8. Rocco

Rocco read the article in a Muse magazine after his phone blew up from the numerous text messages saying he do so. Then he read it again. And again. In disbelief.

This unknown journalist had the audacity to disgrace his name and question his upbringing. He was embarrassed; humiliated. Angry was an understatement.

Gripping the magazine with fury, he threw it as hard as he could against the wall. It seemed like, lately, his face landed on the cover of every magazine and was attached to the worst headlines imaginable.

Rocco Jet is an entitled 22-year-old partygoer whose life had been filled with chaos since the day he was born. With two immature parents that the press coined "Hollywood's Power Couple" decades ago, Rocco hadn't ever experienced normalcy. Beneath the surface and behind the pretty picture that captured the perfect family was a rocky marriage, his mother's multiple DUIs, and his father's addiction to drugs and alcohol. By the age of seventeen, he was emancipated. He divorced his parents when they did each other despite still living off their fortune. Remaining close to his father who had gotten clean since, Rocco often seeks music advice in hopes of one day having the courage to sit down and record his songs. Being young, negligent, and unattached, he often escapes the pressure to be like his famous parents by staying busy. He's the wild child the world expected him to be one day and he hated himself for it.

He ran his fingers through his light brown hair. Surfing for hours in the sun had turned some strands blonde. There was a knock at his front door just as he lit a cigarette.

He wasn't expecting to see Beau. He wasn't expecting to see anyone. It was still morning.

Thankful last night's hookup left thirty minutes prior, Rocco, who was still naked underneath his satin robe, opened the door.

"So, you're ignoring me?" Beau, who dropped-in, unexpectedly, asked with a smirk.

Rocco moved aside so he could enter, still pissed.

Walking to the back patio to smoke, he said, "I left my phone upstairs. Were you in the neighborhood?"

When they were outside, Beau, who bummed a smoke from him, saw the magazine on the floor. The same one V bought yesterday and tossed onto the coffee table after skimming through it.

"No, I wasn't in the neighborhood." Beau chuckled to himself. "I came over to make sure you were up. You have to be there in two hours. You know how traffic is. I hope you're not going looking like that." He took a long drag. V couldn't stand it when he smoked.

"Why do you want me to be a part of this stupid fucking show so bad? It's going to turn to shit." He was being negative.

"It won't. You're overthinking."

Rocco didn't respond.

"What's the worst that could happen? They film you partying. They film us having a normal conversation. A brief hookup is aired. I mean...are you worried people are going to see what they already know?"

He flicked his butt that landed near a lemon tree.

"I'm done with the media portraying me to be someone I'm not."

Beau sarcastically giggled again at his ignorance. "Dude, you do it yourself. The truth hurts, I know. Maybe this is your chance to prove people wrong. Show them another side of you."

Audition:

He slouched to show he was unapologetically careless. His ripped jeans showcased part of his plaid boxers. His t-shirt looked to be one size too big. Aviators rested on the bridge of his nose, barely revealing a slice of his eyes.

The panel looked at him with intrigue.

He waited to begin. Joanna thought he was acting childish.

"Do you always look like you're the only one you care about?" Freddie asked nonchalantly.

"Excuse me?"

"Pardon me. What I meant to ask is are you sure this is something you want to do? Because you act like you're forced to be here. There's no turning back once you sign the contract. We own you for the next three months. You're not obligated to do this. Just so you know." Freddie said while tapping his pen on the table, serious.

Rocco was blank; emotionless; a question mark. His personality reminded Joanna of Bryson.

She said, "There's more to your story. I can see right through this disguise you put on for the public."

"Is that right?" He was self-righteous. Could she really see right through him? He continued. "Just don't put me in the same room with her."

Freddie knew exactly who he was referring to. "It'd be impossible to not have you two be together at some point during filming. If that doesn't work for you, then you may have to pass. I mean, we already have enough people casted."

He sat up and remembered what Beau said to him earlier.

"I think you need me."

Freddie chuckled at his arrogance. "I want you on the show. I don't need you on the show. Don't get confused, kid. You're either in or you're out. What's it gonna be?"

"I'm here, aren't I?"