Welcome, and greetings my dear readers! I have returned to entertain you with yet another story. This one's a little unique compared to the others I've written so far, mainly concerning our protagonist. You'll see what I mean when you read. Also something unusual for me, I will be including details about our protagonist's physical appearance. Why? ...a personal whim, I guess. I felt it was necessary. Oh, and last but not least, this is an AU. I'm looking forward to putting this story out, and I sincerely hope you'll all enjoy it.

So without farther ado, let's get on with the show!

I fiddle with the VIP pass around my neck as Ted explains the lighting of the set to us. I'm not gonna lie. I'd been pretty excited about this trip, ecstatic even, but the fact that our guide's name is something as bland and well, normal, as Ted has watered me down a little. When you get close to something as otherworldly as a Hollywood photoshoot, you expect everything to be no less than spectacular. That's how I thought about it, at least. Honestly, though, the tour's been pretty boring so far. Lots of shaking hands with the people backstage, lots of staring at machines with bijillions of buttons and switches, and now, an in depth explanation of the lighting system that Ted actually seems to be absorbed in.

I guess it's kinda fun watching Sandra drool after our tour guide like a puppy that drools over a T-bone steak. I mean, I guess he is kinda handsome in a way. It's just not in a way I like. Too muscular.

"Do you think if we learn how all these thingy majigs work," Sandra suddenly starts beside me, "that we could get a job here?"

I raise an eyebrow in disbelief. "Asks the girl who would rather binge watch Dora the Explorer than stretch to reach the remote. Why would you want a job like this?"

"Think of all the hot celebrities we could meet!"

Our guide laughs, pulled from his passionate rant about lighting. "Our jobs are a lot harder than they look, I promise. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're really dedicated."

I crack a grin when my friend begins pouting, then ask, "So you've showed us a lot of cool stuff so far," not, "but when do we get to see him?"

"Well, if you're ready," he huffs, shaking his head with a smile. "I suppose we could go now. Geez, the idols are the only things people care about these days. Nobody cares about what goes on behind the scenes." I've got to really wonder with the way he says it whether or not it actually bothers him. "You two've got to be quiet, though. They haven't finished yet."

Sandra and I both swear our silence in haste, eager to get on with it. Accepting this, Ted leads us to a door and opens it for us to go through, holding a silencing finger to his lips all the while.

A few people in headsets glance back towards us when Ted closes the door behind us, but their attentions quickly revert to the center of the room, which in contrast to the shadowy edges, glows luminescent. When our eyes finally find the figure bathed in said light, we freeze.

Right before our very eyes...it's actually him! The young, british model, Ciel Phantomhive in the flesh! He lays draped across a loveseat, his cheek resting on the arm he has thrown over the armrest. His pristinely tended black hair reflects deep blue in the light, somehow appearing softer in person than in his pictures. His skin...pure white on its own, the bright lights make it practically glow as pure as an angel's skin. And as if his natural beauty wasn't enough to captivate me, he's even wearing his signature Victorian era style! I find myself unable to breathe at the sight of it all.

He doesn't so much as glance in our direction, but the intensity with which he glares at the camera with his piercing blue eyes raises goosebumps across my skin.

"Sandra?" I gasp, finding my voice at last.

With the same, breathy voice, she replies, "Yeah, Tyler?"

"I'm so glad we're best friends."

I say that, but those words hardly sum up my gratitude to her right now. It's all because of her I got to see this. We might have both entered the contest, but I just don't have the luck that she has. Thank god, buddha, and every otherworldly power in existence that my best friend is the luckiest person I know.

"Are these our contest winners?"

The silky voice breaks us from our stupors, our eyes drawn to a tall, dark haired man. Ted whispers back, "Yup. This is Sandra and Tyler, the lucky ones. This, "our guide motions to the man, "is sort of Ciel's manager. He's more like a personal secretary than anything, but he's been with Ciel since even before he got into modeling."

