I am Hollywood

Chapter 10: Flirting Takes Skill



[Chapter 10: Flirting Takes Skill]

Jennifer Aniston stood by the roadside, somewhat distracted as she waited for a cab. She hadn't felt overly disappointed about this audition since she never held high hopes anyway. After graduating from acting school the previous year, she had landed a few roles in stage plays. By chance, she had heard about an open call for actresses for a movie and decided to send in her resume, surprised to get an audition opportunity.

Just as she raised her hand to hail a taxi, she heard someone shout her name from behind. Turning around, she saw the boy from the audition room who had been staring at her intently.

"Hi, you're the one...," Jennifer Aniston waved her hand a couple of times instinctively, realizing she didn't even know his name.

Eric extended his hand, saying, "Miss Aniston, hello, I'm Eric, Eric Williams."

Jennifer reached out her hand politely and smiled, "Hello, Mr. Williams..."

Eric gazed at Aniston's sweet smile, slightly mesmerized, holding onto her hand without realizing he hadn't let go.

"Mr. Williams, you..." Aniston lightly tugged her hand, feeling the warmth of his large hand and slightly embarrassed, shot him a playful glare.

"Oh, sorry, just call me Eric. Can I call you Jenny?" Eric retracted his hand awkwardly, scratching his head, thinking how he didn't turn into a bumbling teenager, even though he had some dating experience in his past life. Surely, it must be the hormones acting up in this body, he reasoned.

Aniston raised an eyebrow with mild suspicion, "Okay, Eric, but we don't seem to know each other, do we?"

Eric smiled, shaking off the previous thoughts. "Well, not yet. All friends were strangers once, right? Jenny, it's already noon. Can I take you out for lunch?"

"That's a bit sudden, Eric. We've only exchanged a few words," Aniston declined.

"Then how about I give you a ride home?" Eric suggested, giving in.

"Um... alright," Aniston hesitated for a moment. She had already turned him down once, and not good at rejecting others, she instinctively accepted his offer. In truth, Eric had only employed a social tactic. Had he asked to take her home right away, getting rejected would have been a real blow; persistence wouldn't work in his favor.

...

They both got into Eric's car, cleared up the address, and Eric drove off toward the destination.

Unable to contain her curiosity, Aniston asked first, "Eric, are you part of the crew for 17 Again?"

Eric nodded while gripping the steering wheel, "Yeah, I'm the writer and the lead actor of the movie."

"Wow, that's amazing! You should be about my age, right? I've only played minor roles in a few stage plays."

Eric chuckled, "It's just luck, really. By the way, you mentioned you're acting in a stage play?" "Oh, yes!" Talking about something she was interested in, Aniston opened up and began chatting away, while Eric chimed in occasionally, making her giggle.

A nineteen-year-old girl who had hardly stepped into the real world didn't stand a chance against Eric, who had the soul of an older man hidden deep inside. Under Eric's subtle guidance, the conversation flowed, and Aniston gradually opened up about her life in Los Angeles.

"Even though working at a convenience store is tiring, standing at least eight hours a day, I feel really fulfilled. I still get to perform in stage plays and go on auditions. I believe that even without my irresponsible father's help, I'll succeed one day."

Eric knew that in his previous life, Aniston eventually entered the television industry through her father's connections, that would happen two years later.

He remembered Jennifer Aniston from his past life had some resentment towards her father for abandoning her and her mother when she was little. For over two years, she had refused his help and squandered precious time in Hollywood. It was only after her father, John Aniston, made some attempts to mend their relationship that the stubborn Jennifer accepted his assistance. By the time she got the role in Friends, Jennifer was already twenty-five, and in Hollywood, if a female actress wasn't successful by thirty, opportunities would significantly dwindle. It had to be said, Jennifer had been fortunate.

Listening to Aniston, Eric encouraged, "I believe that too. You did a fantastic job at the audition. Your performance didn't seem stagey at all; it felt very natural. You know, some girl who auditioned before you brought so much stagey flair that I almost got pulled into it."

Suddenly, Aniston turned a bit silent when he brought up the audition, and after a moment, she quietly asked, "Eric, was the role of Maggie already cast before my audition?"

"Can't deny it, Jenny, you certainly have a keen eye."

"I noticed you all seemed distracted; maybe it was just a formality."

Eric didn't beat around the bush and replied directly, "If nothing changes, Drew Barrymore will likely play Maggie. She performed exceptionally well during her audition."

"Drew Barrymore, the adorable little girl from E.T.? She should be about thirteen now, right? Isn't Maggie supposed to be a high school senior getting ready for college?"

