I started working on this ages ago and finally got around to working on it again, I hadn't planned on uploading until after I finish Breaking Through but ended up being swayed by Gruvia day, so enjoy all things Gruvia.
"Good evening, everyone, you're watching Shout Out, the nightly report of all things tinsel town on the Tid Bits Entertainment Network. Tonight, we are going to tell you what's hot and what's not, who's in and who's out and to get started I am MiraJane Strauss, and this is my co-host Juvia Lockser." Mira spoke with an infection energy and vibrant personality while I stared at my reflection in the camera lens with a wide smile glued to my face. Moving my eyes to the teleprompter's gentle scrolling I watched for the opening of my segment, although I had read the script beforehand my eyes stayed focused on the rolling text in case any new gossip rolled in. Words the director told me echoed in my head; look without looking, read without staring, look natural as if you are talking to an old friend. It was all easier said than done.
Deep breath, happy face, smooth transition and begin. "We just got word from a reliable source that after five seasons the hit show Storm of Shadows has been cancelled. The network's statement said that although they realized that the loyal sci-fi fans will be disappointed, they had to end the series due to contractual issues. This leaves us questioning which of the stars did not want to continue the show and what their motivation was for moving on." Giving MiraJane an over the top eyebrow raise, it came the time for us to sidebar and give our pre-written theories on the behind the scenes drama.
Mira took over, "Everyone knows that although Minerva Orland as Lena Shadow is the main character of the show, her sidekick Marco Nox, played by newcomer Gray Fullbuster is actually the main draw for most viewers with their ratings pulling mostly women between the ages of 20 and 35."
"Although that is true, it's been reported that Orland has turned down multiple motion picture offers before to continue doing the show, we have to ask whether it was her that didn't sign on because of a larger deal in the works or if there is something else entirely. This was Gray Fullbuster's first mainstream show and we haven't heard of him being optioned for any new projects as of yet." This part of the show was the worst for me because of the high possibility of our prewritten faux banter being taken as the gospel truth and all of my online accounts getting trolled to no end to prove me wrong on something I didn't even believe or particularly care about in the first place. Working for entertainment news meant that most of what we reported would later be proven false and despite knowing that, we were still required to state all of it as convincingly as possible.
We were coasting through our usual back and forth of stories and theories on musicians, actors, and models until reaching the end of the show and tonight it was my turn for the sign-off, plastering on my grin I gave an energetic nod to the camera before reciting, "That's our Shout Out for the night, thanks for joining us for the Tid Bits," The cameras cut and a sigh escaped my lips as I added a mental tally to my counter of the live shows without incident. A big incident on live television could end anyone's career, this hit particularly close to home knowing that the only reason I currently stood on the studio floor is because my predecessor had his full-on mental breakdown during an interview and tried to hurl himself off the fake ledge set piece during sweeps. I for one didn't plan on crashing and burning on camera and going down in history as a highlight in a blooper reel or a viral video.
The stage manager, Max, rushed towards us gripping his clipboard tightly in his hands as words poured out about every detail of the night's broadcast. "Juvia, can we maybe talk about your hair again? I know we put a pin in the topic, but the execs really want to see you in long wavy hair saying that it's time to change up your look from the tight curls."
My eye roll was involuntary but a quick glance at Mira made it clear that I was not alone in my frustrations. The executives were nameless and faceless, but they were not at all voiceless, as they constantly sent down frivolous criticisms for us and how we could essentially look and act more mainstream like entertainment news barbie dolls. Mira had nearly lost her job earlier in the year over the suggestion she wear more revealing clothing, I thought that she looked beautiful but the notes from the execs claimed that her audience wanted more from her. I didn't know the details of what happened just that the topic was dropped out of the blue and never brought up again, I simply heard that a lawyer was involved and didn't question it any further.
"Okay, whatever Max. Tell hair and makeup to do the new thing next time and we'll try it out once." I was not nearly the brave and boisterous diva Mira could be, actually I was more of a push over.
"Great, thanks Juvia," he said jotting notes with a wide smile, "you're fantastic, and Mira what about-"
"Excuse me? What's my name?" she interrupted with acid in her voice.
Jason paled, "S-s-sorry MiraJane, never mind, it's actually fine," he turned on his heel and headed the opposite direction disappearing around the corner.
"Juves," Mira warned, "you know that if you give into everything, they're going to walk all over you," her stern expression caused my blood to run cold, she meant business and I couldn't help but to deflate under her stare.
"I know, I just can't fight them like you do, you aren't afraid of anything, and I am a coward."
