Bell fidgeted in the back seat of the car as it sped toward the VibeNation Magazine interview site. Her mind was a jumble of thoughts, spiraling with nerves. She had spent the last few minutes trying to watch as many of Vivica Winters' interviews as possible on her phone, hoping to get a grasp of Vivica's mannerisms, her way of speaking, and how she handled the media.
"Vivica was always so smooth, so confident," Bell muttered under her breath as she watched Vivica effortlessly charm her way through yet another interview on screen. She tried to mimic Vivica's tone, her smile, but it felt forced. "Who am I kidding? There's no way I can pull this off. But I guess at least I don't have to fake, just be natural Bell, all this attributes comes with the body."
As the car came to a halt, Bell took a deep breath and glanced at the script in her lap. She had gone over it at least three times by now, but the words were starting to blur together. Greeting everyone, smiling, making small talk—it all seemed manageable until the weight of the cameras and expectations crushed down on her again.
"Okay, just wing it. You're Vivica Winters now. Blend your style with hers. Make it your own," she whispered, gripping the edges of the script. "If I mess this up, it's not just Vivica's reputation on the line... it's mine too."
Bell stepped out of the car, heart pounding in her chest. The bustling energy around the VibeNation studio immediately made her feel out of place, but she plastered on a smile and greeted the crew as Vivica would—calm and confident, or at least she hoped it seemed that way.
The next few moments were a blur. She was ushered in, handed makeup touch-ups, and briefed on the flow of the interview. All the while, Bell's nerves simmered beneath the surface. When the cameras started rolling and she was seated across from the interviewer, the pressure skyrocketed.
Her palms began to sweat as the first question was thrown her way. For a moment, she blanked, her mind going silent. Panic rose, threatening to overtake her, but she quickly reminded herself, Wing it. Keep it cool.
She took a steadying breath and devidr to answer, blending a bit of her own honest, down-to-earth demeanor with the flair and charm that Vivica was known for.
Bell settled into the plush interview chair, her nerves still simmering beneath her polished exterior. The lights were bright, and she could feel the cameras trained on her, capturing every move. The interviewer, a sharp-dressed woman with a friendly smile, leaned forward, clearly ready to begin.
"Vivica, it's such a pleasure to have you with us today. Your fans are always eager to hear from you. You've had such a massive year—so many projects, awards, and of course, your latest album. How does it feel to be on top of the world right now?"
Bell swallowed hard. Her mind scrambled for the right answer, but nothing came to her immediately. She forced a smile, feeling the seconds tick by. Okay, Vivica's style... confident, a bit playful.
"It's... surreal, honestly," Bell started, her voice just a little too shaky. She quickly cleared her throat, trying to recover. "But also, it feels like all the hard work is paying off. I've been so focused on my music and connecting with my fans, and seeing that connection grow—it's incredible."
The interviewer nodded, seemingly satisfied with her answer. Bell breathed a silent sigh of relief. Okay, that wasn't too bad.
"Speaking of your music," the interviewer continued, "your latest single has really resonated with so many people, especially with its empowering message. Can you tell us a bit about the inspiration behind it?"
Bell blinked. She hadn't even heard Vivica's latest single, let alone knew what inspired it. Her mind raced, trying to think of something that sounded meaningful, something Vivica might say.
"Well, I think... you know, we all go through struggles," she began, cautiously. "And I wanted to create something that speaks to that journey—about overcoming, finding your inner strength, and... not giving up."
The interviewer smiled warmly, buying her response. But Bell's heart was pounding. I barely know what I'm talking about!
"That's beautiful," the interviewer said. "It really comes through in your performance. Now, shifting gears a bit—you're known for being not just an incredible singer, but also a fashion icon. You have this unique ability to blend trends with your own personal style. What's your approach to fashion?"
Bell almost froze. Fashion? I don't even know what Vivica wears! She forced a smile again, trying to recall anything from the interviews she'd watched earlier.
"I think... fashion is all about expression," she said slowly, carefully. "It's about showing who you are on the inside through what you wear. I love experimenting and trying new things, but I always make sure it feels like me."
The interviewer laughed. "Well, you definitely know how to make a statement! Last week's red carpet look had everyone talking. Bold choice!"
What red carpet look?! Bell thought frantically, but she just smiled and nodded, hoping it wasn't obvious how lost she felt.
As the interview went on, the questions kept coming—some easy, some harder to navigate. Bell almost stumbled more than once, but she managed to hold it together, answering just carefully enough to avoid disaster.
The interviewer seemed pleased, but Bell knew that it had been a close call. Keep it together, Bell. Just a few more questions.
"Before we wrap up," the interviewer leaned in with a curious expression, "what's next for Vivica Winters? Your fans are dying to know—can we expect more music? Maybe even an acting role in the future?"
Bell froze for a moment. Acting? She knew next to nothing about whether Vivica had plans in that area. But then, an idea struck her. What about dancing? That was her passion, her true dream. Maybe she could carve out a bit of herself in this life, even if she wasn't living as Bell anymore.
She smiled, a bit more confident this time. "Well, acting might be on the horizon... sooner than any of us expect, actually. You know, I'm always exploring new opportunities. Music is close to my heart, " She paused, gauging the interviewer's reaction before continuing, "But for now, I'm really focusing on something I realized is closer to my heart—dancing but I'm open to whatever the future brings. I like to keep my fans on their toes."
The interviewer's eyebrows shot up. "Dancing? That's exciting! We haven't seen much of that side of you before."
Bell nodded, feeling a small sense of triumph. Even if I'm living as Vivica Winters, I'm still going to chase my own dreams. And I'll make them bigger than ever.
"Yes," Bell continued, her voice a little stronger now. "Dancing is something I've always wanted to dive into more seriously, and I think it's time I let that part of me shine. Of course, music is still a big focus, but dancing is definitely on the list. I mean what's singing without dancing. Who knows? Maybe you'll see me performing in a whole new way soon."
The interviewer grinned. "That sounds like something your fans are going to love. We'll be looking forward to it!"
Bell smiled back, inwardly steeling herself. This is my shot. She had managed to sprinkle a bit of her old self into Vivica's world, and no matter what, she was going to make sure her dreams didn't die just because her body had changed.
The interviewer smiled standing up to wrap up the session. "Well, we can't wait to see what's next. Thank you so much for being here today, Vivica."
Bell let out a breath she didn't realize she had been holding. She had done it. Barely, but she had made it through. As the cameras shut off and the lights dimmed, she allowed herself a small, shaky smile. It wasn't perfect, but she hadn't blown it.