Actor in Hollywood

"Ah, ahhh! I did it, I finally did it on my own, haha, hahaha!" 

Brad Renfro shouted, his laughter breaking free, but soon the tears that followed his laughter wouldn't stop. Wiping them away furiously, he soon gave up, letting the tears fall unchecked. 

"Anson, can you believe it? I'm going to be working with Sandra Bullock, in a movie with a budget over fifty million, produced by Warner Bros."

"Oh, my God."

"You were right, Anson, you were absolutely right. It wasn't over, and it shouldn't be over. I should seize this opportunity and keep going with my acting career, right?"

"Dreams can still come true, right?"

From being a street kid abandoned by his parents, life, and society, Brad had soared to overnight fame in Hollywood, only to be cast back into the darkness before he could fully grasp his stardom. 

But Brad was only eighteen, the same age as Anson, yet in six short years, he had experienced highs and lows that many wouldn't encounter in a lifetime.

Perhaps Brad's peak didn't match the heights reached by Macaulay Culkin or Edward Furlong, but he had endured his own darkness and struggles. While Culkin and Furlong faded into obscurity, Brad had finally seen a glimmer of hope again.

Anson met Brad's gaze. "Everything is just beginning."

Brad paused, the words sinking in, before a smile slowly crept across his face. "Haha," he chuckled lightly, then laughed louder and with more joy, "Hahaha," the sound growing more vibrant with each breath.

Then, Brad glanced at Anson, then down at himself. "Anson, do you think I should lose weight?"

Anson burst into laughter. "You're only eighteen, and you don't weigh much. It's not about losing weight; it's about fitness, sculpting your body."

Compared to the boy who had stunned so many five years ago, Brad had indeed put on a little weight, though he wasn't overweight by any means. True weight gain could be seen in former child star Haley Joel Osment, who played in *The Sixth Sense*.

However, one thing was clear—

Brad had lost some of the spark he had as a child.

In *Murder by Numbers,* that spark would be crucial to his role.

Anson pondered for a moment. "Besides Sandra, do you know who else is in the cast?"

Ryan Gosling or Michael Pitt?

Brad nodded, "Ryan Gosling. He's the actor we saw at the party that night."

Anson raised his chin. "Oh, then you'd better start working out. His presence is more reserved and brooding. If you don't want him to overshadow you, you need to align yourself more closely with the character and the film's tone."

Brad fell into thoughtful silence—

Before Anson could say more, loud voices came from the direction of the front door.

"Is anyone home?"

"Anyone?"

"Is there nobody?"

"I need someone! Anyone!"

"Hello, I need someone to share the good news with."

"I got the role! I got the role of Spider-Man!"

"Hey, is anyone here?"

The voice practically shouted with excitement, filling the house with the announcement before Anson or Brad even had a chance to respond. It was as if the speaker couldn't hold back, spilling the news in a rush.

Anson and Brad exchanged glances, each reflecting a mix of surprise and amusement.

Brad's first instinct was to glance at Anson with concern. He knew that Anson had been competing with James Franco for the same role. Now that James had gotten the part, it meant...

Anson's expression mirrored the surprise but with a different twist. He wasn't shocked that James had landed the role; what surprised him was the possibility that James had been chosen as Peter Parker.

Could it be that the butterfly effect had led Brad to win his role in *Murder by Numbers* and had also caused James to be cast as Spider-Man instead of Harry Osborn?

There was a sense of regret, a pang of disappointment. Anson couldn't deny that he felt it.

But this was a fair competition. They had both done their best, and now it was time to face the outcome with grace. Anson was ready to congratulate James.

Noticing Brad's worried look, Anson smiled reassuringly, signaling that he was okay.

Then he called out toward the living room.

"Hey, Mr. James Franco, are you here to rub salt in my wounds? Come on, let's settle this with a fight! I'll even give you a head start with one hand tied behind my back."

Before he could even finish, laughter filled the air.

James Franco burst into the kitchen, hands on his hips, his face full of smug satisfaction. "It was a tough battle, but admit it—I'm just better looking than you."

Anson playfully waved his hand in front of his nose as if warding off a bad smell, then turned to Brad. "Do you smell that? I think someone just released a toxic gas."

Brad couldn't hold back his laughter, bursting out with a hearty laugh.

James didn't mind the teasing. "It's okay, I know you're all just jealous. Go ahead, take your shots—I can handle anything you throw at me."

James was a far cry from the despondent figure he had been in recent months. Despite his scruffy appearance, there was a brightness to him now, a renewed energy that came with this career-changing opportunity.

Brad finally addressed James. "Congratulations! So, you're finally starring in a blockbuster film. That means we now have two major movie leads in this house, including Hayden. What does that mean for us, Anson? Do you think we and Chris should start looking for new places to live?"

Anson shook his head with a grin. "No, no, no. This just means we should let James and Hayden cover the rent from now on."

James's eyes widened in shock, his jaw nearly dropping to the floor. He hadn't expected this twist. "Wait, wait, wait! I never said I was the lead. The only lead here is Hayden; I'm just a supporting actor."

Brad: ?

Anson: ?

If James wasn't the lead, what was all this fuss about?

James scratched his head, looking a bit sheepish. "I didn't get Peter Parker. My agent said they thought I was too handsome for the part, but they offered me the role of Harry Osborn instead. Second... no, third lead."

Harry Osborn?

So, history hadn't changed after all. James was still playing the role of the Green Goblin's son.

But if James wasn't Peter Parker, who was? Could it still be Tobey Maguire?

Anson's focus remained on James. "But this is still a huge opportunity. A hundred million-dollar investment, and Sony and Columbia are putting everything into this. Soon enough, we'll be watching you and Hayden's faces on every big screen across the country. Just make sure to keep your pores nice and tight."

Brad let out a loud laugh. "Hahaha."

Even James couldn't help but join in, laughing along with them.

Then Brad quickly changed the subject. "James, what about Anson? Any news?"

James shrugged lightly, his laughter fading as his expression grew more serious. "Sorry, buddy, I haven't heard anything about Peter Parker yet. My agent said there's still some debate over the role."

"But hey," James added quickly, "no news is good news, right? At least it means you're still in the running."

James tried to offer some comfort, but the way Brad kept raising his eyebrows and making faces suggested he thought James's attempts were just making things worse. 

They all knew the truth about auditions: no news often meant bad news, or worse, no news at all.

Anson was about to crack a joke to lighten the mood when the doorbell suddenly rang, interrupting his thoughts.

*Ding-dong!*

End of Chapter 1.