and the public already had a name for us. I made a gagging noise which Gajeel noticed.

"Hey, it's not as if I like it either. At least half of my name's at the front. You have to admit… it has a nice and interesting ring to it," he said with a wink whilst rummaging in his trouser pocket for a packet of cigarettes. "Want one? Oh wait, you're too much of a goody-goody. Bye shrimp." My mouth fell and the little audience in my head went "Buuuuurn!" I really wanted to kill the guy.

It was about quarter to 4 when the shoot finished and I was packing my things and adjusting my good ol' 'Hiding Hat', as I liked to call it, on my head before I ventured outside to go home. I planned to walk home today since I didn't live far but it didn't harm me to take extra precautions so I took out a pair of sunglasses and settled them on my face.

"Okay, I'm ready." With that I opened the building doors and stepped out… only to be greeted by the roar of pounding rain. "What?!" I was so shocked that I started screaming at the heavens. "Why did you do this to me, God?! Why?!" There was a roof attached outside so I didn't get wet and had enough time to think of what to do in a situation like this: it was either run home or wait 'til the rain stopped. Damn me for forgetting to bring an umbrella. Frustrated, I took off the hat and the sunglasses and dumped them back in my bag. "Why, God?!" I exclaimed once again, hoping God had an answer for me.

A choking-combined-with-laughter noise came from my right and I turned to see Gajeel with a cigarette between his fingers, wearing casual clothing. Of course he was wearing all black – a black collared t-shirt, black jeans and black Converses – his hair was down too and their messiness made me want to pat them down… in a rough manner. I almost didn't even notice the piercings on his face because I was too busy staring at his hair and imagining.

I guess he must've taken them off during shooting. I shrugged, wondering why I cared so much.

"You are crazy. But that was a really cool get-up, can you put it back on again please so I can take a picture and have it as my lockscreen?" I really really wanted to kill the guy. Ignoring him, I crossed my arms and stared out into the rain, hoping in a minute or so it would disappear.

The smoke from his cigarette travelled up my nose and I took a step away, thinking it would help get rid of the odour. Gajeel stood up suddenly from his squatting and threw the cigarette on the ground, stomping on it until its spark dissipated.

"Sorry," he said, glancing at me, "forgot you didn't like the smell of smoke." I was surprised at the fact that he remembered I didn't like the smell of smoke that my answer came out in a stutter. "Th-That's fine."

Silence enveloped us and soon it became awkward until he broke the silence. "This rain is annoying."
"I agree."
"Do-Do you want a ride? We just need to run to the parking lot since, obviously, my car's there." I blinked a few times and stared at him. He just offered me a ride… a nice thing nice people would do.

"I mean, you don't have to ride with me if you don't want to, I'm just asking." Now he was scratching the back of his neck and avoiding my stare.

"N-No, I'll take you up on your offer… Thanks," I replied, wondering why I even said yes. We hated each other and having a 15 minute journey inside his car wouldn't end well. Plus, he'd find out where I lived. Who knows what he might do afterwards. I mean, if I found out where he lived, I would probably egg his house. Jokes.

"Well, let's go then, shrimp," he answered before running ahead of me, his hands tucked in his pockets. He would sometimes turn his head to see if I was following and, strangely, that made me crack a smile.