"Niko...thank you for calling me." Andrea said as he sat on the edge of Nikolai's bed.
"I called you because I think it's necessary for us to talk." Nikolai replied.
"This is a bad idea Nikolai, if your mother gets wind of this, and she will... she'll be pissed!" Rushil complained, "I'm taking full responsibility, so don't worry papa." Nikolai replied.
"Your dad and I will be right outside the room, call us when you're done!" Minnie said while Gently dragging Rushil with her outside.
When the door was shut, "I'm really sorry for everything that happened Niko, the accident, the way I lashed out on you that unholy day...
Your mother has every right to be infuriated with me." Andrea spoke up, he took Nikolai's hand in his, gently stroking it.
"Andrea, I'm Also sorry I never told you about Jin...I put you in a difficult situation, knowing how you feel." Nikolai replied.
"So it was Jin, the reason why you couldn't date me...you never told me about him, you never told me you loved someone and that they hurt you this bad." Andrea said.
"Jin didn't hurt me as bad as I hurt myself.
*sighing* Andrea, do you remember how we first met?" Nikolai asked.
Andrea chuckled at the memory, "How can I forget!" he replied.
"You particularly gawked at me back then." Nikolai said, "That's because you were adorable...I also heard you when you screamed and called your mentor your 'Hollywood Daddy'." Andrea replied chuckling again.
...[Tiny flashback]...
Two outcast boys hang around for some after school activities, today was their lucky day as no one other than them was hanging around at the gymnasium, it was their spot.
They didn't do sport, The two were practicing Acting, and one of them was about to finish his performance.
With a confident dazzling smile, "Take my hand love, let us explore the good and the bad of this world! together, nothing can faze us.
Together, nothing is above us.
And Together my love... nothing is impossible, for us." said the fair tone young man, in the most dramatic yet romantic way possible, his blue eyes glistened under the lights.
"AAAAND CUT! WOOHOO!" the other blued eyed boy with the darker complexion said, cheering loudly before he started clapping for his best friend's amazing performance.
"Hehe, you liked it Nikolai?" the first blue eyed boy said giggling.
"Julian you're kidding me! that was perfect from start to bottom! you're definitely getting the role for the school play! there's no way Miss Andrews will pick another first-lead!" Nikolai replied enthusiastically.
"I told you I'm not going to be part of the play." Julian said.
Nikolai's smiled faded, "Why?! you'd be perfect!" he said.
"Without my best friend? forget about it! I'm not doing anything in my life from now on, unless you're with me! we made a promise... let's live our lives together!
Besides I never told miss Andrews or anyone else other than you, of my interest in the theater." Julian replied.
"Julian, let's be honest, don't tie yourself with me...I'll only hold you back." Nikolai replied.
"The only thing you're holding back is yourself! Nikolai you're better than me! if anyone should be the lead for miss Andrews's play, it should be you!" Julian replied.
"I'm a fat kid, she'll never pick me...she only picks beautiful students, like you." Nikolai said.
"Excuse me, you are beautiful Nikolai! besides, remember what Sir John Crawford says:
'Beauty is wanted, but Skill is needed, and not everything you want is what you really need.
We only survive in this word by putting our needs on top of our wants.' " Julian replied.
"I see you two are fans of mine." A voice spoke up proudly.
Nikolai and Julian turned around to catch the source of the voice, to find an old looking man with round glasses followed by a younger looking man, approaching them.
Julian instantly gasped, Nikolai had to rub his eyes twice to believe what he was seeing, the old looking man coming their way was none other than the cinema icon they idolize, John Crawford.
An aging man who may be entering his 50s, carried himself with pride and confidence.
Behind his glasses, his eyes smiled at the two young men that were still surprised by his presence.
"I suppose you boys already know who I am, so I should introduce my friend here." John said pointing at the Silver haired young man with the silver eyes, the boy was so fair toned he seemed like a vampire.
"This is Andrea Andreoli, he's a distant relative of mine from Italy and my current personal assistant." John said.
Andrea immediately put on a soft smile, then he glanced over at Nikolai, for some reason he found himself looking at Nikolai's eyes.
"You have blue eyes." Andrea said to Nikolai.
Nikolai was surprised, "Is it weird? because I'm a brown boy?" He asked.
"Your skintone is really beautiful, your blue eyes compliment it." Andrea said with a bigger smile.
"Andrea we're not here to make comments of people's genetics." John spoke-up scolding him, "Yes, sir." Andrea replied sheepishly.
"I was about to ask why such a famous man like yourself would be here, in our school nonetheless?" Julian asked.
"The truth is I saw your performance Julian, and I must say...you're amazing!" John said.
Nikolai instantly smiled, "Omg! see! even Sir Crawford thinks you're amazing!" he said.
"I'm very honored to hear that sir." Julian replied.
"For a while now, I've been looking for a young man that I could train to become the next star.
They say a man can only live forever through his teachings...and I would like to experience that through you Julian." John said.
Julian looked at Nikolai in disbelief then he looked at John, "Are you saying, you want to train me?" Julian asked.
