KISS ME

CHAPTER 7 - FALLING

Camila heard the horn toot and ran out the front.

"You sure you don't need me today mija?" her mother asked.

"No Mama, it's just rehearsal today, you go do something fun."

Shawn had walked her to her door last night and on the way he suggested he drive her to the rehearsal since he would be going there anyway, and she had accepted. She knew they were playing with fire, choosing to spend any more time alone with each other than necessary, but she couldn't help it. Plus it made sense to go in together.

He was holding the door open and she climbed up into the high vehicle, looking very unladylike, placing her big purse on the floor as she clicked up her seatbelt and Shawn got into the driver's seat.

"Good morning," he said, smiling at her.

"Good morning," she replied, smiling back at him.
Ugh, it was sickening. They were just happy being in the same car together. People were going to think they were sleeping together if they were this weird all the time, and then they might as well have gone ahead and done it anyway!

"Before we start, we need to take the song to James," he said.

"Yes, definitely," she agreed, and they talked for a while about the song and then about the scenes they were working on that day.

"We have the love scene today too," she said, shooting him a sidelong glance.

"Yup," he said.

"How..."

"We just do it, right? We can be professional can't we? It's just acting."

"You're right, it's just acting."

They were both on a high. The new song blew James' mind and he spent the morning on the phone to various people sharing the demo and discussing the recording process.

"Looks like you two are friends again," Kay said, looking at them questioningly. They nodded and smiled at each other and when Camila looked back at Kay she looked a little startled.

"OK, well we'll see how that comes up on camera," she said drily.

There was a huge round of applause when the rehearsal of the love scene finished. They didn't do the kiss this time, or the song, it was just a few lines, but James and Kay were visibly relieved. Camila had been worried, but like the chemistry test, once they started they were in character and it came naturally. She was happy, and so was Shawn.

"Good job guys," James said to them, squeezing their arms one at a time. "I was not looking forward to firing one of you."

"Which one?" Shawn asked. James looked insulted.

"Well I'm not going to tell you that, now am I?" he said drily. "See you both tomorrow."

The week was busy. They had rehearsals most days, finished recording the songs on others, had costume fittings and dance rehearsals. Some mornings Shawn took her into the studio, or to the recording studio, and other days they had to go their separate ways. He might drop her home, or she might make her own way. When they were in the car, they went through their lines together until they were comfortable with each other and the words they had to say. The days were long and it was exhausting in an exhilarating way and by Saturday they had finished the rehearsals and filming would begin Monday. They were starting on location at a stately home with an amazing garden about an hour away. With CGI it would become Prince Robert's palace. As they only had the place for a few days, all the relevant scenes would be shot there, out of order. None of them except the exterior of the ball scenes included Camila and that was filmed on the second day.