The Dreamer

Maddie stood aloof on the same spot as she listened to the actor introduced himself. “My name’s Shia LaBeouf. And you are?” he cocked an eyebrow in question.

“Madison Lim,” her shaky voice replied. Shia smiled and stuck his right hand for a handshake. Her hands were still trembling but she wiped them against her jeans before taking his hand with hers. His grip was firm and confident as they shook unlike most guys who preferred the You’re-not-a-guy-so-I-will-shake-your-hand-gently. “Nice to meet you, Madison.” She simply nodded. Of course she knew who he was. Who didn’t? She was even an admirer of his work and vowed to work with him on a project one day when she became a director. Now that he was standing right before her, she felt intimidated and the fear of being caught in a lawsuit was still buzzing in her mind.

The handshake lasted longer than a usual one and when Maddie retrieved her hand, she wasn’t sure what was about to happen. She diverted her gaze to anywhere in the store but the person standing before her who was observing her in amusement. “Well…” he began but was interrupted by Maddie’s incoherent apology. “I’m so so so sorry about that,” she gestured towards the pile of mess on the floor. “I really am. I’m not usually this clumsy. I didn’t mean to hurt you or anything else. I’m so sorry. Please don’t sue me,” she blurted.

Instead of hearing a complaint or a lecture, a light, hearty laugh echoed in the store. She turned her gaze towards him and watched the strange actor laughed. Oh God, what did I say? She ran her hand through her shoulder-length jet black hair. “Excuse me?” she interrupted after the unbearable minute of watching a stranger whom she admired minutes before laughed at her.

He held onto his stomach as he tried to calm down. “I’m – I’m just” when he noticed the seriousness and slight annoyance on her face, he stood upright and put on a straight face. “I’m sorry. It’s just… your face was priceless when you freak out,” a small smile crept to his face again.

It had been a long and tiring day and meeting an obnoxiously arrogant actor wasn’t part of Maddie’s plan. She cleared her throat. “What can I help you with?” she asked sternly, a hand placed on her hip.

Shia knew better than pushing his luck. He wiped off the smile on his face and shrugged. “I just came in to look around. I’ve passed by this store countless times but never had a chance to come in here,” he explained. Maddie ignored his remark since he was only here to quote ‘look around’ she started to pick up the books which were scattered all over the floor. She ignored the burning stare she felt from him and replaced the books back on the third row. She still had the new books to arrange on the top row.

She could hear him walked around the store and drew a book out from its place now and then. Her nerves were calmed now but the anger was still flaring inside. The Beatles CD was still being played and it came to the track Twist and Shout. It was her favorite but she couldn’t find the inner happiness to sing along or danced in her silly moves.

“I like this song,” Shia commented as he stood on the same spot where he frightened her moments ago. She didn’t add any comments to the latest remark and propped the ladder again before climbing it. She only began sorting the second book when he cleared his throat. She tried her best to ignore him as she focused on her work and the music played overhead. She liked the industry but she hated some of the people in it. Shia was about to make that list and she felt regretful for ever admiring his work.

Then, she felt someone yanking on the ends of her jeans. She glanced down to find Shia glancing up at her with a pair of sad hazel eyes. “What?” she asked with an obvious tone that she didn’t want to talk to him. She hated the fact he was trying to soothe her nerves with his puppy-dog eyes.

“Actually there is a book I’m looking for,” he said. Maddie studied him for a moment; just to be sure he wasn’t trying any tricks on her. Once she felt assured, she descended from the ladder and waited for him to say his request. “Well?”

He rolled his eyes. “Do you have a book called The Tao of Pooh?”

Maddie didn’t answer him straightaway nor did she go to the computer system to check. Instead she gawked at him. “Did you say The Tao of Pooh?”

He nodded. She stared in disbelief. That was one of her favorite books of all time. It had Winnie the Pooh which was an all-time favorite cartoon of hers and it was philosophical. How could a guy like Shia want such a deep book? She prayed he wouldn’t ruin the book for her just because he was looking for it.

“Are you okay?” Shia asked, slightly confused by her staring. It was like it at that moment did Maddie realized who he really way.

Maddie shook her head to clear her mind. “Yeah, sure.” She walked past him and towards the aisle in the end of the store. He trailed behind her all the while. “You know I really am sorry for laughing at you. I just thought…” he paused. “Never mind,” he sighed.
She knew exactly where the last copy was. When the store was extremely quiet and she didn’t feel like starting on a new book, she would take the remaining copy of the book to read over the parts where she was still pondering over.

It was on the bottom row of the shelf and without even a glimpse of it she grabbed the book from the pile. She took another glance at the cover before handing it to Shia. He took it and looked through the pages and lingered on the back cover. “Thanks. I’ve been looking for this for quite some time,” he admitted.

Maddie was still in a trance. “So, do you want to buy it?” Shia flashed her a million dollar smile and nodded. He handed the book to her and she led him towards the counter and after scanning the barcode, and took the cash from him, she slipped the book into a small plastic bag and stapled the receipt on the top. “Thank you. Come again,” she said in an automated voice.

Shia resisted his chuckle and thanked her. It was when he took the bag did she spot the bandaged middle finger on his left hand. He saw her diverted attention and merely smiled. “Car accident,” he muttered, slightly embarrassed. Once again, Maddie was amazed by the sudden display of emotions and simply shrugged. “Everyone gets into accidents.”

