Even Gold Stars Can Fall

Chapter Two

All at once, Cole felt sick to her stomach. She felt like she had broken some unwritten law. A number of them, in fact. "Once a lesbian, always a lesbian", "Thou shalt not fuck your best friend", "Thou shalt not fuck your boss". She rose from off the bed, dressing hurriedly. Tom moved aside, the obvious question written all over his face before it even left his lips.

"Cole? Are you ok?"

She didn't answer, but the tears flowing down her cheeks were answer enough. Tom sat on the bed, eyes cast to the floor. She was the one who wanted him, but he couldn't help feeling guilty for indulging her in her little experiment. It was in his nature.

"I'll call you a cab." he said morosely, picking up his mobile and dialing the number for the cab company. He couldn't bear to watch her leave, so he retrieved his own clothes from the floor and disappeared into the bathroom. By the time he was dressed, he heard his front door open and then close and the taxi drive away. He slid down until he sat in the floor, face cradled in his hands. He felt like he had betrayed the very trust that held Cole to his side. He should have told her "No", he thought, he should have warned her of the repercussions of their actions. He could have brushed it all off as the effects of the wine and maybe she'd still be here right now, her tinkling laugh echoing off the walls, her warm embrace enveloping him as she joked and teased. Everything would still be as it should be, but now...oh God, what was going to happen now? How could he possibly face her? He was taken aback by the sob that ripped from his throat and the tears that poured from his eyes. He felt like someone had ripped out half of his very soul and carried it away.

He was hopelessly in love and it only now occurred to him.

The next day, the car arrived bright and early to carry him to the set. He slouched in the back seat, heart pounding violently in his chest. He knew it would be next to impossible to hold it together once he laid eyes on her, but he knew he had to try. There was one tool in his skill set as an actor he adeptly applied to his life, which was to step into the skin of another character, to become whomever was needed at a particular time. So, who would he play today? Cold and disaffected? No, Cole deserved better than that. Broken and repentative? No, he didn't want to frighten her any more than she already was. How about alcohol-induced amnesiac? Just...don't bring it up, act like he doesn't even remember. Treat today like any other work day. That might just work.

The car pulled in at the set, he swallowed the massive lump in his throat, took two full, deep breaths and put his game face on. He arrived at makeup, and there was a Cuban coffee and a bag of pastries but no Cole. Tom's heart sank, but he buried it, struggling to stay in character. He sat in the makeup chair, realizing he'd left his copy of the script at his rental home, but he had a backup in his trailer. Perfect. He pulled out his mobile and dialed Cole's work phone.

"Yeah?"

"Good morning!" he chirped cheerfully.

"Uhm, yeah, good morning, Tom." she replied, obviously still upset. Tom was undeterred.

"Could you be a darling and bring me my copy of the script that I keep in my trailer? I left my other copy at home, I'm afraid."

"Yes, of course, Tom. I'll be right there."

It didn't take her long to bring him the script. Her eyes were slightly sunken and had dark rings underneath. She obviously didn't sleep much last night. Then again, neither did he. She handed it to him, arm outstretched as far as it could go, as if he were some vile thing she didn't want to touch.

"Thank you so much, Cole!" he spoke, trying to muster up all the sincere cheerfulness he could manage. That was all Cole could take. The makeup artist walked over to begin preparing Tom for his work day, and Cole shooed them away for a moment as politely as she could manage.