The Finale

Saying goodbye was a lot easier than Star thought, at least in the beginning. It was kind of like a movie, where she was standing on her porch waving goodbye to him as the tour bus pulled off. Of course she was crying, but her happiness for him to be able to live his dream and help his family overpowered any pain she was feeling. After all, it would be selfish to guilt him into staying when he had so much he was working towards. She was proud of his accomplishments and she put her true feelings on the backburner. That's what made it easier to cope with.

She kept telling herself that it would only be a few months. She told herself that daily. She talked to Caleb almost everyday but she was human after all and she began to feel empty inside. At the end of the day, who could she call up and hang out with? Tim was out filming another movie, and it wasn't like  he'd actually hang out with her anyway. She couldn't exactly go out and make friends, she was still a household name. People whispered in her passing and she just didn't feel comfortable opening up to a new group of people. Talking to Caleb though did make her feel a little bit better and she waited patiently for him to come home.

There was only a few more weeks until Caleb's tour would be over. His last show would be in Bridgeport and she planned on going to see him again. This time she'd be front row. She had reached out to her parents who were more than happy to let her stay with them. Even if their love was rooted in greed, it was still love and she knew better than anyone that things worth feeling were never on the surface. Her parents loved her and she knew it, but she knew on the surface fame and glamour was on their mind. Either way, they were still her parents and she had recently become homesick. Visiting them would be great for her. She had made enough money from appearances to buy her own car. It wasn't too extravagant but it worked for her.

Telling Harper about everything initially made her nervous. Her stomach hurt just thinking about it. She didn't have any reason to, Harper had never judged her and this time was no different. She thought that it was amazing that Star stepped out of her comfort zone and actually blackmailed Time Levesque. The two talked about moving in together and being roommates again. Harper would come to Starlight Shores and stay in Star's place until the two could afford to move to a slightly bigger home. Honestly, Star was tired of waking up to an empty house. She shut her phone and began to drive to Bridgeport. She popped Caleb's CD into the radio and began to sing along. Bridgeport was a long drive away, but it was much cheaper than airfare.
                          
Caleb had just finished rehearsal for the day and he grabbed his phone to check the time. He had a few hours until showtime and he decided to call Star. He missed her voice. They talked every opportunity Caleb was free. He didn't know she was planning on surprising him on the the last day of his tour. He began to worry when there was no answer on the other line. Star never let it get passed the second ring. She hadn't told him that she was doing any appearances today. As far as Caleb knew, she was free. He found it strange, but he figured she was probably busy. He decided to just go and eat some dinner and try calling her again later. In the mean time he left her a voicemail and texted her. It wasn't until halfway through his food that his phone began to ring.

"Guys, can you excuse me for a minute?" He asked his stage crew. The nodded and he got up to see who was calling him. It wasn't Star, but a private number. "Hello?"

"Hi, Mr. Gray?"

"Yes, that's me. How can I help you?"

"Do you know someone by the name of Star Upton?"

Thoughts began to glide through his head frantically. Who was this guy and why was he calling about Star? "Yes...why...what happened?"

"There's been an accident."

Caleb tried to remain calm as the person explained to him what had happened. He kept telling himself it was some sort of practical joke. It had to be. He found out that the person he was talking to was Star's dad. Apparently, she had been on her way to see his last show and she was going to be staying  with her parents. He hadn't known any of this, in fact he wished she would have told him. On the drive up she had been rear-ended by a truck. The driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel. The impact had been enough to kill him. Though Star was still alive, according to her father, things didn't look so good. She was completely unresponsive. The doctors said it was a miracle she survived the impact. He couldn't stop the tears from falling down his face. He was waiting for the cameras to come out and for someone to tell him he was on a television show, but it never came.

"Damnit Star!" Caleb banged the brick wall angrily. "Why?" His hand would be bruised, but he didn't care. he only had one thing on his mind. Star. He had to go to her. He had to see her. She would be fine. She would survive this. 

"Caleb, listen to me, please!" Glenn grabbed a hold of his arms. "You don't even know if its that bad. All the doctors said was that she was unresponsive. Thats kind of vague, right? She's still breathing, she could pull through all of this."

They were sitting in the hospital waiting room. At the request of Mr. Upton, a doctor had met with Caleb to discuss Star's condition. He had told Caleb that Star would basically be a vegetable for the rest of her life. The decision was up to her parents whether they wanted her to live like that or not.  "Glenn, this is all my fault...!" Caleb choked out. "I killed her...!"

"Kid, what are you talking about? You heard the guy, it was a freak accident. The one to blame is that guy who was driving the truck."

"She was coming to see me, don't you get it?" Caleb said angrily. Glenn could see the helplessness in his eyes.

"This has nothing to do with you Caleb. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time. You didn't do anything."

Caleb wasn't listening. He was crying even harder. He didn't care who saw him, with his unkempt hair and red puffy eyes.

"Mr. Gray?" He heard the same familiar voice and looked up, tears relentlessly falling down his cheeks.

'Yes?"

"I'm Star's father. We spoke over the phone. Her mother is in the room with Star. On behalf of both of us, we'd like to thank you for everything you have done for our daughter. When she had called us over the phone and told us she wanted to stay with us for the weekend, we were kind of skeptical. My wife was ecstatic but I was confused. I had thought she wanted nothing to do with us after we dismissed her dream. She told us that she knew that we cared about her and were looking out for her. She explained why she was coming and told us how much she was in love with you. She spoke so highly of you. So much so that I was looking forward to meeting you, but I didn't think  it would be like this."

"Thank you sir, that means the world to me..." He said softly. Caleb was mad at himself for letting Star get hurt, but here her father stood in front of him praising him. "but...you're not mad at me?"

"It's not your fault Caleb. She would hate us for placing blame on you. She loves you to death," He looked at Caleb reassuringly and somehow Caleb felt ten times better.

"How is she, can I see her?" Caleb asked quietly.

