Chapter 1.1 - Beginnings at Bridgeport

Zephyr breathed in the fresh air of a new town, a new start. After her parents died in a car crash there was nothing left for her in Sunset Valley and so, seeking fame and fortune, she moved to the city of Bridgeport.

With a sigh of releif she watched the moving van trundle along the road and disappear out of sight and she turned to her new home.

Using her inheritence she bought a small house atop the hill, near the edge of Bridgeport with amazing views of the city. The small cottage wasn't much but there was room for development on the plot of land once she had earnt more money.

That's next on the agenda. She thought to herself.

Ever since she was a little girl it had always been her dream to become an actress, and now she hoped that this was finally her chance.

She called a taxi and hopped inside, heading towards the film studios.

 It took about an hour to get there, since the studios were on the other side of town to her home. Once she arrived she paid the driver and got out, heading towards where she hoped was the entrance.

As she looked up at the building in front of her she marvelled at its size, she had been expecting a place much smaller and a bubble of anxiousness took over her. Gulping it down she confidently strode forward.

Of course, she had nothing to worry about, she got the job and was to start work the next day.

As she arrived back home she smiled, seating herself at her keyboard and allowed her hands to flow across the keys. The movement seemed so natural to her now and she became emmersed in the music, allowing it to free her of any stress and worry.

As she headed to work the next day she decided she needed to get to know the celebrities in the town, connections is one of the best ways of becoming famous.

After work she headed down to a club called The Grind she'd heard some of her co-workers talking about. As she approached the building a glint of doubt entered her mind. The old, rotting walls and lack of much light was a little imposing, and the general appearance of the place was completely uninviting. Despite this she carried on hesitantly.

 

"Um...hi," she said as she approached the bartender, "it's quite quiet here, is it usually like this?"

He sighed, "not usually, it's usually ten times more popular here."

She looked over her shoulder at the few people at the club, all drinking or slouched in chairs.

"Do you want a drick of something?" he asked.

"Yes, please," Zephyr replied.

"Anything imparticular..." he encouraged.

"I don't know. Whatever you would suggest."

"Okay then, coming right up," he said with a grin, "one of my specials for a lovely lady."

She blushed at his compliment but smiled and murmured a small thanks.

As he passed the drink over she looked at the multicoloured liquid critically, giving it all little sniff before pursing her lips.

"It's not going to kill you," he said, "just drink it."

Hesitantly, she tipped the glass up and allowed the liquid to pour down her throat. She gasped, "this is amazing!"

He smiled in return, "why thank you."

Using my new-found energy she leapt onto the dancefloor and danced the night away, she might not have met any celebs, but she'd had her first taste of the Bridgeport nightlife, and she'd had a blast. 

The next day after she'd finished work she sat at home reading an incredibly boring book that her boss had insisted she read. She sighed, glancing out the window at the Bridgeport lights. With a determined smile she shut the book. It was time to try The Grind again for some celeb spotting.

Just as she was arriving at the club she spotted Reuban Littler, he was a barely known celeb but a celeb nonetheless. Nervously she approached him and introduced herself. Immedietly she regretted coming over to him, the way he was looking at her gave her the creeps.

"You're new to town, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I just moved here a couple of days ago," she answered.

"I thought so," he said simply.

"So..." she began, without even knowing how she was going to finish her sentance.

 

"Here's the deal babes, you're hot, I'm single, why don't we hook up?" he said in a flirtuous manner.

Zephyr stared at him in shock and was about to retort but he interupted her. 

"Come on, what do you say, hot stuff."

"Get away from me, you creep!" she exclaimed, recoiling from him.

"What did I say?" 

"I think you should stay away from me," she said sternly. 

"Fine," he muttered and stalked away and she heard him utter some curses about her.

She stared at his retreting back in disgust before turning back to the rest of the club to find one of the most attractive men she had ever seen standing in front of her. His sweep of ginger hair was shiny and silky smooth, his dark green eyes looking at her with sadness but also hope and hapiness. 

Then she noticed the suit he was wearing, she had to admit he looked dashing in it, despite how odd it looked in the dance club environment. 

"You should watch out for him, he has a bad reputation," he said with a slight smirk.

"I...you...what...who..." she stuttered then realised what he was talking about, "oh yeah, right, I had it handled."

"Of course you did."

"I did," she insisted.

"Well, I got your back if he tries something again," he said with a serious expression.

"Um...yeah...thanks," she replied.

"I'm Jace, Jace Knight, by the way," he said.

Even his name is hot...she thought...snap out of it!

"I'm Zephyr," she said, "Zephyr Calloway."

"That's a beautiful name," he smiled.

"Thanks," she replied.

There was a breif moment of awkward silence between them.

"How'd you fancy a dance?" he asked.

"Sure," she replied, "I don't see why not."

 For some reason that she couldn't explain, Zephyr found herself attracted to Jace's old fashioned charm and beautiful smile. But before she knew it, the night was over, and they needed to part their seperate ways. 

"I really enjoyed tonight," Jace admitted.

"So did I," she agreed, causing him to smile.

"We should meet up again some time," he suggested.

"I would love that!" she exclaimed happily.

"Great," he said, "come here, I'll give you my number."

He dug around his pockets and pulled out a pen, taking her hand he scribbled his number on the back of her hand then put it away.

"Don't you want my number?" she asked.

"Nah, I'll just have to trust you'll ring me," he said, "see you soon."

"Yeah...bye..."

 

She looked over her shoulder as he left and smiled down at the scrawl of numbers written on her hand. She knew she would definetely be rining his number.

The next day Zephyr did as promised and picked up the phone, pressing the numbers on her hand that were now fading and only just visible. She waited nervously as she heard the phone ring...two times...three times...four times...

She chewed her lip nervously. Maybe he wouldn't pick up.

Just then the ringing stopped and she heard Jace's voice on the other end of the line, "hello?"

"Hi, it's me, Zephyr," she said.

"Heya! You rang! I'm so relieved you did."

"You didn't think I would?" she teased.

"I knew you would all along," he said and she could imagine him smiling on the other end of the phone.

 

"I was thinking we should meet up some time next weekend, Friday maybe," he suggested.

"Sounds good, I should be able to..."

"I'll ring on Thursday to see where you want to go. And if you can of course," he said, "I have your number now, haha."

"Sure thing," she said, barely containing the large grin from spreading across her face.

"Bye then!"

"Yeah, bye!" she replied.

She hung up and put the phone down, smiling with hapiness. Life in Bridgeport just got even better. 

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So, hope you liked this first chapter. Not sure how often I'll be updating what with school work and stuff. Once a week hopefully. *crosses fingers*

Thanks for reading! :D