//------------------------------//
// There's No Business Like Show Business 
// Story: A Story of Love (Among Others) 
// by TheMareWhoSaysNi 
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I've been warned it would be like that but I didn't want to believe. Even in front of the hotel, there already was a thick crowd piled up behind barriers, kicking and screaming, as if the whole city was gathered here. Pinkie and Rarity both looked indifferent, like this was perfectly normal.

I thought they would react in a complete opposite way when they heard I had a boyfriend and who he was. My best friend burst out laughing and said I was even worst than her at keeping secrets. She had guessed something like that from the very first day when she saw my reaction with the magazine. She said it was her Pinkie sense which drew the conclusion for her. As far as Rarity was concerned... With her parents, she was used to meet important persons. Good! I wasn't sure how I would have dealt with self-serving friends.

You had to go through the wide and luxurious lobby to get to the room where the event would take place. I realized I had never put a foot in such a hotel before. It hit me right on the head because it was rare for a common human being to face such a debauchery of refinement out of the Royal Palace, although it wasn't tawdry. It was clear with the paneling on the walls, the marble on the floor, the cristal chandelier.

I could picture myself, later, as the biggest Equestria rockstar, seeing the press in a suit of one of those beautiful hotels. I always thought if I could go as high as that, I would be completely accomplish. I wanted to make it too, to reach the goals I was aiming for... I wanted to show that I wasn't only talking and no action, that I could shine brighter than the rest.

In front of the conference's room wooden doors, there was two men dressed in black suits, who I nicknamed Agent J and Agent K, with cropped hair and cold eyes. One of them had a clipboard in his hands and the other one, his exact reflection, gave away badges. 

Agent J had eyes like a machine-gun and I felt as if he could strangle us, supposing our name wouldn't be written on the clipboard's list. All the same, I smiled at him, trying politeness and gave our names. We were Mr. Soarin Skies' guests. Our name was on the list. Hooray! But the suspense wasn't that big, come on...

We were given our badges, opened the doors. Here, the setting was different.

There were men in blacks each three meters. An ocean of taken seats stretched in front of our eyes. Cameras, booms, computers and tablets, tape recorders... Each a weapon. They all looked very professional and focused. They looked at the press kit, whispered things. At the back of the room, there were a dais with a table as large which only far ends were appearing behind a large screen lowered. That was where the things happened.

A new man in black stopped us and asked to see our badges. He showed us a spot, higher. Like fools, we all looked up and discovered something that looked like a balcony, filled of people on the look out, scanning the least movements of the entire room. That was the spot reserved to privileged fans and close relations invited by the production company and actors. I didn't think we would be all mixed up like in a cocktail.

Up there, the atmosphere was different, closer to the one in front of the hotel. We were so many it was as difficult to move along as it is in the subway at the rush hour. People were squeezed against each other, pushing each other. I thought we would never be able to go through and properly attend the conference. If not, the fact Soarin was who he was would never come to life for me. I would never be able to see him as this public person, speaking in front of all those journalists and on the cover of magazines. He would still be my boyfriend, as I knew him.

Of course, even if I was able to see him, he wouldn't change much for me. But it would be harder for me to realize, that was what I meant. Everything remained hazy then, the information were here but it wasn't real.

Pinkie Pie pat a guy's shoulder who glanced at us with contempt. Bad start... And yet, the second after, he parted and let us step into the breach. Easily, we got to guardrail of the balcony, where we were going to be able to see everything perfectly. On our way, I heard whispers about us, or about one of us. I could only hear scraps but it was about fashion, with "do you think that..." and "look at her...".

That spot was very noisy, between talking journalists and fans screaming their joy at the least occasion, and let's not forget about the music resounding out of invisible speakers. And the heat... What a heat! I was going to smell like an old piece because of that heat. Couldn't they turn the heaters off? We were enough people here to open a bomb manufacture.