"This is extremely hard for me to say to you right now Caleb. I thought about not telling you until later, but I think you deserve my complete honesty. Right now, things aren't looking so good. Star is breathing through a machine. She hasn't moved at all since they brought her in. We've been here for hours." Mr. Upton was trying to fight back the tears to look strong in front of Caleb, but it was no use, a small tear escaped his left eye. "I feel like such a jackass. I've caused my entire family to split apart. The lack of contact was all my fault. Her mother wanted to cave so many times and call Star, but I forbid her. I told her that Star needed tough love. One day, my wife said to me that I wouldn't understand until my daughter was in a body bag. Now, I'll never get to see her smile again, or hear her laugh..."

"Sir...what are you talking about?" Caleb cried out desperately. "You can apologize to her face when she gets better."

"She's not going to get better!" Letting his emotions get the better of him, Mr. Upton began to shout at Caleb. "There's neurological damage. Her brain will never heal. We can watch her deteriorate or end her suffering now. I don't want to kill my own daughter, I really don't but she will never be able to speak, move or interact with us. She'll be trapped in her own body damn it. Is that fair to her!?"

"There has to be another way! There has to be!" Caleb shook.

"Think of what's best for her Caleb. We have to pull the plug. We'll give you time to say goodbye. We have to son...I'm so sorry. We all wish it could be different. Star was a wonderful girl..."

"Star is a wonderful girl!" Caleb interrupted angrily. "She always will be. She isn't just some dispensable thing. She's a human being...she's everything to me!" Caleb was angrier than he had ever been before. He had absolutely no say in how things would go and from his point of view it looked like Mr. and Mrs. Upton weren't willing to give Star an extra chance. "What do you need, money? Anything...I'll pay for her medical treatment. Anything!" His finances were designated to his family already to help find his brother, but right now he was desperate. he would do anything to have Star healthy and in his arms once more.

"I wish it was that simple...you can't reverse brain damage. You can spend all the money you want on different doctors but all you're going to do is pile up more and more medical bills. She isn't going to get better, son. I'm sorry."

More tears began to fall down Caleb's face and he walked away from Mr. Upton. Listening to him was making Caleb sick to his stomach. Deep down, even if Caleb hated to admit it, this wasn't his decision to make. Star was their daughter and if they thought that pulling the plug would be the best thing for her then he couldn't stop them. Caleb could sense the regret in Mr. Upton's voice. Though Star was estranged from her parents, she never showed any animosity at the thought of them. She always seemed to upset, but never angry. Caleb, thinking back to this and his own family, understood the intention of Mr. Upton, yet he was human and his heart hurt at the thought of losing somebody so precious to him.  "Can I see her?" All Mr. Upton could do was nod.

Sitting in the all white hospital room was who Caleb could only assume was Star's mother. Her dark hair and outfit were a stark contrast to the radiance the room was trying to convey. But, there was nothing radiant about this room. Star's mother looked drained of all life. There were prominent dark spots under her eyes. Star lay motionlessly on the bed. Her legs were curled up as if she was sleeping. He was hesitant upon entering the room. Caleb was terrified of seeing Star's face. What if he didn't recognize her? His heart began to beat faster and faster. He hoped she was still the same girl that he knew.

"Come on in Sweetheart. Star told us so much about you. I'm Sarah, I'm sure my husband told you I was here." Caleb nodded meekly. Sarah tried to smile but it looked forced. "Its weird meeting me like this, isn't it? When I pictured meeting my daughter's first boyfriend, I thought it would be over a small dinner or something. I didn't even think she'd go all the way to Starlight Shores by herself. She was always such a quiet girl, but we knew she'd bring home a nice guy. It took her a while, but when she finally found you, she couldn't stop talking about you...Oh, I'm sorry. I'm rambling. Please don't mind me."

Caleb took a seat next to Star's mother. "In a way, I'm kind of like Star. I never was that proactive with relationships. I've only been in love once, and it's been with Star," He confided.

"When Star told me about you, I was so nervous. She had gotten so famous so quickly, that I didn't think she'd actually want to come back and see us. We didn't exactly leave off on the best terms. I knew she'd be a little skeptical, thinking we'd only want to see her to leech off her fame. I wanted to apologize and explain everything to her. I was also a bit nervous because you're so famous. I didn't know what you'd be like, or if you even cared about her, but just from sitting near next to you, I can tell that you're a sweet boy."

"Thank you Mrs. Upton." That's all Caleb could manage to say. The environment was tense and Sarah seemed to try to fix it with her talking. But, even she didn't know what to say to the torn superstar. Finally, she gave up and decided to give Caleb some time on his own with Star. She was trying to be strong for her husband, but being around Caleb was too much. His depression was breaking down the hard exterior she put up for those around her. She was hurting the most out of everyone, and each second she remained with Caleb, made her heart break even more than she thought it was possible.

"Star..." Caleb whispered. "Your parents are wonderful people." He watched her lay there in silence, half expecting her to open her eyes and thank him for the compliment. She never did.

"Star..." He breathed again. She looked so peaceful. If it wasn't for the environment, he'd think she was just taking a nap. Her face wasn't scratched up, battered or bruised. Her arms were a bit bloodied up, but other than that there really was no visible damage to her body. he couldn't understand how this could happen to someone like her. The real problem wasn't outward, it was neurological damage. How could something hidden be so destructive? "Damnit...this is my fault isn't it?"

Her beautiful hair was down straight. Believe it or not, he had never seen Star's natural hair. She kept it up whenever they went out, and looking at her now, he wished she wore it down more often. She was truly beautiful. "Say something..." Of course she wouldn't. This was worse than anything he could imagine. She was in front of him, unable to respond to anything he would say to her. What was she feeling right now? Did she even feel anything at all? Was she conscious but unable to move? He wished she would do something, anything. Even just twitching her nose would be enough for him. Anything for him to know that she still existed.

Watching her now felt so foreign to him. "Star please...you have to do something, anything. Show them that you're stronger than this. Don't let them win, please..."

"Sir, we need to take some tests. If you could wait outside, that would be great," A nurse said as she came into the room.

Caleb looked at Star one last time and kissed her forehead before leaving the room.

