Behind the Time - Herophine

18

HERO

As soon as I understood what was going on, after receiving the news that I was going to shoot more scenes for a supposed new After movie... I desperately called Jô. She took a while to answer, but I insisted, I called two or three times, not thinking about what time was in Australia, but as soon as she answered, I yelling:

"Let's shoot another movie!"

"What? What are you talking about Hero?"

I hear a deep voice on the other end of the line asking if everything is okay.

"Who is with you?"

"What? It doesn't matter Hero, explain what's going on!"

"Castille just told me there's going to be one more movie!"

"What?"

"Do you remember that day when we went to watch the last editions of the movies, and she said that her dream was to have one more to fit all the scenes that were not included? Well, I think she did it!"

"Bullshit! She didn't tell me anything!"

I didn't understand... I think Castille would still call Jô and arrange everything with her...

"She... Told me that I need to be in Portugal tomorrow, that if everything goes well we will already shoot some necessary scenes to connect the story..."

"Hero..."

"I'm so looking forward to..."

"Hero!"

I stop babbling to hear what she had to say.

"I just got a message from her... And from what I've read... Some scenes will be shot and only a few actors will..."

I don't know what to say, I just wanted her with me.

"I just wanted you with me..."

A silence on the other line, her breathing was accelerated, and I don't just hear her breathing...

"There's someone there, right..." I feel Jô tense...

"Uh... No... No... I'm... Alone..."

"Are you really all right? You seem tense... Did I interrupt something?"

"N... No! What would you interrupt..."

"Oh, I don't know... Maybe you with some guy... Making out..."

"You must be talking about yourself!"

I hear a male voice on the other end of the line again, asking if everything is ok... And she does "shhhhhh" to keep the silence. I couldn't stand it, I needed to show her that I didn't want to jump into her cell phone to hit the idiot who was making her sigh like that. So I said:

"It's okay, Jô... I was also making out with another girl here, until Castille called me..." Silence.

"Fine... I'll leave you with your date... Sorry to interrupt... Whatever you were doing..."

"Hero I..."

I don't let her finish... I need to get Jô out of my mind... She won't be on these shootings anyway! At least not that I know of... I won't be chasing after her, or... Trying not to feel what I feel just hearing her voice!



JOSEPHINE

My hands are shaking, I want to cry! I want to scream! Another movie? Won't I be on that shoot?! What does he mean I won't be with him... What does he mean with another girl...

"Can you take me home?" Tears wanted to come out but I wasn't going to give him that taste. I didn't want to cry in front of Erik, I won't cry!

"Of course! But is everything okay?"

"It is! I just need to go home."

In a few minutes Erik parks in front of my parents' house, the house he used to walked me to the door before.

"Hey! Are you really okay? Do you want me to come in with you?"

I look at him, in seconds I forget the problems that torment me, and I smile.

"I know why you want to come in... But there won't be a spoon today... I need to solve some problems..."

"Tomorrow then?"

"Erik, I don't know if it's a good idea... We had a beautiful story, but my passion is to live with art, to do theater, to be an actress! We had our chance..."

"I know! And I'm sorry if I didn't support you back then! I was a kid Jô!"

I approach him, put my forehead with his again, taking his hand.

"I'm not that Jô anymore... I need to go back to Los Angeles and I can't afford to live a new love story here! You're amazing Erik, and you made me grow, you're an essential part of my story.. . But I think the Jô you want is no longer here..."

I look into his emerald eyes, the same ones from my adolescence, we smile at each other, as if we understood that it was the end, I hold onto his face, at the same moment he pulls me by the waist and we give our, perhaps, last kiss, the best we've ever given in our entire story.

As soon as I finish my shower, I reread Castille's message, and slowly accept what was happening. I have a lot of scenes shotted, that didn't make it into the movie... Hero needed to shoot new scenes, scenes of Hardin... Hardin with lots of girls... Hardin without Tessa... Hero without me... And to make matters worse he's mad with me... Good Jô! Who knows, maybe he'll fall in love with another actress and... Forget me...

But as soon as I lay my head down on the pillow, I see my phone screen glow, and I read his message:

"Don't stay with him! I still love you!"

I can't contain the small scream that comes out of my throat. I write back:
"I'm not with anyone! And... I still love you too!"


HERO

I couldn't believe it when I arrived in Portugal, I was about to shoot scenes for the last After movie, and I would live a little more with Hardin... But... Without Jô, this time, or rather, without Tessa.

As soon as I saw Castile, I hugged her and the production staff that I know so much thanks to the other films.

Castille explained to me that Jô would not come because of a contract she had with other movies, in addition to the scenes that needed to be shooted with Hardin alone, but that she invited her to participate in the project, but her schedule was full.

My heart raced, I didn't know she could come but she didn't accept it... If I had known she could be here, I would have insisted more!

"What do you mean? She could have come but she didn't want to!!!"

"Hero, Jô had a tight schedule... but I knew you would take it all on with a lot of will! You're going to shoot some scenes, just a few scenes, we need to patch up the last scenes of the movie. Do it for Jô too!"

