FEELINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chapter Thirteen

The press and a few other reporters with cameras and others with tape recorders sat in the press conference room and waited for Randy and the rest to come out. After a few minutes, Randy walked in and smiled and waved at the cameras. The film’s executive producer and Billy were walking behind him. They sat at a long table that was facing the press. Jack and Rose had not yet walked in. There were two seats left for them. They were right next to each other. A few seconds later, Jack walked in from the right and Rose walked in from the left. For about a second, they looked at each other, then turned away.

"Hey, you two, there are two seats right over here," Randy said, pointing at the two empty seats. Jack quickly realized that they were together and sighed. Rose didn’t want to sit next to him, but forced herself to sit. Jack, without looking at her, sat down. He just stared at the cameras in front of him. He smiled at the press and tried to not look at her. They both felt uncomfortable. The cameras turned on and the questions started.

"So, Randy, what gave you the idea for this Special Edition DVD?" a lady asked.

"Well, people loved this movie when it was out, and I decided to reward them by putting this DVD out. They have asked for it," Randy said into the microphone.

"This film wasn’t the most successful film ever, but people loved it. What do you, Randy, think made people love this movie?" a man asked.

"The story. It’s that simple. People can relate to the love story. The thought of loving someone you can’t have or who doesn’t love you the same. It has happened to all of us. Let’s be honest," Randy said, and Rose and Jack looked at him.

"Jack, how was it playing this character? It was much different from the characters you usually portray," a woman asked.

"It was different. I was excited when I read about the character...um...I had never played a soldier or a man so put down by…love. I enjoyed it," he said.

"Rose, you portrayed Angie. Can you relate to this character?" a man asked.

"Um...she was a nice girl, hopefully we are alike in that," She said, and the people in the room laughed. "Um...she wanted to find true love; she was always searching for it. I think I’m a little bit like her. We both were wrong in some choices and decisions we made. Her true love was right next to her, but she never noticed. She thought wrong when she though her love was Billy’s character, but like I did, she finally realized it was a mistake and it wasn’t meant to be. That she loved Jason," Rose said, and Jack almost felt like she was talking about him, except Billy’s character was him.

"Jack, how was it working with Rose Bukater? We hear you two were very close during production. Very good friends," a man said, and Jack didn’t know what to say. He stayed quiet for a few seconds. When he started to answer, he started to stutter.

"Um...well…I…it was…a great experience," he managed to say.

That is all you can say? Right. You have no courage. You are not mature enough, Rose thought.

I’m an idiot. Great experience? That is all I can say? My gosh, I’m lame, Jack thought.

A few minutes later, after Randy explained the DVD features and Billy answered some questions of his own, the press conference ended and Jack walked to Billy.

"Hey, Bill, my man!" he said, giving him a pat on his shoulder.

"Hey, Jack. What have you been up to?" Billy asked, smiling.

"Movies. I guess that is what my life is about. Movies," Jack said with a smile.

"Uh...me, too. It gets boring sometimes. I want to be normal again. No cameras, just myself and my wife. Sometimes, I would rather just be at home with her, but I can’t. Do you know what I mean?" Billy asked.

"Yeah, I do. Normal...uh...I miss that word. I think my life would be so different. But I don’t want to complain. I have a great job. I love it," Jack said, and Rose walked to Billy.

Yes, more than anyone else, she thought when she overheard Jack. She walked to Billy and gave him a hug, interrupting their conversation.

"Billy, you haven’t changed one bit. Still handsome, and with that great smile of yours, you never change," she said, and completely ignored Jack. Jack looked at her and frowned.

"Um...I guess I’ll see you later, Billy. Have a nice day," Jack said, and walked away angrily.

"Um...you two don’t talk anymore?" Billy asked Rose.

"Uh...we talked too much already," Rose said, smiling.

Jack was walking to the door when his representative stopped him.

"Jack, you can’t leave yet. You know we have to go to the mall, right?" Sofia asked.

"What? What for?"

"To sign autographs. Randy’s bright idea to promote the movie’s new DVD. It’s supposed to be for charity. People will pay two dollars for a picture of you and Rose, and you two sign. The money goes to charity, and then the DVD will be sold there. What a coincidence," she said, smiling.

"Wait…did you say Rose and I would sign?" Jack asked.

"Oh, come on, Jack. It’s been six years since that. I would think you would be a mature adult and handle this. It’s for charity!" Sofia said.

"I know, but is there a way I can sign those pictures and not have to sit with Rose?"

"Jack…uh...people are paying to see you, not to get a picture written on by you. That is just an excuse to see you. Look, Jack, be mature about this. Can you? Joe doesn’t know about this, and that is a good thing. It will just be for an hour. Don’t worry. It’s 6:30 in the morning. Nobody is at the mall at that time, so you won’t hurt your hand," she said sarcastically.

"Is the mall even open at that time?" he asked.

"It’s a special occasion. It starts at 6:30 in the morning. So, hurry, will you?" she asked.

Jack frowned and followed her. He hated the idea of being next to Rose for one more hour. He didn’t hate her. He just felt awkward. Something inside him always wanted to jump every time he would see her. Just like when they were making the movie together.

Rose said good-bye to Billy and started to walk away when her agent, Fernando, stopped her.

"Rose, did you forget about the autograph signing?" he asked.

"What? What signing?" she asked, confused.

