FEELINGS IN THE SPOTLIGHT
Chapter Five

Jack and Rose felt their hearts beat faster as they said their lines. Randy had to stop them a few times because they forgot their lines.

"Oh, come on, guys. You don’t have your clothes off yet and you are already messing up! Concentrate already! A love scene is not that difficult to do. I used to be an actor. I know how it feels. It might seem weird and it might feel weird to fake making love, but we have to make this movie. This story needs this scene. Please, people, concentrate!" Randy said, sounding frustrated.

Jack didn’t know why it felt so difficult to do this scene with Rose. He had done many scenes like this before. He looked at her and she seemed nervous, too.

They got in their places again and Randy yelled, "Action!" They said their lines, and this time it was perfect. It was the moment where Jack had to get close to Rose and put his hands on her waist. He got closer to her as she leaned against the door. His breathing got faster and his nervousness showed. He said the last lines before they would start the difficult part.

"Please don’t leave now. I have missed you so much. Just stay a little longer and make this moment last a bit more. Please," he said, and got even closer to her. Rose felt her heartbeat increase.

He brought her closer to him by grabbing her around the waist. He looked into her eyes and realized he wasn’t looking at her as Jason. He was looking at her like this was happening for real. He wrapped his arms around her waist and neared his lips to hers. She closed the space between them like she would in every kissing scene. He kissed her and she kissed him back. He lifted her up with the little strength he had. He was so nervous that he felt weak. He started to undress her. She felt so confused. He started to kiss her with more passion and then he took her to the bed that was near them.

He got on top of her and started to kiss her neck. She grabbed the back of his head and kissed his throat. She started to unbutton his shirt and slowly pulled it off. He stopped kissing her neck and went to her lips. He wouldn’t let go of her and found himself wanting this to be real. He realized what he was wanting and let go of her lips. She was breathing hard, as he hadn’t let her breathe. He looked at her and controlled his breathing. He thought of stopping, but he knew he had to finish this scene. He started to kiss her again, and again found himself wanting this to be real. He finished taking off her clothes, not all of them, because Rose had not signed to do a nude scene. They were kissing when Randy interrupted them.

"Cut! Okay, excellent. Let’s take a small break so we can get ready for the next part of this scene," he said, and some people headed their way. He got off her and didn’t even look at her. His assistant handed him a robe and he put it on. Judy gave Rose a robe, as well, and she grabbed it and put it on. She turned and looked at him. He would always look at her and smile, but this time he didn’t even look at her the whole time they were on the short break.

His makeup person started to fix him up, and so did Judy with Rose. Randy returned to the set with a bottle of water and sat on the bed.

"Well, kids, that was great, but that was the easy part. Now to the difficult part. This is when you fake making love. Now, I know both of you have done these scenes, but not actually a love scene. You know what I mean? You have just done the part where you take off your clothes and boom, it’s morning and you say your lines and the love night is over. Nobody is getting naked and nobody needs a condom," Randy said, and everybody on the set started to laugh except Jack and Rose. "That is why they call it acting. Jack, you will get under the covers and Rose will, too. You know what I mean? I know this is hard for you guys since you are friends, but I need this scene to be perfect. Okay?"

"Yeah, Randy, we know what you mean," Jack said, and looked at Randy. Jack walked to the bed and took his robe off. He got in the bed and Rose did the same. They were both still very nervous. Randy explained what he wanted and showed Jack where his hands should be. Jack felt awkward touching Rose’s shirtless back.

"Okay, people, get in your positions and action!" Randy yelled. This scene seemed to go on forever for Rose. It was too awkward for her, and she just wanted to finish already. Jack’s hands trembled as he ran them over her hair and back.

"Okay, excellent. Cut!" Randy yelled. Jack quickly got up and sat on the edge of the bed. "Okay, that was very good. Now to the last part of this scene," he said, and explained what he wanted. Jack lay on his back and Rose lay on his chest. They stayed like that for a few minutes.

"Action!" Randy yelled.

Rose lay on his chest, listening to his heartbeat. She closed her eyes to make it look like she was asleep. She found that she loved they way his heart beat. For a moment, she wished this moment could be longer. She had her arms around him and he had his around her. He could breathe in the scent of her hair. He loved the way it smelled and closed his eyes while massaging her hair. He started to like the way her skin felt. He ran his hand down her arm and down her back.

