Chasing Stars
Page 10
He was regretful that Jackson would be forced into the limelight. He’d become a celebrity simply because of their relationship, putting him smack dab in the middle of the world he'd wanted to escape from. Christopher was determined to make that sacrifice worth it for Jackson. Once the film was completed, he'd do whatever he could to help him publish his next novel.
"Who was that?" Jackson asked, wrapping his arms around Christopher's shoulders and kissing his neck.
"My agent, Pamela," he said. "She read your book. I completely trust her opinion, and she says you’re a great writer. So, there. You've got nothing to worry about."
Jackson laughed. "Actually, I had some ideas for the movie."
"Really? When'd you have these ideas?"
"Last night, after you wore me out."
Christopher snorted.
"I'm pretty excited about the project, actually," Jackson said.
They pulled out chairs and sat down at the dining table, and Christopher brought over a pad of paper from the room's work desk. He slid it across to Jackson.
"And I'm so excited to see what you and I can do together."
Epilogue
"First of all, I'd like to say congratulations on the premiere of the film," the reporter said. "It's been well publicized what struggles Constellation went through to finally get made, including, Jackson Baker, opposition from your own father, Gregory Wardlow. Isn't that right?"
He held his microphone up to Jackson, who over the last year had gotten fairly good at giving interviews. Christopher stood next to him, smiling and holding his hand as cameras flashed at them. On their left, two of the actors from the film were giving another interview, and reporters and photographers clambered around the red carpet, trying to get access to them.
"That's right," Jackson said. "Though I think the fact that so many people did come through to help Constellation get made just shows that people with opinions like my father's will become the minority. This is the future of the industry, I think. Inclusion in the mainstream, stories about everyone and for everyone."
"And you, Christopher Lawton, you've had quite a journey getting this film made, haven't you?"
"Definitely. A year ago, I was quite possibly at the lowest point in my life. It's no secret that I'd been in a lot of trouble, but I knew that wasn't who I was and I wanted to make sure I used what I had to do something worthwhile. None of it would've been possible if I hadn't met my fiancé. And I have to thank my agent, Pamela, for that. She really looked out for me during that time."
"Your relationship has gotten a lot of attention. You two met while trapped on a mountain? Is that right?"
Jackson laughed. "Something like that."
"It sounds just like something out of a movie," the reporter said.
"Honestly," said Christopher, "It was pretty much love at first sight. We met and were basically inseparable right off the bat."
"It's pretty special, really," Jackson agreed, smiling at Christopher.
"I'm gonna let you go. Congratulations again to the both of you!"
The two of them went inside the theater and were guided to their seats by an usher. Surrounding them was the cast and crew of the film, and the rest of the entire theater was packed with celebrities and VIPs, all dressed in their fanciest film premiere attire. Christopher and Jackson looked around them at the excited crowd. They shook hands and gave hugs, but they were both in kind of an awed daze. They couldn't believe that they were actually here, and as they watched the movie play for the first time on the big screen, they were both filled with an immense pride. The audience around them laughed and cried at the words Jackson had written, brought to life on screen by Christopher and the other stars. The film lived and breathed, and they could feel the audience being moved by it.
"I love you," Christopher mouthed to his fiancé.
Jackson smiled, that brilliant, incredible smile. "I love you, too," he mouthed back.
That wonderful smile had now been shared with the entire world. It was on magazine covers and on televisions everywhere, and though everyone saw it, there was only one person who really, truly knew it.
And then, the credits began to roll, and the crowd erupted into applause and gave them a standing ovation. The two of them exchanged another look before standing, a look of knowing that they'd succeeded at what exactly what they'd set out to do.
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