My secret baby with the movie star

Flustered villain

*Levi*

"Oh, so you have cast me as the villain, then? Any particular reason for that? And why, pray tell, does Joel get the privilege of playing the hero?" I inquire, arching an eyebrow in her direction. My tone is light, laced with a teasing edge, as I try to hide the genuine curiosity beneath.

Joel responds with a chuckle, a sound that's both warm and infectious, while Willa meets my gaze with a smirk that's all too knowing. "Well, you see, Levi, you just have this natural knack for embodying the villain, and Joel… well, he's just a better fit for the hero's role," she explains, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes.

"Oh, is that so?" I retort, my grin widening into something more mischievous. Secretly, I revel in the challenge of playing the antagonist. There's a certain thrill in it, a complexity that playing the hero seldom offers. It's an opportunity to explore the depths of character in a way that's both exhilarating and profoundly entertaining.

As Willa outlines her vision for the show, a surge of excitement courses through me. The prospect of participating in what I initially deemed just a children's play now unfolds as an adventure I'm eager to embark on. The added bonus? It affords me more time in Willa's company… a thought that sends a pleasant shiver down my spine.

I find myself yearning for a moment alone with her, a chance to bridge the chasm that my past mistakes have carved between us. The memory of hurting her weighs heavily on my heart, a misstep I realized too late to rectify. The opportunity to explain, to make amends, feels like a sliver of light in the darkness of regret.

Above all, I'm driven by a desire to dismantle the image she has constructed of me… the notion that I'm nothing more than a superficial charmer. My pride, after all, isn't just in the pleasantries and polite facades; it's in genuine kindness, in the warmth I strive to offer everyone I meet. The thought that she perceives me as a total jerk is a misunderstanding I'm desperate to correct.

And then there's the undeniable pull between us, a magnetic attraction that I'm convinced isn't one-sided. Letting her slip through my fingers again isn't an option I'm willing to entertain. The stakes are too high, and the connection too profound, to simply walk away without a fight.

15 years ago:

As I meander down the hallway, my steps slow, heavy with hesitation. The sensible part of me argues that I should simply retire to my room, that I should let the night swallow every thought of Willa and succumb to sleep. The reasons to stay away are numerous, each more compelling than the last.

She's younger, for starters… a detail that shouldn't matter but somehow does, magnified by the vulnerability she is cloaked in. Her interest, I can't help but fear, is less about me and more a desperate bid to escape the pain of her mother's situation.

Tomorrow, I'm bound for college again, putting physical distance between us that feels insurmountable. And then there's Julia; our relationship, while not deeply serious, actually not serious at all, as I spend the drive here trying to find the best way to break it off. It still wouldn't be right to pursue anything new without first resolving that entanglement.

Yet, despite these myriad reasons, a part of me feels compelled to seek Willa out, to offer an apology for the impulsiveness of my kiss, to explain why a romance between us is fraught with complications.

Finding myself outside her door, I glance around to ensure the coast is clear. With the house quiet, everyone presumably ensconced in their own rooms, I muster the courage to knock, a part of me secretly hoping she won't answer.

But fortune isn't on my side tonight, and the door cracks open to reveal Willa's curious gaze. "Oh, hi Levi," she greets me, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Hi Willa, could we talk for a moment?" I ask, my nervousness palpable as I grapple with the rapid thrumming of my heart.

She steps back, granting me entry, and as she shuts the door behind us, I'm suddenly acutely aware of her closeness, her expectant look urging me to speak.

Yet, words fail me as I take in her appearance… pyjama shorts and a tank top that accentuate her form in a way that steals my breath. "I... Uh.. Well..," I stammer, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and desire.

"Something wrong, Levi?" she asks, a light giggle escaping her as she observes my floundering attempt at speech, her presence alone rendering me speechless.

Closing the distance, she places a gentle hand on my chest, likely feeling the erratic beat of my heart. "Just say it, Levi, I promise not to bite."

"I.. I.. I just wanted to…" My train of thought derails completely, every rationale for my visit evaporating as I stand there, lost in her gaze, her proximity igniting a fire within me.

As she looks at me, a soft smile playing on her lips, I'm overwhelmed by her effect on me, my mind racing to recall why this was a bad idea.

And then, without further thought, without remembering the myriad reasons why I should resist, I pull her to me, our lips meeting in a kiss that's gentle yet filled with an unspoken yearning. She responds, and in that moment, all hesitation, all doubt, melts away under the warmth of her touch.

Back to present time:

"Something wrong, Levi? Do you want a glass of water? You seem all flustered," Willa's voice, laced with concern, gently pulls me back from the edge of my memories. Her eyes, reflecting genuine worry, lock onto mine, prompting a surge of warmth that momentarily exacerbates my flustered state.

I nod, scrambling to anchor myself to the present. "Just a bit hot in here... yes, a glass of water would be really nice, thank you," I manage to stutter out, my mind racing to regain composure. The truth is, it's not the room's temperature but the heat of my racing thoughts about her that's left me so unsettled.

She signals an assistant with a subtle nod, and soon, a large glass of water is placed in my hands. "Thank you," I say, offering a smile that I hope masks my inner turmoil. I take large gulps of the water, each swallow a desperate attempt to quench not just my thirst but the fire of emotions that her presence ignites within me.

Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Joel sending me a puzzled look. I give him a slight shake of my head, a silent message that now is not the time. My focus needs to be sharp, not just on regaining my composure, but on the task at hand… figuring out a way to ask Willa out on a date without revealing the depth of my turmoil.