Chapter 227: Teen Celebrity Party II

After everyone went inside, only Mikayla stayed behind.

I narrowed my eyes at her, "you totally did that on purpose, just to see their reaction. You need to stop hanging around with Sam and Paige, Mikayla, they’re bad influences."

She snorted, "they said they learned it from you."

"Defamation!" I defended myself.

Now Scarlett was the one snorting, "you do that a lot, Jake."

"Okay, I might sometimes do that. Speaking of which, Mikayla," I turned my head to her again, "we’ll have special guests for our karaoke tonight."

"Huh," she tilted her head with interest, "who?"

"It’s a surprise, but I bet you’d rate it a solid 10," I smiled.

"Don’t bet on it. I did, and now I have to watch the movies Jake likes," Scarlett cut in, feigning exasperation.

"Wow, must be good. Let’s see if it really deserves a 10 then," Mikayla grinned and walked in.

"Didn’t know you were friends with Mikayla."

"She’s more like a friend/acquaintance. This is already the third party she’s been to here, plus I talk to her from time to time when I go to the iCarly set," I explained, adding, "she and Sam get along really well."

Maybe she really is like Selena (her counterpart from my past life). Friends with a blondie who’s a little nuts.

Then Cher came in with the group of actors and actresses who had been in Clueless. Right behind them was a young blonde girl, probably accompanied by her mother (the woman was way older than the rest).

The same ritual happened (though this time I already knew most of them), we greeted each other, and they went inside, leaving only two people and Cher.

"Hilary Duff," the young blonde introduced herself.

"Jake Harper," I replied, then shook hands with the older woman.

"Susan Duff," the woman said politely.

I nodded. "Don’t worry, Mrs. Duff, as you must have seen in the NDA, drugs are strictly forbidden for everyone, and alcohol is banned for minors," I reaffirmed. 

With a bunch of Disney and Nickelodeon kids here, I don’t want to create problems with either company.

JD is a little more relaxed compared to the fake puritanism both studios push so hard (strict control of clothing, song lyrics, interviews, public statements, etc.). 

We just ask them to avoid excesses or any behavior that could tarnish the company’s name.

On top of that, we offer broad psychological support and media shields.

I gestured for them to follow me, and they entered through another entrance, into a lounge/cabin on a floor above the mini club, tucked away in the corner.

"As you can see, there’s a comfy and spacious area here for you to stay, Mrs. Duff, and there are already a few parents around," I gestured.

Then, pointing to the glass wall, I added, "you can see the entire club from here. The glass is one-way, so the kids quickly forget you’re watching."

"And finally," I showed them the buffet, "we have food and wine. But I hope you behave yourself," I smirked.

She chuckled lightly, amused by the role reversal. She seemed like a pretty chill mom.

"Hey Jake, these rib bites are delicious," George Cooper commented with a grin

"Help yourself, George," I laughed with him.

Geez, George was already more eager to come to the party than his daughter (surprisingly). Here he could eat and watch TV in peace (the parents respected each other’s privacy).

I think he even forgot to keep an eye on Missy...

"We can already go in through that door," I said, and Cher, Hilary, and Scarlett—who was holding my hand—walked with me toward the club.

Closing the door, Hilary murmured, her eyes twitching a little, "Mama/Papa place."

Scarlett held back a laugh. Cher had already seen it.

But then Hilary smiled and laughed a little.

Yeah, she’s a good actress, I didn’t feel like it was such a fake smile.

"By the way, I’m your fan, Hilary," I turned to her.

"Really? You like Lizzie McGuire?"

"Hmm, I don’t know, never watched an episode," I replied with a straight face.

The moment turned awkward, Hilary’s eyes twitched again.

Before she could fake another laugh

"It’s just a little joke," Cher commented, "Jake is always poking some fun," she tried to defuse the situation, also trying to hold back laughter.

They both walked downstairs.

"I sense a déjà vu here," Scarlett pointed out.

"It was different. In Japan I was hitting on you. Here I just wanted to see if I could break the mask Hilary was wearing," I said.

"It’s normal for someone with her age and in her position. Trying to keep up that good-girl mask, and being more cautious, while still offering smiles and laughter," Scarlett said thoughtfully.

I nodded. "It must be hard. Having all this pressure to always be the perfect good girl," I pondered.

Probably some of the Disney and Nickelodeon kids ended up troubled because of all that pressure 

And speaking of that, I saw someone who didn’t seem so worried about looking like a good girl.

"Lindsay, glad you came," I said casually.

"Hello Jake," she replied. "Scarlett Johansson, nice to meet you, Lindsay Lohan," she greeted, extending her hand, which Scarlett shook.

"Jake, Scarlett, this is Amanda Seyfried," Regina introduced the blonde standing beside her.

I nodded with a polite hello, but thought: here’s another future A-list actress, this one didn’t flop.

And they went back to mingling.

"Why so thoughtful, Scarlett?" This time it was me asking the question.

"I’d like to see how all these people would treat you if they knew the whole truth. 

Some of them, I think, don’t even know you’re an Oscar nominee and the writer behind a billion dollars in box office," she said pensively.

Yep, with Annabelle closing at $257 million, adding Paranormal Activity ($299M), The Conjuring ($320M), and Lost in Translation ($165M), I had already surpassed $1 billion in box office revenue (as a screenwriter).

"You still seem kinda normal to me."

"Yeah, but I think it’s because it still hasn’t fully sunk in," she laughed.