Eric asked curiously, "What? Jenny, didn't you see Drew while waiting for your audition? She's all grown up now, though... well, yes, she's still only thirteen."

Aniston looked a bit embarrassed, "Um, for today's audition, I switched shifts with a coworker and worked until midnight last night, so I arrived a bit late."

"No worries, actually, I'm not sure if I should tell you..."

Aniston looked up, curious. "What's that?"

"After you left, they all noticed I... liked you."

Aniston's mouth dropped open, surprised by Eric's straightforwardness, and stammered, "And... then what?"

"James, the producer of this film, told me that in a sea of faces, if you miss out on good girls, you might never find them again. So, he encouraged me to chase after you. He also said if I pursued you, he'd give you a role which would create more opportunities for us to spend time together." Eric revealed James Brooks' advice, silently apologizing to him in his mind, thinking dating wasn't an easy task.

"Uh, well... I... I..." Faced with Eric's almost confession-like words, Aniston appeared flustered, but a hint of sweetness bubbled up inside her heart.

Seeing her fluster, Eric quickly reassured her, "No, you don't need to feel any pressure, Jenny. We're friends now, right? It's normal for friends to help each other. Honestly, that role isn't a big deal; it's just one of Maggie's three friends with a few minutes of screen time. But if you accept, it would give you a credential for future auditions. I genuinely believe this movie will

do well."

"Thank you, Eric. I really don't know what to say," Aniston replied gratefully.

After another ten minutes on the road, once they reached a neighborhood in Burbank, Aniston pointed to an intersection. "Eric, we've arrived. You can park over there."

The car came to a stop at a narrow alley, and both of them simultaneously fell silent for a few seconds. Aniston didn't make any move to get out, and Eric wasn't going to suggest it either. After sitting in quiet for a moment, the atmosphere in the car began to shift toward something more intimate.

Finally, Aniston gathered her courage to speak, "How about I take you out for lunch, Eric? There's a little cafe up ahead where I often eat."Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"No way, Jenny. It's not proper for a girl to pay. I'll treat you. Let's go; just lead the way," Eric

replied with relief.

...

Ultimately, Aniston accepted the role, and during the following weeks of preparation for the film, the two of them ended up talking on the phone almost daily. Their conversations were pretty scattered: about someone stealing in Aniston's convenience store, almost being late due to oversleeping in the morning, and discovering a few cockroaches in her closet.

Eric occasionally shared snippets of his life too, comforting the lonely girl in a strange city. Although Aniston interacted with many people, she didn't have anyone she felt she could confide in. In a short span of time, Eric had already become her emotional anchor. He realized that if he just confessed, Aniston would undoubtedly agree to be his girlfriend, as she had

even begun to flirt on the phone.

However, Eric wasn't in any rush. He didn't want Aniston to associate her role in the film with their budding relationship. He decided that he would wait until after 17 Again wrapped filming. After all, the girl wouldn't be able to escape his grasp anyway in her current state. Eric just needed to wait until everything fell into place naturally.

...

During this time, another development took shape: the publication of Jurassic Park. About a month and a half after signing with Michael Krauss, Eric finally received a sample copy of Jurassic Park. The cover featured a massive Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing a speeding SUV -- what a sci-fi concept! This idea stemmed from his recollection of the Jurassic Park movie, and Michael Krauss thought it was fantastic. The combination of ancient dinosaurs and modern SUVS set an enormous suspenseful tone right from the cover.

Eric thoughtfully asked for an extra copy to gift to Aniston. He had unknowingly crafted an image of a thoughtful boyfriend in Aniston's mind over the days they had spent together, a significant impact for someone who had lacked the love of a father figure in her life. When she received Jurassic Park, her admiration for Eric's writing and acting talent grew, and her eyes sparkled with a hint of admiration. Naturally, she subconsciously labeled him as a

gifted artist in her heart.

...

The preparations for 17 Again continued intensely, and during that period, Eric participated in a few more preparatory meetings with the crew and encountered other actors involved in the project. Regarding Mike's son, the production team didn't choose Brad Pitt; they didn't opt for the skinny kid named Blake Quinn either. Instead, they selected a slightly sturdier eighteen-year-old boy.

Eric didn't hold any grudges about this since he subsequently met Aniston. Out of some principles, he found himself losing interest in Pitt for abandoning Aniston in his past life. In fact, he whimsically considered that if he ever became a big director, he might cast both Pitt and Jolie in a minor role in his movie, with Aniston as the lead, of course!

Everything proceeded smoothly. On August 16, 1988, the first movie Eric had fantasized about

throughout both lives officially started filming.

*****

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