Bad plan.

20

    Long after filming I stood in the center of a large room, it was filled by cast and crew. An after filming party that Simon, himself had bought and paid for. A celebration. Woohoo. This wasn't anything like the smallish low key one from before filming. No, when Simon decides to throw a party, that man can throw a party.
   The room was decorated beautifully, strobe lights going off by the dance floor as music played throughout the sound system. Drinks flowed easily and everyone was in good moods. Unlike the first time my anxiety wasn't nearly as high, I knew all these people, became friends with most of them. For randomly auditioning I had to admit, I was completely proud of myself to see this through.
    I caught sight of myself walking through the room and squealed like a child.
   "Sis!" I screamed, rushing over in the short summer dress I wore, feeling it brushing against my legs. "What are you doing here?"
    "I'm Tom's date?" Oh yeah, duh.
     "So I guess things are going pretty well?" I smirked at her giving her a nudge to which she rolled her eyes.
    "How are you and Karl doing?" She asked flipping the question around.
     "Good, good friends." I rolled my eyes, and pretended to sulk off.
     Yeah, maybe that part would be harder to keep quiet. Love ya sis, but not ready to see that look of glee on your face just quite yet. I spied Chris near the bar and waltz over to him. He held his arms out and pulled me in for a giant hug.
    "So Ren, now that you've conquered acting what's your next big plan?" He chuckled.
    "Uh, I don't think I conquered acting, I just managed not to fail at it." I laughed back, shaking my head. "I guess just bite the bullet and send in one of my manuscripts since this plan backfired."
     "You still think of it that way?" He leaned against the bar counter.
   I had to admit, maybe this didn't backfire as badly as I thought it had. I mean, sure, I never thought about acting cause well, just didn't seem like something I should do. At the same time though I got to meet a bunch of awesome people and have a blast, for the most part, while working. I had never felt more challenged or exhilarated before, even if I messed up.
    "Not entirely." I answered him honestly.
     "Good, cause I heard the director say he wanted you for the next time we film." Chris smirked. Hang on, I never said I wanted to do this again, just that I enjoyed it.
     "Yeah, maybe." I laughed, suddenly I felt a large hand rub the top of my buzzed head. "If your hoping for good luck, think again."
    "Awe come on kid." Simon said, grinning at me. "So what film you thinking about next?"
    "How about the one where I sleep for the next month straight and have a shit ton of Starbucks. Cause that's what I'm doing." No more trainer, no more crappy diet.
     "You can't tell me you don't have the acting bug."
     "Nope, think I'm good. But if I change my mind I'll let you know." I shot him gun fingers while walking backwards away from the two men.
    I walked around, scanning the room. The one person I did want to see, I couldn't find. My ever dark haired companion, the one who completely flipping this entire plan of mine upside down. Truth be told he was the biggest reason it wasn't a bad plan in my head anymore.
   "Looking for someone special, kid?" Mr. Smooth As Whiskey whispered in my ear, a smiled beamed across my face I spun around to face him.
    "And who exactly would I be looking for, old man?" I smirked up at him, black dress pants and a white button down long sleeve top, could you look any sexier?
     "I don't know but when a woman stands off to the side scanning the dance floor generally she's looking for someone." The strobe caught his eyes lighting them up in hues of honey.
     "Maybe I am." I bit my bottom lip, could we flirt any harder?
     "So, Renee, got any plans coming up?" He asked, hooking his arm with mine, walking me over to a table.
    We sat down opposite of each other, and the people, the room seemed to dissolve around us. I knew he would be leaving soon to go back, back to New Zealand. Away from the states and Oregon, far away from me.
     "Everyone keeps asking what I'm going to do next." I looked down, fiddling my fingers together.
     "I don't mean work wise, I mean what are your plans for the next month or so." He reiterates, ducking his head down trying to me to look up at him.
    "I don't know, I got a call a couple days ago from my actual job, I was fired." I chuckled. "Figured I'd take it easy before I go look for a new job, maybe send in a manuscript."
    "Did you want to see New Zealand?" He asked, excuse me? My eyes snapped up meeting his, I blinked hard a couple of times.
    Unlike the train wreck at the bar, eons ago, he waited patiently for my brain to respond. I cocked my head slightly and smiled.
    "You want me to go back with you?" I asked, it seemed like odd request and I just wanted to make sure I heard him correctly.
    "Yes, I want you to come see where I live." He smiled softly at me, reaching out placing his hand on mine giving it a brief squeeze. "You showed me your home, I want to show you mine."
   "I'd love to see New Zealand, I'll have to figure out something to tell Rosalyn." I bit down on my lip trying to repress the urge to giggle like a school girl.
   "Rumor has it, she's taking a small vacation from her job and going to see the British countryside." Nevermind, off the hook.
   "Well, maybe I won't have to stress over that."
     "Stay over with me for a month and then we get to do some press." Well shit, nevermind, here comes the stress.
    "I thought we wouldn't have to worry about press till closer to when the movie comes out." I stated, feeling my chest tighten.
    "Breathe."
     "I am breathing." My voice an octave higher then I'm willing to admit.
     "Okay, kid but you need to do it more and evenly." He replied, keeping his eyes on mine. "We have to start pumping people up for the actually press tours."
     Tours, press, secrets, awe fuckin' holy hell. The filming was the easy part.