âMmm-hmm, thatâs me,â Ivy said, clutching the novel she had just picked off the shelf. It was her first time being recognized by a fan, and a blush crept up her cheeks involuntarily.
âOh my gosh! I absolutely adore that trailer you were in, you were amazing, and youâre so gorgeous! I canât believe youâre even prettier without makeup. Can I please get a selfie with you?â
Ivyâs face turned a deeper shade of red from the compliment. âThank you so much. Iâd love to take a picture. Iâm not wearing any makeup, though. Is that alright?â
She was worried the fan might be expecting to see her as close to her on-screen persona as possible.
The girl shook her head vigorously. âWhy would I mind? Youâre stunning just as you are!â
âYouâre pretty adorable yourself. Happy to meet you,â Ivy said with a smile that reached her eyes, and they snapped the selfie. The fanâs heart felt like it had been hit by a thunderbolt. âIvy, youâve gotta keep acting. Youâre going to be huge! And when you are, Iâll be your number one fan!â
Ivy nodded and promised with a smile. After the fan walked away, Ivy was still a bit dazed.
âSo, this is what it feels like to meet a fan? Itâs magical how they get drawn in by the movie characters, and then they want to know what the real me is like.â She thought.
Taking a deep breath, Ivy felt a wave of emotion from the fanâs excitement. This was what it felt like to be liked and affirmed, a feeling she was not accustomed to as it was a rarity in her life.
As she was about to pay for her book, Ivy encountered a couple.
They stood to the side, holding a book and seemingly deep in discussion. The girl nudged the guy, who seemed bashful.
Ivy noticed and turned around out of curiosity, asking, âEverything okay? Do you guys need some help?â
The girl had not expected Ivy to actually start a conversation with them. She let out an excited squeal before clamping her hand over her mouth, remembering they were in a bookstore.
âAre⦠Are you Ivy? Iâd recognize your face anywhere!â
She had chased after celebrities before, even going to events to snap pictures, but frankly, while some stars were drop-dead gorgeous, others could not seem to detach from their photo edits.
For many artists, seeing them in person was the moment she stopped being a fan.
But Ivy was even more beautiful in real life, her skin so soft it looked like it could ripple with a touch, her features so delicate! Before she could dwell on it, she thrust her phone at her boyfriend, urging him to take a picture with Ivy.
âBig star, could you please take a photo with me?â
Ivy nodded and then hesitated. âIâm still a newbie actress, not a big star yet.â
With that, she placed her hand on the girlâs shoulder in a friendly gesture. The fan was so thrilled she could hardly contain herself. Who could tell her why lvy smelled so wonderful?
They took several photos until the girl was satisfied.
âBig star, no, Ivy, dear, can I post these on Twitter? Lots of people like you; theyâd love to see these pictures, too.â
Ivy nodded. âOf course, you can. Thank you for your support.â
The fan nodded frantically. âDo post more when youâre not busy with shoots. Even a quick selfie will do for us. Weâre easy to please. Keep it up!â
As the girl rambled on, Ivy maintained her cheerful demeanor without a hint of impatience. However, the scene was beginning to draw attention from others in the bookstore, which could lead to unnecessary commotion.