It wasn't the last time he saw Star. Glenn made a call and canceled Caleb's show that night. Fans all over the world were sending him messages wishing him, Star and even Tim well. Caleb had spoken to Tim for hours. it consisted mostly of Caleb's sobs and Tim's breathing. It was just comforting to know someone was there for him in all of this. He hadn't the time to contact his family, but they somehow knew to take a step back as they sent him well wishes but told him to call them if he needed them. They didn't pry, and Caleb was so thankful. He had returned to the hospital daily for a few days, and on the last day, the inevitable happened. Mr. and Mrs. Upton had to make the hardest decision of their life and at exactly 2:45 am, Star was pronounced dead. Caleb couldn't function at all. the news destroyed him but deep down he knew there was no avoiding it. He was angry, upset and confused all at the same time. How could something like this happen to him? Why was it always him? How was he supposed to go on like this? Eventually, Caleb was prompted to go back to Starlight Shores until a funeral was planned. Caleb refused to leave Bridgeport and Mr. and Mrs. Upton offered him a room in their house. He politely refused, wanted to morn in absolute solidarity. He rented out a hotel room and cried for days. It was a horrible time for Caleb and his manager could do nothing but watch him suffer. Glenn's actions weren't able to reach Caleb, and he wasn't actually able to snap out of his funk until the day of the actual funeral.

Star was wearing a beautiful pink gown. She looked stunning to Caleb, which only hurt him more. He swore, despite the situation she was in, Star looked peaceful and content, almost like an Angel. Her smile was burned into his mind and every time someone mentioned her name it flashed across his eyes. He heard her laugh constantly, but he knew she wasn't there, and never would be again.

Fans and paparazzi both lined up outside of the funeral home that evening. Mr. and Mrs. Upton asked politely if they would remain outside and not disturb the holy ceremony, and out of respect they did. Not even the paparazzi were that hurtful. It was a weird funeral in that only a few people really were allowed inside. Mrs. Upton told Caleb that Star was like that, she didn't want unnecessary attention on her from those who truly didn't care. So despite all the best wishes, the only people in the funeral home were Star's parents, Caleb, Tim, Glenn, Harper and  Mya.

Tim, believe it or not, didn't take the news well. He was distraught. The idea of someone he once interacted with, never walking the earth again scared the crap out of him. He regretted dismissing Star so readily. Even though she blackmailed him, he knew it was innocent. Not once did she ever mean him harm. She was never going to sell his picture to the paparazzi. He had dragged her into the fame game even further but, despite it all she was never changed. She was awkward and not cut out for all the fame, but thats why his best friend loved her. Even more than anything, he was distraught for Caleb, who he thought was finally going to be completely happy. It was all just a pipe dream, and once again Caleb was dealt a bad hand. Tim was ready to pick up the pieces, he had promised Caleb he would be there for him always. They would get through this together.

Glenn, normally he was pretty indifferent to Star's existence. There had been some talks between him and Caleb about taking her in as one of his clients. Glenn approached Caleb about it on a whim, he had never seen her act, but she was passionate about her art, at least according to Caleb. Glenn was dedicated to Caleb. He wasn't just a client, but like a son as well. Caleb was the whole reason he took Tim under his wing as well, otherwise he'd have avoided the smug superstar altogether. It was a shame to see such a young girl in this predicament and it brought tears even to his hard heart.

Everyone was shocked with Mya's appearance. Even Star's parent had heart about their fight. It was infamous. When Tim asked her what she was doing there she replied with a cold, "I'm human too, you know." She felt absolutely horrible. Star and her weren't particularly close at all. After their altercation, Mya felt Star to be beneath her. Yet, seeing her corpse woke up something inside of her. She had realized how empty her life really was. How could someone as low as Star, who barely could fill a room at her own funeral, be so much more loved than her? For the first time, she had felt lonely and watching the scene progress, she had wished she was nicer to Star. Maybe she would have made a friend. She would never know.

Harper took it harder than Caleb. She was unable to even utter a word between her rigid sobs. She was collapsed in front of the casket, shaking uncontrollably.

"Harper?" Caleb asked calmly.

She looked up at him, eyes red and swollen. "She's dead! I told her to stay safe!" Realizing, it was the last conversation Star would have while she was alive made Harper feel even worse. "Oh my gosh!" She felt the sobs rack her entire body. "I won't ever talk to her again...I...I...." She began to stutter and she couldn't think straight to even formulate the words.

Caleb kneeled down beside her and held her. "Everything will be alright."

"No it won't. It isn't fair. She was finally happy, living out her dream. We were going to move in together!" She crumpled into his arms and cried into his chest. Her face was red, her makeup was running and probably staining his white shirt and her cheeks were drenched. "Why?"

"I'm asking myself the same thing. How could someone so amazing, just be gone? I thought about it for awhile, and maybe it's because heaven needed someone like her. She had helped so many of us, but now she's needed to spread her love somewhere else."

Harper cried harder, but still found comfort in his words. It was incredibly hard for her to face this now, but she knew she'd have to get over it one day and maybe later on in life, something good would come of it. For now, she couldn't help but think that Star wouldn't want her to be so upset, but how could she not? Star was like the sister she wished she had. They had so many big things planned. This would be the first time seeing her since university. She pictured a girls night out, not this. She held tightly onto Caleb and let all of her tears out. Caleb held on to her tighter, willing to be the punching bag she needed to cope.

"Sweetheart..." Star's dad began.

"Don't say it. This is our fault. We shouldn't have made her feel like we didn't care. I've always loved her. If she'd known that, maybe none of this would have happened!"

"This couldn't have been avoided. She was hit but a truck. You couldn't stop that even if you tried. Don't beat yourself up about any of this. I'm positive that she knew we loved her. She lived a happy life. Even if only for a little while, she met that boy. Just by the way she spoke about him you could tell he was something special to her."

"I wanted to help her plan a wedding, be there at her children's birth....a parent should never have to watch their child die before them..." Sarah clutched her husband's shirt tightly. "This isn't natural."

"I hate this just as much as you do, but the only thing we can do now is be strong. For each other, for Caleb, for Harper and for Star. We need to stand together right now."

