Lucas exited the airplane and made his way down the jetway, his carry-on bag slung over his shoulder. The bustling LaGuardia Airport greeted him as he entered the terminal, a cacophony of voices and announcements filling the air. He followed the crowd of disembarking passengers, keeping a brisk pace to avoid any bottlenecks. As he reached the baggage claim, he scanned the carousel numbers until he found the one corresponding to his flight. With a sigh of relief, he spotted his suitcase among the sea of luggage, its bright red tag standing out to him.
With his belongings in hand, Lucas headed towards the exit, weaving through throngs of travelers and airport personnel. The automatic doors slid open, revealing the hustle and bustle of the arrivals area. He scanned the sea of faces for Shawn, his personal driver.
He spotted him right away, holding up a sign with "Mr. Knight" written in bold letters. Relief washed over him as he approached the man.
"Shawn, it's good to see you again," Lucas said, shaking the burly man's hand.
"Good to see you too, sir," Shawn replied with a warm smile. "Your car's this way."
Lucas followed Shawn to the waiting town car, grateful for the air conditioning that greeted him as he settled into the backseat. He closed his eyes for a moment, allowing the cool air to wash over his sweaty face.
"Long flight?" Shawn asked, glancing at him in the rearview mirror.
"Not too bad," Lucas added. "Just glad to be on the ground again." He leaned back against the plush leather seat and closed his eyes, trying to ignore the pounding headache that had started during takeoff.
Shawn continued to drive, deciding not to interrupt Lucas's much-needed rest. The gentle hum of the engine and the rhythmic motion of the car lulled Lucas in and out of a light doze as they made their way through the bustling city streets.
"We're here, sir," Shawn said, gently nudging Lucas awake.
"Oh, thank you, Shawn," Lucas yawned, stretching his stiff limbs as he stepped out of the car. He graciously thanked his driver and made his way towards his apartment building.
The familiar facade of the old brick building greeted him like an old friend. Despite the wear and tear that came with age, it still held a certain charm that reminded him of simpler times. He'd managed to keep his residence here a secret for a while, but recent events had changed that. Paparazzi and fans alike now camped outside on occasion, hoping for a glimpse of the rising star.
Lucas sighed as he fished his key out of his pocket, ready to escape the chaos and noise of the city for the solitude of four walls. Just as he was about to insert the key into the lock, a middle-aged woman approached him. Startled, he turned around to find his landlady, Mrs. Lee, smiling at him.
"You finally came back after all this time?" The woman, Mrs. Lee, said with a hint of resentment in her tone and an unpleasant expression. Lucas noticed the change in her demeanor and couldn't help but feel confused.
"Is there a problem, Mrs. Lee?" he asked cautiously. After all, he had been faithfully paying his rent on time.
"Oh, there's a lot of problems, son," she snorted, her arms folding across her chest. "If it weren't for you paying your rent on time, I'd be within my rights to evict you."
Lucas's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "I... I don't understand."
"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused me?" she continued, her voice rising in volume. "People have been breaking in and going up and down this building, and their only interest is in your apartment! They've been asking questions, making a ruckus, all in hopes of catching a glimpse of you. It's been absolute bedlam around here!"
Lucas's face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't considered the impact his fame would have on his quiet neighborhood. "I'm so sorry, Mrs. Lee. I never meant to cause you any inconvenience."
"Well, you did," she huffed, her eyes narrowing. "I've had enough, Mr. Knight. I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to find another place to stay. I can't have this nonsense anymore."
Lucas's shoulders slumped, the weight of his fame settling heavily on his shoulders. He never imagined that people would be this obsessed with him, especially since he was nowhere near as famous as Leonardo DiCaprio.
"I understand, Mrs. Lee," he said apologetically. "I'll start packing my things right away."
With a curt nod, she left him to his thoughts as he entered his now-cramped-feeling apartment. The once cozy space felt suffocating, reminding him of the price of his rising stardom. He sighed, resigned to the fact that he needed to find a new place to call home sooner than he'd planned.
Opening the windows, he let the fresh air circulate the stuffy space, hoping it would clear his head. Boxes, he thought, I need to find some boxes.
Lucas spent the next few hours packing his belongings with the help of Shawn, carefully selecting what he wanted to keep and donating the rest. He didn't have much in terms of personal belongings; just clothes, a few clocks, some figurines he'd collected over the years, and most importantly, the hard drive containing his Bitcoin wallet. Although Bitcoin hadn't yet caught the attention of the masses, it was still better to be cautious.
