Complications
Chapter 1
By: Jessica M. Moonflower
E-mail: salud731@earthlink.net
Rated: PG-13

Timeline: Alternate Universe

Disclaimer: Standard disclaimer applies  

AN's: While I'm currently working on the revision for Love's 
Got a Hold on My Heart, here's another project I'm working 
on for your viewing pleasure. 


* * * * * * * 

	When will it end? 

	The impatient thought had settled itself in his mind for 
the past half hour. Smoldering midnight blue eyes tried to 
remain focused on the red head sitting across from him. Their 
eyes met briefly, and she smiled flirtatiously at him before 
turning her attention back on his talkative, yet annoying 
girlfriend, Robin. If the cameras weren't pointed at his face 
right now, he might have returned the talk show host's grin 
with a look of displeasure. Being Darien Kerrigan, however, 
did not allow him to express his emotions so freely on live 
television, especially on a gossipy talk show.  

	Newspapers and magazines all over the world called him 
the next hot actor to hit the Hollywood scene. His dark eyes and 
striking good looks made him a contender for heartthrob status 
next to Brad Pitt.

	Darien's rise to super stardom was an accident really. 
After a big time actor dropped out on director Harvey Johnson's 
multi-million dollar action thriller, a producer on the project 
mentioned Darien's name to Harvey. Desperate to find a replacement 
actor, Harvey took a chance on a relatively unknown actor with a 
few movie and television credits under his belt. 

	After the movie was released in theaters, it was well received 
by critics and moviegoers alike. The movie became a box office hit, 
and remained number one in theaters for three straight weeks. Famous 
directors saw Darien's potential as an actor, and began knocking 
on his door with movie offers. The name 'Darien Kerrigan' was on 
the lips of women everywhere, and they swooned at the sight of him. 
If Darien was an unknown before, he wasn't anymore.

	The fame and huge paycheck that came with it was overwhelming. 
Darien never expected to be famous, or a movie star. He only acted 
in the small roles he got for the sole purpose of paying his way 
through college. Darien liked the attention at first, like any other 
breakthrough actor would, but the excitement died out pretty quickly. 
He didn't realize how much he would miss keeping his life private 
until it no longer became his own. 

Paparazzi and tabloid reporters looked to take his picture, or dig 
up any dirt from his past every chance they got. They constantly 
kept tabs on every girl he was seen with, and were labeled his 'new 
girlfriend' instantly. Darien found it increasingly difficult to walk 
into a supermarket without being recognized by an admiring fan, asking 
for an autograph. Although he was flattered to have so many fans, 
being a hotshot movie actor wore him out. He loathed the media, and 
missed the quiet, simple life he once knew. 

Darien was always cautious of what he did in public, and went to 
great lengths to keep much of his personal life out of the papers 
and magazines. The pictures the paparazzi snapped in public was 
something he couldn't avoid, much less keep tabloid reporters from 
printing a picture of him and a platonic female friend from ending 
up on the front cover of their magazine. 

     "Robin, you must tell us if wedding bells will be ringing in 
the near future for you and Darien." 

The shameless talk show host was eagerly prodding the tall and leggy 
brunette beside her to confess all while adding a sly wink in Darien's 
direction.

After drowning out most of their frivolous girl talk, this question 
had Darien sitting upright in his chair and alert in a matter of 
seconds. The sly wink didn't go unnoticed either. His annoyance and 
aggravation towards the red head was quickly building up inside of 
him, and made every muscle in his body tense up.