| Everyone assembled the next morning at the base of the snowfields. Today’s scene Brian could handle. It was tomorrow he feared when they had to go to the top of the mountain. His fear of heights was something he could not overcome and in all honesty, he didn’t know if he could go through with it, even for the video shoot. Belle stood by a tree reading what looked like a script. She really took this job seriously which Brian was impressed with. It was the perfect opportunity to go over to talk to her, so he left Nick goofing off with AJ and walked over. “Good Morning Belle. How are you today?” He asked her with a smile. Belle looked up and he saw that hesitant look on her face again. “Oh Brian! Hello. I’m fine, how are you?” she answered him but he got the distinct impression that she didn’t want anything to do with him. She wasn’t sending out vibes of being superior to him, just hesitancy. Was he that bad that she disliked him so much? “I’m good.” He peeked over at what she had in her hand. “So what are you reading?” he asked her. “Just the script for today.” “Oh yeah? Today should be fun, we get to play in the snow,” he laughed and was rewarded with a smile from her. It lit up her face and he felt something stirring deep within him. “Yeah, it should be. And the number of shots that director wants, it will be a day full of playing.” “Yeah, he is a bit much isn’t he?” “Yes, I have never known for so many takes to be shot,” she said rolling her eyes. “So you’ve done a lot of acting before?” Brian asked her with interest. ‘Um…” she looked away suddenly. “Yeah, a bit of acting. I am fairly new to it though.” “Oh!” Brian said, but he felt like she was holding something back. “Lets go back to the others, they look like things might be starting,” he said feeling a little disappointed that she wouldn’t tell him the truth. Then again, why should she? The day went on with lots of fun in the snow. The sun was shining brilliantly keeping the temperatures pleasant and Brian felt that he and Belle were getting on much better after the morning session. As the day wore on Brian felt himself getting closer to her and the simmering feelings humming through his body whenever she was near were increasing. Finally it was time for the scene he was looking forward to. It was the scene where he had drawn a broken heart in the snow and left a rose for her to find. She then had to find it and hold the rose to her nose and smell it. He would walk over and they would begin to talk, the two of them building a relationship. Brian didn’t know how much of the scene they would use, but he would make it the best scene he had ever filmed. He would be very convincing. Belle looked at him with some trepidation. “It’s okay.” Brian whispered into her ear and he felt her shiver. He held back the groan that was about to surface and took her hand in his again feeling the sparks he had felt the day before but this time he didn’t let go as he led her to the set. She stood to the side as Brian began his part, crouching down to the snow and drawing a heart in the snow with his bare fingers right below a long stemmed red rose he had placed in the snow. One take was all it took for that scene, not much being able to go wrong in this one. Belle’s scene was perfect, her emotions playing out for the camera. She was a remarkable actress. Brian could tell that even in the small parts she had played already and surprisingly he felt proud of her. He couldn’t explain that emotion to himself while he stood watching her, a big smile on his face. “She’s good isn’t she?” Howie came up to him and whispered in his ear. “She is.” Brian answered. “You like her don’t you?” he said and Brian’s head shot around to look at Howie. He knew he was caught and shrugged. “A little.” “Brian, my man. It’s more than a little and quite obvious. You can hardly keep your eyes off her.” Brian groaned at the thought of being so obvious. What would Belle be thinking of him then. “It’s okay Brian. Have you asked her out yet?” “No, I haven’t. She seems to be.. I dunno, hesitant.” “Well, just relax, take it easy. It’ll work out if it is meant to.” Brian nodded agreeing with Howie. “Looks like they are ready for you.” Brian looked up and saw himself being beckoned over to the set. This was it, the scene he had been waiting for. “Okay Brian, you are to go to talk to Belle and the two of you will suddenly hit it off. Belle you are to let Brian in. He has worked his way into your heart.” She nodded and looked warily at Brian. He winked at her to set her at ease and she smiled again. He was never going to get enough of her smile. Belle crouched down and smelled the rose waiting for action to be called. “Action!” She touched the heart Brian had drawn, a loving smile on her face. Brian walked up behind her and crouched down touching her elbow. “Would you like to go out to dinner tonight?” he asked and her eyes widened with surprise. “CUT!” the director screamed. “Belle, that is not the look we are looking for. Come on, you are better than that. I’ve seen the takes of your movie and you are brilliant. Give us some of that now will you.” Now it was Brian’s turn to look surprised. He looked at her blushing and felt bad for her. “It was my fault. I said something I shouldn’t have. Lets try again,” Brian said feebly. He looked back at Belle and she looked thankfully at him. He would have to ask her what that was all about later. He mouthed “sorry” to her and got back into position for another shoot. It couldn’t be too hard seeing it was exactly how he was feeling. They did the shoot again and it was perfect, the director beaming at them. They did another couple of times just in case, and wrapped it up. Next they would be acting