By the end of the night, his apartment was barren save for the essentials. Tomorrow, he'd call a moving company to take care of the rest. For now, all he wanted was a good night's sleep before facing the reality of finding a new place to call home.
Eargency, Lucas prepared to move out, having hired a reputable moving company to handle his belongings. He'd also contacted a realtor to find him an apartment within the city that fit his new budget of $10,000 a month.
The search for a new home went smoother than expected. Thanks to his recent success, Lucas had no trouble securing a spacious two-bedroom condo in a luxury high-rise. The building boasted state-of-the-art security, a gym, and even a rooftop pool. It was a far cry from his old, cramped apartment, but it would do for now.
Lucas signed the lease on the spot, relieved to have found a new sanctuary so quickly. The movers arrived as scheduled, efficiently packing up the last of his belongings and whisking them away to his new abode.
As the sun set on his old life, Lucas took one final look around the now-empty apartment. It had been a good home, but it was time for a fresh start.
As Lucas and Shawn pulled away from the apartment, the paparazzi, who had been discreetly observing from a distance, snapped photos of them loading boxes into the car. The paparazzi, named Ian, felt a tingling sensation in his gut that something was off. It looked as if Lucas was moving out.
Once the coast was clear, Ian made his way to Lucas's apartment, surprised to find the door unlocked. His suspicions were confirmed when he stepped inside; the place was empty save for a few stray boxes and pieces of tape on the walls.
"Damn it, the fish moved out," he muttered in frustration.
Despite his disappointment, Ian decided to have one last look around, hoping to find anything of importance. He checked under the bed, under the desk, and even in the corners, not expecting to find anything of value. But as he was about to leave, his gaze fell upon an ordinary-looking notebook tucked away on a bookshelf. Curiosity piqued, he picked it up and flipped to the first page. His jaw dropped when he read the words "Lucas Knight's Diary" scrawled across the front in messy handwriting.
Ian's heart raced as he opened the notebook, his eyes widening in disbelief. "Holy shit… it's Lucas's diary!" he whispered to himself, unable to contain his excitement.
Just then, the sound of footsteps echoed down the hallway, followed by a familiar voice. "You again! What are you doing here?" Mrs. Lee, the landlady, stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips.
Ian's heart leaped into his throat, but he quickly regained his composure, flashing her a charming smile. "Oh, hi there, Landlady. I was just… uh… looking for my… um… contact lens." He gestured vaguely around the empty room.
"Yeah, right," she scoffed. "Well, you can keep looking for your 'contact lens' elsewhere. The person you've been stalking moved out hours ago."
"Oh, really?" Ian feigned surprise, tucking the notebook into his bag as casually as possible. "Darn, I guess I missed him. Well, if you see him, tell him Ian from TMZ says hi, okay?"
"I'll be sure not to," she deadpanned, ushering him out the door and locking it behind him.
Heart pounding, Ian practically sprinted to his car, adrenaline coursing through his veins. He couldn't believe his luck. This diary could be the key to unlocking the secrets of the young actor's life. And he, Ian, would be the one to expose them all.
Ian sat in his car, heart pounding as he began to read the diary. The early pages detailed Lucas's strained relationship with his father and being kicked out, who was under the influence of his new wife. Lucas expressed his helplessness and frustration at the situation, painting a picture of a young man desperate for acceptance and love.
"Damn, this is juicy," Ian muttered to himself.
As he continued reading, he learned about Lucas's struggles to make ends meet, bouncing from one dead-end job to another. There were even entries about harassment at work and being fired unfairly. The diary then went on to mention a friend named Paul, who had encouraged Lucas to audition for roles together. But even that didn't pan out as expected.
Finally, the last entry spoke of a miracle: an unexpected turn of events that landed him a role on "Modern Family." The diary abruptly ended there, leaving Ian desperate for more.
"Holy shit," he breathed, realizing the goldmine he'd stumbled upon. This diary held the key to Lucas's past.
After finishing the diary, Ian couldn't help but feel a pang of empathy for Lucas. "Everyone has their struggles," he mused aloud. He never thought that even a rising star like Lucas had such a difficult past.
The diary revealed a lot about his personal life, including the strained relationship with his father and stepmother, as well as his half-siblings, especially the part where Lucas mentioned being kicked out of his family house. It seemed that the accusations his stepmother had been spreading online might not be true after all.
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Author's Note: Just a reminder, everyone. The current Lucas isn't the original Lucas who wrote most of the diary entries. The only part he does remember writing is the part about auditioning for "Modern Family," which happened two years ago when he first transmigrated into this body. So, the current Lucas's memories don't include the events before that point, and that's why he carelessly forgotten the diary.