"Fine, then get ready because class is in session and you're going to learn my ways," she nudged her elbow into me and wiggled her eyebrows. "They'll be running scared before you know it, but you know, a healthy sort of fear. Now get dressed, we're still going out, aren't we?"
Mira and I might be close friends and co-workers but we had very different ideas of how to spend a Friday night. With our last show for the week finished, I wanted nothing more than to go home and curl up with a good book. Mira, on the other hand, had the urge to go out for a night on the town. She liked the attention she got at the clubs and wanted to bring me along for the wild ride. I knew that I didn't have anything of importance planned for the night, but I still wanted to use that time to do stuff around my place and I was not up to going out. Ever since I started working as a legitimate co-host, I found myself with less and less time for my growing to-do list, just thinking about my broken closet door and piles of laundry made me reluctant to go out with her, but the expectant expression on her face won out so I decided to answer honestly to avoid Mira tracking me down to fact-check. "Of course."
"Girl's night out," I knew I was in trouble the second the smirk crossed her lips, "There's this place on the hill called Philly's and it's fantastic, do something casual but dressy and meet me there around eight."
"I don't know what dressy casual means or if I have something that falls into the category, "I cringed as she raised her eyebrows at me.
"Oh, my goodness, you're not joking, are you?" she laughed, "didn't you have clubs in wherever you came from?"
"Oak Town, and we did have clubs, I just would have driven an hour on the interstate to get there."
"I can work with this, I will grab a few things from my dressing room and you can work on your backwoods wardrobe issues later," she laughed, "I have a couple of things that will hug your dangerous curves quite nicely and you will have an amazing night out with moi."
My phone buzzed as a text arrived from the network, Breaking Celebrity News: sources reporting that actor Gray Fullbuster rumored to have signed on to the lead role in the much-anticipated action movies Hunting Season. The rush of footsteps came down the hallway as the crew prepared for their impromptu coverage of the story, and I was left thanking my lucky stars that I was off the clock so I wouldn't be the one stuck working tonight.
"I love you Mira, I really do," I said hugging her and heading to my dressing room, I wanted to remove my camera-ready façade and make my way home to pour myself into bed. I knew I needed to mentally prepare for tonight, I had a feeling it was going to be crazy but what was the worst that could happen?
Before I knew it, we were primped, polished and ready to dazzle. The ride to the club went by in the blink of an eye, and not just because Mira drove like a maniac weaving through traffic while murmuring under her breath about crazy people driving erratically. She slid into the valet lane and gave me and encouraging look before my door opened and it was suddenly go-time. Shuffling awkwardly and tugging fabric I tried to get out of her car without flashing my panties to the entire line outside the club and the valet ignored me entirely transfixed by Mira's graceful exit from the driver's side. Somehow, I managed to lift myself and avoid going face first into the sidewalk only to see Mira effortlessly glide up next to me with her six-inch heels not hindering her in the slightest. Taking me gently by the elbow she pulled me away from the direction I was walking to get in line and said, "we are on television sweetheart, we do not have to stand in lines."
As we approached the velvet rope, I found myself smirking in amusement that the gaudy velvet ropes were actually a thing and not just in movie theaters. The bouncer opened the way and allowed us to pass through, as we walked inside Mira headed down the long hallway into the open area of the club and I stopped to look around the lobby with its steely gray paintjob and many DJ posters plastered over every few feet. Put one foot in front of the other and breathe. Stepping into the noisy club I begged my balance to stay true because I felt like I was going to trip over my own two feet. Just because I was now officially the co-host of a hit show on an the Tid Bits news network did not mean that I was suddenly poised and put together in public. Mira had taken me under her wing and helped me so much as I started the preparations to do the on-air side of things, but she was way more outgoing that I was, and she underestimated my dislike of drama. I saw the irony, a person in entertainment news that hates drama. Well, I don't necessarily mind the drama when it isn't mine, but this standing here surrounded by people in the hottest place in town? This was too close to home; I did not want to have to report on my own embarrassing flub on the show.
I watched as she disappeared into the chaos of the crowd around the bar to get us drinks, and all I could focus on was the pinching sensation on my foot. Looking down I saw the culprit, a twisted strap on the god-awful silver strappy shoes I borrowed from wardrobe without permission. Leaning down I fumbled with the strap for a moment before finally getting it to lay flat. As I turned to stand, I felt a firm body and warm hands around my waist as I tipped backward stopping just short of the floor. Looking up I spotted the dark eyes of the one and only Gray Fullbuster staring back at me. "Are you okay?"
