Shooting My Shot -

*For starters, this is my first-ever posting, so feedback is welcome. All characters are over the age of 25. Feel free to guess the real-life celeb this is based on! This is a scene-setting chapter - spice begins in part 2.

As I type away at work, my phone lights up with yet another notification from Instagram. Dozens of pings coming in daily, they're usually irrelevant and uninteresting, but I catch his handle. My #1 celebrity crush. Of course, I have notifications turned on for his account... I can't wait to see his newest photos and videos, to drool over whatever bit of skin he's decided to showcase. A moment of admiration is usually all that ensues, but this is different. He's here. In my city. Not that it's a small place by any means, but that always piques my interest. Again, usually that's all it can do.... but.... other fans are posting photos with him. He's sharing them and.... I know where that is. It's a huge park about ten blocks from here. My pulse quickens as I contemplate trying to catch a glimpse of the man who makes my imagination go wild. I doubt I'll have enough confidence to even ask for a photo, but I have to at least try to get a peek of him in person beyond the security confines of a meet and greet.

I grab an Uber and I'm in there in twenty minutes. I'll have to wander for a bit to see if he's even still here since this place is so huge. I'm sure he probably isn't because he wouldn't share the fan photos and show the world where he was if he was still here, would he? Nah.

I walk the around the perimeter for what seems like hours, hope draining with every step. As I circle back to the spot where I started, I'm crushed. Look, first-world problems and all, sure.... this is not really something to be upset about. It's just that the excitement was so potent, adrenaline spiking within me, that the come down is stark. I pull my phone out of my pocket and click on the Uber app so I can head back to the office. Just then, in my periphery, I see a guy with perfectly coiffed hair... my literal weakness. Just before I hit 'confirm' on my Uber, I quickly glance up at the guy to see if by chance he's looking at me. He isn't. But, wait.... that's HIM.

Sitting on a shady bench, scrolling through his phone, is the A-list musician of my dreams. All alone. No admiring fans, no friends. My mind must be playing tricks on me. There's no way that I would ever have even a split second one-on-one with him. There will always be another fan, a friend, an employee in his space.

I rub my eyes and look up again - preparing to see that I had imagined him, but no, he's there. Chilling in the shade, perfectly unbothered. My heart speeds up. I don't know why. I can't go over there and disturb his peace. It'd be different if another fan was there interacting with him already. I can't be the person to request his attention and disrupt his day. No way....

I pause and sigh. I go buy a soda from a vendor by the park entrance, biding my time. I want to see someone go up to him so badly so I can just try to join, but no one does. A world-famous singer with legions of screaming fans is sitting on a bench and no one notices or cares. In fact, the place is pretty deserted save for the soda vendor and I. I guess it's too hot for people to want to be out here. I pay for my soda and resign myself to walking out of the park - and his vicinity. I turn in his direction to catch one more glance before I leave to undoubtedly beat myself up about being such a wuss. Just then, he clears his throat and looks up from his phone.

We lock eyes for a split second. I can feel the heat in my face as it turns red - totally embarrassed for having even taken that last look. I mouth "I'm sorry" and turn to walk away. He chuckles and says "Nah, you're good. Are you a fan?"

I stop walking. Is he talking to me? I mean, I know he is, but, is this actually happening?

I turn back and reply, "Yeah, but I didn't mean to bother you at all. It's just rare that someone like me would get to meet someone like you one-on-one."

Casually, without a care in the world, he says, "I get it, you're good though. Nice to meet you."

"You too," I reply, and wave as I turn back to leave again.

I take two steps and something deep within my soul stirs. An alarm goes off as if to say 'this is your one chance. Shoot your shot'. The worst that can happen is you end up embarrassed and have a funny story to tell. But.... what if the story becomes "that time you hooked up with a celeb." I internally LMAO at myself for even contemplating the notion of having such an experience. I take another step.

I don't know where it comes from at that second, but something clicks. I realize that even if I crash and burn, this short interaction that we just had isn't even a story worth telling anyone. Getting rejected would at least be an anecdote of the time I wasn't a complete pussy.

So, I retreat a few steps and sit next to him on the bench. He looks up and asks, "Did you want a selfie?" Before I can think of the words, they start spilling out of my mouth.

"No, I.... just..... look, I'm sure you get this all the time, but I have to shoot my shot. If you give me one chance, one brief snapshot of your time, I will turn myself inside out and service you the best way I know how. I will worship your body, lean into your every desire, and fulfill your every command. You're my favorite celebrity and I would never forgive myself if I left without attempting to live out my biggest fantasy."

He blinks a few times and retorts, "I have never heard anything like that before."

My stomach drops and I prepare to combust and die of mortification.

Then, he puts his hand on my knee. The electricity that courses through his touch jolts me back into real time fast enough to hear him say, "I have some time to kill and a hotel room across the street. Let's see what you got." He rises to his feet and slowly starts to walk away.