"You speak too much, Ted," the manager chuckles, his voice steeped in a thick british accent. "It's lovely to meet you girls. My name is Sebastian Michaelis, but you may simply call me Sebastian. No need to be formal."

"Pleasure to meet you, Sebastian," Sandra instantly answers, shaking his hand. Too wrapped up in struggling not to gawk, I neglect to correct Sebastian's misconception as I shake is hand. He's...as gorgeous as Ciel! Manager? Secretary? Why on earth isn't he a model!?

"Have the two of you been enjoying the tour?" Despite our previous boredom and impatience, we both nod like bobbleheads. "Well, if you're willing to wait for him to finish, you might just get the opportunity to speak with Ciel before he has to leave. How does that sound?"

"Awesome!" Sandra enthuses. Since that sums up my reaction as well, I don't feel the need to add anything, instead just nodding in agreement. Then, someone calls Sebastian aside and we're left dumbfounded. When he's out of earshot, my friend mutters, "He's your type, right?"

"Yep." He's probably too old for me, but still…

"You're not going to get a nosebleed, right?"

I touch my nose with the tips of my fingers, for a second convinced it really will begin to bleed. "I think I'm alright."

"But really," she grins. "It's not everyday you come face-to-face with two incredible specimens."

"You got that right."

Sandra turns her evil eye on our guide abruptly, warning, "You'd better not repeat a word of this."

Laughter at his lips, he motions zipping his lips shut and flicks away his invisible key. Our eyes then return to the glorious boy posing in the spotlight, and there our eyes stay for what feels like an eternity. At least, it's an eternity until the lights overhead suddenly sputter on. Then our eternity quickly transforms into a time too brief. Somebody calls out that this is it for today.

The god-like boy finally lifts himself off the velvet couch after that, heaving a heavy sigh and running his fingers through his hair before beginning a discussion with Sebastian. After they exchange a few words, and Sebastian receives an ill-tempered scowl from his model, the boy straightens his high collar and turns our way. I swear, neither of us dares to take a breath as he approaches us.

"Congratulations on winning," he greets us, half smiling. Sebastian's voice before had been wonderfully deep and adult, but Ciel's voice, although equally smooth, rings angelically higher. You would think an eighteen year old's voice would have deepened far past this sort of lilting pitch, but I get the impression that his voice hasn't changed much over his teenage years. I had had expectations about meeting him in person, but honestly, he surpasses them all! I never imagined his voice would be this pleasant! And he smiled! Never once have I seen a picture of him smiling in any magazine or online, but he smiled just now! At me!

"I was told...you were Tyler," he begins, extending his hand out to me. I take it stiffly, merely smiling because my throat seems to be clogged with excitement. Who would have thought...I never imagined being able to touch him! Shaking the hand of my crush….I could die happy, right now, without regrets. Then he releases my hand and continues, "And that would make you Sandra, then." After shaking her hand, he apologizes, "I'm sorry about this, but I actually have a flight to catch soon, so I really have to be going."

"No, no problem!" Sandra insists as my heart sinks. He's leaving already? Will this really be it, after I've admired him for so long? "Don't let us keep you!"

"Thank you." He slips away without needing to be told again. I'm not really disappointed about his obvious desire to leave...not exactly. I mean, life must be rough for someone with such a busy schedule. Still, it would have been nice if he could have stayed a little longer. I mean, I would have liked to...I don't know...talk a little. I've liked him since he debuted four years ago, and now I've met him, and...it's over.

I stare after him until he's out of sight. When I finally shift my gaze, I meet Sandra's smug expression.

"W-What?"

"Your face is totally blank," she smirks, "but I know you're totally lusting over him on the inside."

"Shut up," I grimace. She's not exactly wrong, though.

Her grin just widens. "You're probably imagining running after him right now and dragging him off into some corner. Then you'd force a kiss on him, and when he gets turned on, you'd drag him off into a closet-"

"I said shut up!" I nearly shout, panicking just a little as I slap my hand over her mouth. She just cracks up into laughter as I hiss, "You freaking boy's love maniac!"

