As soon as he got out of the car aered, he was warmly weled. It seemed they weren't expeg Billy's attendail tomorrow m.

  -Well, I had the time, - Billy said.

  -e on, kid, you have to give interviews. Oh, by the way, this is the Stargate poster. Don't you find it beautiful? I have some copies for you to take home, - Nigel said, patting Billy on the back.

  He entered what seemed to be a room with three wooden chairs. Mi was sitting there, wearing dark bck lipstick that beautifully trasted with her messy bck hair, giving her a daring look. They smiled at each other as they ehe set. She was giving an interview, narrating how she worked as a waitress in a restaurant, and a man spotted her, leading to a six-month-loion process for the character Sha're.

  -I was w in a restaurant in New York to earn money for school. I'm in my sed year. I worked there for three weeks, and then one day, my manager, who was also the restaurant's manager, came to my table. She was a t, but I didn't know who she was. A er approached the table ahe specials. Suddenly, she said, 'e to my office.' She told me, 'I noticed that the role of Sha're hasn't been cast yet. I mean, I know they've been looking firls.' So, she sent my tape to Ronald, along with many other things I had done in Israel. She received a call from him, saying he wanted me right away. 'Tomorrow, you have to travel for filming.' I hours, I was on a po Arizona, - Mi said.

  -Thank you, dear. Let's take a break, and we'll ask you more questions ter, - said the interviewer.

  -Yes, - Mi took a deep breath after her lengthy speed life story that left her somewhat distented. She walked over and hugged Billy tightly, almost like a reunion.

  -What time did you arrive? - Mi asked.

  -Early in the m. I was auditioning, and, well, I had time, so I came to work, - Billy said.

  Mi noticed the gnces of other people and took Billy to the actors' dressing room. There were only two people inside, and when Billy and Mi entered ughing, ag like an awkward third wheel, they decided to leave, resembling a pair of young lovers. The subtle slips inspired that strange and blind air that isn't only seeween colleagues.

  -Hoaris? I hope you celebrated your birthday properly, - Billy asked.

  -Everything was fantastic, more than fantastic, like a fttering illusion, - Mi said, with hidden meaning in her words. They reminisced about their preferences and shared their ret days. It wasn't love; it was friendship. But these friendships always get fused, and Mi, although experienced, with a heart as light as the fine droplets trig through the leaves of trees after a drizzle, hasn't lived in the excesses typical of the profession, preserving that unpreted and strengthening innoce.

  -I envy such happiness. I'd like to take a break for winter, go somewhere else, and disappear from the world. A pce where phones and cameras are forbidden, where silence is the norm, and only the words of the people I care about are with me, - Billy said, lying down on Mi's legs, while she fondly stroked his head, iwining her fingers in his easy features.

  -Sounds fun, - Mi said.

  -Since I ehis world, I've bee ambitious and have strong goals I want to achieve at all costs. I 't deny the strong feeling that embraces me when I aplish my goals. However, there are times when I'd like to hide under a rod wait a few months for the memory of my o fade, letting other stars take their pce - Billy said.

  A sound at the door interrupted their reverie. - I think we should do our job - Mi said.

  -One sed, - Billy said, closing his eyes and sighing.

  Mi was back at her podding. The hirty seds were slow as a snail's pace but fast in distance. Physicists may know more about retivity, but the moment ecial, in su ephemeral pursuit that the assistant at the door only stopped to fix his shirt. And here was the protagonist of the series, initially tered on Kurt by Ronald Emmerich, but there was the one who had captivated the studio with his performance.

  -So, where do we have to go? - Billy asked.

  -Miss Mi already knows. We decided to modify the pn a bit, and now you two will have a joint interview, - the assistant said.

  -Try not to bite your tongue, - Billy joked with Mi, referring to their ongoing pyful challenge about who would perform better iain ses, as requested by Kurt. This had been Nigel's idea, reyed by Ronald. Billy's retionship with Kurt had signifitly improved, and now, being together, they had fed a strong friendship.

