Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity were enjoying their picnic when they spotted a paparazzi edging closer.
"Look, he's coming our way!" Jennifer exclaimed, unable to hide her surprise.
"Oh no, he's going to ruin our day..." Felicity sighed, resignation in her voice.
"Well, it seems he's quite keen on getting to know us," Lucas said with a chuckle, causing Jennifer and Felicity to burst into laughter despite the approaching paparazzi.
As the paparazzi drew nearer, his camera was constantly trained on Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity.
---
As soon as Matt approached Lucas, he couldn't resist asking, "It's great to see you in New York, Mr. Lucas. Enjoying your time with these two ladies?"
Matt's gaze shifted to the women accompanying Lucas - the renowned starlet Jennifer Lawrence and the well-known British actress, Felicity Jones.
Despite not being the type to envy others, Matt found himself feeling a tinge of jealousy towards Lucas in that moment.
Lucas's reply came with a slight smile, "Indeed, I am enjoying the company of my two 'friends'."
Matt responded with a smile of his own, amused by Lucas's emphasis on 'friends'. "Really? Just friends?" he teased, his expression a mix of skepticism and curiosity, as he eyed Lucas and the stunning actresses by his side.
"What answer are you hoping for? Lucas is simply our friend," Felicity interjected, noticing the paparazzi's skeptical look about her and Jennifer's connection with Lucas.
"I'm sorry—it's just not every day you see a rising actor surrounded by two stunning women who are just friends," Matt replied, laughing off his earlier comment.
"What, is it now a crime for a man to be friends with women?" Jennifer shot back, clearly taken aback by Matt's insinuation.
Matt laughed again, "Of course, there's nothing wrong with men being friends with women. It's just uncommon in Hollywood for an actor like Lucas to have two gorgeous women as his friends."
"You're just thinking with a skewed perspective," Lucas retorted with a shake of his head, dismissing the implication.
As Matt continued to probe with questions, he was pleasantly surprised to find that Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity didn't shy away from him, even though it was clear he was a paparazzi.
Matt found himself surprised by the trio's ability to brush off even the most potentially controversial questions with ease and humor. This left him a bit disappointed; had they reacted with indignation or annoyance, he might have spun their reactions into sensational stories that could have garnered him more profit. Instead, their straightforward dismissal of any insinuation that they were anything more than friends left little room for scandalous speculation.
---
Initially, Jennifer and Felicity were wary of engaging with a paparazzi who clearly had ulterior motives. However, Lucas's composed and nonchalant demeanor in dealing with the paparazzi's probes gradually eased their apprehension. Taking a cue from Lucas, they began to respond more freely and casually to the paparazzi, effectively neutralizing the potential for controversy with their relaxed approach.
As they were engaging in casual conversation with Matt, the paparazzi, Lucas's sharp eyes caught sight of several figures in the distance. Their camera-laden hands and familiar attire instantly signaled to him that they were more paparazzi, potentially more invasive than Matt.
Drawing on the heightened awareness and quick thinking he had honed while delving into the "Mind Workshop" as Peeta, Lucas realized the imminent hassle they were about to face. Without acknowledging Matt's ongoing questions, he discreetly signaled to Jennifer and Felicity, "We need to make a quick exit."
"What? Why all of a sudden?" Jennifer couldn't help but express her confusion.
"There are more like him," Lucas gestured subtly towards Matt, "We should head out now." His intention wasn't out of fear but to spare them from an onslaught of further probing and unwelcome attention.
With that, Jennifer and Felicity quickly got to their feet, and to Matt's bemusement, the trio made a swift departure. They dashed away, their sudden sprint drawing fleeting glances from the bystanders in Central Park. The sudden sprint of Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity through Central Park turned a few heads, but only for a moment. In the bustling life of New York City, such occurrences are just a ripple in the day's stream. Passersby glanced at the trio's hasty departure, then continued with their own lives, undisturbed by the drama unfolding.
---
Matt stood there, processing the swift turn of events. Lucas had acted so suddenly, whispering to his companions and then bolting, that Matt barely had time to realize what was happening before they were gone, leaving him alone with his questions and camera.
"What the heck..." Matt muttered to himself, feeling no urge to chase after Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity. He had already captured enough footage and photos to sell to various agencies, which was a small victory in itself.
As Matt scrolled through his camera, reviewing the content he had managed to gather, a tap on his shoulder startled him. He turned to find Kyle, another paparazzo, standing behind him, camera in hand. Matt recognized him instantly.
"Oh, Kyle? You're already here," Matt remarked, a bit surprised as he powered down his digital camera.
"Where's Lucas Knight? Didn't you text me saying he was here?" Kyle inquired, scanning the area with a look of anticipation.
"You're too late—they just took off," Matt replied, his words tapering off as he began to understand why Lucas and his companions had dashed away so abruptly.
"They just left? Where did they head?" Kyle pressed, eager for any lead.
"They ran off in that direction," Matt pointed towards the route Lucas, Jennifer, and Felicity had taken.
Without hesitation, Kyle and a few others with cameras quickly set off in the direction Matt had indicated, hoping to catch up with the trio.
Left behind, Matt felt a sense of relief that he hadn't exerted himself in pursuit. After all, he was the first to spot Lucas and had already secured valuable material from his encounter with the actor and the two actresses. This content alone was a satisfactory outcome for his day's work.