Limelight

Jane looked at the clock, which hung high above the room. It was only 11:30, the night was still young. Another awards ceremony, another boring after party thrown by her record company. 18-year-old Jane had been very successful tonight, winning 4 of the 6 awards she was nominated for, and the record company was more than pleased, agreeing to give Jane a week’s vacation from her hectic touring schedule.

All around her, pop music stars, soap stars, and even some major movie stars gossiped, and gave the occasional short interview to one of the many journalists that filled the room. Although she was only 18, Jane was already sick of the showbiz lifestyle. She had been a child star since she was 9, doing commercials, and guest spots on many TV shows, but she made her major break through with her debut album when she was only 16.

She sipped at her champagne, smiled for the cameras, and made the occasional small talk with her ‘friends’. Although Jane sees these people everyday, and they do get on well together, Jane doesn’t really consider them ‘friends’, as they are all being paid to work for her, and are just being nice so as they don’t lose their very well-paid jobs.

About midnight, Margot, Jane’s PA, approached her.

“Jane, I’d like for you to meet Craig Brooks” Margot said, while Craig, a very handsome, tall guy, about 19, Jane suspected, emerged from behind Margot. “Craig has just signed on to star in the new teen drama for the WB’s new fall line-up” Margot said impressively. “Actually, Olivia Rodrigo is the star” Craig corrected, “I’m just the male lead” Craig smiled. “Still, very impressive” Margot continued, “For a first-time actor to win a place on what is sure to be one of the hottest new shows, and to star alongside someone like Olivia! Anyway, I better get back to Mel before she gets too drunk and makes a scene”, Margot smiled, and winked at Jane, then kissed Craig on the cheek and walked off.

Jane gave a slight chuckle, “Hi, I’m Jane” she said, extending her hand to shake Craig’s. “Congratulations”. “Thanks”, Craig replied, “And well done yourself, Best album, best single, Best music video, and…” Craig could not quite think of what the fourth award was for… “Don’t worry about it, I get so many of these useless awards, they keep the record company happy, but I personally can never remember anything I win”. Jane noticed how Craig was a little taken aback, “I’m sorry she offered, it’s just been one of those nights when I’d love to just be normal, at home on the sofa, watching TV, or out with some friends…” she said and under her breathe she added “if I had any”.

Craig smiled again, Jane looked at her, he was gorgeous, he had short blonde hair, about 6’2 in height, and a well-toned body. Jane was a little smaller, about 5’10, blonde highlights throughout her shoulder length brown hair.

“I can see by the look on your face that you really don’t want to be here” Craig said, “Wanna go outside, get away from this fake atmosphere?”, she added. “Yes!” Jane replied! “Thank God there is someone else who wants to get out of here”.

Jane took her glass, and walked off towards the balcony with Craig. They reached the door and walked outside. A cool midnight breeze blew, and Jane looked up at the stars in the sky and smiled, glad to be away from the endless fake praise she was receiving, from people pretending to be nice to her, inside.

“That’s better,” Craig said as he closed over the balcony door, locking out everything from inside. When Craig turned around, Jane noticed he had a pack of Marlboro Lights in his hand. He opened the pack and offered one to Jane. “You smoke!” Jane exclaimed, as Craig took out a Marlboro and placed it between his lips. Craig fired his zippo and lit the cigarette, pulling in deeply, and exhaling through his nose. “Sure”, Craig answered, “Don’t you?” she asked. “Jesus No”, was all Jane could say. “The record company would murder me if I smoked, never mind the amount of anti-press I would receive for setting a bad example for all my fans. According to the record company, If I smoke, all my fans will want to smoke too, stupid really”.

“So, you have never smoked?” Craig asked, taking another hit from his cigarette. “No, never”, was Jane’s reply. “Not even when you were like 12! Didn’t you ever steal a cigarette and smoke it with all your friends?”, “No, I didn’t really have a childhood, I’ve had a career since I’ve been 9, and I was always told what to like, and what not to like, what to do, and what not to do”. “You’re missing so much, I feel sorry for ya”, Craig gasped.