Shia didn’t reply to the comment. “You’re a fan of this book?” he shook the plastic bag in front of them. She nodded. “My friend recommended it to me back in college.”

Shia could only smile. “And here I thought I was special enough to have discovered the book.” Maddie couldn’t help but laughed. “There, you go!” Shia cheered. “You should smile more often. You have a nice smile.” Maddie felt herself blushed and hoped he didn’t notice the light shades of red on her cheeks. Then, she reminded herself that he was an obnoxious actor who thought he was all-that. Her smile dropped at the reminder.

“Madison,” he paused, waiting for her to make eye contact. “I really did not mean to give you the wrong impression of the kind of person I am. I really am sorry about laughing at you just now. It’s just I’ve never seen anyone’s freaked out face to be that… animated. I hope you can forgive me for my ignorance.”

Maddie studied him, intrigued. For the last year of moving to LA she had quite a few encounters with famous actors/actresses but this was the first time she had an A-List actor apologize to her. And he really sound like he genuinely meant it. But then again, he was a good actor. She hated it when she couldn’t make up her mind on what she really felt about something.

She took in a deep breath and exhaled. All the while, Shia was waiting for her response. She started a clean sheet and thought it through. He was an A-List actor in Hollywood, the industry she swore she would get into one day. He seemed arrogant and that was a thought she had even before she met him as she recalled some past interviews she had seen on TV. But then, it was the media and it could be just a show. Now, he was standing right in front of her and he apologized for something small which she had taken to heart in a second because of a sudden trauma. And she really didn’t want to make a bad impression on one of the people she might be working with in the far future.

So, after contemplation she put on a smile and nodded. “You don’t have to apologize, I was just in a state of shock and took a joke to heart. I should be the one who’s sorry. And I really hope I didn’t hurt you from the accident just now,” she said. It was amazement even to her that she could change her attitude in a flash. It was all training since she was a teen.

Shia shook his head. “It’s alright. Consider us even then.” Maddie relieved that the drama was over, nodded. “Shake on it?” He grinned and extended his right hand and she took it and shook it for the second time that night.

“I’ll see you around,” Shia said and tucked on the front of his cap as he nodded before leaving the store. It didn’t sound like a question to Maddie instead it sounded like a statement and she wondered whether she would ever meet the actor again. After watching the figure with a bowed head disappeared from view, she went back to her shelf of books.

The night continued with an uneventful one and she locked up the store at eleven, collected her things and caught the last bus home. The house was quiet but she was sure her friend was home. She ran up the stairs and saw the yellow light which crept through the bottom of the closed door. She dropped her things on the floor of her bedroom and knocked on the closed door before opening it.

“Hi, Jo!” Maddie greeted a hunched figure who was busy with work on her study desk. She glanced up and smiled. “Welcome home! How’s your day?” she asked, leaning back against her chair.

Maddie walked towards the neat bed and fell onto it. “Tiring but satisfying,” she smiled. “Oh and you can never guess who I met today!” she rested her head on her hand. Joanne sat up. “Who?”

Maddie thought of the encounter and couldn’t help but wondered how odd it was. “You know the guy from Transformers?” Joanne shook her head (she was never really into English movies; she was more a fan of anime and Korean drama. She’s a Korean after all.). “How about Eagle Eye?” Joanne shook her head again. “Erm… Disturbia? Oh no, wait! You hate that kind of movie. Erm… how about Disney Channel’s Even Stevens?” Joanne thought for a while and immediately a smile decorated her face. “I know! Is it the main character?” Maddie nodded. “Oh… wow! You like that guy! Lucky you!”

Maddie chuckled. “Yeah, it could have been better.” Joanne looked at her questioningly and listened to Maddie told her the whole story. Joanne laughed. “Don’t worry, Maddie. It’s just a minor misunderstanding. But at least you get to meet the guy. Don’t you remember how you used to be obsessed with him?”

Maddie sat up from the bed and crossed her arms indignantly. “Hey! I was never obsessed with Shia LaBeouf. I mean I like his stuff yeah and that was a crush. Nothing more.” Joanne eyes penetrated through Maddie’s. “You sure?” Maddie nodded. “Of course I’m sure. The only celebrities I was really obsessed with were rock bands.” Joanne rolled her eyes and let Maddie off this one. She was sure Maddie was a little obsessed with the actor.

“So, how’s uni?” Maddie asked, and hoped to change the subject. Joanne sighed in defeat and raised her arms as if surrendering a fight. “More reports to write. You’re so lucky you graduated!” Joanne replied. Maddie sympathized with her friend. She knew how difficult and rigorous the course was. Joanne was an undergrad student for Chemical Engineering which required her to study one year more than Maddie’s course.

“Well, you’ll make it through. Just like you always do,” Maddie encouraged with a smile. Joanne nodded and turned her attention back to her desk. “I don’t really have a choice,” she mumbled. Maddie forced herself off the bed and squeezed her friend’s shoulders as a sign of support. “You can do it!” Maddie said and left the room.

She went back to her own less tidy room and grabbed some clean clothes and headed for a long shower. As the warm water hit her hair, she thought of the day she had. And the same paranoid voice spoke, “Is this really worth it? Can I be wrong about this?” Although Maddie was certain director was what she was destined to be but the doubt never left her mind. She had a good law degree and could be working in a law firm right now, getting better pay than what she was getting now. She could actually send some money back to her parents. She could actually pay the rent on time. But instead, she had opted for this alternative route without her parents’ knowledge. Was all this hard work worth it?