Midnight In Toronto
The Stranger Who Hated Famous People
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Kai Brooks, 26 — A famous Toronto rapper. Confident in public, but private and emotionally guarded. He lives in a luxury penthouse and has trouble trusting people.
Adrian “Ari” Lewis, 24 — A talented photographer and art student. Quiet, sarcastic, independent, and completely unimpressed by celebrity status.
Jay — Kai’s best friend and manager. Protective and usually the voice of reason.
Noah — Ari’s best friend, who knows Ari is secretly attracted to Kai before Ari admits it himself
Rain covered the streets of downtown Toronto, turning the city lights into blurry reflections across the pavement
Inside a small art gallery, Adrian Lewis stood beneath a spotlight, staring proudly at his photographs
He was twenty-four, dressed simply in black jeans and a dark sweater. His camera hung around his neck
Across the room, his best friend Noah smiled
Noah
You know, you could actually smile. Your exhibition is going really well
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I’m smiling
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(rolled his eyes)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I’m surrounded by rich people pretending they understand photography. I’m allowed to look miserable
Then the gallery doors suddenly opened
A tall man wearing a black jacket, baseball cap, and expensive watch walked inside
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(immediately recognised him)
Noah
Oh my God. That’s Kai Brooks
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I know who he is
Noah
He’s literally standing ten feet away
Kai walked through the gallery with his manager, Jay
He stopped in front of Adrian’s favorite photograph
Kai Brooks
This one’s good
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(looked at him)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
No. A ghost did
Kai Brooks
(raised an eyebrow)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You’re famous. We all have our problems
But then someone accidentally bumped into him
Kai Brooks
(stepped backward)
Kai Brooks
(shoulder hit a display stand)
The entire gallery went silent
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(stared at the broken frame)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You have got to be kidding me
Kai Brooks
(expression changed)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(walked toward the shattered frame)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You just destroyed my favorite photograph
Kai Brooks
(looked at him)
For the first time that night, the famous rapper didn’t know what to say
Kai Brooks
I’ll replace it
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(shook his head)
Kai Brooks
(watched him walk away)
And somehow, instead of being angry…
Kai Brooks
Find out who he is
Jay
(looked at him suspiciously)
Kai Brooks
(smiled faintly)
Kai Brooks
I don’t know yet
The Apology
The next morning, Adrian stood outside the gallery with a coffee in his hand
The broken photograph was still bothering him
Noah
You know what you should do?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Ignore whatever you’re about to say
Noah
Let Kai Brooks buy you a new frame
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Absolutely not
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Because I don’t need a celebrity’s money
A black SUV suddenly stopped beside them
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(frowned)
(nearly dropped his coffee)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You’re joking
Kai Brooks
(approached him)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Do you normally appear outside people’s workplaces?
Kai Brooks
Only when I owe them an apology
Kai Brooks
(held out a small box)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(looked at it)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
What’s that?
Kai Brooks
A replacement frame
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(didn’t take it)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I told you. You can’t replace it
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(looked surprised)
Kai Brooks
So I didn’t replace the photograph
Kai Brooks
(opened the box)
Inside was a beautiful handmade frame
Kai Brooks
I found someone who makes these. I thought maybe you could use it for another photograph
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(stared at him)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(anger softened slightly)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You actually thought about this?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(looked away)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You didn’t have to
For a moment, neither spoke
Noah quietly stepped backward
Noah
I’m going to… disappear
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(ignored him)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
So what now?
Kai Brooks
You forgive me?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Not yet
He started walking back toward the SUV
Kai Brooks
Coffee sometime?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(blinked)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Are you asking me on a date?
Kai Brooks
I’m asking you for coffee
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
That’s what people call dates when they’re scared
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(hesitated)
Kai Brooks
(got into the SUV)
As it drove away, Noah appeared beside Adrian
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I absolutely do not
Adrian watched the SUV disappear into traffic
Coffee at Midnight
The following evening, Adrian waited inside a quiet café near Queen Street
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
He’s late
Kai Brooks
(walked inside)
He sat across from Adrian
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You’re two minutes early
Kai Brooks
Good. I wanted to impress you
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(laughed)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You’re ridiculous
A waiter brought their drinks
For the first few minutes, they talked about ordinary things
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
What’s wrong?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
You’re staring at your coffee like it betrayed you
Kai Brooks
(laughed softly)
Kai Brooks
Sometimes I forget what it’s like to talk to someone who doesn’t want something from me
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(expression softened)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
I don’t want anything from you
Kai Brooks
(looked directly into his eyes)
Kai Brooks
Because you yelled at me when I broke your picture
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(laughed)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
So that’s your test?
Silence settled between them.
It felt strangely intimate
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Can I ask you something?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Are you actually happy?
Kai Brooks
(smile disappeared)
He looked toward the rain-covered window
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(waited)
Kai Brooks
Everyone thinks having everything means you’re happy
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
And you?
Kai Brooks
(looked back at him)
Kai Brooks
Sometimes I feel like I have everything except someone I can come home to
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(heart skipped)
He quickly looked down at his coffee
Hours passed without either noticing
Eventually, Adrian looked at the clock
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
It’s almost three
Kai Brooks
(stared at him)
Kai Brooks
I haven’t talked to someone this long without wanting to leave
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(raised an eyebrow)
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
Was that supposed to be romantic?
Kai Brooks
I’m working on it
They walked outside together
Kai Brooks
(looked at Adrian)
Kai Brooks
Can I see you again?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(smiled)
Kai Brooks
(stepped closer)
For one dangerous second, their eyes dropped to each other’s lips
Kai Brooks
(expression suddenly changed)
Kai Brooks
What do you mean they’re here?
Adrian Lewis (Ari)
(frowned)
Kai Brooks
(looked toward the street)
Three photographers were standing across the road.
Cameras pointed directly at them
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