Foreign

Chapter 42

After lunch we have a short rehearsal with the stunt coordinator. He's taking Hero and Josh through the scene and the movements.

"Okay boys, make it look real!" Greg says. "But you know the rules. You're not hitting each other's face and you use the moves they taught you."

I hold my breath when they start the scene. Will they be able to stick to the rules? I mean, they really don't like each other and they had a fight before. It's going really well at first and they don't hit each other in the face. Then Hero punches Josh in the stomach, hard. I bite my lower lip. Fuck. Josh looks pissed and I know he's not acting anymore. They actually start fighting now and everyone is just looking. No one is doing anything. I hold my breath again. This isn't going to end well. They're using their fists and they're punching really hard.

"Greg, we should stop this," I whisper.

"Shh."

"Greg!"

"No, this is gold. It will look so real!"

"Because it is real!"

"They're not punching each other in the face so we're good."

Josh raises his arm too high and we know he's about to hit Hero's nose. Greg finally interferes.

"CUT CUT!" he hastily yells.

It takes the stunt coordinator to actually stop the fight. He jerks Hero away from Josh, just in time, and Josh' fist hits the wall. He swears and they're both out of breath. They glare at each other. I run to the snack corner and take an icepack out of the freezer for Josh' fist.

"Thanks," he smiles when I come back. "Feels good!"

"Did you break something?"

"Nah, it wasn't that hard."

"You're both so stupid," I sigh. Josh just smiles.

Greg is watching the scene on the monitor. I walk over to watch it with him. It does look very real.

"This is pure gold," Greg smirks at me.

"You know you can't do another take right?" I ask. "Things will get out of hand."

"Yeah, I guess." He doesn't sound sure.

"Greg!"

"Okay, you're right. I need my actors to look good. This will be a great scene after we did some editing."

I'm relieved that this is over. Hero still has some scenes this afternoon and needs a wardrobe change but Josh is done for today.

"Hero, Brody and Isabella are expecting you," I say with a small voice. He still looks so pissed. He doesn't say anything, doesn't even make a noise but he leaves. I'm grateful that he does listen to me when I ask him something. It makes my job so much easier.

"I'm about to take a swim. Want to join?" Josh asks.

"Ugh, actors." I reply. "I can't! I still have a million things to do."

He makes a sad face.

"Okay, rehearsal for tomorrow after I'm done swimming?"

"Yeah sure."

"Okay, I'll text you and you can meet me at my room."

After his departure I talk to Greg about some schedule changes I've made for the following days. They will safe us some time. I'm also expecting Lizzie and Jack's travel itinerary so I can work around it. Hero was right, they are his friends too and I want to give him as much time with them as possible.

I'm helping Isabella and Brody when I receive Josh' text. I decide to go to my room first to change clothes because I have been working all day in these and rehearsal will probably take some time. Greg noticed that we need less takes if the actors had proper scene rehearsals so now he thinks they're super important. He demanded that Hero, Josh and Melany rehearse a couple of hours each day just to make filming go smoothly. I also pick up some snacks.

"Okay, Joshy, ready for some rehearsing?!" I say when he opens the door.

"God, how can you still be so enthusiastic after a full working day? I'm exhausted." He yawns and walks to his balcony.

"Well, fighting probably is very exhausting," I tease. "And still, my day was way longer than yours."

"That's why I opened a bottle of red wine!"

I smile and take a seat. His balcony is bigger than mine but I prefer my view. I put the snacks on the table and take out the call sheets and my copy of the script. We first read the scenes and then he talks me through the way he wants to act. I give him Greg's remarks and then we rehearse. We're in such a good working flow that we decide not to go downstairs for dinner but we just order some room service instead (pizza, obviously). When it's too cold to continue outside, we go inside. I love working with Josh. He has a clear view on his character but he's also very open to feedback.

My alarm wakes me up. I groan and turn around to shut it up.

"Auw!" Someone next to me whines. I jump up and see Josh next to me. Apparently I hit him. Damn, we must have fallen asleep while reading the script last night. The empty pizza box is on the floor next to the bed, the scripts and call sheets are on it. We're both still wearing our clothes from last night. And then it dawns on me that I haven't had a nightmare! For the first time since I found out about the baby I haven't had a nightmare!

"Shit, why is your alarm set so early?" Josh yawns and he rolls over on his belly. He looks adorable with his hair all messed up.

"Because I like to start my day with a shower and a breakfast. My days starts hours earlier than yours." I try to smile. Somehow it's a bit awkward to wake up next to him. Nothing happened, but still.. I haven't felt this good in weeks. Is it because of a good night's sleep or is it because of Josh? The question makes me anxious.

"I slept like a baby!" He stretches and sits up straight. "Must be because you were sleeping next to me." He grins and I blush which makes him laugh even more.

"I should go," I hastily say before he can make another comment. I take my notes and shoes.

"See ya princess," he smirks. I glare at him and leave. I try to be quiet as I walk through the hallway but then a door opens.

"Doing the walk of shame are we?" Damn it.