Don’t Stop Trying to Find Me

Ben tapped on his phone nervously, almost rushing to get into it. Maybe it was it, maybe it wasn't, but this producer had been so insistent. Maybe that was how he'd find Rey, in this romance project that went against all of his work principles. She could be a new actress, cast into her first major role, or a girl in the makeup department finally having the opportunity to live and have friends and a family.

How was her life now? What did she do when he was gone? Ben hoped so much she was happy now, that her new life was better than the previous one. Her parents, they should be alive, right? Rey deserved to have them alive. That would make her happy. He could see her smile when he closed his eyes, after coming back to life in his hands. The way she said his name would live in his memory forever.

"Gwendolyn Phasma," his agent answered.

"I want to read the script," he announced. "And meet the team. And then I will decide if I'll be a part of the trilogy."

There was silence on the other side of the line, and he waited until his agent finally answered.

"Hello, Ben. I'm glad you're able to talk to me right now," Phasma said, sarcastically. "You were talking about…"

"The romance film, Phasma," he insisted. "I will read it and meet the team, I want to know what it is about. Then I'll decide if I want to be a part of it."

She sighed on the other side.

"I would say they would never let it happen, but, honestly, that team is surprising me more and more every day," Phasma pointed out. "I'll email them and let you know."

"Thank you. I'll talk to you later."

"Later, Solo."

He put his phone aside, driving home with impatience. Ben barely kicked off his shoes before he was in his studio, browsing his computer and finding the songs he'd had written and perfected over the years, Rey's song, his song and their song. He had it all done, all waiting for her to listen to them.

He pretty much pounced on his phone when it rang again, jittery and anxious for an answer.

"Yes?"

"It's Phasma," his agent announced as if he didn't know her voice already after five years working together. "Open your door, the poor assistant has more to do than to wait for your kindness."

He stood up, quick to comply and stride to his flat's front door.

"You are to be in the set tomorrow at five-thirty," she continued. "Don't be too grumpy, they have coffee, bagels, doughnuts and fruits and you're free to eat too."

He didn't complain, even though the hour wasn't his favourite, and when he opened the door, and he thanked the red-haired girl holding the thick script in her hands silently before taking it, quickly reading the NDA in her hands and signing it before letting the girl leave, and sitting down on his couch.

"Thank you, Phasma," he said to his phone.

"You're welcome."

Ben sighed, preparing himself for the reading, but stopped with a frown, froze in his place when his eyes met the notes he was supposed to read before everything else. Rey Palpatine.

Rey Palpatine.

'Across the Stars: The Force Awakens ' was Co-produced, co-written and co-directed by Rey Palpatine.

"Rey!" Rose strode behind her. "You can't tell me you're going to push further with this insanity."

No one in the set gave them more than a glance while the two walked around. Rey and Rose discussing over Rey's choices as lead of their project was not a new thing. After studios refused to give her full creative control of the story if she signed up with them, she had decided to gather her own group of people and produce a massive trilogy on her own, something both uncommon and dangerous, but she didn't care. This had to be perfect. Rey knew this whole story, from where it truly began to how it would sadly end, and every feeling in between. She'd seen it with her own eyes every time she fell asleep, and she would give everything to make this perfect now that she had the means to.

"Well, I wasn't going to tell you," she said simply, stopping in front of the coffee station. "The Rey, please."

The hired barista just nodded, walking to prepare the drink. She was pretty sure other sets didn't have their own barista, but her set was different, it was special. After inheriting more billions of dollars than she ever needed after the death of a grandfather who always kept her at bay - Sheev Palpatine was her only living relative, but she was glad she had never met him more than twice -, she had enough money to finance her trilogy without a problem, even if it was a financial failure.

"You could always call it the crazy author," her friend and co-director pinched the bridge of her nose, frustrated. "Rey, I'm loving what you're doing here. The story is great, and the costumes, and the special effects, but if you don't think the pay check Ben Solo asked foe is absurd, then I have to put my foot down, because it is. No one in the industry would pay this much for a fucking composer. Armitage Hux has won two Oscars and isn't this expensive."

"I will," she said simply. "It has to be him."

This trilogy was much more than just her ideas running wild. No. Her whole life, Rey had been haunted by dreams where she was more than who she was today, where she wasn't alone. She was a Jedi Knight, with a lightsaber and a goal of saving the other half of her soul. She watched herself meet him, battle him, save him and lose him, unable to do anything to change it. That man's name was Ben Solo, son of General Leia Organa and space Pirate Han Solo. Rey knew that she needed to meet this composer the moment she found out his name, she needed to see his face, because he could be her Ben Solo.

"Why?" Rose insisted.

Her friend knew about her dreams. She knew about Ben and the Force, and things that would play in the film, and never went against her firm belief they were real, although she doubted her best friend even believed her.

"He's Ben Solo ," she stared into her brown eyes.

Slowly, comprehension filled her face.

"Oh, Rey," she sighed, reaching out and taking one of her hands. "You can't tell me you're hoping this is the Ben Solo. So many people must have that name!"

"I need to at least see him. Rose," Rey affirmed. "Even if it is to realise he is not the right Ben. I have to see him."

"You could have looked him up on social media!" Rose pointed out.

"I tried," she defended herself. "But all of his profiles are private, his LinkedIn doesn't have a profile picture, and he is the only one in his agent's website without a picture."

"Well, have you tried his university yearbook?" she asked, though her words were dripping with sarcasm.

"That would be borderline stalking."

Rose's eyes widened.

"And harassing his agent to get him to work with us after he refused four times is what? Flirting?"

Rey sighed, thanking the barista when she came with her drink.

"You don't understand."

"No. No, I don't."

Rey just fished her money belt for her silicone straw, drinking from her cold sweet drink and continuing her way to where everyone was finishing debriefing for the day. She and Rose were often one of the latest to leave set every day, and earliest to arrive. It wasn't good for their sleep schedules, but it was certainly something that was bringing them success in the production.

"Miss Tico," Zorii, her friend's assistant rushed to her friend, who was just a few steps behind her. "Miss Tico, Miss Phasma has just called me."

Rey's eyes widened, and she ran to their side before she was even called. Gwendolyn Phasma was Ben Solo's agent. He had answered them once again.

"Well?" she pressed the young girl. "What did she want?"

"Mister Solo is requesting a copy of our script along with a visit to the set," Zorii listed. "Then he'll decide if he wants to be a part of the project."

Rose closed her eyes, sighing in frustration, and then looked at Rey.

"Well?"

"Alright," she agreed. "Tell our lawyers to get an NDA for him and ask Cooper to get a copy of the script with our notes. Do you think you can get that done in less than half an hour?"

The younger woman stared her for a moment, but nodded shyly.

"I think so, ma'am."

"Thank you."

Zorii left once again, and Rose turned to Rey with an expression she couldn't quite name on her face.

"You got what you wanted," she noted. "Let's see how it goes now."