The energy inside the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum was electric. A wave of cheers washed over the packed stadium as the athletes for the men's 200-meter final made their way to the starting blocks. Alex Hayes, sitting alongside Diane Lane and Robert Downey Jr., felt the collective anticipation thrumming through the crowd. Banners from nations around the world waved, and the air crackled with excitement.
"This is just incredible," Diane exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. "Being here, feeling this..."
Robert Downey Jr. was equally animated, bouncing slightly in his seat. "The Olympics! Pure adrenaline!"
As the camera operators scanned the stands, their lens briefly landed on Alex and Diane. The image flashed on the giant screens within the stadium, eliciting a fresh wave of murmurs and pointing fingers. Diane, currently enjoying the success of her leading role in the hit film 'The Karate Kid', waved with a bright smile.
A nearby announcer's voice echoed through the stadium speakers. "...and we have some familiar faces from the world of cinema joining us here today!"
Then, the focus shifted entirely to the track. The hush that fell before the race was palpable, a stark contrast to the earlier frenzy. The starting gun fired, and the crowd erupted. Carl Lewis surged forward, his powerful strides eating up the track. The roar intensified as he approached the finish line, a blur of motion. The scoreboard flashed {19.80} seconds.
The stadium exploded. People jumped to their feet, cheering, clapping, and whistling.
"He did it!" Diane yelled, grabbing Alex's arm in excitement. "He broke the Olympic record!"
"Unbelievable!" Alex agreed, caught up in the collective euphoria. "The speed, the power..."
Robert was on his feet, applauding vigorously. "That's what I'm talking about! Pure greatness!"
Turning to Alex, Diane asked, her voice still filled with the thrill of the race, "Can you imagine that kind of dedication? To train your whole life for a moment like that?"
Alex nodded, equally impressed. "It's inspiring, isn't it? The focus, the discipline... it's a different kind of performance than what we do, but the dedication to your craft... I can relate to that."
After the electrifying finish of the 200-meter final, the energy of the Coliseum began to subtly shift as people moved towards the exits. Alex, Diane, and Robert joined the flow, the echoes of the cheering crowd still ringing in their ears.
They made their way to a nearby, dimly lit restaurant, opting for the privacy of a secluded booth in the back. The change of atmosphere was immediate, the boisterous energy of the stadium replaced by a more intimate hum of conversation and clinking silverware.
Settling into the plush seats, Robert leaned back with a satisfied sigh. "Man, all that cheering works up an appetite."
Diane smiled, her earlier excitement still evident in her eyes. "That was incredible, though, wasn't it? Just being there."
Alex nodded in agreement. "Definitely. You could feel the history being made."
A waiter approached, and they ordered drinks and some appetizers. As they waited, the conversation turned more relaxed.
The waiter delivered their drinks and a plate of calamari. Robert immediately speared a ring with his fork. "Well, look at me," he said with a wry grin, gesturing between Alex and Diane. "Hanging out with two bonafide movie stars. Makes a lowly, relatively unknown actor feel quite special."
Alex chuckled, clinking his glass against Robert's. "Hey, man, everyone starts somewhere. You've got the talent; the world just hasn't caught on yet."
Diane smiled warmly at Robert. "That's right. It's only a matter of time, Robert."
"Yeah, a chance is all I need," Robert agreed, then looked at Alex with playful curiosity. "Think I'll be a big star someday? As big as you?"
Alex grinned, taking a sip of his cola. "Nah," he said, feigning seriousness. "Probably not."
Robert laughed. "Oh, you wound me, Hayes!" He then turned to Diane. "So, what's next for the 'Karate Kid' sensation?"
"Actually," Diane said, a hint of excitement in her voice, "I just signed on for a small part in Robert Zemeckis's new film. A science fiction thing."
Robert raised an eyebrow. "Oh yeah? What's that?"
"It's really just a tiny role, maybe five minutes of screen time," Diane explained. "But Alex actually recommended me for it."
Robert looked intrigued. "Oh? What's the name of this sci-fi flick?"
Alex leaned back in the booth. "'Back to the Future'."
