I updated this story! I'm sorry if you were enjoying the other story, but I think this one will be much better! It has a more solid premise and hopefully I'm starting it with a little more narrative. Disclaimer: I don't own Teen Wolf or the characters. I hope you all enjoy!

"Lydia, it would be social suicide for you not to go."

She paused putting on her fake eye lashes just so she could dramatically roll her eyes at her mother's insistence. She huffed, "You know, it's moments like this where I remember how many people told me I was crazy for choosing my mother as my manager."

Natalie scoffed, waving her hand in the air lazily as if she'd heard this a thousand times before. "And it's moments like that where I like to remind you that no other manager would have let their actress take nearly two years off – of any and all public appearances! Even mothers! You think Kris Jenner would let those daughters of hers go even a month without posting something scandalous on their Twitters?"

"You're so dramatic, mom," Lydia surrendered. "I just don't want to go to this stupid party."

"It's not a party, it's a gala."

Another eye roll. "A gala is just a fancy party wealthy people throw to get wealthier people to give them more money."

"Exactly. And this happens to be an important gala that you were personally invited to."

Her mom glanced over at Lydia, who was looking worrisomely down at her hands as she sat in front of the mirror.

Natalie approached her daughter tentatively, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Sweetheart, I know you're just stepping back into this… but remember, this kind of thing is pretty routine. You've been to hundreds of these kind of parties –" Lydia raised her finger before Natalie swatted it away. "Galas. Don't be Miss Smart-Ass. It's a large investor of the movie and a personal friend of Deaton's, which is why the entire cast is expected to be there and mingle. And that includes the lead."

Lydia pressed her lips into a tight line. She knew when she'd been defeated – especially since her mother was already combing through her closet pulling out potential dresses she should wear. She almost made a snide remark about how she would be 30 in a few years and didn't need her mother to still pick out her clothes, but bit her tongue when she weighed the odds of that cat fight.

It wasn't worth it. She was stressed enough as it was, she didn't need her mom pissed at her on top of it. She sighed, thinking about the gala. She knew when she signed on to this movie she was going to regret it, she just didn't realize it'd be so soon.

Her mother had a point – not many managers would have let their clients go ghost for more than a year. Especially in her case, reaching sky rocket success after years and years of such hard work and dedication.

At one point in time, Lydia had been considered the 'it' girl, starring and co-starring in movie after movie. Once there were even three of her movies all airing in the theater at the same time. She could do it all: romance, comedy, action. And her specialty: science-fiction thriller. She was one of the most sought-after actresses in the industry; nothing could stop her.

And then one day, she stopped.

She started by rejecting every script Natalie gave her to read, then turning down roles that were handed to her. Eventually she stopped accepting any social invitation she received, from premiers to small gatherings.

The scream-queen herself – the great Lydia Martin – dropped the industry in the prime of her career. She had absolutely no desire to jump back into anything.

And then she got the call.

Alan Deaton was a world renowned director, known for creating absolute masterpieces on screen. He always knew exactly what he wanted and who he wanted to cast. It'd always been Lydia's dream to act in one of his movies. So when Natalie got the phone call that Deaton wanted Lydia to star as the lead female in his next film, she finally broke her streak of silence and agreed to meet him.

Just a meeting, she'd told her mom. She wasn't making any promises.

It just would have been impolite not to see him, she reasoned.

She'd heard the stories about Deaton. That he was like a quiet rolling thunderstorm: unsuspecting and calm, but knew how to create the perfect storm of beauty, strength, and magic in a flash of brilliant light.

There was no other way for her to describe their initial meeting besides safe. He was different than most directors she'd met with in the past. Most of them either wanted you to spend the entire time stroking their egos or proving your own talent.

Deaton spent most of their meeting talking about their pets. By the time she started showing off pictures of her sweet childhood dog Prada, she knew that this was someone she wouldn't mind working with.

When he finally got around to telling her about the movie, she was sold.

A rendition of The Little Mermaid, the script for Siren Heart was set to be the fantasy thriller of the year. Lydia fell in love immediately with Valda, the mermaid princess of a great sea king. The story followed the classic mermaid legend: creatures of the ocean who preyed on sailors, leading them to their watery graves with their beautiful, seductive voice.

