Note: This story/main character is fictional, but takes from some real locations.
*
It was on just that street corner, in that particular section of London at just the right time of day that I saw her through the small crowd and the film crew. It was 2004, and I was in Britain on university study from the states, walking around during some free time after class. It was never on my agenda to come across a set for a Woody Allen movie, much less to see her, at that moment, of all things. Scarlett Johansson was sitting on a curb some feet from the camera, and they were getting ready to shoot one more take with her for the day.
I should've been excited just to see a movie shoot, which I probably was in the back of my mind. But seeing her absorbed me completely, without a moment lapsed of focus. She had long golden-blonde hair, a loose shirt that didn't do a thing to hide her incredible breasts, and a pair of pants that did even less to hide her fantastic legs. Her face was being dapped with a little make-up so I couldn't make out her whole face at first -- but when she was revealed my mouth fell open. Forget the movies I'd seen her in; from a block away her total glorious figure came to me so hard that I would have left everything in the world for her, right then, a heartbeat drop for whatever she could say.
In the shallowest way, I guess, I was smitten.
I stuck around while a scene was shot, something very brief, and then it was called a wrap for the day. Scarlett gave a quick hug to her director and tried her best to ward off the lot of autograph hounds coming at her from the small crowd of English twits in the area. I put my hand through my hair to make sure I looked alright (I was in relatively good shape then, good strong slightly muscle-build, 6'2, hazel eyes, curvy eyebrows, her same age), and was deliberate in my move -- as soon as everyone had left her and she was walking down the block, I took my one shot and walked up to her. I wasn't quite a stalker, but close.
"Hi, I am, um," I said, trying to find a word
"No more, thank you, I'm on my way to-"
"Maybe I could help you find it? I know the area well."
"You're American," she said. "Very nice. Glad to finally find another one." She laughed a little maybe out of nervousness. I did the same.
"Yeah, I'm in from the states too."
"Oh cool. Listen, if we don't move in a minute those 'blokes' will be after me non-stop, man." "Well, I know a little place just down the road off to the side, very small, quiet pub. No problem there." I was very cool now. Super cool. I could hear bad-ass music in my head.
"Ok, great. You're not a stalker, are you?"
"What?"
"Just teasing, I make sure to throw everyone off with that."
She smiled at what she said. Maybe she was tired, too, after a day's shoot.
"Well, I'll show you the way then."
"Great."
... Five minutes later we were sitting across from one another in the pub. Even with her make-up off she was absolutely a wonder. Perfect nose, subtle but perky lips, deep blue (not too-blue though) eyes and, now apparently, lipstick that she just applied while I was getting a couple of beers. At first I was hesitant to come in, thinking that I might be off-putting to her as another creep-fan type trying to get to "know the real Scarlett". Somehow, I guess, she didn't sense that, and asked if I would help her with some line readings from the Woody Allen movie.
Sitting down at the table I handed her a very tall pint of some ale. My eyes never averted hers.
"So, why would a nice girl like you want to do a line reading in a place like this?"
"Well, first off, Mr. Beer-Shirt," referring to my front shirt, now stained with beer. She giggled.
"Damn," I muttered, unbuttoning it as I sat down.
"Anyway, the scene takes place in a bar. Second and I know this might sound a little weird, but -- I don't like line reading with the guy I'm doing the scene with. Too... stuffy to really rehearse to. If I can do with just a total stranger, I'll get to hear more of my own voice, how I do in the scene, that kind of thing. Plus, I'm slightly tipsy in the scene."
"Sounds good. I should tell you I have no experience with it, except like drama class in high school, which wasn't fun."
"Uh-huh... Oh my god!"
"What, what now?"
"Your undershirt! You're a Tom Waits fan?"
She was referring to my slightly ratty Tom Waits Rain Dogs shirt. This was, of course, way before she put out her own album of Waits cover songs. "Oh, yeah, totally. I just bought Blood Money the other day and can't put it down."
"His songs are so amazing, such a great artist. Oh shit. I forgot to ask, what's your name?"
"Sydney."
"Nice, very nice..." She kept taking looks at my shirt as she drank her beer. She wasn't a lightweight with the beer, either, chugging it for a beat until putting it down and taking out two copies of the script. I could see her glancing from time to time at the rest of my body as well -- my biceps, my legs. I returned the glances in kind. I was also starting to get some sexier, dirtier images of her in my mind. I felt my cock twitch in my pants, but it went down for the moment as I drank some more beer and tried to focus on the script.