Adoring Love

12

Liz
I wake up feeling warm. Looking around, I see Peter's arm laying across my body. I glance at the clock and see that it's almost five in the morning. I reach over and grab my glasses, sliding them onto my face.
I grab Peter's shoulder and gently shake him.
"Peter. Hey, wake up kid." I whisper. He moans and squints up at me much like he did yesterday morning.
"Good morning." I whisper, smiling. He smiles and sits up.
"Morning beautiful." he says, his voice deep again. I push him out of bed and follow him into the bathroom.
"What're you doing up so early? Do you have to be in today?" he asks, squirting toothpaste onto my toothbrush and then his.
"No I don't, but I thought I would get up and make you breakfast." I tell him, sticking the toothbrush in. He smiles and then spits in the sink, rinsing his mouth out.
"Thank you dear." he says, kissing my cheek.
I watch him walk out of the bathroom and into the bedroom. The terms of endearment that he uses always make the butterflies in my stomach flutter.
I quickly spit the toothpaste out and wipe off my mouth, heading into the kitchen. I grab the ingredients for an omelet and get to work.
"It smells amazing." Peter whispers, walking in fully dressed. I set the plate down in front of him along with a cup of coffee.
"You truly are the best." he says, shoving the last of the omelet into his mouth. I pour the coffee into a to go cup and hand it to him.
"So you just have poetry books lying around all of the time?" he asks. I blush, knowing where this conversation is going
"Yes. But don't make fun of me." I tell him, smiling.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Just poetry?"he asks.
"No. All books. " I admit. "I just love books. In like the dorkier way possible."
"Really?" he asks.
"I-I love trees. Because they give us books." I tell him, getting excited now.
"This is going to sound weird but I'm actually trying to read less. Put a book down and say hello to the world. Accept more invitations to parties and stuff." I tell him.
"How's that going?" he asks.
"It's... okay. I keep thinking I'd be so much happier in bed with a book, and that makes me feel not super cool. I still read tons. I just feel like I'm more aware of a book's limitations. Does that make sense?" I ask, blushing again.
He smiles and nods.
"Sorry, I'm going on and on about books." I say, laughing.
"No, don't apologize. I enjoy listening to your thoughts." he says, setting his plate in the sink.
"You should come down and visit me." he says, putting his shoes on.
"Maybe." I tell him, handing him his coat.
"Thanks again, Lizzie." he says, kissing my cheek again. I watch him walk out and close the door behind him. My hand reaches up and gently touches the place on my cheek where his lips once were, the skin still on fire from the contact.
I walk back to my bedroom in a daze, thinking of nothing but him. I flop down onto my bed, rolling over to where he slept just hours ago. His aroma still stuck to the pillows and sheets on his side of the bed.
Next thing I know, Nikki is shaking me awake.
"Liz! Wake up." she shouts. I groan and sit up, putting my glasses on.
"We're gonna go down to the studio. Wanna come?" she asks. I nod, getting out of bed.
"Yeah. When does the next bus leave?" I ask.
"An hour." Ashley says.
"That couch is the worst." Dakota says, rubbing her back.
"Sorry. It's not our fault you fell asleep there." Nikki says shrugging as she brushes her hair.
"Will you braid my hair?" Dakota asks Nikki.
"Sure." she says, turning the brush on her.
I walk into the bathroom and quickly shower and blow dry my hair. I put my contacts in and apply a small amount of makeup before walking back out.
"Ready?" Nikki asks. I nod and we walk out of the room together and decide to take the stairs. About three flights down, Dakota and Ashley suggest that we take a break.
"Someone carry me." Dakota says.
"Why don't you two just catch the elevator?" Nikki suggests.
They smile and quickly walk toward the elevator.
"Babies." Nikki says, walking down the stairs again.
"Wanna race?" I ask. She smiles evilly.
"You're on old lady." she says, running down. I run down beside her, eventually passing her. By the time we reach the lobby, she is four stairs behind me.
"Whose the old lady now?" I ask, giggling. She rolls her eyes and high fives me.
"Good workout." she says.
We get onto the bus and see Ashley and Dakota already sitting there.
"How was the workout?" Ashley asks.
"Good." I tell her. The bus ride was short yet not short enough. I can't wait to see Peter again.
We file out of the bus and walk into the studio where everyone is running around. It was chaotic yet it was organized chaos.
I try to find Peter but there is a sea of people, making it difficult to find him.
"Quiet on set. Places!" Martin says from somewhere in the studio. The chaos immediately ceases and we move to the front to get a better view of what is being filmed.
I see Peter laying on the ground of what looks like a sewer. His neck is bleeding onto his vintage clothes and my stomach churns at what i'm afraid I am about to see.
"Action."
I watch as Peter begins to shudder and wince. His spasms turn into him writhing on the floor, screaming in pain. His back arches and his fists clench as he screams, a vein popping out of his neck with strain. My heart breaks watching this. I have to look away in order to keep myself together. Hearing his cries of pain, even if he is just acting, physically hurts me.
"Help! God please!" he cries out. His screams slowly die down and turn into sobs until he is finally finished.
"Cut! Get the contacts in. Peter, don't move." Martin orders.
I watch as a crew member rushes toward Peter and bends down, holding his face with one hand and putting the contacts in with the other. I find myself becoming jealous as I watch this young girl touching his face. She doesn't need to hold his face. She chooses to.
Once she is finished, she stands up and rushes off of the set.
"Action."
The cameras roll in, getting closer to Peter. He opens his eyes and they stare right into the lens of the camera. They flicker around curiously, looking at every little thing. He gets up from the ground and jumps out of the sewer.
"Cut! I would like to shoot the next scene with teenage Esme, since I already have her here. We can do all of the in between tomorrow." Martin says.
I watch as Joey makes her way onto set, her curly hair tied back in a ponytail. She climbs into the tree and they test out her harness.
"Alright. Just jump. This mat is down here to catch you. If you don't feel comfortable, just tell me and we can bring in a stunt-" Martin stops talking as Joey scoots off of the tree branch and is slowly lowered down to the mat by the wires.
"Good. Now next time you do it, the fall will be faster and I want you to actually crumple to the ground, clutching your left leg." he orders.
"You made it!" I turn around and see Peter, smiling, walking toward me.