Chapter 441
“I told him you’re taking your college entrance exams this year. Consider it your idol’s sincerest blessing p>
“And by the way, you should really try your best p>
“Now that I know Oakley, just imagine if he ever asks what university you got into. If it’s a bad one, I’d be embarrassed to answer p>
The thought of her idol caring about her grades instantly made Shirley tense up. She fidgeted and finally mumbled, “Then what am I supposed to do? My grades are
a mess. If I don’t make it, I’ll just pick a college somewhere close to home p>
“My mom doesn’t even have high hopes. She keeps telling me to dress nicely and find a decent husband. That’s her big plan p>
Claire had to laugh. Knowing Patti, that sounded exactly like something she’d say.
“If you’re not doing well, other families will weigh their options too p>
“It’s better to be outstanding on your own. That way, you get to choose, not just accept whatever comes your way p>
“If not, you’ll end up with some player, or worse, a guy who’s old, ugly, and probably totally out of shape p>
“And if he’s hiding some weird secret… things could get way worse p>
Shirley’s face changed completely. She pictured herself married off to some balding, pot-bellied old man, while Cindy ended up with someone like York and Claire had a hottie by her side. She’d look so pathetic in comparison.
And what if he turned out to be violent or had some dark obsession… Shirley shook her head quickly. “I’d better get serious and study, then p>
“Please tell my idol I’m going to aim for a top college, I promise p>
For the next few months, Shirley was determined to study so hard, no matter what, she’d improve her grades.
Claire couldn’t believe the power an idol could have on someone. In reality, Oakley was probably so busy he’d already forgotten all about Shirley, but Claire smiled and said, “Sure, I’ll let him know p>
Shirley came to pick Claire up from the airport and everything, even booking a nice place for them to eat. The two of them ended up hitting a seafood buffet. After eating all that good food, most of Claire’s exhaustion just melted away. They stayed there, talking and eating, for two straight hours.
At some point, Shirley started chatting about her online friend, Freda.
“She’s a fan of Oakley too. We’ve known each other for, like, two or three years now p>
“She’s super nice, and she recognized you herself, I swear I didn’t tell her anything about who you are p>
“She’s coming here soon, taking a little vacation. Do you want to meet her p>
Claire sighed. “We can grab a meal together, but that’s it.” She was only agreeing because it was Shirley asking.
The fact that Shirley hadn’t spilled
the secret about Claire being the one who saved Oakley was already a miracle Claire krew Shirley usually. couldn’t keep something this big to herself.
Shirley lit up immediately. “Yes! This is awesome p>
“Oh, and is my idol really okay? Like, is he actually not hurt? The internet keeps saying he’s disfigured and that he lost two jobs because of it.” Shirley looked truly worried, her whole face serious.
Claire glanced at her. “He’s not disfigured p>
“If those jobs dropped him, it just means they never really needed him in the first
place p>
“The
fement industry is a
feeding frenzy. There’s a lot
on,
So you really dont need
it content belongs to
going
worry
Shirley nodded and dropped it, at least for now. But she quickly remembered something else.
“Oh, by the way, who was it that took you to visit the set? I heard Oakley’s manager,
Karla, was with you p>
“Was it really her p>
“Karla’s kind of a legend. How do you even know her p>
Shirley looked super curious.
“Through my mom’s family,” Claire replied.
Shirley blinked, surprised, thinking about Octavia. How could Octavia possibly have
those kinds of connections?
A beat later, she caught on.
“Oh, you mean your birth mother’s side p>