My mouth opened and closed in complete silence, I couldn't seem to formulate any words and hated myself for it. His arms tightened around my body as he lifted me back to my feet still staring at me, damn. I needed to get rid of the lump in my throat and say something already, this was embarrassing enough without me forgetting how to speak. "Fine, thanks," I managed. There, at least I wasn't completely incapable.
"Sorry for knocking you over," he rubbed a hand over his gorgeous dark hair and wore a picture-perfect smile. I felt a smile of my own tugging at my lips, was Mister Up-and-coming really a nice guy? Who would have guessed? I can't say that any of the celebrities I had come in contact with through work had ever been anything more than tolerant of me.
Happily back on my own two feet I spotted Mira's back still standing in the crowd around the bar, "I have to go," I said as I turned and followed her as quickly as my feet would carry me in those ridiculous shoes.
"Mira, you left me," I stammered breathlessly in her ear after finally catching up.
"What? You were right behind me," she said calmly with a wave of her hand dismissing my comment as it were none of her concern.
"No, I wasn't, I had to fix my shoe and you kept going, when I stood up, I smacked right into him," I felt the embarrassment course through me.
"Who?" she looked around for who I could possibly be referring to.
"Him!" I yelled, pointing at Gray Fullbuster entering the VIP area.
"Wait just a minute," she began, her eyes lighting up her grip on my wrist suddenly pinching me, "you saw him up close?"
"Saw? Oh, no. He crashed right into me an if he hadn't caught me..." my cheeks heated up at the thought of it.
"Wait! You touched him? Girl, I didn't even notice you were gone, and you were off having a moment with a sexy actor? Here I was worried about you being too timid, I can't believe you had such a go get him attitude in you under all of that scaredy cat behavior."
I sighed, there was no getting through to Mira, when she started to believe something that was it. She was thinking I was some sort of man hunter and I just wanted to cry in the bathroom. "Drinks on me," she said leaning over the bar waving at the bartender, "we'll start of slow with two amaretto sours." Turning back to me she smiled, "these shouldn't do you in too quickly, that way you can still dance and have a good time."
"Thanks," at least she didn't want to see me get drunk. I turned as two girls who didn't look old enough to be in the bar approached us and began blabbering away.
"Oh my god, you're MiraJane from Shout Out, and that's the new girl, Julia." the shorter girl exclaimed.
"Juvia, and she is the best addition to Shout Out we've had in ages, excuse us ladies, we're on a mission tonight," she said grabbing our drinks and making her way to a table at the far end of the room leaving the girls behind.
"A mission? And what's that?"
Laughing she sipped her drink before looking at me, "not being followed by teens who snuck in with a fake ID."
I snorted into my drink, "That's a plan I can get behind."
She leaned in to talk over the music, "see any good prospects?" she asked as I scanned the room seeing a few young guys, an older greasy haired man, some guy in a plaid suit, and already drunk guy passed out on the table much to the annoyance of his friends and a multitude of flashy dressers. She interrupted my investigation, "If I had to choose I'd go big red and Aquaman" she pointed toward a tall redhead and his long-haired friend at the table with the drink guy, "but we'd have to avoid the third wheel," indicating their comrade passed out on the table, "at least he won't be handsy."
"So, do we go over to them?"
"Usually I'd say we'd make them come to us but with that drunk friend I'd say we have to bite the bullet and migrate their way." We gathered our clutches and drinks, but a dark suited man towered over us casting a shadow in the already darkened room. Reaching out he placed a note in my hand and waited as I opened it.
I'm sorry for earlier, please let me buy you a drink to make up for it. Gray
"I'm here to escort you and your friend up when you are ready," the man explained.
I glanced at Mira anxiously, smiling back she squealed, "let's go!" The tall, suited man turned leading the way, the crowd parted as he cut through, bringing us to the stairwell leading up to the VIP section.
"Ladies," he said gesturing toward the doorway, the staircase was steep and I suddenly questioned if I could scale it with my nerves causing my legs to shake, I pictured rolling back down into Mira and making an utter fool of myself but I pushed onward. Reaching the top, I examined the room, I saw a private bar with about six tables and a dozen stools. A metal railing with a plexiglass barrier made up one wall overlooking the entire club. Across the room on a long leather seat sat Gray and another very good-looking guy. Gray rose with his hand out, "I'm Gray Fullbuster and this is my friend Laxus Dreyar, I am so sorry about earlier."
As soon as he paused, I took that chance to introduce myself, "It's fine, I was in your way, my name is Juvia Lockser and this is MiraJane Strauss"
"Mira is fine, gentleman," she corrected as Laxus placed a kiss on her hand.