"Is there someone else here with the name 'Julian'?" John said.
"I...wow...this is crazy, I don't know if I'm up to it." Julian replied making the old man chuckle.
While he was happy for his friend, Nikolai couldn't help but be slightly bothered, the Italian silver haired man kept staring at him intensely, it was getting difficult for Nikolai to ignore him.
"What Julian means Sir, is that he needs time to think, I mean he's young and this is a big step, but I'm sure he wants to be your student, he just needs to sort things out!" Nikolai said.
"Right, you're highschoolers, How old are you boys?" John asked, "We're 18, this is our last year of highschool, we're almost there sir." Nikolai replied smiling.
"Then Nikolai dear, you seem like the smart type, I hope you help your friend Julian here to think about this opportunity I'm handing out.
Because right after highschool I am planning to take him under my wing." John said.
Then Andrea walked closer to the boys, and handed them both two business cards, "Once you make up you mind, contact us...my boss refused many great talents that came his way seeking his knowledge.
I hope you understand how lucky you are, Julian." Andrea said, he then gave Nikolai one last glance before he and John bid their farewell to the boys and left.
"He still didn't tell me, what was he doing in our highschool?" Julian spoke skeptical.
"Does it fucking matter Julian! OH MY GOD WE JUST MET OUR HOLLYWOOD DADDY! WOOHOO!" Nikolai said cheering.
...[End of Tiny flashback]...
"John was our idol, me and Julian...he was supposed to be Julian's mentor, and now both him and Julian are dead.
When I think about it, I blame myself... I'm a curse to anyone who comes my way." Nikolai replied.
Hearing that, Andrea stopped stroking Nikolai's hand, "Don't say such a thing! these people were blessed to have you in their lives, I am blessed to have you in my life!" Andrea said.
"Let's face it, you and John were coaching Julian, you guys were only interested in Julian, I was never in the picture of your life, or in my mentor's." Nikolai said.
"True, John wasn't interested in you at first, but I was, I knew how talented you are, I've seen you help Julian practice.
And Julian also spoke lots of good words about you to Me and John, he got so angry once when John refused to come see you perform, I came instead of him.
You mesmerized me Nikolai, you are meant to be an actor!" Andrea spoke.
"Maybe on my own! but I took someone else's place.
My mentor only changed his mind because he needed someone to replace Julian when he died, I was never meant to be John's student...this success is Julian's not mine." Nikolai replied.
"Nikolai, you're talented, smart and perfect in everyway.
John, he was arrogant and dare I say a little racist...or creepy, he was fixated on Julian, as he's is the only one who can become his successor." Andrea said with a hint of disgust in his voice.
"Nevertheless, When I took on Julian's path, you supported me through everything, you're my manager and friend, you believed in my abilities every step of the way for the past 7years." Nikolai said, "You did so much good to me, it's hard for me to get angry at you...I don't blame you for the state I'm in right now Andrea." he added.
Smiling, "I love you, that's why I did what I did my pretty!...and I'm happy knowing you're not angry with me, you're like an angel... literally!" Andrea replied.
"Andrea...I don't want you to go away, I don't care what my mother says."
"Niko...not even the devil can make me stay away from you."
"Then, will you stay...even though my heart doesn't belong to you?...I lied about Jin and I not being serious." Nikolai asked.
He was lucky he couldn't see when Andrea's kind smile faded, and was replaced by a creepy one.
"I know that you and Jin are serious about each other...it doesn't bother me, I'm satisfied being your best friend." Andrea said bringing Nikolai's hand closer to his face.
Andrea nuzzled his cheek against Nikolai's hand, "As long as I am by your side, I don't care who else is there too." he added.
"Thank you for understanding Andrea, I can't think of anyone else in this world, who gives me the amount of support you do." Nikolai said happily.
"You only deserve the best, like me! a best friend." Andrea said.
Nikolai laughed at the joke, "That's a good one...I seriously hope you can coexist with Jin, I know it'll be hard for you, and I won't ask you for the impossible... just don't think too much of it.
I don't plan on neglecting you, just because I'm back with him." Nikolai said.
Replacing his smile with a needy look, "All I can think of now, is you getting better...being your manager was my only purpose in life, what would I do without my favorite actor!" Andrea said dramatically.
"That's right! is this why my mom tried to kick you? Because she thinks I don't need a manager anymore?" Nikolai questioned.
"Yes...she blames me for the accident which I understand, but she even said she thinks it wasn't an accident! that I planned for you to have it!
She even had police question me, in suspicion of attempted murder!" Andrea said in disbelief.
"I'm sorry, she did what?!" Nikolai was astonished.
"Wait, you didn't know she suspected someone has pushed you downstairs?" Andrea Asked.
"No...I didn't know, Jin never told me!
I can't believe mom would think that you're the one who pushed me!" Nikolai said, but immediately covered his mouth upon realizing what he said.
Hearing that, Andrea stared at him dumbfounded, "Niko...did you just say that someone, Actually pushed you?" Andrea asked.