10America Singer stood in a dingy old elevator, waiting for it to rise to her floor. Tacky elevator music drifted in the winds of the small compartment, leading America to cringe. As usual, the lights started to flicker, and soon enough, she was left with nothing but pitch, black darkness. She sighed, knowing that from the looks of it, it would be a terribly long and tedious day.
The elevator stopped playing music as it reached her floor, replacing the temporary silence with a little ding. A grimy old and ancient office awaited her. This will be fun, America thought sarcastically. What's better than waiting for your career to start in a dilapidated office, huh?
"Murica! Our new star!" A man sporting a tweed suit and a handlebar mustache was waiting for her at his desk. He outstretched his arms. "Oh, Murica, darling, how are you?" he asked, speaking in a tacky, ridiculous accent.
America sighed, slapping the palm of her head to her forehead as she sank down into the seat. "Please don't call me that, Tony. For the last time, my name is America."
Tony gave a little fake pout. "Oh, darling, you have a name filled with star power and a nickname bursting with so much potential! I'm your agent, Murica – I know how to make you famous!"
America shook her head in exasperation. "I actually want to get home early today, Tony. Just cut to the chase and give me an update on my audition information. Any news?"
"Not yet. But we have great news! A spot for a slipper commercial just opened up! I'm sure that you would make a great foot model, yeah?" exclaimed Tony enthusiastically. "Picture this – America Singer, Slip n' Shoes cover girl! What do you think?"
"Oh Tony," his client responded, rolling her blue eyes. "You know, if you weren't Aspen's uncle, I wouldn't be sitting here, waiting to do foot commercials. I have to support myself and my family. I've got to get out of this student debt, you know."
"Trust me – I know what I'm doing," Tony said as America sighed once more. "America, I know that you don't really have faith in me. But you just gotta trust me, you know. I make stars. I make dreams happen. I know you're pretty desperate for a career. And I know you've gotta a family to feed. Trust me, in a year, your name will be plastered all over posters and your face will be over every billboard in the USA."
"Tony, I get that you're trying to help me, but I just don't know if this is really going to work."
"Murica, darling! I make stars. Miley Cyprus – famous because of moi! Celine Gomez – a celebrity because of moi! Gemma Watts – mon petit star! Taylor Shift – famous because of moi! See the pattern here?"
"Tony…" America started to say.
Tony fiddled his handlebar mustache. "Well, if you don't like that, you can always try hand commercials. I hear a new spot for a bracelet commercial just opened up and –"
America let out an exasperated sigh. "See you next Tuesday, Tony. Thanks for all the help."
She turned to leave, and walked back into the elevator. As she headed into the parking lot, she bumped into someone. They crashed onto the pavement, and America was ready to unleash all her anger and frustration until she caught a glimpse of the other figure.
"Aspen!" she cried, her face breaking out into a grin. "What are you doing here?"
Aspen gave her a smile in return, his huge brown eyes lighting up his face. "I wanted to surprise you, Mer. I've got something special planned out for tonight. I figured that we could drive out to a local restaurant and go sightseeing or something."
"Sounds fun," America replied, beaming. "Is it a special occasion or something?"
"Not really. But I know you've had a long day, well a long week even, and you really deserve a break. This should be your night," Aspen remarked, squeezing his girlfriend's hand.
America felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Aspen always knew how to make her feel better and cheer her up. When the times got tough, he was there for her. And that was what really mattered. She couldn't ask for a more perfect boyfriend.
"You're going to WHAT?" Maxon Schreave asked.
Clarkson Schreave scowled in frustration, studying his son's perplexed face. "Son, we decided to do something that would benefit your career. You're already a household name, but can you be more famous? Yes. You make half-a-million bucks a year, but could you earn more? Absolutely. You need this."
"So you decided to make me the next Bachelor? Without my permission? I'm going to have to choose a stranger to marry in a matter of months?"
"I'm your agent, Maxon," said his father, his lips curling into a thin line. "I know what's best for you. Don't question my orders. You asked for success, and you're getting it whether you like it or not."
The young man ran his hands through his blonde hair. "Dad, I haven't been given time to process this. That's crazy. How am I supposed to be able to choose my soulmate on a reality television show? How am I supposed to pretend to love someone while the whole world is watching? That's insane."
"Son –" Clarkson started. His face was contorted in rage, turning a deep shade of scarlet.
"Boys, enough," said Amberly Schreave, shaking her head. She turned to her son. "Maxon, sweetie, I know that you deserve to have a decision and a choice in this. But we believe that this will not only benefit your career, but yourself as a person. You have a lot to learn, and this will truly help you mature."
Maxon sighed. "I'll think about it. But this is so unbelievably overwhelming. I'm only twenty-three years old, Mother! I have my whole life ahead of me."
