January 4th, 2023 – Los Angeles – 8:12 AM
Another day, another whirlwind.
Ethan woke up not to an alarm, but to the sharp light pouring in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of his penthouse. Billie was still asleep, her face half-buried in the pillow, hair messy from the night before. For a brief moment, he allowed himself to admire the calm before the chaos.
He checked his phone: 47 missed messages, 13 emails flagged as urgent, and one voice message from Kenny labeled "DO NOT IGNORE."
With a deep breath, he got up, stretched, and headed straight for the espresso machine. Today wasn't going to be easy.
---
10:00 AM – Warner Bros. Studio – Burbank
"Ethan, my man!" shouted the director as he entered the studio with sunglasses and a coffee in hand.
The new movie was still unnamed, but the pressure already had a title: "Oscar expectations." The sequel to Stardust Highway was greenlit even before the first film's premiere. Now, the script was tighter, the cameras more expensive, and the expectations astronomical.
"You've got chemistry with Billie that's off the charts," said the producer. "Think Brad and Angelina in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, but Gen Z edition."
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "You want chemistry? Let us improvise."
Everyone looked at each other.
"Trust us," Billie added, now standing beside him in a black hoodie and sunglasses. "We'll give you gold."
The scene began. No rehearsal. Just them. It wasn't just good—it was electric. At the end, the room was silent before bursting into applause.
"Jesus," the screenwriter muttered. "They're not acting."
---
1:30 PM – Downtown LA – GQ Photoshoot
Next stop: style and cameras. Ethan arrived at the rooftop of a skyscraper where GQ's elite team was already set up. His look? A mix of classic and chaotic—tailored trousers, open silk shirt, silver chains, and boots that screamed "I don't walk, I arrive."
"Give us wild. Give us 'I just played Coachella and won the World Cup,'" shouted the photographer.
He smirked and struck a pose.
"Done," Ethan said.
30 minutes later, they were wrapping up. The stylist leaned in. "You're redefining masculine cool, you know?"
He winked. "Just being myself."
---
4:00 PM – Training Center – Los Angeles FC
From red carpets to real grass.
Ethan didn't just dabble in sports—he excelled. That afternoon, he had training with the national soccer team. Even exhausted, he dominated the field like a veteran striker. Coaches watched in awe as he weaved through defenders and netted impossible goals.
"World Cup is in six months," said the coach. "We want you in Qatar."
"Only if I can bring my guitar," Ethan joked.
"Deal. Just score."
---
7:00 PM – Back Home
Shower. Protein shake. Stretching on the yoga mat. For most people, this would be rest. For Ethan, it was just a reset.
Billie sat nearby, reading a script.
"You realize you've done, like, five people's work today?" she asked.
"I'm behind schedule," he replied with a smirk.
She rolled her eyes. "You're gonna burn out."
"I don't burn. I evolve."
He collapsed next to her.
"Still… I wouldn't mind a week in Iceland. Just us. No scripts. No stadiums."
Ethan closed his eyes. "One day. But not today."
---
10:30 PM – Secret Recording Studio in West LA
Ethan stepped into the booth. Dim lights. Lo-fi beat in the background. Billie stood behind the glass, watching. They were experimenting with a new song. Intimate, acoustic, raw.
He sang the first verse with his eyes closed. Then the second. Then improvised a third one.
When he stopped, the producer didn't say anything. Just hit replay.
It was magic.
"That's the one," Billie whispered.
"I know," Ethan replied.
---
Midnight – Instagram Live
He wasn't supposed to go live. But Ethan rarely followed schedules.
Lying on his couch, phone in hand, he connected to millions of fans.
"Hey," he said casually. "Crazy day. Filmed a scene, kicked a ball, took some photos, made a hit."
Comments exploded.
"Billie's here too," he added, and she peeked into frame.
He smiled.
"Thanks for riding this wave with me. I don't know where it's going, but I know I'm not slowing down."
He ended the live without saying goodbye. Just a wink.
---
1:00 AM – Rooftop
Same place. Same stars. But a little more tired tonight.
Billie leaned on his shoulder.
"Doesn't it scare you?"
"What?"
"That this could all end."
Ethan looked up.
"I'm not scared of the end. I'm scared of wasting the middle."
She nodded, half-asleep.
"Then let's not waste it."
He held her hand.
"No days off. No regrets."