"The one you are suppose to do with Jack at the mall, for charity," he said.

"Oh, my God," she said.

*****

At the mall, they sat Jack and Rose together again. Again, they did not speak or look at each other. The fans, which were many, even though it was very early in the morning, could choose between three pictures. One was the movie cover, another was a picture of the movie title with stars, and the last one was a picture of Jack and Rose kissing in the movie with the words First and Only True Love. Neither of them had seen the pictures. They finally let the people in, and they started to buy the pictures. A lot bought the DVD. With a smile, they walked to Jack and Rose and handed them the picture. The first one was the movie cover picture. Jack was to sign it first, then Rose. He smiled and took it from the fan. He looked at the picture and frowned. He signed it and slowly handed it to Rose. She slowly took it from him and signed it and handed it back to the fan.

"Thank you, ma’am. You are helping these poor kids find a home," Rose said, and the woman smiled.

"No. Thank you for doing this; it’s just so great that two of the biggest stars in Hollywood are taking some time to help out," the woman said. Jack and Rose smiled at her and the lady left.

The next person came up and handed them the picture. Jack looked at it; it was the one with them kissing. He felt like throwing the picture. He felt so frustrated. He was mad that it hadn’t ended like he would have liked it to end. After six years, he still somehow felt this anger deep down in his heart. He shook his head and signed it.

"I loved your movie. It makes me cry all the time. It was love, real love," the old lady said, and Jack handed the picture to Rose and smiled at the old lady.

Rose looked at the picture and felt a lump in her throat. Why did she still feel like this? It had been too long since she had said good-bye to Jack, and yet it bothered her until this day. Six years after. This whole DVD and movie anniversary had ruined her peace. She had returned to the past, to the past memories she wished she could erase. The thing that had brought them together once had brought them together once again, six years later. It was their movie.

"Uh…thank you, ma’am, for helping," Rose said, finishing her signature and handing it to her.

The minutes passed, and with them came more and more fans. Both of their hands were aching, but they kept signing. Finally, there was one last fan. He walked to them and was about to hand Jack the picture, but stopped.

"Uh...I just want to say first of all, I loved your movie. You must think it’s weird that a man loves this romantic cheesy movie, but I do. It inspired me to tell my girl friend of many years that I loved her. She is married to me now. It was like it was already written that we were meant to be. Thank you. You were very good in the movie, so good that you changed my life. Love is great, if you know how to live it and enjoy it. I was a fool before; I didn’t have the courage to tell her that I loved her as more than a friend until she was with another man. Love is all about trust and courage," he said, and handed Jack the picture. Jack didn’t notice that the man was handing him the picture. He just stared at him. His words caught his mind. Rose realized Jack’s mind was somewhere else.

"Jack!" she said, waking him from his thoughts. It was the first time she had directed a word to him in six years. Jack reacted and took the picture from the man.

"I’m sorry. Deep words...uh...I’m glad our movie did that for you. I think that was the writer’s intention, to make us realize that we need to open our eyes and stop searching, because love might be right next to you and you don’t even know it," he said, and signed the picture and slowly handed it to Rose. She took it slowly, and he turned to look at her while she was taking it. He looked at her, and she looked at him for the first time in six years. She had wondered whatever had made her fall in love with him, but now she was seeing it in his eyes, the look in his eyes every time he would look at her. It would make her fall in love with him all over again when they were together, and now he was looking at her the same way. Those deep blue eyes of his were looking at her. He looked at her and then looked at her lips and quickly realized his thoughts and turned away. She turned away also, signed the picture, and the man smiled and left.

Sofia and Fernando walked to them, and Rose and Jack stood up.

"Well, that is the end of it. See that? It feels great knowing you helped someone," Sofia said, and Jack smiled and was about to look at Rose when someone called out her name.

"Rosie!" a man said, and Rose looked at him.

"Samuel!" she said, smiling. She ran to him, hugged him, and then kissed him on the lips. Jack looked at them and didn’t know why he felt like his heart was breaking. Did he still love her? He looked down at the floor and walked out of the mall. He walked past them, and Rose, in Samuel’s arms, watched him leave. He was walking very fast. She looked at Samuel and her frown turned into a smile.

*****

Jack arrived at his house, and Mandy walked out. She ran to him and kissed him. He wrapped his arms around her and smiled at her. She kissed him, and he kissed back. He slowly let her go.

"I love you," he said, looking at her. She thought it was awkward. He never said things like that. He was very quiet about his feelings.

"Okay…what’s that about?" she asked.

"I love you. Why is that so strange?" he asked.

"You never say you do, even though I already know, but you are the more than words man," she said, smiling and kissing him.

"Well, I feel like I don’t say it enough, and I might lose you because of that. I love you," he said, and she smiled.

"You won’t lose me. I love you, too," she said, and hugged him. He smiled, buried his face in her neck, and hugged her tightly. He hugged her for a few moments. Then Rose’s image came to his mind.

"Oh, God, not again," he said.

"Not again what, Jack?" Mandy asked.

"Oh, I forgot something, but it’s nothing important," he said, and hugged her again. Please, God, don’t let what happened to me with Regina happen again. Please don’t let Rose take over me again. I don’t want to love her anymore. I want to be with Mandy. Please don’t let my heart be fooled again, Jack thought to himself.

Chapter Fourteen
Stories