"I know," said Amberly, gently touching her son's cheek. "If you do choose to go, try your best, okay? I can feel that something special will come out of it. And if you aren't ready to choose a partner, you don't have to. You can always back out of it. And if you're really uncomfortable with this, please don't feel like you have to do it. We can still get the show cancelled."
Clarkson made an impatient noise. "Oh, you're going to participate alright," he said, turning to his son. "We've already auditioned all the girls and picked out all the destinations. You're going to be the next Celebrity Bachelor, and that's final!"
With a slam of the door, Clarkson stormed out of his son's room. His wife sighed in exasperation. "Don't mind him," she said, shaking her head. "He's been stressed recently, and he's just taking all his anger out on you. Don't take it personally, okay? It's going to be your own choice."
Maxon opened his mouth to disagree, but he ultimately thought better of it. Nothing was going to come out of him telling his mother about his father's abuse. It would just upset and worry Amberly even more, shattering his family apart. His troubles would just proliferate if he told her.
Instead, he just gave a quick nod. "I understand, Mother."
"I'm very proud of you, Maxon," Amberly said in a soft voice. "Have a good rest, okay? Tomorrow's going to be a big day." She kissed her son's forehead, and left, leaving Maxon in the darkness.
Maxon sighed. Being a young, famous actor was harder than it looked. Being a young, famous actor with two famous parents was being harder. He always had to abide by expectations and rules that he could never seem to follow. He always had to take the path that everyone wanted him to choose, and live the life that someone else had carved for him.
As he fell asleep to the sound of his beating heart, he wondered if he would ever have a sense of freedom in his life.
America woke up with a grin on her face. She was sure that last night was absolutely the best night of her life. Aspen had taken her to a fancy restaurant that was so fabulously expensive that it had taken him weeks to save up for just one lavish meal. Their dinner was practically a feast… it was filled with the creamiest soups, most savory meats, and sweetest desserts. It was perfection wrapped up neatly in a few dishes.
After dinner, the couple went biking. Aspen had made a map of America's favorite spots in Los Angeles, and they bicycled to all her favorite places. They visited piers, parks, and theaters just before the Californian sun dipped underneath the waves.
Best of all, she had gotten to spend time with the love of her life and the prince of her dreams. Every moment that she spent with Aspen made her fall in love with him even more. He was more than she could even ask for.
Aspen was already awake when America woke up with a bright grin on his face. "Good morning, beautiful," he said cheerfully. "Ready to go back to Pierce?"
"Old, crumbling Pierce College. Can't wait," America replied. "I wish that you and I could just stay here forever. Alone from all the people. Alone from all the catastrophes."
Aspen squeezed her hand. "Me too," he whispered. "I wish that our troubles could vanish away. And some day they will. But for right now, I guess it's just old, crumbling Pierce College, isn't it?"
America smiled. "Old, crumbling Pierce College alright. You can go on without me. My first class starts at eleven and I'm pretty sure I can bike there in time if I pedal fast enough."
"You sure?" her boyfriend raised his eyebrows in concern. "It's an awfully long distance."
"Positive," she replied. "Love you."
After her boyfriend reluctantly drove away, America pulled out her ancient flip phone and dialed her sister's phone number.
"Ames? Is that you?" her sister's panicked voice greeted her.
"Hello, little sister who can afford Caller ID and an iPhone. How's life?"
"Ames, we share an apartment." America could practically see her little sister rolling her eyes and pushing up her nerdy glasses up her nose.
"Unfortunately."
"Very funny," May replied. "Why weren't you home yesterday? I was worried sick about you!"
"You're not your giggly, girly self today, I see. And I was with Aspen, for your information. I called you about ten times and you never picked up."
"Well, I was busy with tutoring. I had to silence my phone, you know. It's called responsibility," May said. America could hear the smugness in her younger sister's voice.
"Who are you and what have you done with my little sister May?" America half-teased. "Seriously, the May I know would never blabber on and on about responsibility. She'd be eager to hear all the juicy gossip about me and Aspen."
"I never liked Aspen anyway. He's always getting you into trouble, America. You have to steer clear from guys like him," May said sharply.
"You barely know Aspen," America protested. "He's a wonderful guy and a hard worker. And he cares about me, May. Unlike a snooty, stuck-up smarty-pants sister who practically lives at the library in UCLA."
"I'm sorry Ames. I'm just... growing up, I guess. Being more mature and all. I'm sorry that we're growing apart, really. But the thing is, I'm not sixteen years old anymore, and neither are you."
Her sister hung up, and America felt even lonelier than ever. As her sister went off to succeed in her life, America was trapped in her crummy old one. If only things had never changed, and America was still left with her dream of becoming something one day. Aspen was all she had left. May had matured and changed, Kota had abandoned her, and Kenna was off with a baby and a husband. America hadn't seen her mother or her father or baby Gerad in a while. And for now, Aspen was truly all she had left.
Author's Note: This is my second fanfiction on this site, so constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated! Please review and tell me what you think! :)