"Boys love?" Ted blinks, realization dawning on him. "Tyler, you're a guy?"

I grit my teeth, embarrassed as I lower my hand away from Sandra. "Yes, I'm a guy."

"Oh, sorry! I just assumed otherwise...ah, and Sebastian did too, didn't he? Really, I'll go grab him and have him apologize."

"Please don't," I request, withholding a groan. "Really, I'm used to it. It's my fault for wearing my hair long."

"Most guys don't get mistaken for a girl just 'cause they've got long hair," Sandra snickers, nudging me. I just ignore her. We've discussed my hair and my girly face more times than I can count. My hair actually used to be longer than this, but I chopped the bottom bit off in hopes that I'd look a little more masculine. I guess cutting it to my shoulderblades wasn't short enough. I really dread the idea of hacking off any more, though. I'm used to having long hair. There's that, and the fact that the little girl who lives next door loves messing with it when I watch her for her parents. She's a devil to handle, but she always sits still when I offer her my hair to play with. It would be hell having to watch that brat without that trump card up my sleeve.

"You sure you don't want me to go get him?" Ted wonders.

"I'm sure." I push one of my dull, caramel locks out of my face. "Um...so now that we've met him...is the tour over?"

"Well...officially, yeah," Ted confirms, peeking at his watch. "If there's anything you want to see again, though, I'll take you there again. I've got some time on my hands."

Sandra and I share a look before she says, "Thanks, but no thanks. Instead, could you maybe recommend us a restaurant nearby? I'd like to eat dinner before we start our drive home."

"You're driving? Do you two live around here?"

"A couple hours away," she admits. "If we weren't, I wouldn't have been able to drive. License restrictions and all. And if we'd of had to fly, there's no way my parents would have let me go alone with a boy. Their condition even for this was that we're home by midnight."

"Well, you must have the luck of the irish to win and to live close enough to bring your friend. Speaking of which," he snaps his fingers, alight with a new thought, "there's a little irish pub down the way, if you're interested. Great food, great price, great people. It's a lot of bar food, but if you want I can give you directions."

Sandra glances to me. When I nod the go ahead, she asks, "Could you maybe write the directions down? Neither of us has the best mental compass."

He laughs. "Sure, just wait a moment." After a minute, he finds a scrap of paper and borrows a pen off the director. Then he scribbles it all down and hands it to Sandra. Afterwards, he brings us to the front exit and sends us off with a wave.

We wave back, then get to work searching for the restaurant.

We haven't been looking long when Sandra huffs irritably, "Why are there so many people?"

"We're in Hollywood," I point out with an eye roll. "What did you expect?"

"Not this! What is this? The human version of Chicago at rush hour?"

With a lopsided smile, I remind her, "You've never even been to Chicago."

"Doesn't matter. I'm sure it look exactly like this in the streets there during rush hour. With all these people, how are we supposed to find the restaurant?"

"What're the directions?"

She lifts the sticky note Ted gave her earlier to her face, squinting to read his sloppy handwriting. "We're going left out of the studio, like he said, but I'm not seeing the street sign he told us to turn at." She lifts her head to glance about. "How are we supposed to see when everyone's so tall?"

She's not wrong. It feels like there's are an abnormal number of tall people, probably wannabe models or actors, and a solid half of the girls we pass are decked out in mile high heels. I've never understood girls' fashion trends, and I probably never will. I mean, why would you want to triple your chance of tripping like that? Don't straight guys prefer shorter girls, anyway? That's the impression I've always gotten at least. I guess it could just be the guys I know.

"I should've worn my wedges," my best friend grumbles, shoving her acorn colored hair out of her face as she continues searching for the sign. I watch her for a moment, then raise my eyes to look, too. Who knows? Maybe I'll be able to see better than her. I am a little taller, even if she is a year older. I can't seem to find any street signs, though. Then it occurs to me that she never told me the name of the street.

