Adoring Love

15

Liz
I walk out of the dressing room in a wedding dress, ready to go. I watch as Alex walks out in dress pants and a white wife beater. Ironic.
"Places." Martin shouts. I glance at Martin and see Peter standing beside him, looking uncomfortable.
"Action."
Alex grabs me gently, placing a soft kiss on my lips. I pull back when he begins to unbutton my dress.
"Um. I...I just don't think I'm ready." I tell him shakily.
"You're my wife now. The only thing that matters is if i'm ready. And I am." he says, kissing me once again.
"Charles, I just need a moment." I say, reciting my lines.
"Dammit woman, I said no!" he shouts. I gasp and take a step back. I watch him pace and sigh.
"Alright, darling. I'm sorry. You may have a moment. But I'm becoming impatient." he says. I nod and run to the makeshift bathroom.
I pace the room, splashing water on my face.
When I walk back out, he is pretending to be asleep on the bed. I smile and quietly slide into bed next to him, staring into the lens of the camera that is hovering over me.
"Cut!"
I sit up and walk back to the dressing room to get ready for the next scene. The door opens and Peter walks in, shutting it behind him.
"Need help?" he asks, watching me struggle with the buttons of the wedding dress.
"Yes." I say. He walks toward me and unbuttons the dress for me. I let it drop to the ground and step out of it, leaving me in the white under dress that I wear under all of my costumes. I grab the next dress off of the hanger and lay it out on the dresser.
"You still mad at me?" I ask, stepping into the next dress which is much more ratty.
"No." he says shortly.
"It sounds like you're still mad." I say, turning my back to him so he can button my next dress.
"I'm not." he says.
"Alright then." I say, turning back to him. He stares at me, his eyes searching my face. I am so close to him that I have to turn my head up in order to look into his eyes.
"I gotta go." I say quietly.
"Good luck." he says, turning around and leaving the room. I let out a huff of frustration and leave to go to hair where they pull back my right curls into a low ponytail.
I walk back onto the set and grab the broom from a crew member.
"Alright. Remember what we talked about during this scene? This is when Charles lets all of his frustrations out on you for the first time. If at any time you feel uncomfortable, just shout my name." Martin says. I nod and prepare myself.
"We will have to pause periodically for your makeup but applying the injuries won't take very long at all." he says. I nod again and mentally run through my lines.
"Quiet on set. Places please." he shouts. I see Alex standing off to the side. He smiles and gives me a thumbs up. I giggle at how different he is from his character.
"Action."
I finish sweeping the kitchen and place the broom in a fake closet. I pour fake noodles into the water that is bubbling as if it's boiling hot. The door opens and Alex walks onto the set.
"Good morning dear." I say, helping him out of his coat.
"It's the middle of the afternoon Esme." he says angrily.
"Right. My apologies. It's been a long day-" I say, wiping my forehead.
"Oh you poor little wench. Having to stay home and clean. That is your job Esme. Don't complain about it." he says. I nod and stir the pot.
"Dinner isn't ready?" he asks.
"I've just finished cleaning and-"
"Just finished? This place is a mess! Jesus Esme, can't you do anything right?" he shouts. I jump, cringing.
"Answer me!" he yells, grabbing my hair and pulling me away from the stove.
"I-I'm sorry." I squeak. He throws me to the ground.
"You shouldn't treat people this way, Charles." I tell him.
"Know your place woman. You are not to tell me what to do." he says, grabbing the pot of water and throwing it at the wall above my head, sending water all over me. I cry out in pain since the water is supposed to be boiling hot.
"Cut!" Martin shouts. Alex and I stay in our places as the makeup team adds pretend burns to my face and arms.
I glance over and see Peter looking upset again. He catches my stare and his gaze softens. He quickly walks away in the direction of the weight room.
"Action."
The scene continues and last around three hours. By the time I am allowed to go home, it is almost eleven at night. My stomach grumbles as I grab my shoes and slip the onto my feet.
