Behind the Spotlight (Jenna x Male Reader)

Chapter Twenty-Two: Separation

Chapter Twenty-Two: Separation

Y/N's POV

Y/N eased out of bed as carefully as possible, trying not to disturb Jenna. She looked peaceful, and he didn't want to cut into that. Grabbing his clothes, he slipped out quietly, leaving a quick note by her phone: *Good luck today! Miss you already.*

After getting dressed and grabbing a quick coffee, Y/N arrived on set to a whirlwind of activity. Today's scene was set up in a massive, dimly lit abandoned building with walls covered in graffiti. It was one of the film's pivotal moments, where his character, Josh, confronts the masked villain, thinking he has the upper hand—only to find out he's terribly wrong. Y/N's character had to navigate a series of tense exchanges, with intense close-ups that captured every flicker of fear in his eyes.

As the director, Mark, briefed him, Y/N listened closely. "Remember, this is the moment where you realize you're outmatched," Mark explained. "You're supposed to be confident at first, but by the end, you're on the defensive, almost trapped. Let's build that progression of fear."

Y/N nodded, taking a deep breath. He was ready. As the cameras rolled, he channeled his focus, letting his character's emotions flow naturally. Josh starts by taunting the villain, his voice dripping with bravado.

"You think I'm scared of you?" Y/N snarled, his eyes narrowed as he stared down the masked figure before him. But as the figure stepped closer, Y/N's expression slowly shifted, the confident facade beginning to crack.

Mark's voice echoed through the set. "Perfect, Y/N. Keep that fear building!"

Between takes, Y/N grabbed his phone, grateful for a text from Jenna that simply read: *Thinking of you. Hope your day's going great!* He replied quickly: *Getting into the good stuff here—hope your day's smooth too! Miss you already.*

By the afternoon, they'd done the scene several times, each take leaving him more exhausted. But it was rewarding, the type of scene that reminded him why he loved acting so much. The whole crew seemed satisfied as they wrapped up his final take.

"That was amazing, Y/N," one of the assistant directors, Sandra, said as he walked off the set. "You've got the 'terrified but trying to stay brave' thing down perfectly."

"Thanks, Sandra," Y/N replied, chuckling. "Guess all those horror movies growing up paid off." As he packed up for the day, he found himself checking his phone again, hoping Jenna would be finishing soon, so they could swap stories about their very different days.

**Jenna's POV**

Jenna woke up to an empty bed, a soft pang of disappointment settling in. But her mood lifted when she saw the note Y/N had left her. *Miss you already.* She clutched it close, a small smile warming her face as she got ready for the day.

Her scenes today were emotionally intense, focusing on her character, Tara, in a particularly vulnerable situation. Tara was cornered in a dark alley, just moments away from coming face-to-face with the villain. Jenna's director, Natalie, explained the direction she wanted to go in, emphasizing the fear and vulnerability Jenna would need to convey.

"Tara is scared, but she's also determined," Natalie said, her tone reassuring. "This scene is about her digging deep to find that strength, even though she's terrified. Make the audience feel that duality."

Jenna nodded, taking a deep breath. She appreciated Natalie's guidance; it helped her feel more grounded. But it didn't ease her nerves completely. She wanted to make this scene as impactful as possible, which meant getting fully in character.

As the cameras rolled, Jenna's heart raced. Her breathing came out fast and shallow, her eyes wide as she backed up against the wall. "Stay away from me!" she cried, her voice trembling, but her expression fierce. She pushed herself, letting the rawness of Tara's fear and desperation bleed into every word. When the villain loomed closer, she had to muster every ounce of courage to keep from breaking down.

The director called cut, and the set erupted into applause. One of the camera operators, Jake, approached her afterward. "Jenna, that was incredible. You had all of us holding our breath."

"Thanks, Jake," Jenna replied, a little breathless herself. "It was... intense."

As she walked back to her trailer, Jenna checked her phone, feeling a little surge of excitement at Y/N's reply. His words lifted her spirits, making her feel like he was right there with her despite the distance.

At lunch, she took a quick selfie, sending it his way with the message: *Wish you were here. I think I scared half the crew, but it's all in a day's work, right?* His quick response—*Save the stories for when I get back. Miss you*—had her grinning as she took a deep breath and got ready for the second half of the day.

The afternoon's scenes were just as demanding, but Jenna found herself more at ease, throwing herself into Tara's character with a newfound intensity. By the time they finally wrapped for the day, Jenna was thoroughly exhausted. She couldn't wait to get back to the trailer to see Y/N, to fall into his arms and let the day's stresses melt away.

**Back Together**

When Jenna arrived back at the trailer, Y/N was already there, a gentle smile on his face as he watched her walk in. She looked tired, but her eyes sparkled when they met his.

"Well, look who finally showed up," Y/N teased, extending his arms.

"Oh, hush," Jenna murmured, falling into his embrace with a contented sigh. "You have no idea how long today felt."

They spent the evening recounting their respective days, sharing stories and laughs over takeout. Jenna's eyes lit up as she described the intensity of her scenes, while Y/N added his own tales from the set, talking about the gritty action and suspense that had defined his day. As they talked, they could feel the stress of the day slipping away, replaced by the comforting rhythm of their conversation.

By the time they both settled in for the night, Jenna felt a deep sense of gratitude. It had been a long, challenging day, but having Y/N by her side made everything feel a little bit easier.