Why am I feeling this way? he thought to himself. I should not be thinking like this. I love Rose, but just as a friend. But I keep wishing everybody else would disappear and this would be happening for real. I feel like I want it just to be Rose and me. I should not be wanting her for real. What is happening to me? He looked down at her and kissed her forehead. This meant for her to get off him and lay on the other side of the bed. He got up and kissed her one more time and pulled the bed covers over her. It looked like she was still asleep.

He sat up and started to put his clothes back on. The camera pointed right at him as he stood up. He walked to the window of the set. He looked out of it as it was written in the script. The camera turned to her and she opened her eyes. She looked at him as he turned and looked at her. He walked to her side and got close to her ear.

"Do you love me?" he whispered. This was his line, but he found himself asking her as Jack, not Jason. He didn’t know why. She looked at him, and something inside of her wanted to say yes, but the line was not that. As Angie, her character was still confused, maybe as confused as Rose was in real life.

"I…I don’t know," she said softly. Jack looked at her and frowned in anger.

"We make love and you don’t know if you love me? I don’t understand you, Angie!" he shouted angrily.

"I’m sorry, Jason. I’m just very confused right now. Please don’t be mad at me! Please, Jason," she said. He walked away angrily. He sure is a great actor, Rose thought.

They finished saying their last lines and Randy yelled, "Cut!" They were finally done with the scene. Jack got up and walked to his trailer. Rose was helped to get dressed by Judy. They walked to her trailer to take her sixties clothes off. She dressed in her street clothes and walked to the couch that was there for her comfort. She was drinking water and thinking of what had just happened. Those scenes had been so difficult to shoot with Jack.

I just hope this thing that I’m feeling is over by the time we are finished with this movie. I will try my best to forget the taste of his lips and the way his hands feel touching my skin. I will forget about him. I just know. I hope. Oh, please, God, help me through this, she thought to herself, and closed her eyes. She was very tired and was falling asleep when she felt someone’s hand wake her. She looked up and saw that it was Billy.

"Sleepyhead. Are you tired?" he asked, sitting next to her.

"Yeah, just a bit. What are you up to, Billy?"

"Nothing. Just waiting for the last scene of the day, which is between you and me. Oh, my, I can’t believe we have just two days of shooting left. It’s been a long ride, but we are almost finished. It’s been great working with you, Rose. It really has," he said, and she smiled at him.

"Aw…thanks, Billy. It’s been a pleasure working with you, too. I hope this is not the last time I see you."

"Yeah. I’ll miss you and crazy Jack, as well. That boy is too crazy. Ha ha. You two are nuts together," he said, laughing, and she gave him a weak smile. He hugged her and she hugged him, as well. They were laughing as they did. In that moment, Jack walked into the room where they were. For a second, his eyes hated what they saw. He felt something he had never thought he would feel--jealousy. He stared at them until Rose saw him standing there. She let go of Billy and he looked at Jack.

"Hey, Jacko. I was just telling Rose how I’m going to miss you guys when we are done here. My job is done here after today, but you guys have to work for two more days," he said, smiling, and stood up and walked to Jack, who still had an angry look in his face. Billy walked to him and shook his hand. "It’s been an honor to work with you, Jack. I hope we can do it again someday," Billy said, and walked to his trailer. Jack didn’t sit next to Rose, but sat in front of her in a chair that was nearby. He was quiet and didn’t look at her. She wondered what was wrong with him and decided to break the silence.

"So, creep, what are you going to do when we are finished with this?" she asked.

"I don’t know," he said after a long pause. "Maybe hang out at the beach. I don’t plan to do another movie for a long time. This has been exhausting and…just tough on me," he said in a low voice. He looked at her and he would usually smile at her, but this time he didn’t. He looked at her and didn’t blink at all. She looked into his eyes and saw that they were looking at her differently. She looked away and stared at the floor. He kept his eyes on her.

Why does he seem mad? Did I do something to him or did I say something wrong? she thought to herself.

"I’ll see you tomorrow, Rose. Since I don’t have anymore scenes today, I can leave now. I’ll see you later," he said, and got up. He started to walk away, but looked back at Rose. He slowly walked to her and hugged her. "Bye, weirdo," he whispered in her ear. She gave him a smile and he smiled back weakly. He left and Rose just watched him leave. He was acting very odd; he would always stay the whole day with Rose, even if he didn’t have anymore scenes. She didn’t know why he was acting so strangely.

*****

Jack lay on his bed and felt a hand touch his chest. It was Regina, and he gave her a smile. She smiled back at him and lay next to him.

"I have missed you all day, Jack. Have you missed me?" she asked, and kissed his cheek.