She sniffled but nodded. Losing her daughter the first time was rough. Having her come back in and then losing her again, permanently was even harder. Right now, all Sarah could feel was guilt. She felt like Star hated her and thought she was money hungry. She felt dead inside. There were so many things she wished she did with Star, and said to her, but it was too late now.

Caleb looked into the crowd of six people. Each held a significant place in Star's heart. His hands began to shake, never had he felt so nervous to address a crowd before. "We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of a beautiful young woman, Star Upton." He didn't know why he was being so formal, or why Star's parents had asked him, instead of Harper to say a speech. "I could stand here and talk about Star all day, but I think we all just want to go home and cry into our pillows. I met Star completely by accident. She intrigued me from the beginning. She started as one of my fan's coming to talk to me after one of my shows. I could tell she was different. The way she held herself was with dignity and honor. She didn't throw herself at me or disrespect my body guard or manager in any way. There were others who of course were respectful, but none like Star. She told me about how I inspired her to reach for her dreams. Honestly, she inspired me. She was so nervous and humble around other celebrities. She never saw herself truly as a star, yet she was the brightest thing in my world. Star..." He paused as a tear fell down his cheek. "Star Upton had a way of impacting everyone she met, even those you'd least expect." He looked towards Tim and Mya who both tried to hide from his gaze. "She was an incredible friend, daughter, and girlfriend. I thought about this a lot. Star came to Starlight Shores and laid her heart out there for everyone to see. She did things she normally wouldn't have, she tried new things, and even when she lost her path, she was able to find her way back. She touched people's lives around her, whether it be for her bubbly television appearances, or her horrible jokes, she made us feel like we were human beings who mattered. Even when she was given the taste of fame, she was true to herself and those around her. Looking back on it now, I believe, that is how to truly be a star." 

Looking into the crowd, Caleb wondered where everyone would go from here. Would Harper still come out to Starlight Shores without Star? Would Tim still be there for Caleb, to mend his broken heart? Would Glenn still be there to support them both? Would Mya change her lifestyle for the better? Would Star's parents be able to move passed their guilt and live their lives out to the fullest? Would anyone ever be the same again?

Caleb wiped his eyes and stepped down from the mic. He would go to Lunar Lakes to be with his own family, to find his brother. Pushing all of this behind him would be hard, and leaving his best friend would be even harder. But, everyone had their own lives to live, people they cared about and responsibilities they had to put in front of them. Caleb would never forget these people, or his amazing girlfriend. At the end of all of this, Caleb came out a better person. Star Upton taught him how to be a star.
_________________________________________________________________________________

This is the end of How To Be A Star. I'm sorry for such a dramatic ending. I felt like this was inevitable for Caleb to grow as a character. He had a hard childhood and was thrust into this famous lifestyle yet he was always so humble about everything. Sometimes, it's the nicest people who get dealt the worst hand. I needed a way to present Caleb's character in A Graying World, as one that is serious yet also caring. Somehow, I felt like he wasn't meant to be the big famous rockstar I had originally planned for him to be. So, with that being said, I couldn't leave Caleb with a happy ending. He's much too complicated a character. If anyone would like to read more about Caleb (either his past or future) you can in my legacy here: A Graying World.  (The end of the first generation has Caleb as a child and the middle of the second to the end has him as an adult). Thanks for all of your support and I hope you enjoyed the story! 

Chapter 9: Soul Searching

Caleb sat nervously, waiting for Star to arrive. He regretted rushing in to things. Even he knew he got attached too easily. Was he doing the right thing by being here? Did he really love her? he thought about all the people he's cared about in his lifetime.

Those he felt attached to. He would always put them before anyone else. This included his parents, siblings, uncle Elliot and Tim.

Then there was those people he enjoyed being around. They were present in his life but hadn't been there through the tough parts. Nevertheless, he wouldn't want anything to happen to them. These included his aunt Erin and his manager Glenn.

There was people he had once been infatuated with. Well one person, his first love, or so he thought. Malissa, whom he thought he loved. He was merely a teenager and she almost a college student. He was positive now, looking back on it, that he was never in love with her.

Where did Star fall into this structure? He was doubting everything he thought was true. He had thought he was in love with her, thats why he jumped so quickly into proclaiming his feelings. The more he thought about it, the more faults he found. Star was one of the only girls around his age that he didn't hang out with in a professional manner. The two had only even known each other for a few weeks. There was no doubt he was rushing it. He had often found himself doing this very thing, especially in the business he was in. He had been quick to for friendships because he had never known where he would be next. None of those relationships lasted because he had never been able to see these people, and even they got sick of it. Now, he was finally settled down in Starlight Shores and he couldn't adjust to the slower paced lifestyle.

Caleb decided to strip away the excess glamour and be himself. He would present himself to Star and see how she felt when he was being Caleb Gray the person, not the celebrity. He gave up his blazer for his favorite hoodie. It was given to him by his uncle when Caleb proclaimed he was going on his first tour. It gave him good luck. He wasn't going to be silent and awkward. He was going to reassure himself and Star of his real feelings through the one thing that's helped them both, music. He held the guitar tightly and began to strum, unaware of Star's looming appearance.

(The song is called Hero from the Disney movie, Starstruck. You can hear it here if you'd like. I know what you guys are thinking, A Disney song!? But seriously, the lyrics fit so perfectly.)


                                           I'm no superman
                                        I can't take your hand
                                        And fly you anywhere
                                         You want to go (yeah)

                                        I can't read your mind
                                         Like a billboard sign
                                       And tell you everything
                                        You want to hear, but...

