The new house built next to yours had been vacant for quite a while after its establishment. Your parents often wondered when someone would finally move in, and even when it happened, they kept you in the dark. All you knew was that a lot of people would drive or walk by with cameras. You wondered if it was because the tenant was a criminal or a celebrity. You weren’t sure which one you preferred.

In reality, it was none other than Hugh Jackman, recently divorced and looking for a change of scenery. A community. Your father, the man who gifted you the obsession with the X-Men franchise, was keeping this a secret from you. He knew you were obsessed with the actor, and he wasn’t looking forward to you embarrassing him. So the friendship he and your mother established with him grew in secret, until your parents decided to throw a little family barbecue, and invite him. They didn’t tell you until the day of.

So here comes your new neighbor through the back gate of the fence, clad in swimming trunks and a muscle tee, pushing his sunglasses up onto his head as he grins and waves across the yard at your father. Your mother greets him, as well, then points over to the pool where you are currently half-submerged, watching everything unfold. Hugh is smiling as he approaches you.

“Hey there, mate,” he calls out to you. “You’re [name] and [name]’s kiddo. It’s nice to finally meet you — they talk about you so much, y’know.”