And that wasn't the end of my surprises. Another boy, voluntarily pushed by someone else, fell on Rarity who was forced to squeeze her body completely against the guardrail.

"I think that moron touched my bottom!" she yelled at us through the hubbub.

Both Pinkie Pie and I turned our head, ready to go for his throat, while he muttered unsincere apologies. If we weren't in a context where that kind of reactions could get us into trouble, we wouldn't have hesitated much and he would have suffered the consequences of his actions. Thankfully, before things could get any worse, lights diminished and finally were off. Piercing screams were heard from everywhere. It was about to start.

On the screen there was in front of the long table, the first fifteen minutes of the movie were shown. Well, the story was always the same but at each new "generation", they brought new elements, changed the name and personalities of the main characters, so much that the movies didn't resemble the books anymore, except for the world-building and how the story was supposed to end. More or less. It felt so strange to see Soarin playing someone else. It was his voice, his eyes, his body and his hands but it wasn't Soarin anymore.

It made me feel nervous. When the screen turned to black, I could hear fans screaming they wanted more, while a man climbed on the dais and the screen started to disappear in the ceiling. He announced the name of the main cast and of the director and everyone arrived, one by one, dressed formally but not too formally. I quickly spotted Soarin. He remained the Soarin I knew and yet, standing on that dais, smiling under the crackling flashes, he looked different. His smile that I loved so much was radiant but it wasn't his usual radiant smile. It looked like a live advertisement of a toothpaste. And now, thanks to the revolutionary whitening brush, your teeth are going to be so dazzling they would cause plane crashes.

That was the smile, more than the movie, which made me think here we are. He no longer was the boy next door, though he already was my special somebody. He was promised to something I couldn't completely comprehend yet. There was a pond of journalists between us and I was scared that soon, a whole ocean would seperate us. My throat clenched. I grabbed the guardrail.

Serious things had started. Everything looked so perfect it was almost unreal. No questions were awkward, no answer wobbly or ambiguous. As if everything had been modeled from a very precise Schubert sheet, with no dissonance. Nothing broke that mold, everything was smooth... Soarin seemed to be like a pig in sh*t. He smiled, answered the questions clearly and calmly, joked. Very professional. And smooth too. When I knew he could be unpredictable and this was what made him unique.

I wasn't sure whether I liked that. Things which are too perfect are likely to give me anxieties. I always wonder what kind of horrors that is supposed to conceal. Perfection is impossible.

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It all happened without a bump. It even seemed to be too easy. The actors and the staff looked as happy as the many fans when they had left the conference room, once it was over. The journalists looked convinced too.

So, the conference was over but not the night. The girls and I had to meet Soarin and the main cast. I thought I wouldn't be able to see him before tomorrow but someone of the staff had come to us and told us they have organized a little something for us, to compensate the fact that Soarin was soon going to move on. That was legit. He couldn't be the lead role of such a franchise and live in a youth hostel. His agent rented a large flat for him in Silk Street, our luxury area. To be famous is to accept to spend most of your time on your job. I knew it since I understood the implications... Yet, the good news was that I would be able to see my boyfriend anyway. I could visit him, to the condition I wouldn't get spotted (start wearing wigs, Rainbow Dash). And other good news, I could also visit him when he would be promoting on television.

I thought he was joking when he first told me. That was too good to be true. That I was allowed to keep my boyfriend already was a big deal but that I could be with him during some of the promotions, it was unexpected. I knew I was lucky but he also warned me that at the least mistake, everything could disappear. Abolition of privileges. I was ready to take that risk. Call me Theda Bara, cause a fool there was.

A suit had been booked for us in the hotel for a whole hour. One assistant came to pick us up in the room and this was where we were supposed to meet everyone. I was a bit nervous to introduce Soarin to my best friends. I was scared they wouldn't like one another. It was very important for me that things would go right.