I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need
If you're the one for me
Like gravity I'll be unstoppable

I, yeah, I believe in destiny
I may be an ordinary guy
With heart and soul
But if you're the one for me
I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero
(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero

Searching high and low
Trying every road
If I see your face
I'll barely know (yeah)

I'll put my trust in fate
That you will come my way
And if it's right
It's undeniable, yeah

I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need
If you're the one for me
Like gravity I'll be unstoppable
I, yeah I believe in destiny
I may be an ordinary guy
With heart and soul
But if you're the one for me
I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero
(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero

Star watched breathlessly as Caleb effortlessly strummed away on his guitar. For a brief moment she was convinced that he had known she was here the whole time. The lyrics, the passion, the soul...it all felt like he was singing it directly to her. She thought about the lyrics. "I can be everything you need. If you're the one for me, like gravity I'll be unstoppable." He had been pretty proactive in showing his feelings to her, but the song seemed to follow Caleb's feelings exactly. She was no mind reader, but when he sang "searching high and low, trying every road, if I see your face I'll barely know" she could feel his anxieties, his unreadiness. Star could replicate those feelings exactly. She had never been in love, what was it? Was she really in love with Caleb? As if to reassure her, Caleb lifted his eyes and looked at her. he continued to sing, as if it was only the two in all of Starlight Shores.

So incredible

Some kind of miracle
When it's meant to be
I'll become a hero
So I'll wait, wait
Wait, wait for you

I'll be your hero

I, I can be everything you need
If you're the one for me
Like gravity I'll be unstoppable
(Be unstoppable)

I, yeah I believe in destiny
I may be an ordinary guy
With heart and soul
But if you're the one for me
I'll be your hero

(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero
(Could you be the one, could you be the one, could you be the one for me?)
I'll be your hero

When the song was finished, Caleb opened his mouth to speak but Star silenced him. 

"I felt it all, your anxieties, fear, reassurance and love..." She said as she came closer to him. "I can't sing you a song, or do a routine in this dress, but I hope you can understand my feelings through this..." She leaned in towards him and placed her lips on his. What she had been so hesitant of just twentyfour hours ago, felt so natural to her now. She tried to convey her loneliness, hurt, love and appreciation to Caleb. She wanted him to know it all, the real her. The insecure 22 year old who was alone in a strange place, not the big celebrity she was pretending to be. As if on cue, they both pulled away and looked at each other.

Caleb held her head in his hands and he spoke lovingly. "Are you sure? It's only been a few weeks."

Star smiled, "Thats what I told myself when you tried to kiss me the first time. I thought maybe I was infatuated with the fact that you're my celebrity crush. But, the more I thought about it, the more I could feel the butterflies. You always had my best interest in mind, yet I always felt nervous when you were around. I know you're going on tour and I won't stop you, but I just needed you to know how I feel before we separate."

"This tour is something that I have to do for my family. I need to find my brother. Lets not worry about it now, all you should be thinking about right now is how much I love you."

"Caleb," She knew not to ask. "I love you and I'll be here every step of the way like you've been for me."

He laced his fingers with her and smiled. "I had a picnic planned for us, I made sandwiches."

Star laughed. "You made the sandwiches or your private chef did?"

"Hey Mrs. Celebrity," Caleb joked. "are my sandwiches no good for you?"

"I'll let my taste buds decide that."

The two ate and chatted happily. Star told him about her family and Caleb told her about his. She spoke about the idiotic things she did with Harper and he told her about all of the trouble he got into with Tim. She explained why she had wanted to be an acrobat in the first place and he listened intently. The more they talked, the more Star realized she didn't know much about Caleb at all. If you looked at it from the outside you'd think it was illogical. You'd probably be reading the headline on the internet and dismissing it as some publicity stunt. To Star, love wasn't based on hard evidence. Yes, she had "dated" his best friend. Yes, she was his biggest fan before all of this. Yes, she didn't know much about his personal life. But did that all matter? No, because when she was near Caleb, she felt something she never felt before. It was like care, anxiety, fear, pressure, excitement and happiness all wrapped in one. 

"Caleb..." Star broke the silence.

"Yes?"

"Will you take me on tour with you?" She didn't want to be alone again. 

Caleb shook his head solemnly. "I can't"

"But I can be your groupie," She told him hopefully.

"Trust me, I'm protecting you."

"From what?"

"I'll constantly be doing interviews, rehearsals and shows. We'll probably only see each other for ten minutes a day." 

"Caleb, it's better than staying here and not seeing you at all! I don't want to be alone!" She cried out. 

"Knowing that I'm there and not being able to see me will hurt so much more. You have a rising fan base. it'll be no time until you start preforming on your own. Build your own life and when I'm done with tour, we'll live it together. I love you too much to let you throw away your potential for me."

Tears brimmed her eyes as if this very moment was the last goodbye. "But..." She began but she knew it was no use. He was right. There were too many things on the road she wasn't ready to face yet. The emptiness, the jealousy and jumping from place to place, she just couldn't handle it, not yet.

Chapter 8: Promises

"Hey! Listen to me man!" Tim chased after Caleb's fleeting figure. "Stop walking away! I'm trying to talk to you!"

"You're the one who told me to leave right? Well, here I am, packing my bags and going on tour," Caleb said emotionlessly.

"I thought you were going to wait until after I finished filming this movie. We were supposed to do this together!"

"I don't want to wait for you anymore. I don't want to wait for anyone. I can't. I need to go. There's nothing here for me anymore."

"I'm here! I will always be here. Remember our promise, Caleb," Tim pleaded. "You can't just leave."

"You have Mya who is depending on you. You don't need me anymore. You're this huge famous actor, and you have a gorgeous girlfriend. I don't really like her, but you have everything you need right here in Starlight Shores."

"Stop talking Caleb. You sound ridiculous. Mya and I broke up. You were right. I asked her to go with me to the park and she came to the house with this short dress on and a $1,000 bag. I was wearing sneakers and a T-shirt. She just laughed in my face, she didn't think we were actually going to the park. I wanted to test out what you said to see if she'd really only cared about the fame and money, and you were right. I broke up with her on the spot."

"I'm so sorry man...I never wanted this to happen to you," Caleb frowned.

"It's alright...looks like we both have girl troubles. Tell me about Star." Tim leaned against the wall, preparing himself for a long story.

"What do you mean?" Caleb tried to play dumb, but Tim saw right through it.

"You went to see Star yesterday. You forced me to apologize to her. We fought yesterday because of her. We never fight. She is something special to you, and I want to know what she said to you to make you want to leave."

"She...." Caleb paused for a moment and took a breath. "I...forget it. Me leaving has nothing to do with her."

