Model to Holywood

**"And Bel Air now, hot summer nights, mid-July…"**

It was a warm summer night in mid-July.

**"When you and I were forever wild…"**

You and I, young and wild, unafraid of the passing years.

**"The crazy days, city lights…"**

Reckless days, the city lights glowing.

At night, on the Pacific Coast Highway, a BMW with its high beams on pierced through the night, heading toward Malibu, Zone 17.

In the passenger seat, Fanny sat with her legs curled up, softly humming "Young and Beautiful" while holding a guitar. The guitar was a gift from the famous music producer, The Matrix, who saw great potential in her.

"Uncle Luca, this song is amazing! It's perfect for the moment. It's mid-July, and we're wild and free. Did you just write it?" Fanny asked, her eyes sparkling.

Luca, the seasoned driver, shrugged. "Writing songs isn't hard. When inspiration hits, a good song just flows."

Fanny rolled her eyes. "A good song 'just flows'? Do you even hear yourself?"

Luca smiled slightly, "How's your new song coming along?"

"Not great," Fanny said, her mood sinking. "The Matrix says it's not mature enough yet. He wants me to write more and practice in his studio. He's even offered to teach me."

"That sounds like a great opportunity! Why the long face?"

Fanny glanced at him, frustrated. "But The Matrix's studio is in Los Angeles, and my home is in New York."

"What's the big deal? Whenever you come to L.A., you can stay at my place. You're welcome to come during spring break or the summer holidays."

"Really? I can?" Fanny's eyes widened.

"Of course! You're so tiny, and my house is huge—you'd fit in anywhere."

"I am *not* tiny!" Fanny suddenly lifted her T-shirt in protest.

"Knock it off!" Luca waved her off. "Fanny, you've met some big names in the music industry. You don't lack opportunities. What you need now is to build experience. So, there's no need to stand out in the wrong ways. Places like nightclubs can be dangerous if you're too exposed."

"Uncle Luca, don't worry. I'll be careful," Fanny promised earnestly.

"Alright, then," Luca didn't want to lecture her too much. Everyone makes their own choices, and as a friend, he had done what he could. 

"Here, eat up!" 

Once they returned to the villa, Luca heated up two glasses of milk and four slices of pizza, setting them on the table.

"Uncle Luca, I'm scared to sleep alone at night. Can I sleep with you?" Fanny asked, licking milk from her lips.

"You can cuddle your stuffed animals," Luca said absently, watching TV.

"I'd rather cuddle you," Fanny said, blinking her eyes.

"Heh, I'd love to cuddle Angelina Jolie," Luca joked, his attention on the TV, where Jolie was in an interview, wearing a form-fitting dress, cradling a child. She looked stunning, and Luca thought women always looked better on camera.

Fanny rolled her eyes. "Uncle Luca, you're such a perv! You have Lima and Britney, and you're still ogling Jolie. I'm totally telling Lima when we get back."

Luca shook his head. "Enough talking. Eat your pizza and get to bed. You've got a flight to catch in the morning!"

After quickly finishing his own pizza, he grabbed his phone and headed upstairs to his bedroom.

"Stubborn old man," Fanny muttered, nibbling on her pizza. As she watched Jolie talk about her divorce and children on TV, Fanny scoffed, switched the channel, and finished eating.

Upstairs, Luca lay in bed after a shower, dialing Lima's number to update her.

"Hey, babe. You still awake?" he asked.

"No, I'm still gaming," Lima replied, putting aside her design book and adjusting her position in her 43rd Street apartment in New York.

"Don't play too long. Watch your eyes. Today, Fanny and I went to see Britney's concert," Luca said softly.

"And?" Lima's suspicion was evident, as if bracing for some kind of confession. 

Luca felt a little caught off guard—why was he being so careful in his words?

Britney had performed his song "Nobody" at the concert and revealed he had written it. Nothing else had happened, but why did it feel like he was treading carefully?

"I wasn't being cautious, I just spoke a little slower. After the concert, I took Fanny to Britney's afterparty, and something big happened there."

"Oh? What was it?" Lima asked, curious.

"Justin tried to get back together with Britney."

"Did you ruin it?" Lima asked calmly.

Luca's brow furrowed—had Fanny told her already?

"How come you don't ask if he succeeded?" Luca asked.

"Obviously, he didn't. If he had, you wouldn't sound so pleased with yourself."

She knew him too well.

"Okay, it wasn't entirely me, but I had something to do with it," Luca admitted and then went on to explain the whole situation.

While he left out the part about the passionate kiss, he did tell her everything else, framing himself as an innocent bystander caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Suddenly, he heard a loud splash from the balcony.

Luca rushed out to see Fanny swimming in the pool—completely naked.

"Fanny, what are you doing? Go back to bed!"

He yelled while covering the phone.

"It's too hot, I can't sleep!"

Fanny shouted back.

There's air conditioning in the room, how could it be hot?

"The water will get cold later tonight!"

"…"

"If you don't come up soon, I'm gonna drag you out!"

"…"

Luca sighed, feeling helpless. Raising a rebellious kid was tough. He hung up the phone, grabbed a blanket, and went downstairs.

"Come on up, don't make me come down to fish you out!"

He said, standing by the pool.

"Alright, fine."

Fanny climbed out of the water.

"Achoo~"

"Serves you right!"

Luca smirked and wrapped her in the blanket, drying her hair for her.

"Uncle Luca, do you think I'm sexy?"

"You're alright."

"Then why won't you sleep with me?"

"… Do you want me to go to jail?"

"Hahaha~"

Fanny laughed and collapsed into his arms.

Luca shook his head, carried her back to her room, and then brought her some cold medicine and antibiotics.

"Get some sleep and stop messing around, or I'll lock the door from outside."

"Okay, okay!"

Fanny pouted and burrowed under the covers, her eyes sparkling as she stared at the door.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows.

Luca slowly opened his eyes and suddenly felt something moving under the blanket.

"Brittany, when did you get here?"

"…"

He shifted a bit and realized something was off. He threw off the blanket in one quick motion.

"How did you get in here?!"

(End of the chapter)