"I don't know if I can do this without her!"

"You can and you will! She wants it! Jô was busy, with other contracts, she couldn't stop what she was doing, we arranged for Hardin to be the one who will put these scenes together. I know you'll get it!"

When I was in the hotel room, and brought my things, I had little time before dinner with the movie production. I lie on the bed and look for her name. I make a video call. She accepts right away.

As soon as I see her I feel my heart race, my breath increase, my eyes pop. She looked beautiful, even blonder than the last time, she had makeup and an amazing outfit. How I miss her!

"Jô!"

"Hero! How are you in Portugal?"

"First, you look beautiful! Second, how can you not tell me that you could have come here, but didn't want to!"

"I couldn't! My life is crazy! I'm recording interviews for the other movie I did, and schedules hit... We need you Hero! After need you! We have to complete Hardin and Tessa's story!"

"I know! But I've always done that with you!"

"And I'll still be with you!"

"Are you? I don't see you here with me!" I make a gesture as if I'm looking for her here in the room.

"Funny boy, I'll always be with you Hero!"

How I miss her, I miss her eyes, her mouth, her smile. She looks at me smiling and my world stops.

"I'm there with you! I'll always be... Now go! Soon we'll meet..."

"Wait, what do you mean? Are you coming here? What day?"

But Jô just smiles before hangs up. Yeah... it won't be easy at all.


Those were exhausting days, if After 1, 2, 3 and 4 were put together, it wouldn't be as tired as I felt shooting the scenes for this last movie. We had very little time to shoot several scenes that we needed! So, I didn't even have time to enjoy the city and the people. From the first to the last day it was a rush, microphone, costumes, makeup, beach, office...

Despite being without Jô, there was Louise, my mother in the movie and Stephen Moyer, Vance, my friend and... My father in the movie, a great plot twist that happens in the story. Luckily I love them both! They are actors that I got very close to and that I was happy to know that they were going to shoot here with me.

We were shooting for days. I've shooted with so many girls... And with none of them do I feel what I felt shooting with Jô... Is she with someone? I can not take it...

But after the message the other night, and the video call a few days ago, everything changed in my head. I know she's still waiting for me... I feel it! We tried everything to live without each other, and how we tried! But it is impossible! After brought us together, these characters brought us together... The fans brought us together! For a lifetime! It's no use! Until we stay together, REALLY together, we won't be able to move on with our normal lives... No matter how hard we have to try!

We shot more scenes, scenes on a boat, scenes in a bar, scenes of Hardin losing his mind, Hardin crying, Hardin with his parents, Hardin laughing... We walked around some places in Portugal, I met a lot of people! Mainly the direction... And it was another incredible experience... Despite a big part, the part that makes me happy and that holds me back with all the madness of After, a certain blonde, despite that important part, is not here with me.

I had to study the scenes alone, I spent everytime with Stephen, sometimes with the mirror... I woke up at dawn and we went to shoot. I slept and woke up again having to shoot another scene breaking all possible objects on the set. Or shooting with some girls, who were beautiful, but not my type... They weren't her.

There were days, in the sun, in the rain, in the cold, sun again and...

"And cut! That's it guys! I want to thank each one of you for accepting my madness, for accepting this new adventure, leaving your homes, your countries to be here, in Portugal, days without sleeping properly, to run with these new shootings! Thank you so much!"

I was ready to go home... Rest and... Start promoting, now penultimate After movie!


Days after we returned to our homes, After 4 was about to open in theaters. And there I was, needing to promote the movie, for the fourth time. I went back to London anxious to tell the boys about my trip, but as soon as I got home, I found in the garden, signs written "I love you Hero" and many phrases like "let's get married" and "I always knew I was the woman of your life!".

On the posters there were pictures of me, in magazines, in the movies I made, walking down the street, sleeping... Sleeping? But how... These fans are crazy! I take the flower bouquet that was next to the posters and take everything inside.

I hug my mom, I say "hi" to Morgz, one of the M-Boys that doesn't leave my house, he says he was taking care of my mom while I was away... But I think she's old enough to take care of herself. ..

"Can someone tell me what this is all about?"

"Ah son, at least once a week they leave this here in the garden..."

"Seriously? How long has it been?"

"Since when you traveled to Portugal..."

"Strange..."

"But tell us! How it was in Portugal!"

I spent a whole afternoon telling everything that happened there, from the moment they picked me up at the airport, until the farewell. But even though I missed my mom and my friends a lot, I was looking forward to talking to...

"And the redhead?" Jack asks me.

"I didn't talk to her anymore..."

"What do you mean? I thought you two would be happily ever after!"

"Shut up Felix! Stop being an idiot!"

"Oh really! He just like J..."

"Shut up!" They throw a pillow at Felix and all I can do is laugh.


Days passed and I didn't call the redhead anymore... After the video call with Jô, I know... It's been a while since we last spoke, but it made a lot of sense to me! I hope she hasn't been with another guy, I can't imagine her with anyone else... I needed to talk to her!