"It has everything to do with her. She's important to you. I was being selfish. I didn't want you to give her all of the attention and forget about me."

Caleb shook his head fiercely. "She rejected me yesterday. I haven't even had time to cope with it, and it's be stupid for me to just leave because of her. It's my brother. He went to Lucky Palms and my family hasn't heard from him since. He stopped calling and everyone is so worried."

"So, you think that if you go on this tour you could find him?" Tim asked, suddenly understanding the problem.

"Yeah...not only that, but my family needs some money right now. They want to go to Lucky Palms but it'll cost them their entire savings. I'm living comfortably right now, but if I don't make anymore money, I can't do anything for them."

"You have two things to worry about now. Star and your brother." Tim thought for a moment and then spoke again. "Focus on finding your brother and I'll handle the situation with Star."

"Dude." Caleb shook his head. "There is no situation with Star. She doesn't like me."

"Hey, that girl is different from the rest. She turned you, of all people, down. There's got to be a reason. You want some closure right? Well, a promise is a promise. I'll always be here to pick up the pieces."

"You're up next Mr. Gray. Mr. Levesque, your interview will follow right after and then both of you will come out and play a game with some audience members." The production assistant told the two stars.

This was Caleb's first interview. He had just moved to Starlight Shores. He finally had the courage to tell his family that he was leaving and shortly after his first live performance there, he scored a manager. He was honestly so lucky for the opportunity. He approached Tim who was leaned up against the wall and staring at his phone. "Hi, I'm Caleb Gray."

Tim looked up from his phone and raised his brow. "Hello?"

"I'm new to this whole thing, so I was just wondering if you had any pointers?" Caleb asked nervously.

Tim scoffed. "Pointers? If you need pointers, then you're obviously not meant to be on stage." Caleb was about to say something but Tim got up and walked away, obviously annoyed. "Amateur."

Caleb watched Tim walk away, but instead of confronting him again, Caleb stayed where he was.

"What's up, Caleb?" Glen grinned, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Are you nervous?"

"Just a little bit." He let out a breath. "I asked hot shot over there for some pointers but he turned me down."

"Ignore him, he's the biggest diva in all of show business. The brat thinks he's entitled." Caleb frowned. "Whats with the long face, kid?" Glen asked.

"I just think that maybe there's a reason he's so spoiled. I'd like to talk to him again if he'd give me the time of day."

"A friendship between you two would never work because as soon as your career surpasses his, he'll get mad. It's better to just avoid him."

Caleb shook his head. "Maybe he's like that because nobody takes the time to get to know him. I promise, that if I ever come in contact with him again that I'll be the one to help him open up."

Tim overheard Caleb and he rolled his eyes. This guy was around the same age as him, did he think Tim was stupid? He would just come in and steal everything he worked so hard to get. Yes he acted entitled, but that was because he worked hard to get where he was. This Caleb guy just came out of nowhere and got a record deal. There was no work behind his fame. It was all luck and a pretty face.

"Tim!" Caleb called, running up to him. It was a charity event. The stars teamed up with each other and played sports. The winner would get money for the charity of their choosing. Tim got paired up with Caleb because they were both the youngest and most popular stars. It was a great way to get pledges to call.

"Great, it's you." Tim rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, can you at least talk to me? We're on the same team."

"This is all staged hollywood garbage. We play a few games, they zoom in on our faces a bunch of times and millions of little girls call in with their mother's credit cards."

"Is that what you think of your fans? They're much more than that!"

"Listen, you're new to this so I'll cut you some slack but from now on, you better leave me the hell alone. These girls, they're my fans.  Mindless fans, but whatever. As long as you stick to your own audience, everything will be fine."

"I'm not trying to take over anyone's fans. I just want to share my music with people. I'm not doing any of this for the money or fame."


Tim shook his head at Caleb's ignorance. It was always about the money and fame. Caleb would have nothing if he relied only on his music.

Incident after incident, Tim pushed Caleb away. Glen begged his client not to bother with the spoiled actor, but for some reason, Caleb couldn't stay away. Caleb knew what it felt like to be misunderstood. He was always the one overlooked. At school, they hated him. They thought he was so weird because he would sing to himself often. They didn't understand him. By just talking to Tim, Caleb could tell that he was hiding behind his insecurities. He was the biggest actor but he was alone. Nobody wanted to bother with someone who belittled everyone around him. He was so afraid of losing the people who worshipped him, he was afraid that he'd become worthless.

One day, Caleb had enough and he told all of this to Tim. He told him about the insecurities he faced in his own life, in hopes of getting him to open up. Tim didn't want any part of it. He swore he didn't care, but it didn't stop him from showing up at all of Caleb's performances from that point on. It intrigued him. No matter how many times he pushed Caleb away, he was always there.

"You're never going to give up on me, are you?" Tim asked Caleb one day.

Caleb smiled up at him triumphantly. "I can't give up on someone unless I have a good reason. We're both misunderstood. I've already told you about my struggles, and you don't have to tell me about yours, but I'm not going to give up."

Suddenly Tim was vulnerable. He looked up with sad eyes and asked quietly, "You promise?"
Caleb nodded. "Then I won't give up on you either."

Star looked at her phone suspiciously. The caller ID said it was Tim. Yes, they had made up, but  Tim showed absolutely no interest in Star's existence. He was the complete opposite of Caleb, who actually wanted to talk to her. She thought about not answering, until she realized he was probably just concerned for his friend. She should probably explain the entire situation.

"Hello?"

"Yo."

"What's up, Tim?"

"Care to explain to me what happened between you and Caleb?" 

"You mean, he didn't tell you?" She asked.

"Well, he kind of did, but I want to hear why you turned him down. Was he moving too fast? Caleb is the kind of person who acts on his emotions, he doesn''t mean to come off so strong."

"You don't have to defend Caleb in any way. He did nothing wrong. I...well, I..." She was embarrassed to tell Tim how she really felt. They weren't particularly close. "It's kind of personal, but I didn't want to hurt Caleb's feelings...I want to see him again and explain this to him." Tim began to laugh on the other line. "What!?"

