A Step Back (Jennifer. A + David. S)

Chapter 8: The Threat

The next day on set was awkward. Jen and Court were filming a scene, and everybody else was standing around behind the camera watching. The audience was laughing at the jokes, and Matt was talking up some girl in the audience. Lisa was watching them intently, while I was in a weird trance. Rachel and Monica were fighting in the scene, but I was imagining Jen and Court. I know they are the same generally, but actually, they are quite different. Half of the words yelled by Jennifer would never ever come out of her own mouth. Cruel words that could easily hurt Courtney is something she would never utter. As for Court, she isn't as diverse. Monica's words didn't display and show her character; it could have been any one of us fighting in the scene. If you handed me a copy of the script for the fight, I could easily tell you it was Rachel, but the other person I'd just have to guess. Who?
When you are bored and you let your mind wander sometimes you dissect and destroy whatever you love.

2 HOURS LATER.

The audience has gone, and the crew has taken the 5 miles of film up to the editing guys in the offices. Jen was deep in conversation with Matty, Lisa, and Court. Matt was by my side. His elbow was resting on my shoulder, and his other hand was on his hip. I'm not too close with him; probably the least out of everyone. He could almost sense my longing as I gazed lovingly at Jennifer.

"You like her, don't ya?" He asks with a sense of fierceness, looking at me.

I turn to meet his eyes. I swallow once before trying to speak.

"Yeah, I do. A lot, actually." I respond, my voice cracking nervously. It's the first time I've admitted my feelings to anyone else other than two girls.

"So would you bang her?" He interjects randomly.
I recoil in disgust when he uses the phrase 'bang'. It makes me think of a drunk man taking advantage of a woman in some sleazy bar. It's one of those derogatory slang words that makes sex an act of ones' pleasure without even thinking of the other person when it's quite the opposite.

"Well, I don't really think of her that way. And for the record, please don't use the word 'bang' around me, unless you're referring to a gun." I reply.
He grabs my shoulder, turning me towards him.

"Well stay away. I think she's hot, and I'm asking her out later. Okay?" He threatens.
Again, the word 'hot' makes a woman seem like an object used to please men. Rating a woman off of her 'hotness' is so odd to me. I don't really rate a woman's attractiveness, I more judge on personality. To show I think she has beauty both inside and out, I would never approach her and call her 'hot'. Maybe some women think that's sexy. Maybe that's why I've never had a girlfriend. I have better belief and hope in society to understand that that is not true. A man can only hope so.
Confidence is something I lack, and I wish could have at least half as much as Matt. I look at him in shock as he announces his actions so easily. Wow, I've never seen this side of Matt. He pats my chest, and then arrogantly walks away, his muscles in his arms bulging and his tight shirt showing off even more muscles. He walks up to Jen, and then asks for some privacy, as the others mutter a few words and stagger away.

MATT'S POV

I smiled nicely at Jen, and placed my hand on her hip. She returned with a nervous and awkward look. I leaned up close to her.

"How about I take you out tonight?" I ask, with confidence.

I don't get turned down that often. Rarely, actually. She anxiously looks down, and crosses her legs as she steps away. She returns to my gaze, but shakes her head no.

"I'm sorry, I just don't feel that way about you." She replies, embarrassed.

I nod, and walk away. Ay Whataya gonna do about it?

DAVID'S POV

Am I actually watching my heart get broken?
He's walked up to her, and he is leaned in, almost against her. He reaches out his hand and places it on her hip. I swallow. Oh how I wish that was me. But then, he steps back and shrugs in defeat. Okay, maybe I don't want to be him right now. He got turned down! Go Jen!
LATER THAT NIGHT.
The street lamp lets a thin layer of light shine through my bedroom window, spilling across the navy blue covers of my bed. The breeze drifts through the open window, chilling me to the bone. My hands are folded across my chest, fumbling with the buttons of my shirt. Loneliness is laying in bed, wondering whether or not a woman I barely know ever thinks about me. She probably doesn't have the time. I'm the least of her troubles. Honestly, Jennifer would most likely be reading a little magazine filled with rumours about herself and maybe shedding a tear. A single tear that slowly cascades down her face. And maybe it would turn into a few more, having to deal with the pressure of no privacy. Oh how I wish I could comfort her. Wrap my arms around her frail body and bring her into me, so she could be warm. Her breath tingling my neck, along with her tears wetting my shoulder. A man approaches us and shoves me aside. He holds her the same way I did just seconds before, and caresses her face with his gentle hands. He doesn't have a face, but hers changes to happiness. I don't want her to be sad. I want her to be happy even if that means with another man. I'll step back and let him love her.

JENNIFER'S POV
Why do I have this massive bed, yet no one to share it with? No man has laid here for months, me being the only one who ever sleeps here. So why do I have it? Surely I must be missing something. Why do humans decide to buy big things when they don't need them? Maybe they buy it because they expect someone else to share it with them. Aren't we a sad bunch?
I'll always have a bed this big. I know I will, because I will always think that I need a large bed, when in fact a small bed isn't any different to me. Why am I still rambling about bed sizes?

A/N Hey guys! I'm sorry to make Matt mean, but I really don't intend for him to be a terrible person! I also want you to know I do not think of him like The real Matt. He's just a character! The others are generally just themselves, except for David. In real life, he's a bit less shy and awkward, but other than that, the characters are pretty similar!
Question of the week: Where in the world would you most like to travel that you haven't already been?
My Answer: Amsterdam, Hamburg, Dublin, Stockholm, basically a bunch of places in Western Europe.
Please leave your answers down in the comments! Thank you!