Free Vicious Circles by Leann Andrews

you start work again next month.”

He always played off his gifts as something that would benefit me rather than something he’d done because he cared about me. It was a fear of rejection as far as I was concerned, although, despite my protests on his kindness I would never do such a thing.

“You don’t have to convince me, I’ll come. Just give me the info and I’ll be at the airport when I’m supposed to.”

“Great.” I could hear the smile in his tone. “The flight leaves tomorrow morning at seven and I won’t be able to pick you up when you land but I’ll have a car there for you.”

“Wow, Mason. You’ve got all this planned out and I’m fucking impressed.”

“I’m glad; I aim to impress you with my mad travel coordination. So, I have to go…sorry. I miss you, can’t wait to see you. Oh! Everything is reserved under your stage name, don’t forget.”

Always looking out. “I won’t, promise. See you tomorrow, Mason.”

I wasn’t shocked at all over his last minute choice to fly me to Canada. Mason did things like that all the time but he followed everything through. It was odd that I refused to let him take care of me at first but eventually he wore me thin and I hardly protested after that. I could see it made him happy and I loved, yes loved to see his happy face.

Besides, no one knew better than me how fast things change. I wouldn’t take anything for granted, ever again.

The next morning, I had done a complete turn around. I sat at the gate, waiting for my flight to board and listed every reason in my head, why going to Vancouver was stupid. My knee bounced out of habit and the lady next to me looked worried, like I was about to spaz out and kill her.

“Sorry,” I said with an apologetic smile. She looked relieved.

Rather than disturb her any longer I stood and stretched. I pulled out my cell phone to check the time. I remember that moment so well because it was the first time I realized the power I held in my hands as an actor. The gate attendant called first class passengers, which was me. Before I could reach the gate, I felt a short, quick tap on my arm. It startled me so I turned accusingly until I saw the little girl, who had tapped me.

“I’m sorry but my mom told me she saw you over here and I wanted to say hello.”

“Oh…uh, hi…there. It’s nice to meet you. I’m Fallyn.” I stuck my hand out awkwardly.

“I’m Bree,” she shook my hand and smiled. “I’ve been taking acting classes and all my friends tell me it’s nearly impossible to become a star. My mom told me all about you though; she read about your lucky break.”

That little girl only knew what had been released but she was impressed. I could see it on her face. I looked up and noticed her mother beaming in the background. “Listen, Bree. I’m so happy you’re giving it a try. It was nice to meet you.”

She thanked me and left. I finally boarded the plane, in a daze the entire time. It felt wrong that a little girl was looking to my story as inspiration when I hadn’t ever really wanted to be an actor. I did it for the money and to get my ass off the streets. I couldn’t tell her the whole truth. She was better off not knowing the whole truth. By the time the plane was in the air, I felt like a shit head. Slowly but surely I was conforming to Hollywood and it’s conniving ways.

Like a bipolar mess, I was feeling better when the plane landed and I cleared customs. I pulled my carry-on through the airport, toward the front door. As promised, there was a tall, thin guy holding a sign with my name. He showed me to a limo; my first time in a limo and we headed toward Mason.

Vancouver was slightly cooler in temperature but I liked it. I loved all the buildings and the different people. I could feel my previous emo-like thoughts melting away.

“We’re headed to set first, Ms. Marshall,” my driver said after rolling the partition down halfway. I would never get used to