Hollywood's next big name

“I’m going to get another tattoo soon, what do you think I should get?” Sam asked outloud to the nearest person. “I was thinking about going with my theme of space, but I kind of wanted to get something Star Wars, or Star Trek, related. Opinions?”

“That’s so awesome!” Riley grinned encouragingly at Sam. “It’s probably a cliche suggestion, but what I’ve seen a couple people who got Live Long and Prosper in Vulcan, and that looked really cool.”

Riley clenched his jaw at Benji’s reply, beyond irritated now.

“Why sound I be happy for Rosie? I was happy with Rosie. I’m not going to be happy for her because she’s with someone else now.” Benji told Riley, seemingly a little calmer with his tone now. He knew he needed to tone down his attitude– his temper always got the better of him and sometimes it did remind him of his abusive father. Deep down inside, Benji was happy for Rosie. He loved her too much to not be happy for her, but it still did hurt. It was better not knowing about the life she had now. He kind of wished he hadn’t asked Riley if Rosie was the same girl he once dated. The less he knew, the better off he was. Because now, all he was feeling was jealous. Jealousy over the fact that Rosie was happy and in love with someone else while Benji was still the damaged, reckless man she’d met all those years ago.

“Because if you care about her, really care about her, then her happiness would matter to you.” Riley sighed, a little calmer now himself now that Benji seemed to be mellowing a little.

“I know… we are, we really are,” Riley laughed happily. “God… I know that eight months might seem early but just… I know that I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you,” He murmured. This was undoubtedly the best moment of his life- he was going to marry Rosie. He’d never been so sure that he wanted anything in his life.

Rosalie just beamed at Riley. She didn’t care that they’d only been together 8 months. This was right for her, and right for them. She didn’t care what anyone else said. She was happy, he was happy, and that was all that mattered. “I can’t wait to be your wife” And she was just really excited to start planning their wedding now. It was going to be such a special day. She really could not wait. 

“I can’t wait for it either,” Riley told her earnestly, before cocking his head to the side and giving her a lopsided grin. “You’ll be Mrs Jordan,” he teased. “Rosie Jordan... I like the sound of that. Or maybe I should change my last name to yours instead- what do you think of Riley Hastings?”Riley chuckled.

“Oh, yeah- that is probably the best part of a party, after all. The food.” Riley agreed with a grin. “Though if it was mediocre, that sucks. Hmm… I got mistaken for, like, a fourteen year old a couple times when I was eighteen, ‘cause I had this god-awful haircut with really short bangs and spiky bits… thought it looked cool. I was wrong.”

“LITERALLY BIRTHDAY PARTIES CAN EITHER GO TWO WAYS, there are those trophy moms that do these big shebangs for their children and it’s such a ‘in your face, look at me I’m so wealthy and have this money’ kind of ordeal and then you have those parties where the moms literally do not give a shit and just chuck shit out like ‘there, deal with it yourself’ there’s literally no in-between” Rosie was a social kid at playgroup so too many times she will get invites for kids birthdays and it was Bunny that was always lugging her around, that’s how she noticed the distinct two; “Ah yeah, embarrassing haircuts are always the worst. Especially if there is photographic proof”

“Oh, God, I know,” Riley laughed, grimacing slightly in agreement. “I mean, I don’t go to kids parties all that often, gotta admit, but a colleague of mine has five year old twins, and I got invited once... let’s just say she’s definitely a trophy mom. The party was full of people who’d probably never even met her kids.” Riley informed her with a shrug. “And hell, it’s not even just parties. My fiancee and I can be out with our daughter, and sometimes these trophy Moms will just pop up and go ohhh, how sweet.... how old is she? One? Well by age one my dear little Kale-Mist could already talk as well as speak fluent french and play the violin... “ He laughed, exaggerating obviously, but hoping she knew what he meant. It was always so frustrating when that kind of competitive parent appeared and seemingly judged Katarina.

“You need any help?” Riley offered, crouching to her level in case she wanted help packing her things back up.

She blinked in shock at his offer, slowly nodding. “Erm… Thank you. I really appreciate the help.” she replied, still packing.

“Hey, no worries,” Riley smiled with a cheerful shrug. “Sure anyone else’d do the same.”

Riley was in the bookstore, scouring the aisles for something to send his Mom for her birthday, when he saw a woman looking a little disheartened.

She crouched down with a frown as she began to pile her things neatly once more in the box. Glancing up at the sound of someone questioning her. “Not exactly…” she answered awkwardly. “Thank you for asking.”

“You need any help?” Riley offered, crouching to her level in case she wanted help packing her things back up.

Riley chuckled at her response. “Oh, yeah- I could totally get a grey granny perm. I would so rock that.” He joked.

“Well, Halloween is just around the corner; maybe you could get a wig and try out some funky hairstyle for a night.”

“Oh, yeah! I’m pretty sure there’s a ton of wigs in the theater dressing rooms, I could totally borrow one. Pretty sure they have a bunch of those weird Georgian wigs with, like, the white curls and stuff... I would totally rock one of those, right?”

“Nah, don’t worry about it, I’m happy to listen,” Riley assured her with a grin. “Okay, seriously, who the hell mistakes an adult for a child at a birthday party? I mean shit, sounds like she might have been, I dunno, spiking her lemonade with whiskey or something. Not that you look old or anything- God, no. But you don’t look like a 12 year old at a kid’s party or anything like that. Or maybe she was just trying to pay you a compliment but had very skewed perception of how to compliment someone? I dunno,” Riley chuckled.

