Chapter 3: My how the tables have turned.

Disclaimer: I own nothing in this chapter none of the songs or characters

Quote: "In Sicily, women are more dangerous than shotguns" - The Godfather

Momo sighed as she dragged her feet along the cold stone pathway, to her next audition. She had decided on becoming an actress and so far she was having no luck at all. Each audition ended in failure. This would be her 11th audition to date. She had started looking for audition a few weeks back and she hadn't landed one at all. Truthfully, it infuriated her. Some days when she'd go home to her and Rukia's tiny apartment, and Rukia would be there sitting and managing her new documents from the small pharmacy she was working at. But apparently she had also gotten another degree and was able to become a manager, so if Momo ever got accepted she already had a manager, but Rukia would just look at her and the way she would walk in rukia would already know how the day went so no words needed to be exchanged. Some days Momo felt like quitting, but every time she did, the haunting memory drifted up in her mind the day that most likely changed her life forever.

It refueled her energy to go on, and she'd find the strength she didn't know she had and she'd march right back into the trouble of getting started. Also another thing that kept her stubborn fiery spirit going was the interviews and the tabloids and the clips of Momo and Toshiro happily dating.

"how many years had it been since I talked to them last?"Momo mused searching for her audition building. "5 at least"She surmised.

She walked into the audition room, only to be met with the looks of crying faces of girls who were auditioning, and a bored looking group of men who she assumed were the directors. She slowly walked in,

"Ah heres the last one." The main man in the front said. The one she assumed was the lead director. "I doubt she'll make it."

Momo brushed of his assumption and sat down she had come way to far to fail again, but if she failed there were always more audition to try out for.

A few minutes later as the directors and producers began to talk about the movie, the doors burst open and Rukia ran in.

"Sorry. Momo! I came to watch you try out! Good luck!" Rukia cheered.

"Ok" the Director continued "Now in the movie, you'll need to be able to either sing or play an instrument, or sing, and of course you'll need to act. Without further ado begin."

The instrument test was first, and momo began to get worried cuz these girls were good. She had only learned a bit of guitar from Toshiro years ago and she hoped that she still remembered at least some of it.

At last it was momos turn and she walked shyly on stage.

"Um. Im Momo Hinamori, number 21, I'll be playing guitar and singing the female vocals from airplanes and my friend Hisagi is here to sing the male vocals." Momo spoke softly sitting down on a stool and settling herself at the piano as Hisagi walked on the stage.

"Begin."

(Momo/Hisagi)

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars?
I could really use a wish right now
Wish right now
Wish right now

Momo began playing the guitar slowly getting used to and remembering the fingerings.

Yeah, I could use a dream or a genie or a wish
To go back to a place much simpler than this
'Cause after all the partyin' and smashin' and crashin'
And all the glitz and the glam and the fashion
And all the pandemonium and all the madness
There comes a time where you fade to the blackness
And when you starin' at that phone in your lap
And you're hopin' but them people never call you back
But that's just how the story unfolds
You get another hand soon after you fold
And when your plans unravel in the sand
What would you wish for if you had one chance?
So airplane, airplane, sorry I'm late
I'm on my way so don't close that gate
If I don't make that then I'll switch my flight
And I'll be right back at it by the end of the night

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting Stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

Yeah, yeah, somebody take me back to the days
Before this was a job, before I got paid
Before it ever mattered what I had in my bank
Yeah, back when I was tryin' to get a tip at Subway
And back when I was rappin' for the hell of it
But nowadays we rappin' to stay relevant
I'm guessin' that if we can make some wishes outta' airplanes
Then maybe yo maybe I'll go back to the days
Before the politics that we call the rap game
And back when ain't nobody listen to my mixtape
And back before I tried to cover up my slang
But this is for the hater, what's up Bobby Ray?
So can I get a wish
To end the politics
And get back to the music
That started this shit?
So here I stand and then again I say
I'm hopin' we can make some wishes outta' airplanes

Can we pretend that airplanes
In the night sky
Are like shooting stars? (Shooting stars)
I could really use a wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)
Wish right now (Wish right now)

Momo and Hisagi finished singing she gave him a small smile as her walked off.

"Um I can also play a little guitar." Momo said unsurely as the directors just stared at her.

"Go well tell you later if you're out or not" The main director said kicking her out

She walked out sadly her head hung down for sure that she h ad failed but when she went to check the list she was surprised to find her name still on the list for the next round. Which was acting she shuddered she might not make it after this.

