Behind the Time - Herophine

5

JULY


JOSEPHINE

Nothing changed, my head was in chaos, not even a shower helped to organize my thoughts, I feel more and more confused, I told Henry I needed some time, I said I needed to think and organize myself with everything that was happening in my life, that we were going too fast, and that I needed to get all the craziness out of my head. He understood very well and gave me the space I needed, we talked as little as possible, just so we didn't lose contact. Great, until I figure out what's going on between Hero and me, plus all the other compromises I have to deal with.

Last month, Hero did a photo shoot for Dior, he was beautiful, as always, I try not to look at Instagram, but a lot of people tag me with him, it's almost impossible not to know what was happening. Before the photos came out, there were already several videos he had sent me in the dressing room, while he was getting ready.

This month they released the song they made for our movie. We saw Castille, the director of the latest After movies, and Taylor one of the producers, write and produce exclusively for us, they even sang a snippet at the hotel in Bulgaria. We were so proud of them because the music was amazing, and it fit perfectly in with what they needed for the movie. Totally Hardin and Tessa.
Hero and I would talk every day, no matter what time, it could be at the beginning of the day, or at the end, we always had time to send something funny to each other or to say something important, something we were feeling at the moment, we lost hours or a few seconds, what mattered was keeping in touch.

The other day, the big boy went with his friends to a game in England and insisted on showing me everything. They really like soccer, or football for them, and were very happy with the team's victory in the finals, he sent me many videos and photos, of them celebrating. They had definitely been drinking, their pupils were dilated, he smiled as if he had won the lottery, they had adrenaline to a thousand. Hero was shirtless, with a cap and a backpack on his back, he has no idea how hot he is, it seems like he does it on purpose, I miss being with him.

_____

"Hi Jô! How are you?"
I open the video call with him, at the same time, Hero was running into a room to avoid the noise that was happening behind him.
"Good, and you?" He closes a door behind him and sits in a chair.
"More than fine!"
"Where are you?"
"At Zac's house, we're watching..."
"Soccer!"
"Yeah yeah yeah, how do you know that?"
"By default!" He laughs, his laugh is so good it makes me laugh too. I stare at him and he looks at me, his eyes lighter than usual.
"Miss you."
"I miss you so much!"
It's only been days since the last time, but I miss him a lot...
"Go, I don't want to mess up your game time!"
"You never mess anything up, I'm glad to see you!"
"Me too... Now go!"
"Can I call you tomorrow?"
"For sure!"

_____

A few days went by and the trailer for our movie had finally been released. We were ecstatic, I had already yelled to everyone who lived on the same block as me to hear. Hero had called me and we talked for hours, we were very happy with the result, and because we did it together, as we worked so well, everything worked out, as I expected, and I couldn't be more grateful for it!

I even post in my stories, something I don't do often, as I'm as far away as possible from social media, especially Instagram, but it was something more than special for me.

More days passed, I get a message from Anna inviting me to her house. I was very happy with the trailer and got a link to watch the full movie. Anna is the author of the books that were so successful, she followed us a lot from the beginning, she was one of those responsible for calling me for the movie, she always supported me and was by my side. Even during the pandemic, when everything got worse, and we went to shoot in Bulgaria. Even far away, we always called her, or she was on video call with the producers and directors to get all the details and give her opinions. Hero loves her too, she helped him a lot, as he didn't read any of her books to play Hardin, all his doubts, he took straight from the source.