Walking out of the studio, I look around for the bus. There is no one outside, not even Martin.
I walk back to the door to go inside but find it locked.
"Hello?" I shout, knocking on the door. Nothing. I look for my phone in my purse and realize that I left it at the hotel this morning.
"Martin? Peter?" I shout, not knowing what to do. I begin to walk in the general direction of the hotel.
I pull my coat tighter around me, the cold air seeping through the thin fabric. I walk down the road and look around, my surroundings becoming unfamiliar.
"Hey baby, you lost?"
I turn around and see a group of men walking toward me, all of them drunkenly running into each other and laughing. I ignore them and continue to walk down the vacant street.
"Come on babe. Don't do that."
"Yeah we're not gonna hurt you."
"We just want to have fun." they shout at me.
I glance back and see them following me.
I begin to walk faster and turn down an alley, trying to lose them.
They appear at the end of the alley, walking toward me. I stop, not knowing what to do. I turn around to go the other way but the other half of them is there, blocking me in.
"We just wanna play with you." the leader says, touching my shoulder.
"Don't touch me." I tell him angrily. Why didn't the bus wait for me?
"I like your hair." another woman says.
"Isn't she pretty boys?" a man asks.
"It's hard to tell with all of those layers." I gasp, backing away until I run into a wall.
"What do ya say? Wanna take off some things for us? We'll treat ya real nicely." the man slurs.
"N-No. I need to get back to my hotel. M-My friends are waiting." I tell him. I'm gonna die out here. All alone.
"I'll make you a deal. We will show you to your hotel if you give each of us a kiss." he says.
"Just one kiss." another says.
"A peck on the lips." says the biggest.
"Just one?" I ask. They all nod.
"O-Okay." As soon as the word leaves my lips, they all grab at me, trying to kiss me. I feel slobbery lips cover mine and another pair on my neck.
Someone grabs my jacket and rips it off.
"Peter!" I shout, trying to push them off of me.
"Peter!" I cry out.
Suddenly, all of the men stop grabbing at me. I look up and see Jackson and Kellan ripping the men off of me and throwing punches. I gasp as I am grabbed around the waist and lifted from the ground, being carried out of the alley.
I look up and see Peter looking angry.
"Peter." I say smiling. He doesn't say anything, doesn't even look at me. Just continues to walk down the street.
"Peter, you can put me down. I'm alright." I tell him. He sets me on the ground and continue walking down the street.
"Peter are you alright?" I ask, quickly following him. I run to catch up with him and see his eyes flickering around the street with a crazy look. I step in front of him and stop him, grabbing his face with my hands.
"Peter!" I shout. His eyes glance all around me and finally focus on me.
"Elizabeth." he says as if suddenly realizing who I am. He smiles and pulls me into a tight hug.
"I'm so glad you're alright." he whispers.
"Let's get you back to the hotel. Everyone is worried about you." he says, grabbing my hand and pulling me toward the hotel.
When we arrive, the entire cast surrounds me, telling me how happy they are that i'm okay.
"Oh my dear Elizabeth! I don't know how the bus left without you. I will have a talk with the driver. It will never happen again me dear." Martin says, hugging me.
"Thank you. But I'm very tired." I tell him.
"Of course. Everyone move! Let her get to bed." Martin shouts. I giggle as everyone goes back to their rooms.
I follow Peter to our room and remove my shoes and jacket. I stare at the jacket in my hands for a long time, not wanting to wear it anymore.
"You alright?" Peter asks, already in his pajamas.
"Yes." I tell him. I walk into the bathroom and change into my pajamas. I crawl into my bed and watch Peter turn the lights out and crawl into his own bed. My heart begins to race as tonight's events replay in my head.
"Peter?"
"Yes?" he asks tiredly.
"I'm afraid." I tell him. He climbs out of his bed and crawls into mine, wrapping his string arms around me. I snuggle into his chest, feeling how much different it is already. His once soft stomach is now hard.
"Goodnight Lizzie." he whispers.
"Goodnight, Peter."