Felicity Jones felt the pang in her chest as Lucas's arm casually draped around Jennifer's shoulders. She had known for quite some time now that the man she once harbored feelings for two years ago during the filming of "Like Crazy" was now off limits. Although her feelings for him had dwindled over time, she couldn't help but feel a tinge of longing as she saw the lovebirds interact. Determined not to let it show, Felicity forced a smile and reminded herself of the comfort she found in their friendship. "Hey, you two lovebirds," she joked, "mind sharing some of that popcorn?"
The trio lounged in Lucas's spacious apartment living room, watching "Rise of the Guardians" on the huge flat-screen. Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of pride as the protagonist's voice boomed through the surround-sound speakers. It had been two weeks since the animated film premiered to critical acclaim, and Lucas's involvement in the project had only boosted its box office success.
"I can't believe you voiced that teenager," Felicity said, raising her eyebrows at Lucas.
"What? You didn't think I could do it?" he asked, grinning playfully.
"I don't know," she teased, nudging him with her foot under the blanket they were all sharing. "It just doesn't sound like you at all..."
Jennifer snuggled closer to Lucas, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Don't doubt my man, Flick. He's very talented," she said, emphasizing the last word.
After the movie, the trio decided to brave the bustling streets of New York City, donning caps and sunglasses as disguises. Though they were accompanied by guards, it didn't take long before a swarm of paparazzi and fans descended upon them, their cameras flashing relentlessly. Despite the chaos, Felicity tried to enjoy herself, but she couldn't help but feel like a third wheel as Lucas and Jennifer clung to each other for support.
Two days flew by in a blink of an eye, and it was finally time for Felicity to bid them farewell.
Felicity embraced Jennifer lightly, drowning in the familiarity of her friend's scent. "See you again, Jen," she murmured into her ear.
"Yeah, see you soon," Jennifer replied with a warm smile.
Lucas walked her to her car, both of them sharing a quick, platonic hug. "Thanks for everything, Flick," he said, his eyes twinkling with gratitude.
Felicity patted him on the back, "Anytime. I'm always here if you need me, alright?"
"I know, Flick. I know," Lucas assured her, his voice tinged with sincerity. "Take care, okay?"
"You too," Felicity managed, a small lump forming in her throat as she got into her car. As the driver pulled away, she couldn't help but steal one last glance at the pair in her rearview mirror. The sunlight bounced off Lucas's perpetually messy hair, and for a moment, she was transported back to the days on set when things were different. A wave of melancholy washed over her, but she pushed it down, focusing instead on the road ahead.
---
The photos of the trio made their rounds on social media and news outlets, as expected. While some netizens brushed it off as a friendly outing, others couldn't help but speculate.
"What's wrong with three friends hanging out together?" one user commented.
"Yeah, they're just friends," another agreed.
However, there were those who couldn't help but find meaning where there was none.
"A guy friendly with two women? I don't buy it. Lucas must be a playboy," one user typed angrily.
This, of course, didn't sit well with Lucas's fans.
"You have no proof! Lucas has always been clean in his career and personal life!" a fan defended.
"But look how close Jennifer is to him in that picture! It's practically obvious they're more than friends," a hater countered, sharing a photo of Jennifer resting her head on Lucas's shoulder.
"I'll admit that Lucas and Jennifer might be dating, but Felicity? Come on, they're just friends," the fan reasoned.
But the haters wouldn't budge.
"With his looks and fame, it's no surprise he's a playboy," they said, adding fuel to the fire.
Felicity sighed as she scrolled through the comments, mildly amused by the commotion her friendly outing with her best friend and his girlfriend had caused.
Felicity's phone buzzed with a new message from her agent, urging her to capitalize on the recent attention she'd been getting with Lucas. It wasn't the first time her agent had suggested using a romantic link with a more famous celebrity to boost her career, but Felicity wasn't one to stoop that low. Her career would speak for itself, she believed.