"Now this scene is from part of my play. It is when the main girl character sees her old friends who don't like her new found friends and band and they want her to quit. But she won't and this is the struggle scene." One of the directors, who she assumed was the writer said.

Each person was handed scripts and everyone furiously tried to memorize them. As did Momo. She failed to notice one of the producers turn on the TV which happened to be on an interview with Toshiro and Karin she also didn't notice the squeals of the girls and the gasp of Rukia who sat in the corner of the room.

Each person went up to present their lines and they were all pretty good. Except when Momo went up.

Momo walked into the middle of the room script in hand and only then did she notice the tv. And the people on it. She gasped and dropped the script.

(On the TV)

"So Karin, Toshiro, how long have you two known each other?" The interviewer asked.

"Forever." Karin smiled.

"Oh, so were you each other first friends?" The interviewer, Cat Ling said.

"I think so yes. Well he met me when I went to my brothers school and he was there." Karin said again.

"Toshiro?" Cat questioned.

"Yes, Karin was my first friend."

(In the room with MoMo)

"Rukia!" Momo cried out "He's lying!"

"What how do you know that?" A girl in the crowd asked,

"I was his first friend Rukia! Me! Weve known each other since before stupid Karin was born! She stole my best friend! Now theyre acting like I don't even exist!" Momo cried out.

The rest of the girls in the room watched in pity for the girl 1) for what had happened and 2) for she probably just failed the audition. '

"Alright that's it were done." The director said leaving the room. "The list will be posted on the wall in 20 minutes."

Rukia sat in the chair beside Momo and rubbed her back as the girl cried.

(TV)

"Toshiro was Karin your first love?" Cat said with a smirk.

Toshiro hesitated for a second. A image of a dark haired smiling girl flashed through his mind. He hadn't seen her in so long. How had she been doing he wondered.

"Its hard to remember." He said finally.

"Well is Karin your only close friend who's a girl?' Cat asked prying for more info/

"No." Toshiro said simply "There was Rukia, Matsumoto, and Orihime,"

(With Momo)

-("So those were your only other close friends who were girls Toshiro?" Cat said confused.)-

Momo couldn't believe her ears he had really forgotten about her.

-("no" he said quietly "There was Momo. I had known her for a long time.")-

Her heart stopped, he hadn't forgotten about her, she was still there, a wave of relief floated over her.

Rukia just wondered if she could detect a bit of sadness in his voice.

-("Oh ho longer than Karin perhaps?" cat questioned)-

"Yes! Yes much longer!" Momo wanted to scream at the TV and shake it until they understood, until they heard her, until they knew the truth, until she let out the secrets that she'd been hiding from the world. From her friends. From herself.

-('Oh look at the time! We've got another interview to do and we're late!" Karin yelled grabbing Toshiro and running out of the room leaving the interviewer confused.)-

Momo smirked to herself Karin had been so worried about everyone knowing the she was in fact the first best friend, Momo smiled cuz that meant she was in their heads and she wasn't planning on leaving soon.

The directors looked at the list in their hands. Yes, it was a small made for TV movie but somehow, they thought, just maybe she'll launch them into the mainstream programs and possibly become world wide and famous. It was a big dream but when he saw her raw emotions and spirit laid out on the acting floor, he knew she was the perfect embodiment of his character Charlene, she was a perfect fit.

"List is up." A director said, who posted up the list and then ran away as the crowd of people ran over to it.

Momo however slowly walked over she was sure she wasn't on the list…again.

A Complicated Trip. -casting list

…

Charlene Fujisaki (female lead) - Momo Hinamori.

…

Momo looked on the bottom of the list at the most expecting to be a supporting female character, but to her surprise she saw her name at the top…as the female lead.

Pride welled inside her, she had finally done It. She had become a actress. She was going to be in her first movie.

"Rukia! Rukia! I did it! I did it!" Momo sang as she ran out of the crowd.

"really? What part did you get?" Rukia asked

"Lead! Im the female lead!" Momo said happily.

"That's awesome!" Rukia cheered. "Let's go celebrate!"

"Okay!" Momo agreed as the two of them left the audition building happier than when they got there.

For the next couple months Momo's time was devoted to filming the movie. It had pretty much gone off without a hitch, she got along well with her castmates and they all had become friends. Though it was sad when the movie filming ended, but they were all excited to see their movie on TV.

