Chapter 1

"When a great talent is on screen, you don't see the actress. Only the character she's become. You see a girl with scientific disorders, a civil rights icon, a rape victim, an untalented heiress, or a young woman with big dreams. These five actresses have rewarded moviegoers with fully dimensional characters, some drawn from real life, all of them larger-than-life. The artist who's brought those characters to real-life is our nominees for performance by an actress in the leading role."

A faint yet confident smile appeared on Lorraine's lips as the nominees got announced on the screen. Her eyes gleamed as her name came into the view.

She held her breath as the atmosphere became suspicious, her stomach twisting uncontrollably.

"And the Oscar goes to... Lorraine Acker for 'Genetical'."

Applause followed through the hall and the music started playing. Lorraine's heart swelled. Rapture engulfed ber, and she felt like yelping with excitement, though she controlled herself.

Johnny, who was sitting beside her hugged her, whispering a 'congratulations' in her ear.

She stood up, smiling widely. She walked towards the huge stage while handling her gown, her movements calculated and elegant. A background voice said, "This is the fifth nomination and first Oscar of Lorraine Acker."

The Golden patterns of the huge Hall gleaming along with the background music of victory. Every person sitting in the hall was defined by pure glamour, including her. It was as if the air turned into a golden mist, just for her face to reflect it.

The digital yet antique screen on which her name was gleaming. The crystals dangling down the ceiling and somewhere she knew, her soul was spiralled in them. She knew the hall was a hundred years older than her, but tonight, it was a place to receive a price for her blood, sweat, and tears.

She hugged the host and he kissed her on the cheek. He handed her the handsome award. Happiness wasn't enough to define this moment right now.

So many thoughts came into her mind. Lorraine went towards the Mic and raised her Oscar and the audience shouted. A strained and watery chuckle left her lips, feeling high on the rapture. For a moment she couldn't even find her voice.

Drawing a few breaths in, she finally spoke.

"Thank you, everyone, I'm very deeply affected by the kindness of your recognition and your good wishes to myself which is why it's so meaningful to me...to be here...in front of you...to say thank you."

She took another sharp intake of breath, really thought she could get through this without being overwhelmed.

"And I realized that moments like this are a huge confluence of luck and opportunity and so I want to thank Tim, for the opportunity to be a part of a project that was so special and once-in-a-lifetime. I'm so grateful to have been involved in this film, and most importantly I thank Johnny who was with me through my every up and down of my career and my parents-"

She paused for a moment, the smile on her lips threatening to go away. Should've she mentioned them? In maybe the happiest moment of her life? It just came out...seeing the other fellow stars say it, it just came out. Nonetheless, she continued and shrugged of this thought for now.

"I still have a lot of growing and learning and work to do and this is a very beautiful symbol to continue on the journey and I am so grateful for that so Thank you, everyone, everyone who's been a part of my life, positive or negative. People whom I forgot to mention, I'm gonna meet you in person and hug the hell outta you."

She smiled and hugged the host again before going back to her seat. The applause and cheers once again making their appearance. She sat back, the cameras still focused on her for a few moments before going to someone else.

Johnny leaned in her ear and whispered.

"You're gonna stay for the after-party?"

She shrugged her shoulders

"Maybe, er...let's see what the others have planned. You?"

"Nah! I'm exhausted already. Plus, my daughter made me promise I'd be home early tonight."

She chuckled lightly.

*

"O-Oh my god Lorraine you're so fucking hot." She slurred out, drunkenly glueing herself to Lorraine - almost falling onto her - once again connecting their lips into a messy kiss that tasted like alcohol.

Lorraine allowed, cringing internally but she didn't wanna make a scene out of it. The woman tried to grab Lorraine's head to deepen the kiss but Lorraine separated herself from her.

"Not my hair, sweety." Lorraine said, "You're a train wreck already. I think you should go."

The drunk woman fake cried, her face twisting. "Will you not talk to me ever again? Are you mad I kissed you?"

Lorraine tried to suppress her laugh, smiling faintly but she cooed. "I'm not angry." She said, smiling as if reassuring a baby. "I'm not angry sweety, just go you're too messy for me."

She laughed at her own sentence but pulled the woman into a small hug. "Go before you puke."

It wasn't the woman's fault she was a slutty drunk. Lorraine didn't mind, in fact, she found the whole situation hilarious (considering her own drunk state).

She giggled sweetly as she saw the woman making her way into the hall. Trust me, not every celebrity was this chaotic. In fact, none of them was. They drank a lot in there, but the party didn't turn into a freak show. It stayed as sophisticated as ever.

Lorraine was standing on the balcony, away from her friends. Apparently, she had decided to stay for the after-party but now she had to go because her best friend Matt had decided to have their own little party.

Matt was a singer and had not attended the after-party saying he wanted to do some 'party preparations' at home.

Speaking of the devil, Lorraine's phone rang, showing Matt as the caller ID. She giggled drunkenly, picking up the phone.

"You won't believe what happened-"

"No, I don't believe you sent your driver home!" Matt shouted through the phone and Lorraine shushed him.

"Listen, dick. Bernice just kissed me." She informed.

"Oh, wow- but when the hell are you coming?"

"Yeah yeah yeah." She said, closing her eyes by how heavy they were. "M' Coming."

"You better don't get yourself caught in drunk driving."

"I won't" she murmured, cutting the phone call and finally paying attention to the jammed eyes of someone on her. She rolled her eyes and looked towards the person who was staring at her with a grimacing curl on his lips, his hand resting on the railing of the balcony, pissed because of all the freak show Lorraine had created to disturb his peace.

"Stare lingers any longer I'll charge," Lorraine warned, her voice sultry, laced with lust. He licked his lips. "And I know you'll pay by the way you were looking at me right now."

"And how was I looking at you?" He boldly questioned back, taking a step towards her. She'd be lying if half of her mind wasn't on him while kissing Bernice. She was surely taking a high risk by trying to seduce a Phoenix brother but remember the traits of alcohol? Yeah, there's that.

The Phoenix brothers. That's their last name. And also the name of their band, run by four lust-in-human forms of brothers. That's all she knew.

"Like you wanted to be in her place." She answered, voice dipping low because of their proximity. From here she could see his features even clearly. He had plump lips and his eye lenses were silver, suiting his elegant suit with silver patterns.

His juicy lips tugged into a smirk and it was suddenly silent there the atmosphere thickening. The city lights gleamed and melted on his face, making him glow.

"You were putting on a show for a stranger." He husked out, reducing the distance between them to almost nothing.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "And the said stranger had the decency to watch."

The man faltered a little by her confidence. It was true, she was Lorraine Acker and it was useless to try and intimidate her.

"What's your name?" Lorraine asked, already over the little endeavour. The man raised his eyebrow at her. She didn't know his name and had so confidently declared that he was lusting over her. Well, it was true though.

"Sebastian."

She nodded. There was a moment of silence where she gazed at the city lights of LA. Her lips tugged upwards, her eyes glinting with mischief.

"Sebastian, come with me."