While the premise was ultimately the same as the original tale (young mermaid falls in love with humanity and then a young human man, trades her voice and tail to a sea witch for legs, tries to get the prince to fall in love with her, sacrifices herself for her love), his script had a bit of a twist.

It was a story of forsaken innocence, Lydia's character grows vengeful and devises a plan to infiltrate the castle and kill the traitorous king who killed her father. She trades her voice to the sea witch for legs, who instructs her to bring the heart of the one who betrayed her own. In the end, she discovers where her own heart lies and what she must sacrifice to bring peace and reconciliation. The story ends when Valda pays the ultimate sacrifice and the prince lays her in the ocean, where her body turns to sea foam and a beautiful song is released into the air.

Lydia cried when she finished the script. To both her and her mother's surprise, she agreed immediately to star in the movie.

"This one!"

Her mother's voice caused her to jump. She spun around to see Natalie holding up a gorgeous purple satin dress. She had to give it to her mom, she did have excellent taste.

As she tried on the dress, she heard her mom answer the phone and take it in the next room. She then worked on her hair, brushing out the tight curls from earlier until they hung softly around her face. While she normally had deep strawberry blonde hair, for her role in the movie they added red-tented highlights to really make it pop. She agreed to keep the highlights for a small time after during the promotions for the movie before letting it fade back to normal. She braided a piece of it and wrapped it around her head while the rest of her hair fell down her back. It was simple and complimented the simplicity of the dress. She hummed her approval, always proud of herself when she could style her own hair without the assistance of a professional.

"Yes, she will be there. Friday it is. Thank you, ciao." Natalie hung up the phone as she walked back into the room.

"Who was that?" Lydia asked. "And what have you committed my Friday to?"

"It's for the movie, dear."

"Ugh the promos didn't get moved up, did they? I thought that wasn't starting until the week after?"

Shooting was over by now. And with it, the fun. Next up we're promos, which included everything from photo shoots and interviews to touring and social media buzz. Promos, Lydia thought, bleh.

Natalie shook her head, rummaging through Lydia's shoe rack. "No, everything is still scheduled properly. It's the meeting to discuss the music video."

Lydia paused, turning to face her mother. "Excuse me?"

"The music video. For Unleashed, the song you sing at the end of the movie."

Lydia rolled her eyes. "I know what song I sing, mother – I'm the one who spent weeks perfecting that song. The question was directed at the music video. Don't they just find the latest pop singer and get them to do a cover? Why would I be involved in that?"

"That's not the case here. Deaton contracted a band to come in and write him that song. They wrote the lyrics and music and everything. Now they're releasing it with their own sound to promote the movie. You are to star in the video. We'll be seeing the band Friday to meet and go over next steps."

Lydia groaned. "I've got to act in their music video? Why can't they just take scenes from the movie and intermingle it in with the band singing on a beach somewhere like a normal song feature?"

Natalie shrugged, handing her a pair of gold strappy heels that matched the gold necklace and earrings Lydia had just put on. "That's the way the band wanted it. It's in your contract to oblige. Now, stand up, let me look at you."

Lydia did as her mother instructed, straightening the front of her dress as she adjusted the neckline.

"Beautiful," her mother raved, clapping her hands together as if doting over her own masterpiece. Lydia smiled appreciatively, but gulped as she thought about the next step… actually going to the gala. Her mom noticed the apprehension, lifting her chin as she smiled at her daughter. "You're going to be fine, sweetheart. Keep your chin up and know that this is where you belong. You're back! Head up, shoulders back, lips pouted. Walk into that room like you own it."

Lydia forced herself to stifle her scoff. She knew her mother had the best intentions. That was her job – as a mother and a manager – to keep her daughter happy and confident. But the irony wasn't lost on Lydia. Two years ago the actress owned any room she walked into, and she certainly wouldn't have needed to be coaxed to such lengths to go to any kind of social engagement, or be reminded on how to present herself.

But that was before she was knocked off her high horse – before she realized what self-involvement and the bad end of being used by people brought you. Pain and humiliation. Now, the thought of walking into a room with all eyes on her, the prospect of having to talk with people, made her want to duck for cover.

She loved to act. She hadn't realized how much she'd missed it until she started this project. If only she could do what she loved without all the extra stuff involved.

Natalie's reassuring smile sparked enough confidence in her to nod her head. "It's just a party, darling – you've got this."