Last floor. The sound of our heels were muffled by the mellow carpeting. The staff member stopped in front of a huge door, that he opened thanks to an electronic card. In front of us emerged what is, as he said, a presidential suit where many celebrities had stayed, and especially Queen Novo and her daughter, Princess Skystar.

In the suit's drawing-room, on beautiful caramel sofas, were sitting two actors of the main cast, and Soarin. The girl was someone I already knew about, a girl named Sunset Shimmer, with loosen hair like slices of bacon and turquoise eyes but I already had forgotten the boy's name.

As soon as the staff member had left the place, I stepped towards my boyfriend. It felt strange to see him in such a setting, already a celebrity now. He was my freedom space, my breath when I started to choke... He was my yellow brick path and my own Kansas, colorful and comforting. I knew things were going to change and it made me so nervous. But, of course, I kept my composure and let nothing show. These people with him were actors as well. And it was imperative that they acknowledged my awesomeness. Not my doubting side.

We quickly do the introductions. The boy name was Sandalwood. I already saw him on television, where he played a background character on a strange and very popular show called "Makeup Artist Beauty Box". With his green dreadlocks and eyes, he didn't have the appearance of a future movie star at all, and yet, I had to admit he was actually pretty good, and rather good-looking too. 

On the table between us - I sat next to Soarin and Sandalwood, whereas the others sat in front of us - there was a light meal, ordered by the staff. No alcohol, of course, although we all were in age.

As everyone started to chat and befriend, I realized that in fact, what I wanted was to spend some time alone with my boyfriend. I knew I would see him again at the hostel once it would be over but I needed to know that, despite his change of status, not much would change between us.

Quickly, I noticed something... Sandalwood often stared at Rarity. She was staring at him as well... Each time they chatted together, he was looking straight into her eyes and I could feel my friend was disconcerted. That rather was a good thing if Rarity liked a boy and a boy liked Rarity, but I felt awkward because I knew she already had a boyfriend too.

Soarin called me with a slight nudge and I looked up, surprised.

"Is everything OK?" He asked. "You're suspiciously quiet. Where's your awesomeness?" 

"My awesomeness is always here. I'm glowing with awesomeness, I'm basking the room with its light."

"Alright, alright, you're fine, I get it. But you would tell if there was something wrong?"

"Of course I would. Goofy."

I couldn't tell him what I noticed about his fellow actor and my friend now but I was going to try when we would be alone.

"Hey," he said, slightly scratching my arm, while the conversation was going well. "I was going to ask the staff to get us a cab to go back home. Do you want to come with me?".

I must admit, I took this great opportunity to be face to face with him already. I've spent a whole week without seeing him, without a complain, that deserved a reward. A smile cracked open his face as I nodded, before he took my hand and we both got up.

"We're going to check whether we all could come back with the same car. We'll be right back..."

Everybody nodded and resumed their conversation. Looked like they didn't care whether we were here or not, but actually I knew they all knew this was nothing but an excuse for intimacy. I wish I were a mouse and could hear what they said afterwards.

We went through the corridor, hand in hand. Staff members were in another room of the floor, which served as a green room earlier. Soarin was guiding me and I made the most of it to talk about something that nagged at me.

"Didn't you notice something off... between Sandalwood and Rarity?"

"Yes. I didn't dare telling you..."

"You have to know. Rarity has a boyfriend, a serious one. He even knows her parents."

"Well... Let's hope that's just a passing crush, then. Sandalwood surely doesn't want to be a homewrecker."

In the green-room suit, we found the same staff member that led us to the other room, sitting on a comfortable suede armchair, busy leafing through a magazine. He looked up, surprised, then checked his wristwatch. Yes, I know, we've been here for twenty minutes... Do we need your judgement? I don't think so!

"Would that be possible to get luxury cab for us and our friends? This is my last weekend at the youth hostel and I'd like to make the most of it."

He shrugged and left the room without questions. Clearly, we annoyed him. Might not be a very cool job to be obliged to go running everywhere to satisfy someone else's whims. I only hoped he had a good salary. Which wasn't certain.