I had already visited her house a few times, even with Hero. Today it was just the two of us and her son, we played a lot with him, he loves to paint, we made some dinosaurs together and when he slept, we talk:

"So my girl, how are the things in your world?"
"It's crazy, I get messages every day from producers and some brands, my agent must be crazy, but I'm very happy. And you, how is everything?"
"I'm finishing new stories, I hope they succeed..."
"I have no doubts it will! Any news on Tessa?"
"Many! As soon as I finish writing I'll send to you a link for you to read!"
"Okay!"
"I wanted to make you an invite actually... Ash's birthday will be in September... He just wanted his favorite people to celebrate with him so... You're more than invited!"
"Ahhhhhh I love it! I will definitely be here!"
We hug, Anna knows how I feel about her son, he's one of the most loving children I've ever met.
"And...." She smile, I already knew where the conversation would lead... Hero.
"Are you together?" A slight smile appears on my face, which makes her smile more... As Hero says, that beautiful old-fashioned crooked smile that showed how much the person knew what was going on behind everything we were showing.
"We are fine!"
"I expected more from this answer lady! I need details!"
"Ah Anna is that usual thing... We already understand that we like each other, we get along well, our friendship has always been good, and we have a lot of chemistry, that's obvious, you know, when we get together... It's something out of this world... Not even we understand that, we can talk with our eyes..." Just saying that, I get goose bumps. "But... "
"He is there, in another country..."
"Yes... And I am here... We know that this will work, and it's possible try something from a distance. We've always said it's possible, but it's hard... Not being with the person, feel him by your side..."
I know that Anna was thinking of the best answer she would give to me:
"Jô, I understand you a lot, and I think it's amazing that despite everything you're still strong with... Whatever it is... And realize that the most difficult thing, you already have, the part of liking and loving each other... The fact that you live far away is difficult, of course, but the only thing that stops you is taking a plane and reaching the other one." I stare at her and she says, "okay, I'm serious now. If you're going to be together at the end, you'll find a way. There's a way for everything... You both are still very young... The paths are different, despite interconnect in a few moment... But, there will come a time when your paths will be the same,, True they will lead to the same destination... Write what I'm saying to you... What you have is too strong! Trust... One time the compass will give you only one direction and you will meet."
Anna's words reassure me, she always knows what to say, I give my friend a big hug. Today our paths share the same fate, mine and hers, we're finally together, after all this madness, and I couldn't be happier.


HERO

I continue to live my life as best I can, hanging out with my friends, talking to Jô, trying to lead a normal life in London, despite knowing that nothing will ever be normal again, not after all. Fans ask to take a picture with me, I think that's cool, but I never imagined being famous, I don't know if I want to accept it... I'm not famous!

I participate in a big event, Formula 1 British Grand Prix 2021, at the Silverstone Circuit, I was very excited and very happy to be invited, There were many important people, I watched races, took pictures, even played a game, inside a race car, surreal. I recorded some videos for the M-Boys and for Jô, who seemed more excited than me, as if she was here with me, oh how I wanted her here with me...

My life doesn't stop, when I'm not at work, I'm training with my friends, or at parties, or talking to Jô, I don't see my family very much but I have contact with them too, especially with my mother, who is always on the run of the productions she works on. I returned to live with my dad for a while, and when that happened, I remembered why I left to live alone.

The next party was the birthday of one of the M-Boys, who had the honor of receiving an audio of Jô sending him congratulations. The guys took a while to accept that I'm not the same as I was, I changed as soon as I set foot in Atlanta for the first time, when I shot the first After's movie. I'm not the same Hero of parties and girls. Today, I show up just to they don't get mad at me, but I prefer to stay at home, do my things in my time, talk to Jô... Yeah... They lost a soldier...
It also took them to understand what Jô and I feel, not even we know... This distance, hiding from the people that we stayed with, I know it's hard for them, but it's hard for me too. Gradually they stopped showing women for me to make out, and try to help me when the girls want to be with me, saying that I'm fine, that I want to be alone, having fun with my friends... Until when... I don't know...

We went to a bar with several friends, we drank a lot that day, there were some old friends there too, they enjoyed a lot with us, but as I said... I was fine. I miss being with someone, but I manage to control myself, I talk to my blonde, or I drink more and everything passes. As Anna says, everything has a way... Yeah... Jô tells me everything, and I die when I saw the selfie the two took when they met again.

I get invited to another event before the end of the month, I meet old friends and take the opportunity to see a horse race and bet which one would win, just to test my luck. I lost, but what counts is the intention, right... Who knows, maybe I bet on other things and these would work...