Craig pumped on his Light, and then took it from his lips. He extended the half-smoked Light to Jane. “Here, give it a go, you’ll love it”, Craig said, and handed the cigarette over to Jane. Reluctantly, Jane took the burning cylinder. She had never smoked before, nor had she ever really thought about smoking. None of her workers ever smoked around her, and celebrities would rarely smoke in public places due to any negative press it would convey.

But Jane really liked Craig, and he seemed to really enjoy smoking, and there was something else too. Jane couldn’t quite understand what it was, but seeing this blonde actor, dressed in the most expensive Armani suit, smoking this cigarette, was intoxicating. Craig stood beside Jane, “Do it like this”, Craig said, and placed the cigarette between his lips, “And then breathe in”, the tip of the cigarette burned Light, “And then out”, Craig said as a mystical cloud of bluish smoke escaped from his nose and mouth. “It’s easy” Craig said, “Now you try”

Nervously, Jane took hold of the cigarette again, and raised it to her mouth. She took a slight hit of the smoke and then quickly blew the smoke from her mouth. She gave a slight cough, and Craig could see that her eyes had watered slightly. Craig gave a little giggle. “Try it again”, Craig offered, “But this time, just hold the smoke in your mouth, try to keep it there for about 10 seconds, and then you can blow it out”, “Ok”, Jane replied. Again, Jane breathed in, and quickly spat out the smoke!

“Sorry” Jane replied, “I just can’t really do it”, she said and handed the cigarette back to Craig. “Don’t give up just yet”, Craig said, as he took a double pump on the Light, taking it down to the filter. He stubbed out the end of the cigarette and thought for a minute.

“Ok”, Craig said aloud, “Do you want to smoke?”, he asked, “Yea, I guess, I mean, I’m tired of doing everything that I’m told, I want to go against the record company, And the fans just like who they are told to like. Anyone could be doing my job, and as long as they have good looks, and can mime to a song someone else wrote, the fans will love it”.

Craig smiled, “OK, then this is what we’re going to do. First, do you know of anywhere else, somewhere much more private where we can go?”, Craig asked. Jane thought for a minute, then told Craig that the record company rented the penthouse in the hotel which was holding the after-show party for her.
“Cool”, Craig replied and added, “Well then, let’s go”.

On the way to the elevator, Craig stopped outside the lobby, and bought two packs of Marlboro Lights from the convenience store next door. Jane couldn’t believe what she was doing. SMOKING. If anyone found out, there would be hell. But that kind of excited Jane, she was tired of been a manufactured doll for the record company, doing what she was told, and even to the extent of saying what the record company want her to say.

Jane and Craig exited the elevator on the 26th floor. And Jane swiped her key card and unlocked the door to the room. “Wow”, Craig said in awe as he stepped over the threshold. “This apartment is bigger than my family’s home” he exclaimed as he took another step into the massive, high ceiling, well-lit room. “I can’t even remember what it feels like to have a home” Jane said, “I don’t think I’ve ever stayed in the same place for more and 3 or 4 days at a time”. Craig smiled sympathetically, not really too sure how to respond.

Jane walked over to the bar. “Make yourself at home.”, she said to Craig. Craig walked over to the massive suite and sat down. Jane offered him a drink, but Craig turned down the offer. Jane came over sat on the armchair opposite Craig, feeling uneasy. Craig saw how tense she was and stood back up and walked over to Jane.
Craig took out the already opened pack of Lights and took one out. He lit up, and blew the smoke in Jane’s direction. Craig knelt down in front of Jane.

Craig blew smoke into Jane’s face, getting her used to the smell and taste of the cigarette. “It’s OK”, he said. He moved closer to Jane. He then took a deep drag on the cigarette, moved his mouth to Jane’s and closed her own mouth around Jane’s. Jane was shocked, and gasped, pulling the smoke deep into her own lungs, yet she did not push Craig away. Craig held the lip lock until Jane exhaled the smoke through her nose. Jane could not believe what had happened. The shock of Craig kissing her made her forget about the fact that she had just inhaled the smoke, and then exhaled, and did not even sputter!

The two didn’t speak, they both just looked at each other’s faces, until Craig broke the silence. “Do you think you can handle another hit?”, And Jane, still dismayed, nodded in agreement. Craig took another hit of the Light, and again, locked his lips around Jane’s. Jane could feel Craig passing the smoke from his own mouth, and Jane pulled it into her lungs. Jane then also felt Craig’s tongue in her mouth. Jane exhaled the smoke through her nose, but they did not break the lip lock. They continued kissing for a few more moments. Craig finally broke it to take a long pump on the Light, and to calm himself down.

