In the next life, maybe ?

Chapter 5 : Her phone

Days on set had settled into a comfortable rhythm. The routine was steady, and the bond among the cast and crew grew stronger. With Jenna, things were... alright, I guess. Ever since the dinner, we kept talking a lot, but nothing too deep—mostly keeping it professional and fun. I suppose you could say we were friends now.

We had a lot of those moments where, because you like someone, you tend to overreact or overanalyze every single thing they do or say toward you, and yeah, well, it's kind of like that with her now. Since we are friends, we're obviously closer than we were at the beginning, sharing more complicity, looks, and such. But that means nothing, since we're in fact just friends.

Speaking of her, she was heading to the makeup room. We'd just wrapped a key scene in the movie—a heated argument between Jenna's and Toby's characters. I hate to admit it, but watching them argue made me feel a little good inside. I know it's just acting, but it's hard to ignore your feelings when the person who makes your stomach flip is right there.

She was talking with the makeup artist, and I watched from afar, like I'd been doing since day one. I couldn't help it. No matter how hard I tried, she was always in my orbit. When I closed my eyes, she'd be in my dreams. It wasn't just that she was beautiful—though she definitely was. It was the way she walked, how she spoke with her hands, and smiled with her eyes. I could spend a lifetime just watching her.

Tonight was special, as it marked one month of filming, so the whole crew gathered for a big dinner to celebrate. The restaurant had a warm, cozy vibe, with dim lighting that made everything feel intimate. The table was packed with everyone—actors, directors, producers, and crew members, all who had been working hard to bring the film to life.

I ended up sitting between Jenna and Maddie, which made my heart race a little. Jenna was her usual lively self, talking about film festivals and her favorite new restaurants. But something felt off—she kept checking her phone, and her smile didn't always reach her eyes. Despite the lively atmosphere, I could see that Jenna was distracted, and it worried me.

As the night went on, conversations flowed naturally. Toby was debating with the Tim about a tricky scene, and every now and then, I caught Jenna's eye. She smiled at me, but there was a flicker of sadness behind it, like something was bothering her that she couldn't shake.

The evening grew lighter, with people telling stories and laughing over shared memories. Jenna's smile seemed more genuine as the night progressed, but she still seemed preoccupied. At one point, Maddie leaned over and asked, "How's everything going? It's a lot to handle, especially with those emotional scenes."

I smiled back, glad for the chance to connect. "It's been amazing. The whole experience has been eye-opening, and working with everyone has been fantastic."

Jenna chimed in, "The energy on set has been incredible. It's been nice to unwind and get to know everyone better."

Just then, Jenna's phone buzzed again. She glanced at it, her expression darkening before she quickly forced a smile and put the phone away. I noticed, but the conversation moved on before I could say anything.

Turning back to Maddie, I asked, "And you? We haven't really had much time to chat. It'd be great to get to know each other better."

Maddie smiled warmly, clearly pleased. "It's been great! Working with a director like Tim Burton is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I'm soaking up as much as I can."

"Yeah, he's incredible," I agreed. "His vision and creativity are just on another level."

Maddie nodded enthusiastically. "Exactly. Every day on set feels like a masterclass in filmmaking. And the way he brings out the best in everyone—it's inspiring."