A/n Hey people! This is a stand alone story despite being a spin off from my story, Beautiful Stranger. I suppose it might help a little to read it first, I mean, it IS only three chapters, not too much right? I hope you like this one. Currently I have no idea how long I want this to be, just know that this isn't the last of me you'll see with this fic.
Van de Fanel. Dark hair, dark eyes, tanned-skin, well toned body. Knock out. And to top it off, a famous rock star.
Currently in what his ex-girlfriend Merle would call, "deep shit."
"Look honey, I'm really, really sorry for missing our date…no I did not stand you up, I was merely caught up in a… It wasn't my fault I swear! I know how much you were looking forward to it, I know. I would never miss it on purpose! Why can't I just…"
Van looked straight on, keeping his face calm and controlled. He could do this, it wasn't the hardest thing in the world to do. He tried not to glance down at the carpeted floor of the hotel room.
"Please, don't hate me for this. I promise it won't happen again…oh bull shit what am I saying…er…I'm sorry, okay?"
"Dude, who are you talking to?"
Van abruptly stopped talking and turned his gaze away from the mirror, of which he had been speaking to. He scowled at the speaker.
"Go away Folken! Can't you see I'm busy?" he snapped.
"All I see is that you forgot to memorize your lines," Folken replied, neatly scooping up the discarded script off the floor. He glanced down, eyes moving over the lines. "You know, you missed a lot of lines… Are you aware that screen time is starting in 2 hours?"
"Well it's your fault!"
Folken raised his eyes at the accusation. "Oh, really?" he asked innocently.
"If it hadn't been for you I would never have agreed to this!"
Folken shrugged his shoulders in agreement.
The thing was, Van had a passion for Saturday Night Live, hell he practically had an affair with it, but he did not love SNL enough to willingly play guest host for an evening, especially since he had to memorize god damn lines. Van hated memorizing lines. His brother and manager Folken was quite aware of this but had apparently experienced a temporary amnesia when he talked to the SNL producers and this amnesia further deepened as he signed the contract that presently bound Van to his current turmoil. Folken of course, was dreadfully sorry but was perfectly unregretful of his rather hasty decision, as it would greatly enhance Van's publicity. You couldn't get too much publicity these days, that was Folken's motto.
"Why do I need a script too, huh? And what's up with this skit? It's crap! I used to love show! What happened to it's quality? I'm only the host and they—" Van began.
"Yes yes, you're only Van de Fanel, rock sensation in three countries and expanding further, heart throb of every girl of over ten years within a one thousand mile radius," Folken reminded.
Van winced. "Over ten years? You're making me sound like a pedophile."
"Come now Van, you knew something like this would happen eventually. Lighten up! Just think of the Billboard ratings, and your lovely name moving slightly but surely up to number one! You will not only be an accomplished musician but an actor as well! Multi-talented! Who wouldn't want to be multi-talented?"
Van stared at his manager, jaw hanging slightly open. He closed his mouth shut and took a deep breath.
"Folken, you do know how much I detest the way I am publicized as a pop icon…" he said slowly.
"Oh yeah, you mentioned that at one point," Folken agreed chirpily.
"And you probably are very aware of how much I hate your publicity stunts," Van added.
"Probably, sure."
"Then please tell me, big brother, what possessed your mind when you signed the contract?"
"Simply," Folken said calmly, "that my favorite and only little brother was for sure going to thank me in the near future."
Van gave his brother a death glare and turned back to his mirror. He took a breath and started reciting.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to…er…"
"Saturday Night Live!" Folken finished for him. "Now take a bow— oof!"
"Oh, did I just do that?" Van asked innocently as he removed his fist from Folken's head. He neatly took back the script and look over it again. He winced and started muttering under his breath.
Rubbing his offended and bruised head, Folken listened intently to Van's muttering. "Did I hear a 'Hitomi' in you speech?" he asked.
Van looked up at him. "Eh?"