Gray scolded, "Can you knock it off? You're going to weird them out," Mira and I stifled our laughter and exchanged a glance, "I see you already have drinks, please let me get you another one when you are finished," he said politely. I exhaled trying to shake my nervousness just then a staff member entered the lounge and placed trays on a large table beside the sectional holding wings, cheese sticks, friend pickled, and spinach dip. Gray pushed his fingers through his hair and admitted, "We're not into all that fancy stuff so we ordered apps, help yourself if you want any."
Stepping toward the table I gingerly picked up a fried pickle, "Oh, I love these, there's a place downtown that has the best ones," I said noticing Mira's look of repulsion as I popped it in my mouth.
"Dale's?" Gray asked, "that place is great."
"Yes! I found it on accident, but I love going there now."
I heard Mira's voice come from the television behind me and I froze, "Good evening, you're watching Shout Out, the nightly report of all things tinsel town on Tid Bits Entertainment Network. "
"You're on the tv," Laxus stated the obvious.
"So we are," Mira nodded slowly locking eyes with me knowing what came next.
"I spoke over the sound of my own voice, "can we turn this off?"
"I think that's a good idea," Gray said, his expression unreadable.
"I'm so sorry," I said catching his eye as he turned toward me, the television now blank. "I hate that that just happened."
"So, you did a report on me," he gave a weak laugh, "that's not awkward at all."
"Everything I do tonight is awkward," I sighed.
"Don't worry about it, we all have to do things we aren't exactly proud of in this business," he offered with a reassuring smile, "we understand. Admittedly I didn't realize you were in the business when we invited you up."
"I kind of wish we were just two normal people that bumped into each other instead, this is kind of embarrassing."
Gray laughed, "well we are two semi-famous people who actually bumped into one another, hard, so there are admittedly some similarities." he patted the sofa next to them, "sit, we might as well just forget the awkwardness and make the best of things."
"If you're sure," I hesitated.
"Absolutely."
I sat next to him and crinkled my nose as the song changed on the dancefloor below us. "Not a fan?" he asked taking a swig from his beer.
"No, not at all, I feel like I didn't hear anything like this until I moved out here and now it's everywhere and I'd be hard-pressed to find decent music playing anywhere besides an elevator."
"I was raised on classic rock, so I feel your pain, The Rolling Stones aren't played anywhere anymore either."
"It's a pity, I doubt many modern movie soundtracks could fit in the classics," I laughed, "just imagine someone putting something like that in a superhero movie."
"I see your point," he chuckled, "but they don't even play it in the stores or restaurants anymore, when is the last time you even recognized the music in a store? It's all so new and weird."
"I could possibly argue there, but it starts making me feel old when some of the newer stuff plays, I wonder if I would even like it if I were younger," is sighed.
"I wouldn't call either of us old, I blame it on being raised in a small town, it's just different out there," he explained.
"Small town? Where? I am from a little town up North,"
"Oak Town," he grinned, "I knew I liked something about you, you're one of my people. I miss my small town, it's definitely different out here. I mean look around do you think any of these people know what it's like to go to the river on a nice day? I bet most of them never even went to the ocean here because they would say it is for tourists. Do you think any of them would get in muddy brown river water back home?"
"Not a chance"
"It's a different world out here."
I laughed, "I totally understand."
"Oh, they have no clue, do they?" He shook his head.
"Nope. Mira still calls me a Martian and says she doesn't know how I am surviving out here."
There was a pause," how are you surviving?"
I have a weak smile and felt the answer from my lips, "barely."
"I completely understand," he leaned closer, "do you make it back home much?"
The lull in conversation drew our attention to Laxus and Mira who at some point had moved so close that they were almost on top of one another and were talking entirely too close to each other's face. I blew a breath, "whoa"
"No kidding,
I stared at them before sitting back on the sofa.
"what's up," he asked.
"She was my ride."
"and now she can be his, want to get out of here?"
"what?" where would we go?"
"I have every game console in existence, want to go play?"
"classic consoles?"
"all of them," he nodded.
"Game cube?"
"Sure do, what's your favorite game?"
"Smash Bros."
"Got it,"
I grabbed my clutch and stood, "then, what are we waiting for?"
I followed Gray as he headed down the stairs from VIP and approached security. "We need a quick and discreet escape route; can you do that? And bring my car around?" he said tossing his keys to one of the men.
"Yes, Mr. Fullbuster," they responded in unison before splitting up on their tasks. We were led out through the kitchen and through the back door where Gray's car arrived a moment later. "Ready?" he asked and I nodded in return, it was time to take this show on the road.