The night it premiered, Momo and Rukia had invited all their friends from college to come and watch, as well as Rangiku, Ichigo and Renji who were visiting from abroad. The old group was all their except for Toshiro though no one wanted to mention this aloud.

"The fun has arrived!" A loud female voice said from the doorway.

"Jeez Matsumoto not so loud." A male voice sighed

"Hey can you tone it down I kinda want to hear things for the rest of my life." Another male said annoyed.

"What can take loud noises you old man?" The 1st male sneered.

"Oi! Shut up strawberry." The 2nd male yelled.

The female of the group just laughed at their antics, by this time Momo had figured out who it was and she and Rukia had jumped off and over the couch to see their old friends.

"Matsumoto! Ichigo! Renji!" Momo yelled happily as she was squished in a painful bear hug courtesy of Matsumoto.

"Momo ive missed you!" Matusmoto cried.

After introductions and reunions were over the whole group all settled on the couch to watch momo's movie.

Momo just smiled to herself the entire time, it was almost like things were the way they were supposed to be. It just needed a little more time.

(After the movie)

"Momo that was so good!" Matsumoto and Rukia gushed.

Momo just blushed and mumbled " I wasn't that good."

"Not that good? Momo you were freakin fantastic!" Matsumoto yelled.

Momos night continued on pretty much the same, but late that night she fell asleep a little happier with all of her friends around her…well almost all her friends.

(Toshiro and Karin)

Toshiro walked silently through the penthouse apartment he and Karin had been sharing since they had been dating in college. They have been dating for 5 years and both didn't want to take anything further for at least a few more years. He sighed and plopped down on the couch. Sure his life was good, he was dating the girl he loved, he was well on his way to being a well known music producer, and he was happy. Though he couldn't help but feel like something in his life was missing something important… The same dark haired girl flashed through his head. But this time it was images of her and him, and their friends. He hadn't seen Momo since the kuchikis beach house 5 years ago. Of course he missed the girl who was his oldest friend though he told that stupid interviewer something else today during the interview.

"Knowing her she's probably living in some small town, working at a cloths store, and already married to some guy even though shes only 23." Toshiro muttered to himself. "That's just how people like Momo are." He knew without a doubt momos life was boring like that. Even as a kid she never did want anything more than a simple life. So he need not worry about her.

He turned on the TV as Karin walked in.

"Oh whats that?" She asked hopping down onto the couch. "A made for TV movie?"

"I guess." Toshiro shrugged. "It's called "A Complicated Trip" by some unknown director"

"Oh let's watch." Karin said.

As they sat in the silence and watched the movie, Toshiro couldn't help but widen his eyes visibly when the main female, Charlene, came in. That dark hair, those brown eyes, though she was a little taller than Momo, Toshiro and Karin couldn't help but think she resembled Momo a little too much.

"It cant be her, shes way too shy for acting."Toshiro thought to himself. "something like this would never be on her 'lists'."

With that little bit of reassurance toshiro quickly shrugged off the idea that the lead was none other than his old friend Momo…she wouldn't be an actress, its not who she was.

…

But for the rest of the night he couldn't get the thought of Momo possibly being an actress out of his head.

…

It just couldn't of been her.

…

Right?

Late that night Momo lay awake in her bed. She briefly wondered if Toshiro or Karin saw the movie. Maybe even the granny who watched her and toshiro as kids had seen it? She smiled to herself as she envisioned what they would think once they saw her on the big screen. Maybe they didn't recognize her, maybe they didn't even see it.

But the tables were turning in her favor. She was starting her climb to fame, she was going to become well known and famous, all thanks to Karin and that one fated day at the beach. Maybe at the time Karin didn't realize what she had just done but now, now toshiro was going to be hers again. And nothing was going to stand in her way any more, she had changed as a person and she was never going to be the weak little girl she was back in high school. She wondered for a second if maybe toshiro would still love Karin even when she became famous. If that happened she would be crushed, she would-.

Her thoughts stopped. None of that mattered, if he loved Karin still his loss. She would carry on with her life, doesn't matter if she has toshiro or not, she has herself, her pride, maybe one day her fame and her friends.

Nothing could stop her now.

"Bitch, please" Momo thought"You underestimated me."

End Quote: "Success is the ability to go from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm." -Sir Winston Churchill