“I DON’T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AT THAT PARTY, I only really went for the food” and it’s true Bunny was one of those people that could rarely said no and unfortunately for her it happened to be one of Rosie’s - Bunny’s little sister’s - close friend which meant she felt obligated to go; “I honestly just shrugged it off, the food was mediocre anyways. Have you ever had a situation like that? Where people downgraded your age because you looked different?”

“Oh, yeah- that is probably the best part of a party, after all. The food.” Riley agreed with a grin. “Though if it was mediocre, that sucks. Hmm... I got mistaken for, like, a fourteen year old a couple times when I was eighteen, ‘cause I had this god-awful haircut with really short bangs and spiky bits... thought it looked cool. I was wrong.”

“Hey, thanks!” Riley beamed appreciatively, hugging her back when she did. “And thanks again- that actually means a lot to hear. So Rosie told you then?” His smile widened further- he was so unbelievably excited about the engagement. “God, I’m so excited. I seriously can not wait to marry Rosie.”

“You’re welcome. Of course she told me, dummy.” Lachlan teased, nudging his arm as she beamed with a smile. “I’m so excited for you! I really am, you have no idea. It’s so awesome to see you both so happy. I can’t wait for the wedding.”

“Yeah, of course,” Riley agreed with a chuckle. “Thanks, seriously... It really means a lot. Oh, trust me, I can’t either. I’m guessing Rosie’s asked you to be a bridesmaid, right?” He grinned.

“How about you shut the fuck up?” Riley folded his arms, his good mood somewhat tarnished now. “Do you even realise how fucking childish you are? You and Rosie broke up two years ago, and ever since you came you’ve done nothing but act like I… stole her from you or something. Because God forbid she move on and find someone else instead of waiting for the slight possibility that you might be back in her life one day.” He huffed sarcastically. Riley might have been overreacting, but right now he was immediately irritated again. He was so happy- no, beyond that, happy didn’t even begin to cover the joy that he felt- that he was going to be marrying the woman that he loved, and he didn’t want Benji’s resentment and attitude ruining it for them.

“How about you make me.” Benji retorted with narrowed eyes. He knew he was being immature right now, but this news did come as a bit of a shock to him. “I don’t care how long it’s been since Rosie and I broke up. Doesn’t mean I have to pretend that I’m happy for the two of you. I don’t like you, Riley. Simple as that. You’re dating my ex. It sucks seeing her happy with someone else. And you bragging about getting engaged now– it’s like you’re deliberately trying to rub it in my face.” the blonde snapped. “Obviously I’m not completely over your girlfriend just yet. Some people can move on better than others can. No matter how long it’s been.” he told the man, clearly irritated too now.

Riley clenched his jaw at Benji’s reply, beyond irritated now.

“Erm… Thank you!” SJ called after the woman awkwardly who had just walked away with a copy of her book. The couple of boxes she had been holding had been pushed out of her hands by the woman, the woman sighing in frustration as she bent down to begin packing everything away. “It’s almost as terrible as New York…”

Riley was in the bookstore, scouring the aisles for something to send his Mom for her birthday, when he saw a woman looking a little disheartened.

Oh great, here we go… ‘Tying her down???’ Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?

“Oh nothing, man. Go and be happy and get married and watch it all fall to shit after a year or two.” Benji laughed lightly.

“How about you shut the fuck up?” Riley folded his arms, his good mood somewhat tarnished now. “Do you even realise how fucking childish you are? You and Rosie broke up two years ago, and ever since you came you’ve done nothing but act like I... stole her from you or something. Because God forbid she move on and find someone else instead of waiting for the slight possibility that you might be back in her life one day.” He huffed sarcastically. Riley might have been overreacting, but right now he was immediately irritated again. He was so happy- no, beyond that, happy didn’t even begin to cover the joy that he felt- that he was going to be marrying the woman that he loved, and he didn’t want Benji’s resentment and attitude ruining it for them.

“I can honestly say that last night was the best night of my life. God, I almost can’t believe it really happened, but it did, and it’s so awesome- I’m getting married!”

“Wow. Tying her down at twenty one. Smart move.”

Oh great, here we go... 'Tying her down???' Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?

“Hey, happy Birthday!!! I hope you’ve been having an awesome time, of course. And yeah, I’d totally love to come, Lach- thanks for inviting me!”

“And happy late birthday to you.” Lachlan nodded, giving him a quick hug. “Are you serious? Of course. You’re marrying my best friend, you’re family now. Family is always invited.”

“Hey, thanks!” Riley beamed appreciatively, hugging her back when she did. “And thanks again- that actually means a lot to hear. So Rosie told you then?” His smile widened further- he was so unbelievably excited about the engagement. “God, I’m so excited. I seriously can not wait to marry Rosie.”

At the word yes, an indescribable sense of joy rushed through Riley. “Really?” He beamed, almost speechless. She had said yes. She was going to marry him. He was engaged to Rosie- he could barely believe it. If someone had told him a year ago that he would have been proposing, then he probably wouldn’t have believed it- but meeting Rosie, being with her made him realise that he wanted to be with her forever.

Rosie really couldn’t believe that this had happened. She was engaged. She couldn’t believe that they were going to get married. Whilst she had thought that she would spend the rest of her life, she hadn’t expected him to propose right now. But it made her so happy, and she was so excited for them to get married.

“I know... we are, we really are,” Riley laughed happily. “God... I know that eight months might seem early but just... I know that I want nothing more than to spend the rest of my life with you,” He murmured. This was undoubtedly the best moment of his life- he was going to marry Rosie. He’d never been so sure that he wanted anything in his life.