“You have no idea how long I’ve been dreaming of doin’ that” he said to Jane. This time it was Jane who let out the little chuckle. She was used to hearing guys tell her how they fantasised about her, but very rarely had anything ever been done about it.
About a year ago, she had had a brief fling with one of her male dancers, but as soon as the record company found out about it, Ben, the dancer, was fired from the dance team.
Of course, the paparazzi had picked up on the affair, and even managed to get some photographs, but Jane’s record company gave Ben a hefty settlement, and also passed off the photos of Ben and Jane as just ‘close friends’.

Craig took the last hit on the Light and blew a smoke circle in Jane’s direction. Jane smiled at Craig’s cuteness, and then knelt down on the floor beside Craig.

“So, how did you find the smoke?”, Craig asked, “Amazing”, Jane answered. Craig grabbed an ashtray from the table, and took the pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket again.
“You ready to give it a real try this time, on your own?”, Craig winked at Jane, and Jane placed her hand on Craig’s leg. Jane took the Marlboro Lights from Craig’s hand, and opened it up. She took out a cigarette and held it between her hand, as she had seen other people hold it. She placed the cigarette in her mouth and went for the lighter. Instead, Craig sparked it, and raised the flame closer to Jane. Jane tilted her head in the direction of the flame, and touched the end of the cigarette from it. She took the first hit and blew out the smoke. She was still very nervous, of smoking, and the fact that this gorgeous guy was teaching her how to! She quickly took a second drag, and kept this one in longer. She blew the smoke around Craig’s face, and they both giggled. Craig placed his own hand over the hand Jane had on her knee. On her third drag, Jane inhaled the smoke into her lungs. Craig was very pleased with Jane’s smoking. As Jane exhaled through her nose and mouth, Craig moved even closer again.

Craig put her arm around Jane, and kissed her soft lips. Jane took another hit of the Light, and then she placed her lips around Craig’s. Craig pulled all the smoke into her own lungs and kept it there. She kissed Jane deep and passionately, before exhaling the smoke through her nose.

Jane and Craig stood up, and moved to the chair. They placed the ashtray on the table in front of them, and Craig then sparked his own cigarette. Craig lay back in the chair, deeply enjoying the Light, as Jane too enjoyed this amazing, sexy, newfound experience.
Craig loosened her tie, and unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt.

Craig smoked his cigarette down to the last drag, which he gave to Jane. Jane took the hit, and then put the end into the ashtray.

Craig reached over to her tuxedo jacket, and took out the two packs of Lights he bought earlier. Craig opened the new pack and took out two cigarettes. He placed both into his mouth, and lit the zippo. He pulled on both cigarettes, double pumping on both of them, and then passed one to Jane.

Jane could not remember the last time she had had such fun, and she could not believe that she had never tried smoking before. Nicotine surged through her, as her head swam, eyes following the patterns of smoke in their ascent towards the ceiling. They talked about their jobs, their lives, and Jane found that this was Craig’s first taste of being a celebrity.

Jane could just imagine the look on the studio bosses face if they had seen a picture of her right now. She was sitting on a chair, smoking a cigarette languidly around the arms of a fellow celebrity. She could just think of them making up some stupid story to cover it up…

The next morning, Jane awoke to the familiar tune of her mobile phone ringing. Still kind of groggy from her sleep, she answered the phone.

“Morning sleeping beauty” Margot's voice cackled on the other end.

She said again that the studio was greatly pleased with her about the awards the previous night, and that a pop star wished to meet up with her, and talk about working on a record together.

Her mind floated back to the previous night. While both tempted, Jane and Craig chose not to have sex, instead just to enjoy each other's company. As their attraction was mutual, there would be plenty of opportunities to further their relationship.

Jane got dressed, in casual clothes, a black skirt, and a black blouse. She grabbed her phone , keys, and her Marlboros and her lighter and left the hotel. As soon as she stepped outside the hotel, she took out a cigarette and sparked it as she went to do some shopping.