"BRI! JUST OPEN THE DOOR!"
"I will never surrender!"
"Guys…we're going to be la-ate…"
"Really, Lynn? Bri, did you hear that? STOP PUSHING THE ELEVATOR BUTTONS, DAMNIT!"
"NEVER!"
Brielle's body was currently plastered against the console on the glass elevator's single stainless steel wall, fingers frantically pushing random buttons. The elevator began to slowly rise up to the nineteenth level. The rest of the company groaned. Celesse just hoped Kakashi wouldn't kill them for the lateness.
You know, God, I've tried to be a good person, she though in weary resignation. I really have. And I'm trying to do my best on this trip. I even shooed everyone out of the room fifteen minutes early. You know how I said I would only ask for one thing, to get here in one piece? Well…I'd rather not be strangled by a guy I've wanted to meet for years. That would be a quite embarrassing--not to mention a rather painful--way to die.
Just then the door dinged, and opened to…the lobby. Standing in front of the elevator was Kakashi, with Jackie behind him. He still had his sunglasses on despite the fact that they were still inside, but had changed into a little more formal wear: a casual jacket and a pair of khaki's looked much cleaner than the designer t-shirt and black jeans Celesse had seen him wear before. The hat was gone, too.
"Hey." He greeted them with a small wave. "The front desk saw you were having an--ahem--hard time. So he brought you down to here at my request." Everyone turned to look at Bri, who just grinned and shrugged.
"What? You have to admit, it was fun…"
"Well thanks to you, we're running late!" Jackie cut in, clutching a small pile of t-shirts to her chest. "We should have been at the studio ten minutes ago--!"
"Now, now, Jackie," Kakashi scolded jokingly. "I'm sure Kishimoto won't mind so much. Besides," he slid down his shades and winked at the four other girls behind his silvery-white bangs, "being late is my specialty, remember?"
Cel smiled at the inside joke. Of course. The Kakashi in the show was always late for everything. She motioned to her friends. "Come on, guys! We've got movie stars to meet!"
They all piled into the limousine at the same time, tumbling over each other, crushing toes. A cacophonous medley of laughter and chatter struck Celesse's ear as she struggled to clamber into the sleek black car. But Brit's foot was in the way and she tripped ungracefully and landed headfirst…right into Kakashi's lap.
It took her a moment to realize exactly what was going on.
But when it did hit her, it hit her hard; she scrambled backwards into the seat next to Brielle, blushing madly as little bouts of mirth rippled through the occupants of the limo, Kakashi included.
"…Ten years apart…" Bri's voice whispered, reminding her jokingly.
Celesse merely bit her lip and turned away to look at the window. As different topics of conversation began to arise among the others Cel herself remained silent, choosing to watch the Los Angeles night life pass her by. She kept reminding herself that this wasn't how she wanted to spend two months, two months that were supposed to be the best summer of her life, that she should pick herself back up and attempt to jump into the current dialogue with her friends. Really--what girl wouldn't want to be riding in a limousine with the famous (or infamous) Hatake Kakashi, world-renowned actor and could-be model, talking as if they were the best of friends? She couldn't possibly be spoiling that right now. That would be stupid.
But despite what she told herself, she knew it was true. She was doing just that.
Celesse was still in a bit of a put-out mood when the limo pulled up to the correct studio, and the driver helped them out. As soon as her feet were on solid asphalt she smoothed out the shirt she was wearing and followed Jackie, who led them all to a small door in the side of what looked like a building. The night was clear and stars were shining brightly despite the light pollution, and the warm evening air wrapped its hazy arms around her like they were casting a spell.
"Cel!" Brit hissed to her. "What are you waiting for? Christmas? Hanukah?"
She reluctantly followed her friends through the door only to be greeted by what she thought were a million bright lights. Stage and spotlights, from the amount of electricity searing her retinas. Her hand instinctively rose to her face in defense.
"Hey! You guys are the new interns, right?"
Celesse knew that voice from somewhere. It was definitely familiar. In the still blinding abyss next to her she heard Lynn speak up. "Oh, wow! Uzumaki Naruto! You have to sign something for me--"
A laugh from a blurry orange figure in front of her. Her eyes were slowly adjusting and losing their temporary blindness. She rubbed her eyes until her vision cleared, revealing a blonde-haired blue-eyed teen grinning from ear to ear. "That's me. And don't worry about signings. You'll have two months for those!" He turned around and called out. "Hey people! The new guys are here!"
Quite a few whoops and yells from the crowd on set.
Naruto beamed. "You caught us in the middle of a take, but I don't think Masashi would mind too much. We've been up since six this morning."
"Ah, go back to the set, Naruto," Kakashi told the younger boy. "From what I see you still haven't finished shooting the episode."
"That isn't happening, Hatake! Nuh uh! You had them all day--now you've got to share 'em!"
"Yeah!"
"S'right!"
Kakashi sighed as he gave in. "Alright, Naruto. I have to check in with Mr. Kishimoto anyway. I'll be back." He adjusted his sunglasses as he strode off towards a back office.
Bri leaned towards Jackie. "Does he always wear those sunglasses?"
"Yes," the blonde girl nodded. "Even inside, and in whatever weather. He only takes them off when they're rehearsing or he's asleep."
"That's…odd."
"Says the girl who ran into a door at school," Celesse muttered under her breath.
Brielle's voice bordered preppy. "Oh no you didn't!"
The two of them were nearly rolling on the floor with laughter before Naruto called over to them. "C'mon! I want to introduce you to the rest of the crew!"
He led them to the actual set first, where some of the actors were fooling around.
"Yo, Sasuke! Itachi! Look who's here!"
Two of the younger guys on the set turned and met the four girls' eyes with dark, brooding stares. The shadowy hair hung over their eyes and one had half of a black and red cloak slipping off to reveal a black shirt underneath. Celesse felt even her continence waver and her knees begin to buckle. These…these two are…
Rather abruptly, she found the younger of two shaking her hand briefly before moving on to Brit, then Lynn, the Bri. "Hi! Nice to meet you. I'm Sasuke Uchiha and that is my brother, Itachi," he said enthusiastically. "So you're our new Stage Crew, huh? That's great! All of our old Crew left for Ouran High School Host Club. Said something about how they paid more."
"Well, all the better for us!" Brit chimed in. "My name is Brit, and these two are Cel and Lynn. This one that's still standing dumbstruck next to me is my cousin Brielle."
All Bri could do was open and close her mouth like a goldfish in shock.
Itachi stepped forward smiled. "As my brother said before, nice to see you all. It'll be great to have some more help around here--"
"AHH!"
A flash of pink streaked out of one of the dressing rooms. She stopped, nostrils flaring, dark circles around her eyes, streaks of black running down her cheeks. "GAA-RA! I'm going to kill you!"
Sasuke stepped forward to stop her. "Hey, Sakura…calm down. What happened?"
Naruto rushed over to see what was wrong. "Sakura, what's going on?"
"He mixed up my make up with his! Again!" Sakura dashed away some of her tears. "I'm going right over to Kishimoto and getting a different vanity! Then I need to call my make up artist--"
Cel stepped up. "How about if I just fix it? I'm pretty good with show make up."
Sakura's eyes shimmered. "Would you really?"
"Yeah, why not." Celesse motioned to her friends. "You guys go ahead and meet the rest of the cast. I'll catch up with you guys later!"
Lynn frowned. "You sure?"
She nodded and mouthed, This is gonna take awhile.
Lynn grimaced. "Oh. Okay."
Naruto grinned. "Alright then! On with the tour!" he said brightly as he and Sasuke led them to the other side of the studio.
Celesse waved. "Have fun you guys!"