"Hey, what street sign are we looking for, anyway?" I question, stretching my neck in an attempt to see farther. When she doesn't answer, though, I lower my gaze.

She's gone! Quickly, I whip my head around, scanning for her. Cupping a hand to my mouth, I shout, "Sandra?" ….No response. How far could she have gotten? I dig my phone out of my pocket and dial her number. After a few rings, she answers.

"Tyler? Wher….disappear to?"

"Huh?"

"...said where'd….pear to?"

I plug my other ear and ask again, but again I can't hear her at all over the sound of the crowd. This is why I hate phone calls. Hoping she can hear me better than I can hear her, I tell her, "Wait one second."

At first I look for some place, a bench or something, that I can stand on to raise my vantage point above the crowd. Finding nothing of the sort, I decide to instead search out a quieter place. Immediately to my right, I finally notice a narrow alley. It may not be ideal, but it's the closest thing, and it's only for a second.

Slipping inside the alley, I make my way deeper until Sandra's voice eventually starts to reach my ears clearly. "...found the sign, but then I realized I'd lost you."

"Then you ran off on your own?" I question. She must have seen it and just taken off towards it. That sounds like something she would do.

"You're the idiot who didn't follow me," she defends.

"Yeah, yeah." I gaze up at the buildings I've stepped in between. One of them looks a lot like the set building we took our tour in, but who knows if it's the same one. I mean, there are a lot of these sorts of buildings around here. "So, where's the street sign?"

"On the intersection we were approaching," she reveals, proud as a peacock for something that really should have been common sense to both of us. I mentally slap myself for not realizing something so obvious before.

Withholding a groan, I pinch the bridge of my nose and order, "Stay by that sign, I'll come find you."

"About that…"

I pause mid step, having turned around to go back out onto the street. My voice plainly carrying my apprehension, I ask with dread, "What about that?"

"Well, while we were talking on the phone, I went ahead and found the restaurant."

"Sandra?"

"Yes?"

"You're an idiot."

"Oh hush it, girly boy."

"Go back to the sign, and I'll go ahead and find it. If it's just at the intersection, it shouldn't be too hard."

"Alright, see you in a bit."

I stuff my phone back into my pocket. Girly boy….it's not the first time she's called me that, but really…. Lately, basically everyone new that I meet takes me for a girl. It's not my fault I was born with this face, but, maybe, just a little, it might be a little my fault that I wear my hair long. I don't plan on changing that anytime soon, though. Maybe instead of changing my hair, I should start doing something about this slender figure. I mean, I like the body type and all (particularly when it's an attractive guy with a slender figure), but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean I need one myself. If putting on a little muscle will help people realize I'm male, then...but would it be weird for a guy like me to want to stay lean and pretty? I mean, it's not like I'm out to attract girls.

Sighing, I shake the thoughts from my head. What does it matter? Let people mistake me for a girl, what do I care? All I have to do is be sure to correct them.

"Shall I pull the car around, Young Master?"

I freeze. Was that- that was Sebastian's voice! I turn my head to look deeper down the alley, where the voice came from. I was right! A door in the side of the set building gapes open, Sebastian standing outside and speaking to someone within. I blink, registering just who he might be talking to only moments before the figure I was only hoping to see steps out from the door, which shuts with a thud behind him.

"Please do," Ciel confirms, hands stuffed into his black trenchcoat. Underneath he wears dark blue jeans that flare out into bootcut bottoms. It's the first time I've seen him in such casual garb, but he looks just as amazing as he does in aristocratic costumes!

My hands fly to my pockets in search of a writing utensil of some sort, but come up empty. What an opportunity, catching him like this, and yet I don't even have anything for him to sign or sign with! Just how awful is my luck?

It's then I realize that both Ciel and his manager have stopped, despite the fact that Sebastian had been ready to go get their car. I shift to the side to find a ragged beggar kneeling before them.

