Forward

Chapter Fourteen

Josephine

It doesn't take long for us to get into position.

First of all, we are shown what I presume will be the main dorm that we will be using throughout the film followed by the cafeteria and two or three lecture rooms.

Overall, it seems that today was only really about having a look around and taking stills, not so much the filming.

I think I speak for Hero and I when I think to myself that we both got ourselves a little worked up and worried for no reason..

Today had been easy. A little too easy.

What's the catch?

Hero

Arriving on campus was like a dream come true for me.

Growing up, I'd watched so many films and tv shows, all of which focused on American apparel, culture and pretty much anything to do with their way of life and living.

I envied the options they had.

Whether it was food, education, clothes or cars.. Even the houses they lived in were better.

Everything was like a more fulfilling and upgraded version of anything you could expect to find or experience in England.

Next to America, we are so bland in comparison.

Most houses in America for example, come with porches and large kitchens with big fridge freezers as standard, not to mention their equally large gardens complete with swimming pools.

In England, if you had a pool in your back garden you were classed as rich!

In America, it seemed to be a fairly normal and common occurrence, regardless of your financial status.

So to actually stand here.. Witnessing so many people, American people, with their very real American lives, homes and education, I can honestly say I felt privileged.

I think the realisation of it all was finally beginning to sink in. I was really here. I was actually going to be doing this.

The simple fact of knowing that I could now act out and pretend to be your average American guy only added to my feeling of excitement.

Who knows, maybe one day I'll be rich enough to buy my own place out here - complete with a pool - next door to someone rich and famous and overlooking Hollywood.

"You ready?" Jo asks, pulling me from my own thoughts.

I take one last look around me, drinking everything in before I answer her and tell her that I am infact "Ready." with a smile.

As we head over to the agreed meeting place, I find myself distracted by everyone and everything around me. I really want to talk to Jo but I don't know what to say.

Thankfully, the silence between us doesn't last for long however, as we soon discover that we have arrived a lot earlier than what we needed to.

Together, we agree to explore the grounds while we wait and I honestly couldn't be more excited.

By the time we have come full circle and scaled back to where we had started, I can tell Jo is a little bit worn out and I instantly feel bad for being so hyped and rushing everywhere.

"So what do you think?" I ask her, genuinely wanting to know is she shares the same enthusiasm as me.

"Um, yeah it's really nice." She smiles and I watch her tuck some hair behind her ear.

I love it when she does that.

"Man, I wish I went here for real.." I say more to myself than to her in order to keep myself distracted from staring at her too much.

"Well, wish no more!" She smiles looking into the distance.

I squint to see who or what she's looking at and see Anna waving and coming into view.

After saying hello and asking if we're ready, she mentions something about shooting some stills and I find myself instantly having to hide the fact that I'm feeling a little bit disappointed.

I guess I had psyched myself up for today and now that I have just found out there won't be any filming, I am guessing that means there'll be no touching or kissing today either.. Which is obviously a good thing! So why am I not relieved?!

I guess maybe because I'm thinking, wouldn't it be better to just get it over with rather than drag things out and worry?

I guess another day or two of waiting won't hurt..

We soon find ourselves back in one of the dorms, this time, with Anna by our side.

We are taken to a row of rooms so that we can familiarise ourselves with the corridors and layout.

"Okay so Khadijha is already inside with Pia, they have done a little filming today already."

"They have?" I raise my eyebrows.

So why aren't we?

"Yes, and now they just need to take some photos so if you could come inside.." She opens the door and I immediately step forward and enter the room, looking around at the plain decor.

My eyes finally land upon Red and Pia who are on the bed goofing around. They stop giggling and look up at me, leaving me unsure where to look.

"Uh, Hi." I say nervously.

The pair both acknowledge me with a slow and friendly wave.

"Hero, can you come and lay down?" I am asked by a woman I have not yet spoken to or seen before.

"Uh, sure?" I tell her with a shrug. "Where?"

If you could just put your head on Khadijha's lap? That would be great."

I turn to look behind me to see where Jo is, wanting to shoot her a look that says 'Help'! But for whatever reason she is gone, along with Anna, leaving me here with 3 pairs of female eyes all on me and expecting me to lay down and do as I'm told, and so that's exactly what I do.

"Hello again." I say to an upside down Red, trying to lighten the mood and make the best of it.

Thankfully, she giggles and greets me back, clearing the otherwise awkward air and leaving me feeling a lot better about how unsociably close I am to her.

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