"I knew it. You two loons are perfect for each other. Meet up with Caleb tomorrow before he leaves to go on tour."

"Tour? I haven't read anything online about a tour..." Star began.

"Of course not, it's not official yet, but I saw Caleb packing his bags. He's so big that all he has to do is call an hour before a show and he'll sell out the arena. He doesn't have to worry about that. It's a world tour, so that means he won't be around Starlight Shores for awhile. It's best if you tell him how you feel now."

"He's really going to leave?" Star's voice dropped. She couldn't believe it, she was just starting to come to terms with her feelings.

"It's something he has to do, but just talk to him alright. Meet him at the park tomorrow. Don't worry about paparazzi, I'll make sure it's cleared out."

Star let out a long sigh. "Ok, I guess I'll see him tomorrow then..."

"Goodbye Star."

"Goodbye." How many times had she said that in her life? Goodbye to her parents. Goodbye to her friends from university. Goodbye to Tim and now Goodbye to Caleb. She didn't know what to do. She wanted to cry, but she would save that for when she was alone. For now, she'd go do something to take her mind off of everything. 

Caleb sat against his bed. His brother was missing. He rushed too quickly into telling Star how he felt and scared her away. His family was in turmoil, but he couldn't even help. It killed him being alone. It was a feeling he had often, but he couldn't get used to it. Fumbling with his phone, Caleb let out a loud sigh. He was going to call someone who knew how to help him with everything.

"Hey, Rockstar! You didn't forget about me!"

"Of course, I never could Uncle Elliot."

"What's up, did you call to catch up?"

"Not exactly. How is the family holding up? Any news from Noah?"

"I haven't spoken to your mother in a couple of weeks but the last thing she told Erin was that Daisy plans on going to Lucky Palms."

"Daisy!? She can't go by herself. Is Kayden going too?"

"I don't think so. Daisy is very strong minded, we both know that."

"Yeah...I wonder if there's anything I can do," He said mostly to himself.

"Everything will work itself out."

"Elliot, if that's true, it only solves one of my problems. The other involves a girl..."

"Please don't tell me you got someone pregnant, your mom is going to be pissed..."

"No, it's not that. I can't even get her to kiss me, forget about a baby." Caleb shook his head.

"Sounds like your charm isn't really working on her. The pink hair should have won her over, that's weird."

"CALEB!" A voice shouted from another room.

"Hold on, someone is calling me."

"CALEB!" The voice called again.

"I'm going to have to call you back," Caleb sighed and hung up. "What do you want Tim?"

"Guess who got you a date with Star tomorrow!?"

"A date!? But how...she doesn't like me."

"Yes she does," Tim said, out of breath from running up the stairs. "Just let her explain it to you. You're meeting at the park tomorrow, do something amazing to get her attention."

"Tim Levesque," Caleb smirked. "You're the best."

"I know!"

Chapter 7: Idol and Fan

Warning: Some minor language ahead.

Star had been frantically pulling clothes out of her draws. Why had she suggested to have dinner at her place? She had just wanted to know the answer to a simple question, but Caleb had gotten so serious. She hadn't thought it was that big of a deal. She hadn't known Caleb for long, but he did seem a bit off last night. She hadn't even exchanged numbers with him. How did she know he was really going to show up? She was freaking out. Yesterday, she didn't see Caleb as a celebrity. She had fangirled over him in college. She had admired him. But yesterday, she hadn't looked at him in awe. She saw that he was much more than a celebrity. He was a human being. He was her friend. At least, that's what she had hoped he felt about her as well. She didn't know what to think honestly. Everything was happening so fast. She leaned towards the mirror and began to check her face. I hope I look ok... Would Caleb even care that she bothered to wear something a little more girly than what she usually did? Why did she care what he thought? He was her idol that's why. She cared about his opinion and thoughts.

"I wonder what I should make for us. It has to be something impressive. He probably eats food from celebrity chefs all the time. Jeez, why did I do this to myself? Let's see what I have in the fridge."

"Oh no...." She sighed. "There's nothing in here!" She stared at her fridge in horror. She was a celebrity, but she definitely wasn't getting paid like one. She thought about going to the store but she'd never make it back in time. She had spent way too long picking out her makeup and clothes."Why didn't I look in the fridge first?"

She began to rummage through the cupboards and draws. She definitely could not give Caleb instant noodles or tv dinners. "Aha!" Star exclaimed. "Found something!" She pulled out a box of macaroni and cheese. It was the best she could manage right now.

Caleb had gotten dressed  pretty quickly. He had been excited to see Star but dreading it at the same time. He was going to tell her how he really felt about her and what she did. He was putting his feelings out there. He couldn't stop thinking that it was a bit premature, but even Star had noticed he was being a little too nice.

As he was heading out he stopped by Tim. "Caleb...where are you going?" He pulled away from Mya's kiss.

Caleb raised a brow at his friend. "You're being rude to Mya. We can talk when I get back."

"No, it's ok. If you're leaving we'll have the whole house to ourselves...we can play around then." She winked at Tim who smirked back at her.

"Ok, thanks for the gross mental image you guys.If I don't leave now, I'll be late."

"Mya, would you be a dear and give us a minute?" Tim asked politely.

"Sure thing babe."

Once she was out of earshot Tim asked another question. "Are you going to see Star?"

"Yeah, I am." He answered his friend honestly.

"Don't."

"Excuse me?"

"Don't see her." Caleb stared in disbelief at his friend. "You give everyone too much credit. You let your emotions get the better of you at times and being around her is dangerous. She blackmailed me so she could be famous. You're feeding into her little game. I apologized for your sake and I was nice about it. Star is getting a free ride off of your fame..."

Caleb stared angrily at his friend. "I can't believe you would say something like that about Star. She regrets doing that to you. She isn't using me for my fame...this meeting was MY idea. If anyone is leeching off of our fame it's Mya."

"What the hell is your problem man? Mya is already famous herself. She doesn't need my fame. She actually cares about me."