"Ignore him, Young Master," Sebastian advises.

"Please!" the man begs. "Surely someone like you can spare a few dollars! You have so much!"

"Young Master."

"What, Sebastian?" Ciel inquires, his words annoyed. "Are you really so worried? Do you really think that I would bother with such a lowlife?"

His manager bowed his head. "Of course not. I simply meant to point out that we mustn't waste any time. Our flight leaves in only an hour."

"Why did you book it so close to this job?"

"The time of this photoshoot was only decided after I bought the tickets, and there wasn't another flight soon enough."

"Let's hurry, then."

Ciel and Sebastian begin to round the beggar on either side, simply avoiding him like a puddle in their path. I'm still trying to piece my thoughts together about what I just witnessed when the man on his knees suddenly yanks a knife from his jacket and charges at Ciel.

A scream catches in my throat before it can emerge as Sebastian lunges for the beggar, seemingly pinning him down and disarming him in an instant. The knife skids across the concrete towards my feet, stopping an arm's length before me. I barely notice it, though. Ciel doesn't even appear fazed as he gazes down at the man who just attempted to stab him.

"What would you like me to do, Young Master?" Sebastian inquires, smiling up at the model patiently. A face that relaxed strikes me as eerily out of place on a body that's using all of its limbs to pin down another human being.

Ciel closes his eyes, unbuttoning one of the middle buttons of his trench coat and reaching underneath the fabric. "Just keep him down, Sebastian." Then he pulls out…

A gun? He's got a gun?

I watch in shock as my favorite model secures a silencer on the end of his pistol and points it casually at the head of the restrained man. Then I jump when he begins talking to the beggar. "You are a poor assassin. Real beggars aren't so insistent, you'll find. I've seen more than my fair share of them. I was going to let you off, since I have places to be, but I cannot forgive anyone who raises a hand against me."

His voice drops, darkening as he finishes his sentence. His stare from the photoshoot earlier had given me goosebumps, but the detest with which he now glares at the man causes my joints to lock with fear. His sapphire blue eyes reflect like the harsh silver of a blade. Murderous intent oozes from his expression, cold, yet scorchingly hot with hatred, and I find that even though it isn't aimed at me, it has me rooted where I stand.

Then the gun recoils in his hand and the man on the ground jolts before falling still. Sebastian stays still for a moment, then elegantly stands and steps off of the corpse. Then, removing a stainless white handkerchief from his breast pocket, he drapes it over his hands and holds them out to Ciel patiently. The model doesn't look away from the dead man as he places the gun in Sebastian's grasp.

"Hurry and fetch the car," he orders, his voice diluted to simple irritation.

Sebastian bows his head and carefully wraps the gun in the cloth. "Yes, my lord. Oh," Sebastian suddenly pauses. Then he abruptly turns his head and meets my eyes, startling me enough to make my heart leap from my chest. "And what should I do about her?"

I'm still unable to move when Ciel follows Sebastian's gaze, finally noticing me. For a moment, surprise flashes across his blank face before he's able to quell it. Who knows how long the three of us stand there like that, staring at each other as if it were some sort of contest, but eventually, Ciel scowls.

"How much did you see?"

Unable to lie to someone I've admired for so long, I stutter, "A-All of it."

"Your name was Tyler, wasn't it?" I nod mutely. "And you're a fan of mine, aren't you?" I nod again, not seeing where he's going with these questions. He clicks his tongue, hand aimlessly redoing the button he'd earlier undone. "Sebastian, book a third ticket. We're taking her with us."

So I actually combined chapter one and two here, so this chapter is a lot longer than most of the others are going to be. I thought it was necessary, though, to introduce the conflict in the first chapter. Besides, isn't it refreshing to get a longer chapter every now and again? So why not start off with one? But what do you guys think of Tyler? He's a character like I've never written before, so I'm really looking forward to exploring his character. I look forward to hearing what you guys have to say!

Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!