Page 8 of You. Me. Us.

Walking along the edge of the queue, she scanned for any sign of a security guard or staff member. The constant excited chatter and the occasional squeal of delight from a fan made it hard to concentrate, but she continued to look, weaving her way through the mass.

As she walked, Hillary couldn’t help but marvel at the dedication of Julius’s fans. Many were dressed in elaborate costumes, their faces painted to resemble characters from his movies. Others clutched posters, books, and other memorabilia, their eyes shining with anticipation at the thought of meeting their idol. The air was thick with a palpable sense of excitement, and despite her own nerves, Hillary found herself getting caught up in the infectious energy.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, she spotted a security guard standing near the front of the line, his arms crossed and his expression stern. Hillary approached him cautiously, her pro badge held out in front of her like a shield with her press badge dangling beside it.

“Excuse me,” she said, her voice barely audible above the noise of the crowd. “I’m Hillary Mitchell from Muse Magazine. I have a scheduled interview with Mr. Theon, but I’m afraid I won’t make it to the front of the line in time.”

The guard looked her up and down, his eyes lingering on her press badge for a moment before he nodded curtly. “You don’t interrupt the signing,” the guard damn near rolled his eyes. “Wait here,” he said gruffly, gesturing to a spot just outside thequeue. “Mr. Theon is only signing for the next thirty minutes, but I’ll let him know you’re here for the interview.”

Hillary let out a sigh of relief, her shoulders sagging as the tension drained from her body. “Thank you,” she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face. “I really appreciate it.”

As the guard disappeared into the crowd, Hillary took a moment to compose herself. She smoothed down her blazer, adjusted her glasses and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. The pounding of her heart nearly sent her to the nearest trash can, but she forced herself to take slow, deep breaths, trying to calm her racing nerves. She had time, but she wasn’t going to be caught off guard if she could help it. She took out her phone and frantically began to search for interviews with him so she wouldn’t ask the same pedantic questions.

The queue continued to move forward, fans stepping up to the table where Julius sat, their faces lit up with joy as they interacted with their hero. Hillary watched them, marveling at the way Julius seemed to make each person feel special, his attention focused solely on them as he signed their items and posed for photos.

His genuine interest and engagement were evident, and Hillary wondered how he managed to maintain such authenticity in the face of such overwhelming adoration.

That wasn’t all she noticed, either.

He was even more striking in person, his chiseled features and piercing blue eyes even more captivating than they appeared on screen. A throng of fans surrounded him, clamoring for his attention, but Julius seemed to take it all in stride, his easy smile and warm demeanor never faltering. He looked so different in a plain black shirt and jeans, but both clung to his muscular body and nearly sent her mind wandering.

“I’m sorry to say, this session is over and I need to get pop out before someone more important than me is enraged I’ve stolentheir space.” Julius’s voice seemed to somehow float about the noise. “As always, sessions are listed in the app, make sure to line up early!”

“Come on then, best not to keep him waiting he has a packed schedule,” a burly security guard called out, jolting Hillary from her thoughts. As she watched him stand and walk toward her, Hillary’s heart began to beat frantically as she was mere steps away from coming face-to-face with Julius himself.

Heart pounding in her chest, Hillary took a tentative step forward, her mind racing with all the questions she wanted to ask, all the insights she hoped to glean from this interview. As she approached the table again, Julius looked up, his blue eyes locking with hers, and for a moment, the world seemed to fall away.

She’d never dared to think his gaze would land on her the way it did on his co-stars, but it was. His mouth was slightly parted, and he did nothing to change his stare. Her knees seemed to tremble under his gaze.

“Hi there,” he said, his voice warm and inviting. “I assume you’re my first interview of the day?”

“Yes, hi, I’m Hillary Mitchell,” she managed to say, hoping her voice didn’t betray her nerves or that her words wouldn’t come out in the wrong order. “I’m a journalist with Muse Magazine. According to my email, I have you for the next eighteen minutes.” She lifted her press badge and awkwardly tugged her ID from her bag to show him.

Why didn’t you have that out?

Julius’s smile widened, and he gestured for her to come closer. “Well, isn’t that an odd amount of time? Of course, Hillary. I’d be happy to chat with you. Let’s talk and walk if you don’t mind. I need to clear out for the person after me.”

She nodded and popped her notebook and pen in the bag and pulled her phone back out. “May I record for accuracy then?”

“By all means. The camera loves me.” He winked playfully and she couldn’t help but wonder if the sparkle in his eye was real or if she imagined him looking at her that way.

She took her millionth deep breath of the day, trying to calm her racing heart, and mentally ran through her list of questions trying to find the best one to start with. This was her chance, her moment to prove herself, and she was determined not to let it slip away if she could only force herself to speak.

“So, Hillary, what would you like to know?” The guard fell in place in front of them, but she noticed two more moving to walk behind him as he took the steps down the platform.

Hillary took a deep breath, her voice softening as she began, “I’ve been following your career for a while now, and I’m always impressed by the depth and complexity you bring to your roles. How do you prepare for such emotionally demanding characters when you’re so used to merely dashing into a war?”

Julius leaned forward, his gaze never leaving hers. “It’s all about understanding the character’s motivations, their fears, their desires. I try to put myself in their shoes, to see the world through their eyes. It’s not always easy, but it’s incredibly rewarding.”

As he spoke, Hillary found herself mesmerized by his presence, his words washing over her like a gentle wave. She nodded, but for a moment, she couldn’t seem to form her next question.

“I, um,”Shoot.

Julius smiled, his voice warm and encouraging. “Take your time, Hillary. Eighteen minutes is longer than I’m used to having to talk about myself, anyway.”

The warmth of a blush creeped into her cheeks, but she pushed forward, determined to make the most of this opportunity. “Your fans adore you, Julius. What do you think it is about your performances that resonates with so many people?That is to say, why do you think you were swamped a moment ago with damn near half the con waiting?” She winced as the opinionated question slipped out.

“I think it’s the authenticity,” he replied, his gaze thoughtful. “When I’m on screen, I’m not just playing a role. I’m living it, breathing it, feeling it. And I think that comes across, that emotional truth that people can connect with on a deeper level.”

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