𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐄𝐋 - ᴄ.ᴛ

33

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Mai
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He held her in his arms that night till he had no other choice but just to get ready with his last 20 minutes. Once she had fallen asleep he let go of her and tossed a pair of jeans at the end of the bed for her. He knew it wasn't just food that was vacuuming the meat off her body, she had to be using again. Especially after the cold shaky nights, of tossing and turning. He forced her to go with him just for today or until she confessed before she had to head back for work.

"Yo, wardrobe's asking for you in fifteen—oh," a tall guy with bleached eyebrows and a lanyard paused, noticing her. "Didn't know you had company."

"She's with me," he said quickly, not looking up from the script.

The guy gave a short nod and a friendly smile, he admired her nodding his head repeatedly. "I'm Reid.Lightning Guy..."

She gave him a polite smile, unsure if her voice would come out steady. Reid left just as fast as he came, and another few crew members popped their heads in one introduced herself as "Nora from props" and complimented her curls, another just waved while handing him a revised sheet.

Each time the door opened, she got a little glimpse of everything set up: massive light rigs, black tents, a camera on a crane swinging overhead. She thought it was just some indie thing he was doing, This was serious. Big budget serious.

He noticed her watching and finally spoke softly.

"You didn't imagine it like this?"

She shook her head.

He sat down across from her, eyes heavy but honest.

She glanced at the script peeking out of his bag, the weight of it, the printed header with the studio's name she recognized from actual movie posters.

"Oh," she said quietly, finally realizing. "You're really deep  in this"

He glanced over at her "Yeah. And I want you here but only if you can be honest with me."

The silence that followed wasn't awkward it was loaded. She felt like she was in someone else's dream. But maybe she needed to be.

"Are you using?" He whispered looking directly at her.

She shook her head no.

"If you're lying to me—I'd rather know now than come home to a phone call."

That one landed.

Her throat bobbed. Her eyes burned. She didn't reply.

"I'll be back in a few hours," he said.

The moment he left, the trailer felt colder. She didn't move at first just listened. To the wind outside. To the dull thud of footsteps in the gravel. To the chaos of voices and directions, laughter and tension that belonged to a world she wasn't part of.

His world.

She opened one of the trailer drawers chapstick, protein bars, a mini first aid kit. In another, a bottle of travel cologne and loose pages of his script with scribbles in the margins. His handwriting. Messy but full of intention.

She picked up the script and skimmed a few lines.

He was one of the leads.

Suddenly the pieces came together why he hadn't been texting as much, the tired look in his eyes when he did, the anxiety underneath his smiles. This wasn't just a gig. This was everything. Especially to him.

She started reading the thick packet on his small bed in the corner of his trailer. She continued reading until she felt drowsy again and shut down in his bed.

When he had came back he had woken her up purposely. Gently touching her waist, she turned around over to him half asleep. He placed his head in the crook of her neck kissing her collar bone to her cheek.

"Hey..do you want anything?" He asked softly. She felt his warm hand run up her hoodie placing his hand against her stomach.

"Coffee, food..anything?" He asked softly not trying to fully awaken her if she declined.

She shook her head no placing her hand against his on her stomach. He sighed burying his face in her curls. He was crouched near her ear.

"Not even coffee?" He asked  pecking behind her earlobe trailing down her neck.
She groaned twisting over some more towards him.

"Mnm" she shook her head no.

"You read my script?" He asked whispering in her ear.

"Yea" she sighed wrapping her arms around his neck pulling him closer to her. He placed his lips against hers gently.

"You weren't supposed to.." he smiled as she went back in, but gasped pulling away

"I'm sorry cal.." she fixed her face gazing into his eyes with sympathy.

"If you eat something I'll forgive you" he joked as she placed her hand on his Right cheek her thumb against his cheek holding his neck with the rest of her fingers.

She didn't smile just traced her thumb gently over his cheek, her brows drawn as if apologizing without words. Her eyes searched his face with the kind of ache guilt bought.

"I don't want you worrying about me when you're out there," she whispered.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look at her fully. "Too late for that."

"I'll eat if you lay with me.." she sighed

"Deal."

He got up as they let go of each other fora moment, he walked over to lock the trailer door and kicked off his shoes and climbed in beside her, careful not to shift the weight of the small trailer bed too suddenly. She leaned into him the second he got comfortable, her head resting against his chest like it belonged there.

"You promise?" he asked gently, wrapping his arm around her

"You'll eat?"

"Mmhm," she hummed, closing her eyes for a second. "Just don't leave yet."

"I've got an hour..after I've gotta go.. Theres a plate beside the sink" he spoke before kissing her cheek.

"...I love you" she says softly not looking up at him.

He looked down at her, but she still wouldn't meet his eyes. She stayed curled into his chest like she hadn't even realized what she'd said out loud.

He brushed his fingers under her chin, lifting it just enough so she'd look at him.

"I love you too," he said, like it was already obvious.

For the next 45 minutes they mumbled to each other non stop, he made her laugh here and there while bringing up some stuff that'd happen on set. All she wanted to do was keep her lips against his. She liked when their noses rubbed against one another's and how his touch would instantly warm her a little.