Caleb shook his head. "She's the worst kind of person. Mya started a fight at the gala, not for your attention but the world's. She was mad that you never flaunted her. She wanted to be your public girlfriend. You don't understand that you're the biggest thing in television right now and everything you touch skyrockets in popularity. She cares too much about the fame. She's probably texting her friends right now that she's sleeping with Tim Levesque."

"Just shut the fuck up and get out of here Caleb. You're so fucking messed up." 

Caleb watched his best friend with hurt eyes. He turned his back on Tim and left the mansion.

A little while later, Mya found her way back to Tim. "Why don't we go upstairs?" She bit her lip seductively.

"Just go home Mya."

"What?"

"You heard me," He said rudely before leaving the room.

"Hey Star," Caleb smiled as she opened the door. The sight of her made him forget about his fight with Tim.

"Hey Caleb..." She stuttered. She knew he was behind the door and it didn't seem like a big deal until she was face to face with him. She was nervous and it had nothing to do with how big of a celebrity he was.

"I like your dress, you look cute," He said innocently.

"Thanks, it's something I had from my non-celebrity days," She joked.

"Woah...that long ago!?" He played along.

"Yupp, come on in and see my fabulous abode." She took a step back and let him into her house. "I know it's a bit empty, but I'm working on it."

"I like it, it reminds me of home."

"You grew up in a small house?"

"Not exactly...well, I always had a lot of people living in my house. We had my grandfather and uncle living with us, and then my little brother was born and then my twin siblings. So, I've never had a small house, but it did get pretty cramped sometimes. I mean, I did have to share a room with my uncle."

Star couldn't help but laugh. Caleb was adorable. "Sounds like it was fun though. I don't have any siblings."

"You have Harper right?"

"Yeah, you're right. She is like a sister to me."

"I'm sorry I couldn't come up with anything fancier," She said as she led him to the kitchen.

"Are you serious? I haven't had mac and cheese in years! I was honestly excited for a home cooked meal. I haven't gotten to eat like this in a while. Glen keeps me on a strict diet. My body is my money, or something like that."

"I guess I see his point, but it's your voice that attracted me. It's so melodious. I think your voice is your money maker."

Caleb smiled sadly. "You've been in the celebrity world for a few weeks right? You see how it can be. There are fans like you and then there's fans like them. Unfortunately, there's more of them than you."

"But when you find that one fan, isn't it amazing?" She smiled. "I thought that guy that had my face on his shirt was pretty cool, and it was a killer picture. It wasn't even like it was me being choked by Mya or anything."

"Wait until you start doing your acrobat routine and someone stops you after the show and tells you that you inspired them to follow their dreams. that's pretty incredible."

Star smiled, knowing he was talking about her. "I don't think I'll be doing my acrobat routine anytime soon. Nobody wants me to do that. They want me to make appearances at proms and parties. I'm pretty much a show piece. It's a bit discouraging, even though I know tons of people would kill for opportunities like this."

"You're not happy, are you?" He frowned.

Star shook her head sadly. "Honestly. when I blackmailed Tim, my intention was to get my name out there, but I didn't want to be famous like this. I just wanted Tim to tweet out my name or something so I could get a few people to watch my routines. You know...my parents called me the other day and told me that they wanted me to come back home.. They were being so friendly, when they haven't spoken to me in months. That's how I know I've hit rock bottom. Even my parents are being fake. I....I don't want this. I don't deserve it..."

He patted her back affectionately. "It get's better, I promise. I've had to face so much crap in this business. Only a few people are 100% with you, but the money and satisfaction is worth all of it."

"It's different for you Caleb. You're making a difference in people's lives with your music. I'm literally only famous for dating Tim Levesque for a few days." 

"Let's go and watch some television." Caleb changed the subject. "I want to answer your question from yesterday. It has to do a bit with this."

"Ok." Star nodded.

"Are you really interested in game shows?" Star smiled.

Caleb had been so deep in thought. "It's the blue door, I'm certain."

"Look." Star pointed at the screen. "It was the red door."

"Hmm...well good thing I'm not on the show."

Star began to laugh hysterically. "You're a comedian too?"
"A bit," He grinned.

"Ok, ok. Jokes aside, I want to know the answer to the question I asked you yesterday."

Caleb nodded his head understandingly. "First, answer mine alright?"

"That's not really fair..." Star pouted.

"Trust me, it's important."

"Ok..." Star gave in, "Ask away."

"How do you feel about me?" Star was taken aback. It was a strange question. "Be honest with me. I'm not going to think any less of you."

She thought for a minute and then smiled as if it were obvious. "Well, you're my idol." Caleb stood up. Frustration could be read all over his face. "What's wrong...?" She stood up beside him.

"Is that all I am to you...your idol?" Before Star could say anything else he had already pinned her to the wall forcefully.

She stared up at Caleb in fear. This was a different side of him. His soft exterior was gone and replaced by one of anger. "Are you really that oblivious Star...?"

"Caleb..." She whispered. His face was mere centimeters from her's and she couldn't think straight. He was so close!

"The reason why I haven't given up on you is because I care about you. I'm willing to close my eyes to every illegal thing you've done, if it means I get to spend more time with you. Your presence is magical. It's only been a few weeks and already I can't stop thinking about you. I want to be something more than your idol, Star, and I want you to be something more than my fan!"

"Caleb..." She breathed again. So many thoughts were rushing through her head. She couldn't process anything that was happening right now. Caleb leaned in so close that their noses were almost touching. Star began to panic. He is going to kiss me! She ducked under his arms and scurried towards the door. "I think you should go home..." 

He stared at her in absolute terror. The pain was evident in his eyes. "Yeah, you're right...Goodnight Star." He couldn't even look into her eyes as he was leaving.

She felt so terrible. She had wanted to taste his lips, but something was stopping. She watched him walk sluggishly out of her house. "Caleb wait!" She called out to him. "This has nothing to do with you, I have my own issues that I have to work out!" 

Caleb stopped walking in his tracks and balled his fists up. "I'm sorry for forcing myself on you. I'll never bother you again. Just remember what I told you, everything gets better."

"No!" She called out again but he was already in his car with the windows rolled up. "But, I want to see you again..." She whispered as the tears began to fall from her eyes.