As she scrolled through the heated comments, she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Seriously, people? Can't you use this energy to care about something more important, like, I don't know, the upcoming election?" she muttered to herself.
But she knew better than to expect sense from the denizens of the internet. Celebrity gossip was the bread and butter of procrastinators and trolls alike. It was an endless cycle, and Felicity had long ago learned not to let it affect her.
As the online commotion continued, some haters couldn't help but stir the pot further.
"No wonder Lucas is suddenly everywhere. He's got a new indie film coming up this September," one user commented, accompanied by a sneering emoji.
"Yeah, right. Just trying to promote his flop of a movie," another added.
But the more they hate-watched and talked, the more attention the upcoming film, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," gained. And soon enough, the trailer, which had been released just a day before, had already amassed 150k views.
Lucas had always been known for his impeccable taste in indie films, and true to form, his previous projects had all been both critically acclaimed and box office successes, each surpassing the 100 million dollar mark. It was a feat many seasoned actors couldn't even achieve, let alone a young star like Lucas.
While Lucas's indie film resume was impeccable, he still had yet to prove himself in more mainstream commercial projects. Although he'd been part of box office hits like "Inception" and "The Hunger Games," he'd never been the primary lead in such films. That changed when Warner Bros. announced their upcoming project starring none other than Lucas himself.
Fans and haters alike waited with bated breath, the former hoping to see their idol soar to new heights, the latter, on the other hand, eagerly anticipating his fall from grace. The usual cliche of two warring factions was nothing new in the world of stardom, but it was a sign that one had made it big when they'd garnered enough attention to warrant such scrutiny.
---
Lucas and Jennifer knew they had to make the most of their time together as they prepared to fly to west coast for the shoot of the second installment of the now-popular "Hunger Games" franchise. The first film, "Hunger Games," had been released just a few months ago, but it already made a splash at the box office.
In the United States alone, the film had raked in an impressive $540 million, with an additional $447 million from the international box office. Combined, it was inching closer to the coveted $1 billion mark, and it was expected to reach that milestone within a few weeks at its current rate. The producers were understandably elated, though they knew there was still work to be done. The film's run in some markets would soon wind down, but others would enjoy it later than the rest, so it was crucial to capitalize on the hype while it lasted.
The success of the first film meant that all eyes were on the sequel, "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire," to see if it could live up to the hype and continue the franchise's success story.
Lucas's schedule was packed with talk show invites, but he had to postpone most of them due to his demanding filming schedule. However, he made sure to spend his free time with Jennifer, even introducing her to his close-knit group of friends in New York, including Liza, Samantha, and others.
Jennifer's admiration for Lucas only grew when she found out about his heartwarming habit of visiting sick children with Liza at a local hospital. This act of kindness, done away from the prying eyes of the paparazzi, further cemented her feelings for the genuine and compassionate man he was.
After spending a few memorable days in New York, Lucas and Jennifer bid their adieu to the Big Apple and headed to the west coast together. They didn't mind the swarm of paparazzi that tailed them, snapping photos of their every move. Boarding their first-class flight, they settled into their seats, and Lucas whispered in Jennifer's ear, "Are you sure you're ready to go public with our relationship?"
Jennifer turned to him, her eyes shining with determination. "Yes, I am," she said, nodding.
Lucas raised an eyebrow, smiling playfully. "What's changed your mind? I thought you wanted to keep it a secret longer?"
"You've already introduced me to your friends," Jennifer blushed, her cheeks turning a shade of red. "It's only a matter of time before the cat's out of the bag."
Lucas couldn't help but tease her. "But I introduced you as a friend, remember?"
"Oh, just hush," Jennifer said playfully, playfully hitting his arm.
The truth was, two days ago, when she met Liza, Lucas's friend, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Liza was not only beautiful but also kind-hearted, and as much as Jennifer hated to admit it, it unnerved her. The fact that Lucas spent time with such an amazing woman made her feel a bit threatened.