  -Oh, you, sir, - Mi said, feigning offense.

  Ierview, everything was arranged but unfortable, given the numerous people around the studio. Mi took a deep breath, battling stage fright. Being in the spotlight was different from ag.

  -Good afternoon, Cra, - Mi said.

  -Miss Mili, Mr. Bill, - Cra greeted, a woman with sparkling red-dyed hair styled in '80s fashion, wearing a formal women's suit. Billy could only focus oiny eyes hidden behind the gsses frames.

  -A pleasure, - Billy said in his business mode, a big smile, showing his teeth, eyes wide open, and a crossed posture. One haed on his leg, the other open—a businessman's training, distinct from Mi's modest posture. She didn't cross her legs and just sat with a small smile, a trast to Billy's demeanor.

  -Now that we're gathered, we have a question that many people are seeking an ao—the enviable chemistry between you two o. Are you in a retionship? - Cra asked, spig things up from the start.

  Mi's flushed cheeks vibrantly expressed more than an excuse. - I'd be lucky to date such a beautiful woman as Mili Avital, but we are friends and have a very good friendship. -

  -What do you think, Miss Mili? - Cra asked.

  -Friends. We're friends. We're more than just colleagues; we're petitors. Billy is always challenging me o with his excellent performances. It's natural, and that's why I decre him my rival, - Mili Avital said.

  -Mi tends to be petitive, - Billy added.

  -If you were to invite Mili out, Billy, where would you take her? - Cra asked.

  Billy raised an eyebrow, and looked at Nigel, who could only give a thumbs up. Ah, publicity, Billy thought. -To the amusement park. Mi hasn't had the ce to visit one, and, well, there should always be a first time, - Billy said.

  -A, - Mi excimed, remembering that she mentiohat a month ago. She didn't think he remembered.

  -I think what we should do is py a game of questions. What do you think if we py charades on the bnk board? You have two squares; iop one, you'll write your answer, and itom one, you'll write what you think the other person answered, - Cra suggested.

  Both nodded with their boards and markers in hand. As Billy covered the board, Mi let out an indignant groan. -You must know I'll be the winner, - Billy said.

  -Oh, incredible, you're such a child, - Mi said.

  Cra smiled; the chemistry was evident and would likely appeal to the audience. - What is your favorite food? - Cra asked.

  Billy wrote down grilled meat and shakshuka.

  -Looks like you failed again, Billy, - Mi said, seeing Billy's note, and ughing untrolbly.

  -How is it possible? You wrote green, - Billy said.

  -No, it says emerald green, there's a difference, - Mi said.

  -Point for Mi, - Cra said, pying along with the girl who had used the rules to her advantage.

  Billy lost the question too, as Mi's favorite travel destination was Egypt, not Paris. But she guessed Spain, and for the fourth question—favorite animal—Billy wrote cats and kittens.

  Mi surprised him again by getting Billy's answer right—lions. - Lions be kittens, -Mi chuckled, reveling in Billy's defeat.

  -There's a spiracy, - Billy said, determinedly poking Mi's nose gently while she wrinkled hers.

  -It only be because you're not good, - Mi said, shrugging.

  Billy lost the following questions, getting swept uhe rug at 6-0. Mi won, perf a victory dance. Billy could only smile at his defeat. The interview tinued, navigating the tensioed by the interviewer.

  Two more interviews followed with some crew members, individually. Billy walked to his car and was stopped by Mili.

  -Invite me to dinner?" -Mi said.

  Billy was surprised by her audacity, the way she ordered him to eat. Still, he smiled at Mi's charming grin.

  -Let's go for pizza. After all, it's your favorite food, -Billy said. Mi just shook her head at Billy's evident jab.

  -Hahaha, I think I like lobster more now, - Mi said, smiling at Billy.

  ...