Sliding Doors - 2 (English Version)

Chapter 43

Josephine

"If you are ready, we can begin ... take your seat!"
The director shows us where to settle down and Patrick and I follow her directions.

I read for the umpteenth time the script for the scene we are about to shoot.
I know by heart but to be safe I always like to read the lines one last time before the take.
I can't help but notice, as Sydney said earlier, the huge smile on Patrick's face.

"So..." he approaches me smiling "How are you?"
I'm nervous and he's behavior upsets me.
If I could, I would avoid shooting this scene, but it's part of my job and I can't help it.

"Good, you? Have you recovered from last night?" I smile trying to ease the tension.

"Sure! You rather... you were pretty high!" He laughs.

I shake my head "I know, I exaggerated..."

I shouldn't have been drinking so much... yet it didn't seem to me to be so bright last night, even though I actually hardly remember anything!

"You told me you miss your hero... who exactly is he?" he laughs and looks at me sideways.

"Sorry, what?"
Who knows what embarrassing things I may have said yesterday!

"You were talking about Marvel and a hero you like but he's an asshole... I thought it was Thor but you said it's not him!"

I look at him carefully without understanding if he is making fun of me or if he really does not know who he is talking about.
I hope it's the second option.

"Forget it, when I drink a little too much I start saying nonsense..." I shake my head hoping that he changes the subject.

"Guys let's try the kiss part... Jo say your lines and let's go, ok?"

We both nod.
I swallow and close my eyes.
I must do it.
There is no alternative.
I am an actress and who knows how many more times something like this will happen to me.
I take a deep breath and I am convinced that I am professional.
What a difference now compared to when I kissed Hero.
I didn't feel like that.
Nothing at all!

"Ciak! Action!" they shout.

Focus Jo, focus!

"So, would you like to kiss me?" I smile identifying myself with Emma Cunningam.
The scene is that of their first date, a kind of flashback of when they start to feel something for each other.
Patrick nods moving towards me and trapping me with his back to the wall, in an overbearing way, as his character suggests.
We are both in the part: Emma has to kiss Patrick, not me.
Remember that Jo.

He approaches my lips with a mocking smile.
If he thinks I'll give him a kiss like the ones I gave Hero, he is very wrong.
He puts his lips on mine and I smell a very strong perfume of men's cologne.
It enters my nostrils and tickles my palate.

I have to sneeze!
God I have to sneeze now!!!

His lips are firm on mine and I can't resist.
I move a little and turn my head, launching a very strong sneeze before bursting out laughing out loud.

"Stop!!!" they scream from behind the cameras.

I immediately turn to the crew and the director, apologizing, but I couldn't resist.

"What did you spray on yourself?!?" I ask Patrick upset before launching another sneeze "It's a very strong perfume..."

"I..." he remains dumbfounded and sniffs his shirt "It's cologne... it didn't seem so strong, sorry!"

"Don't worry... it's just that it suddenly entered my nose and I feel like sneezing!"

"Not bad as a kiss Pat!" Josie yells at him from behind the scenes, where she is observed with the other girls of the cast "You have to work a little harder if you want to win dinner..." they point out.