TABOO

Thirty.

"Carolina" - Harry Styles

"You got the part, Stella, congrats." Stefan says with a smile, holding out his hand.

I shake hands with him. "Thank you so much. I look forward to working with you."

We set down in a conference room at the studio where he explains when and where production will start, what hours I'll be required to work. He tells me about the contract that I'll have to sign and everything else that goes along with the job. It's so much more than I thought but I can't wait to get started.

Harry is waiting for me outside in his Range Rover and has a smile on his face when I climb inside.

"How'd it go?" He asks.

"I got the part!" I squeal and go in for a hug. He embraces me, crushing me against his chest.

"Congrats," he says, "we'll have to find a way to celebrate."

~
A week later, I'm at the studio for my first day of work on the movie. Ten or eleven other people are sat in the chairs against the wall in this massive room. It kind of resembles a gym but without the bleachers and basketball hoops.

Stefan walks in a a couple of minutes later with a few other men who all carry huge file folders full of paper. They look at the folders and the at the name tags that each of us had to attach to our shirts upon arrival. We're each handed the one that corresponds to our names and when I open it, it's everything about my character; what she is supposed to look like, how she dresses, her demeanor, relationships between her and the other characters, and some background information. Next is the script, making me want to scream. I still can't believe this is actually happening.

In the next few hours, we're all introduced to each other and instructed to get comfortable with one another. Stefan says it will be much easier to shoot the scenes if we actually know each other a little bit. I pair up with Asher to get to know him and to start reading through some of the lines since he's going to be my love interest in the movie. My mind gets hung up in what Harry will think when he sees the completed movie, what he will think when he sees me kissing another man. Good thing its just acting, I remind myself, it's all fake.

Asher turns out to be sweet and down to earth, cutting away my fear that I would have to work with someone who isn't pleasant to be around. He's cute, too. Perfectly messy brown hair that kind of reminds of Harry's before he cut it, but minus the curls. Hazel eyes and a short, scruffy beard that gives him an edge.

The day passes by fast as I familiarize myself with the other cast members and my lines in the script. Harry texts me when I'm in the locker area grabbing my purse.

"Can't wait for you to get home. I've been craving your body since we both left for work this morning."

Tingles shoot down through my veins, thinking of what Harry has planned for us, but I'm not going home just yet. The other cast members had invited me to go out for dinner tonight, and I don't want to turn them down. I want the people I'm working with to like me, not think I don't want to hang around them.

"I have a dinner with the cast tonight. Won't be home until later." I text back.

I set between Asher and another cast member named Sarah when we're at the sushi bar. The energy between all of us is bouncing with good vibes. All of us are so excited for the movie and it shows. Not one cast member seems to have bad blood with anyone, and I am beyond glad about it. We order our food and socialize with the group, going around the table with rapid fire questions. Others in the restaurant stare at us because we're so loud, but I don't care. This is the most fun I've had since I've been in NYC.

"Stella, what are you doing tomorrow night after work? We all get off at seven." Asher asks, loud enough for only me to hear.

I have plans to stay in bed with Harry. . . Or on the couch. . . Or shower all night long. Obviously I don't say that. "I'm not sure yet."

"We should go out. You and me."

"Asher," I'm conflicted.

"So we can get to know each other better, and we can rehearse our lines, read through the script." His hazel eyes are staring a hole through me.

"It doesn't have to be a date. . . If you don't want it to be."

"Well, ah, I'll think about it, okay?" I tell him with a smile. He's so sweet and adorable that it's hard to say no.

I just met Asher, but he would be good for me. It's just that Harry and I agreed to be with each other physically and exclusively. He doesn't want me with anyone else, and I know I don't want to see him with anyone else, either. We can't continue on the way we are forever, but I'm happy with it for now. I guess I could go out with Asher tomorrow night because it's not like I would be hooking up with him, so Harry has nothing to worry about.

Back at Harry's house that night, I am alone in his bed as he's not home yet. There's too much of everything swirling through my mind and it's about to drive me crazy. I keep going back to the fact that Harry is my adopted brother and what we have going on between us is so wrong in so many ways. I remember what happened when I seen him with another girl though, my feelings of hurt and betrayal.

A few hours later, when Harry and I are both in his bed, I just can't keep my mouth shut.

"How long are we going to go on like this?"

"As long as we both want it to. Simple as that." He answers. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason."

Harry turns and starts to climb onto my body, but I turn away. I can't get into it tonight as my mind is filled with too many things to stress about.

"You can end this thing between us whenever you want. I'm not forcing you."

I give him a questioning look. "Do you not want this anymore?"

"I always want you." He says and turns over, pulling the cover up to his chin.

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P.S ...something unexpected might be happening in the chapter......