I saw Soarin going to the armchair where the staff member had sat two seconds before and grabbed the magazine he left, opened at one precise page. Suddenly, I drowned into silence as I realized I was indeed alone with him. I wanted that and yet, my heart started to race as if I feared that moment.

He watched the cover, smirked with disgust, before putting it behind him, on a table where my eyes couldn't elude the pictures. He sat there and looked at me, rising an eyebrow.

"Why are you so far from me?"

Why? If only I knew why! I wanted that and now I was here... My hands were damp and my throat burned. From where I was, I was staring at him, looking so calm, so peaceful. As if our situation didn't scare him the bit and yet, he was the one who was supposed to be scared the most... Obviously, since I'm not scared of anything. No one could tell what the future would bring. We didn't know what our still fragile relationship was going to be once he would be mediatically exposed. For sure, that was going to be far more complicated than I thought.

I slowly walked towards him and as soon as I was in front of him, he grabbed my hand and led me to his laps. He smiled at me when our eyes met and my heart skipped a beat.

He wrapped his arms around my waist, softly and I forgot why I was so worried. Why did I care so much about what we were going to be? Once I was in his arms, nothing counted anymore and I knew that whatever might happened, everything would be fine just as long as I could sit on his laps. I had faith in us, like I had faith in myself. Which just goes to show!

"I wanted to do that from the moment I saw you..." he said.

My wrists around his neck, I buried my face against the pit of his neck. He had put perfume on... Lavander, shaving soap and vanilla. I would have traded my place for nothing in the world, back then. It felt so good it was wrong. Once again, our eyes met and mine went down on his lips, so close to mine.

All it would take would be a few inches for our mouth to meet. It was the first time I felt this way, yet it wasn't the first time we kissed at all. It was as if a firework was exploding inside my stomach.

Soarin probably felt the same way since I saw a smile appeared on his handsome face. So, I closed my eyes and waited, heart in alarm, anticipating his lips against mine as a frustration increased in my belly. I could feel his breath caressing my cheeks, his arms tightening around my waist... And I heard someone opened the door behind us.

"Your luxury cab is coming. You can go now."

I was so surprised I almost fell off my chair. The guy probably knew what Soarin and I had in mind. Did he want to prevent that from happening, even though we were living one door away? I cursed him on the inside.

"Alright. Let's warn the others. Thanks a lot."

No answer. He only went back to his armchair, get his magazine and slouched on it. Obviously, embarrassment was no part of his vocabulary since I discovered he was actually reading (or, rather, fapping) a porn magazine.

Soarin and I went through the corridor on the opposite way, the farther we could from this pervert.

"That guy would deserve his own "Criminal Minds" episode..."

"Yeah, I know," Soarin answered, half-sighing and half-chuckling. "He's been sent by the studio. My agent disapproved him but they didn't want to listen."

I wondered whether or not the studio knew about the porn magazine. Let's say they didn't. Has no one heard of that #MeToo thingy around here or what?

I couldn't help being disappointed. We were so good when we were together, alone on the cool planet of awesome and awesomer (guess who's who) and now we had to front the rest of the world, already. My frustration was trying to drive me nuts.

As we were approaching the suit, much to my surprise, Soarin held me by the wrist in order to stop me from going any further. He softly pulled me back and quickly, I found myself with my back against the wall. He stood before me and put his lips on mine. An electric shock went through my heart, which started playing drums like a wild Pinkie.

It barely lasted. Already, his face was going back... He seemed to be both sorry and looking for my approval. I wrapped my arms around his neck and led him to me. This time, our kiss wasn't a chaste little caress. There was more pressure, more fever. We kissed without a break, in each other's arms, impatiently.

When we parted, we both were breathless, cheeks scarlet. But we were happy. With a burst of laughter, we ran to the door when, in the back, the elevator door opened and we were almost caught up in the act.