"Yeah. I have missed you," he said with some uncertainty. She started to kiss his neck and his ears while he closed his eyes. She got closer to his lips and kissed his chin. He looked at her and kissed her lips. He kissed her, full of passion, and turned her over. He closed his eyes and started to kiss her neck. He wrapped his arms around her and was into the moment, but his mind was on someone else. While he was kissing her, he forced himself not to think of that someone else. He wanted to forget her for the moment.

Oh, Rose, why am I thinking of you right now? Why can’t you get out of my mind? he thought to himself. He stopped kissing Regina and just looked at her.

"What’s wrong, baby?" she asked. He kissed her hand as it touched his face.

"Make me forget, Regina," he said.

"Forget about what?"

"Just make me not think tonight. Don’t let me think about anything but you."

"Okay," she said, smiling, and kissed him. She wrapped her arms around him and he wrapped his arms around her. He buried his face in her chest and closed his eyes for a moment.

Rose…oh, Rose, what did you do to me? Your image won’t leave me alone. I wish I could feel you next to me. I love Regina, but why do I think of you? She isn’t the nicest girl, but she doesn’t deserve for me to wish you were the one I was hugging, for me to wish it was you I was making to love to. I just want you to leave my mind, he thought as he kissed Regina. For the rest of the night, he tried his best to get her out of his mind.

*****

The next day, Jack and Rose were doing a scene in the city. It would be the last scene they would do there. They were rehearsing their lines and Randy was making sure everything was ready.

"Okay, people. This is a short day of shooting, but after this we are going back to the little town we were in to begin with to shoot the last scene tomorrow. I know what you are thinking. We did that scene while we were over there, but I want this part of the film to seem more real than anything. So, sorry if that bothers you," he said, and sat in the chair that had the word Director on the back. Rose walked onto the set. Judy was fixing her makeup. Rose had not seen Jack all day and was sort of disappointed, since this was one of the last days they were going to shoot. She sat in the chair that had her name on it. She sat and waited for Randy to say it was time to film.

"Sorry, guys, that we are just standing here, but Mr. Dawson got here late and he is taking a while to get ready," Randy said when he saw Jack.

"I’m sorry, Randy. I couldn’t sleep last night and I started the day with a bad morning. I’m sorry," Jack said.

"It’s okay, Jack. This is your first time late anyway. We all mess up sometimes, but you can’t be late anymore. You won’t be an actor for long if you keep that up. Well, everybody please get in your places and will someone please get me water," Randy said, wiping the sweat off his forehead. They were in a park, shooting the scene. Rose looked at Jack, who didn’t look at her. He was holding a paper, going over his lines. Randy was checking to see if the cameras were where he wanted them to be. He sat in his chair again and called everybody to be ready.

"Okay, everybody! Action!" he yelled.

Jack and Rose started to say their lines. They had to re-shoot a few times. It wasn’t coming out like Randy had hoped it would.

"Okay, Jack and Rose. Please tell me what is going on. Wait. On second thought, don’t. Just think. Lose yourselves in these characters. Think that you are Jason and Angie. Imagine that…pretend that you are in love with each other!" he said. They looked at each other when he said that. "Please, kids, you two are so brilliant! Just give me this scene," Randy said, and walked to his chair again. "Action!" This was a scene where Jason and Angie argued.

"Well, I’m here. What do you want, Jason?"

"I brought you here to tell you that I’m going back to Rocksprings. I’m going to fix my mom’s old house and live there. Chuck, my friend, asked me to work with him, and I accepted."

"So, you are leaving me?"

"No. I don’t want to do that, Angie. That is why I brought you here. Angie, please come with me. Leave this loud city and come back to our quiet town. Come with me and make me the happiest guy ever."

"I…I can’t, Jason. I can’t leave Rick. He doesn’t deserve for me to do this to him."

"But you don’t love him…"

"I can’t go, and I can’t just leave my mother like this. I’m sorry," she said.

"So, this is it? After all these years, this is how it ends? Well, let me tell you, this ending sucks! It is the worst ending ever! So much for my happy ending. I hope you have a great life with Rick. I really do. Just know that I will always love you. And if you ever change your mind, I’ll be waiting. If you ever want to know what the stars say, I’ll be waiting to tell you. I’ll be waiting," he said, and kissed her forehead and started to walk away.

"Okay, cut!" Randy yelled. "That is it for today! Tomorrow will be the last day you have to deal with me. Have a nice life to those I won’t see anymore," Randy said, laughing.

Chapter Six
Stories