Folken placed a hand on his shoulder in an understanding way. "I get it now, lil bro. I just didn't see it! I totally forgot about Hitomi! It is all so clear to me. Imagine the expression on the girl's face when she sees you up there on national television forgetting your goddamn lines…"
Van glowered at him. His girlfriend Hitomi was one of the prime reasons why his former of love of SNL was diminishing.
"Well, I'm sure taking on this job must be cutting in on your time with your little sweet heart," Folken said sensitively. "Don't worry, big bro's got it all taken care of." He delicately produced a cell phone into existence from a hidden pocket and dialed.
Van glared suspiciously and nervously at Folken as his brother patiently waited for the other person to pick up. He paled at Folken's first words.
"Hey, Hitomi baby! What's up my little…oh come now don't say that. Of course I'm still very sorry about making Van miss your Valentines Day dance. I'd kowtow to you right on the floor and kiss your feet in apology if I could but in these circumstances, will you settle for kissing noises instead? Just kidding, I swear!" Folken said, both to Van and Hitomi as they lunged for his throat and roared expletives respectively.
"Folken you son of a bitch," Van snarled.
"Hey now, no need to insult your boy friend's heritage!" Folken said into the cell phone as Hitomi had apparently said a similar insult. "Come now, Hitomi baby, I'll make it up to you. You like SNL, am I right? You know that Van's going to host it live tonight, right? Well, since I know this publicity is tearing you two lovebirds apart, why don't you join us up here? I can get you a front row seat no problem!"
Folken ducked out of Van's lunge. "Like I said, it's no problem at all. I'll get a car to your house in no time flat!"
"You've got to be kidding me!" Van yelled.
"What? What was that Hitomi baby? I'm sorry, your boy friend just doesn't know how to keep his voice down. So anyway, what do you say? Come on up! It's been weeks since you've seen each other right?"
Van gave up and watched intently in trepidation. He knew his brother well enough to know that he wasn't kidding about having Hitomi on the SNL set. He prayed that Hitomi would decline. Surely she'd know how awkward and terrible he was with his lines. Surely she wouldn't want to see him make an ass of himself…
"Okay, dearie, just sit tight and wait a few minutes. A car will at your house pronto. See ya kid." Folken flipped his cell phone closed and beamed at his brother and client.
"I think that went well, don't you?" he asked. "Problem no more! Now you'll be able to finally see your lover, which will then inspire you to make an exploding performance, which will then expand your career into the movie business! It's like shooting two birds with one stone isn't it? Three stones actually!"
Van slouched onto his hotel bed, clenching a pillow. He brought the pillow up to his face and screamed.
Folken nodded cheerfully. "My thoughts exactly. Have fun on those lines!" He turned to leave when Van stopped him.
"I have a better idea. Why should we waste precious airtime with my horrible acting? How about this, big bro: instead of skits, I can just give a performance, with no additional charge! That way, the contract won't be violated, and they'll get a free performance of the one and only, Van de Fanel."
Folken paused in thought for a moment. "That could work," he said slowly. "But I don't know…the producers were really looking forward to your acting performance…"
Van waited a moment as Folken muttered some more before he relented. "Okay fine," he said through gritted teeth. "You can tell them my middle name."
"Why, did I mention a thing about your middle name, Vannie?" Folken said, grinning with his teeth bared. "Well, they did wonder about your middle name…okay then! I'll just go nip around to Mr. Producer and bring up this slight change in plans. Oh yes, and a car for Hitomi too, right right."
And finally, at last, Folken left the room.
Van sighed in relief. Perfect. Now he could have a moment's peace.
And he sagged onto his bed and grinned in spite of himself. Well, at least now he could finally see Hitomi again! He closed in eyes in reminiscence of their former dates and of their memorable first meeting. He wondered how her ex-boyfriend Allen was doing.
After a moment, Van Slanzar de Fanel fell asleep.
A/n Right, I'm very aware that Folken is incredibly OOC. But I think he's cute like that. This IS an AU fic after all.
Oh yes, and don't worry. I WILL continue this fic.
Review?