lovingly together with the rest of the cast. Lunch was called and Brian would have to wait till he got to act out the part of new boyfriend. “I’m sorry about that,” Brian said to Belle as they walked towards the luncheon tables that had been set up with all sorts of foods to appeal to any palate. She sighed. “That’s okay Brian. I just find it hard to be criticized when I really haven’t got off the ground in my career yet.” “But he said your movie. Have you made a movie?” “Yeah. It’s not out yet though. It’s in production at the moment. It’s a romantic comedy. It was my first movie and I loved it. It was so much fun to make.” Brian could see the delight she felt for her movie making. Suddenly it dawned on him who she was. “Hold on. Belle! Belle Hart?” She blushed even more than before and nodded. “Oh My God, everyone in the movie industry is talking about you. You are the next big star to hit Hollywood. People are expecting big things from you.” “Well, lets not go that far, but yeah, I’m Belle Hart,” she said a little self-consciously. It was clear to Brian she wasn’t comfortable with the star status she was amassing for herself. “Wow, how did we manage to get you to do our little video shoot?” Brian asked, still clearly impressed. She laughed now. “Brian! I’m not like that, honest. I love doing any kind of acting, including little video shoots.” She continued to smile at him. Brian watched her feeling himself falling for her. They had gathered their lunch and were walking towards the tables set out on a clear section of ground. “Sit with me?” he asked her. “Sure.” They both sat at an empty table and began to eat, Belle telling Brian more about her work as an actress and Brian telling her about life as a singer. They were mostly popular in Europe right now, so they were almost in similar situations. Both of them hoping their careers would take off, though it sounded like Belle’s was a foregone conclusion if you listened to the press reports. When Brian said that to her she blushed again. “I love it when you blush,” Brian said to her, sliding his hand over to lay on top of hers. She looked down at her hand and slowly pulled it away. Brian frowned. “You love it when I am embarrassed?” she asked, a glimmer of a smile tugging at her lips. “No, not at all. I didn’t mean… I’m sorry.” Brian stammered. She chuckled at his reaction. “I was only kidding Brian.” The look of relief on his face brought another genuine smile to her face and she saw his eyes soften. She was falling, deeper every time she looked at him and it scared her. She looked away to survey the scene away from the lunch area and to take a break from the effect Brian was having on her. “The filming is going well,” she said to Brian in an attempt to change the subject. “Yeah, so far. It’s tomorrow I am not looking forward to.” “Why what’s tomorrow?” she asked frowning. Was there some devious plot that the director had hatched? She had read the script and it all looked fairly innocent. “We have to ride in one of those things tomorrow,” he said pointing at one of the cable cars going up the hill in the distance. It looked fairly innocent to her. “What’s so bad about that?” She asked him, clearly confused. Brian blushed and looked away. “I’m terrified of heights,” he said simply, but still not looking at her. “I don’t know if I can go up there.” Without even thinking the nurturing side of Belle came out and she placed her hand over his comfortingly. “You can do it Brian. We’ll all be there to help you.” He looked up into her eyes and she was lost. “I’ll be there to help you,” she said without even thinking of how that sounded. Brian said nothing for some time, his eyes wandering back to the mountain and his whole body shuddered. Then he looked at Belle and felt confidence growing in him. Maybe he could do it. “Thank you Belle. I think with your help,” he hesitated, not wanting to sound too demanding, “with everyone’s help, I think I can do it. It won’t be easy though. I have been scared of heights since I was little. Maybe because I am so low to the ground,” he laughed, trying to lighten the mood. “I am too,” she said meaning her own height. “But heights have never worried me. In fact I am a bit of a daredevil when it comes to heights.” “Then maybe you are just the person to help me,” he smiled at her hopefully as he spoke. Just then the director called for everyone to get back on the set. “Looks like we better get back to work.” The afternoon flew by, the acting they were doing being more fun than work. Even though the director asked them to play the scene out over and over again, Belle was enjoying acting the part of Brian’s girlfriend, and more than once she noticed the curious looks his friends threw in their direction. Neither one of them looked much like they were acting. When one of the other actresses came up to her and asked what was going on between them, she knew it was time for a break. She had to escape these feelings that were rushing through her and she was so obviously not hiding from anyone who watched her. Brian had asked her earlier if she would like to go out for dinner tonight, but he hadn’t asked again. She was glad because right now, the whole day, and how easily they had gotten along was scaring her a little bit. When the director had told the girls they were free to leave, again needing the guys to finish up some solo work, she quickly made her escape, throwing a quick glance in Brian’s direction. She saw the disappointment in his face, but she had to have some time to think, time to work out what it was that was going on between them and what, if anything, she wanted to become of it. How was she to concentrate on the new movie script her agent had sent her? |