Robert's eyes widened slightly. "'Back to the Future'? Sounds... interesting. Think it'll be a hit, Alex? Did your famous intuition kick in?" He added with a wink, "There's a rumor going around that the Alex Hayes seal of approval is a guaranteed box office smash."
Alex took another sip of his cola, a knowing look in his eyes. "Let's just say... I have a good feeling about it. It's got that... something."
Diane, who knew Alex had a knack for spotting promising projects, looked at him curiously. "Then why aren't you in it? I remember hearing that Universal approached you first. But you mentioned Michael J. Fox, who just joined CAA."
Alex nodded. "Yeah, Zemeckis, who directed me in '17 Again' a while back, did come and ask. But..." He trailed off, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm a bit exhausted, to be honest. And I also think... I can't do everything. If I keep going at this pace, I'll probably burn out. I need a bit of a break, and I need to learn to let go of some opportunities, even if it has the potential to be one of the biggest hits."
Diane and Robert exchanged surprised glances, both taken aback by Alex's seemingly nonchalant dismissal of a potentially massive project.
Just as the waiter placed a sizzling steak in front of Alex, he took a bite, savoring the flavor, and then looked up to see the surprised expressions on Diane and Robert's faces. He chewed thoughtfully for a moment before swallowing. "You know what the true sign of star status is?"
Diane and Robert exchanged a look, then turned their attention back to Alex, waiting for his answer.
"It's when one hit or one flop doesn't make a huge difference in your career," Alex stated, his tone matter-of-fact. He gestured slightly with his fork. "Same way, if I'm really on my way to being a star, just missing out on this one movie shouldn't really derail anything, right?"
They both considered his words as they continued their dinner, the conversation shifting to lighter topics, the lingering surprise slowly fading.
Later, after Robert had bid them farewell and driven off, Alex pulled up in front of Diane's apartment building. The engine idled quietly, and a comfortable silence settled between them.
Finally, Alex turned to her, a gentle knowing in his eyes. "Alright, get out with it, Diane? You've been trying to say something for the last week, haven't you, but the words just wouldn't come."
Diane looked at him, a flicker of surprise and a hint of sadness in her gaze. Still, no words left her lips.
Alex reached out, cupping her cheek softly with his hand. His thumb gently stroked her skin. "You're trying to break up with me, right?"
Diane's eyes widened in surprise. She had anticipated this conversation being much more difficult, filled with awkward explanations and perhaps even tears. Alex's directness took her aback.
"How... how did you know?" she asked softly, her voice barely a whisper.
A small, understanding smile touched Alex's lips. "Being an actor, especially trying to be a good one, means paying attention, Diane. I've been observant. And I noticed your struggle quite early on."
Alex gently pulled her into a hug, and Diane instinctively rested her head on his shoulder. The silence stretched, thick with unspoken feelings.
Finally, she spoke, her voice soft. "Do you realize we haven't actually seen each other in a month? Between me shooting 'The Karate Kid' and you with everything you've been doing..."
Alex nodded against her hair, a silent acknowledgment.
"All that time," she continued, "we talked on the phone. And I was happy to get your calls. But... there wasn't that urgency, that real longing to see you, to hold you. I always thought love should have that. I understand our jobs make things complicated, but there should still be that anticipation, that desire to be together. When I'm with you, I am happy. But even when we're apart, talking on the phone is... enough. There's no real ache to be closer. So, I think..."
"You think maybe we should be good friends instead of romantic partners," Alex finished gently, pulling back slightly to look into her eyes.
A small laugh escaped Diane. "God, it sounds so... cliché."
"Doesn't make it less true," Alex replied softly. "I'm attracted to you, Diane. I'm also attracted to other people. But you... you're one of the few people I genuinely like. The physical part, the sex... that's just icing. I enjoy your company more than that."
Diane looked at him, a warmth spreading in her chest. She leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. "Thank you, Alex. I don't want to lose a great friend."
"You won't," Alex assured her, a small smile gracing his lips.
As Diane turned and went into her apartment, Alex let out a quiet sigh. He started the car, a flicker of wistfulness in his eyes as he pulled away, hoping that one day he would find that special someone who sparked that undeniable longing.