| Belle had spent all night debating the pros and cons of the feelings she had for Brian. She wasn’t silly enough to deny there was something going on, but she did have the sense not to fall straight into another relationship. After all, she had only just broken off a relationship. Here heart was saying yes and her head was saying no. Was there a compromise in this at all? She tossed and turned all night, wondering if it was a good idea, at the same time arguing with herself that life was full of taking chances and she shouldn’t let one go by, in particular this one that made her feel so right. By the time she was ready to head out to meet everyone for the day’s shoot, she was none the wiser as to what she should do. But she did know she was eager to see Brian again. The moment she came down the stairs she forgot about all her inner turmoil, because waiting for her, with a red rose similar to the one used as a prop yesterday, was Brian. His smile when he saw her lit the room at the same time as lighting her entire world. There was no denying the chemistry that was going on between the two of them. “Good morning, Belle. I missed you,” Brian said handing her the rose. She held the rose under her nose and inhaled the scent much like she had yesterday, her head spinning with the effects of not only the rose, but also Brian’s presence. She smiled at him shyly. “Thank you Brian.” The two of them stood gazing at each other, neither one of them knowing exactly what to say. When the call for them all to make a move came she quickly said, “I need to put this in my room, will you wait for me?” Brian nodded like a love struck teenager. “I’ll be here.” Again they stood looking at one another before Belle turned suddenly and raced back up the stairs and to her room. Looking around for something to put the rose in, she knew she was in too deep already, there was already a strong link between them. She could pretend all she liked that it wasn’t there, but she knew it was. Brian waited downstairs unable to wipe the smile from his face. Belle had looked so beautiful coming down the stairs towards him only moments before and his heart had slammed in his chest at seeing her. All he wanted to do at that moment was take her in his arms, lower his lips to hers and kiss her. All night long Nick had teased him mercilessly about the way he had been acting through the day. There was nothing Brian could say, or even wanted to say in his defence. He had acted like a lovesick fool and he couldn’t think of anything to say to him in response so he took it all. Nick eventually got sick of it, seeing he got no response from Brian, and went to sleep, but that left Brian lying in his bed thinking of Belle. He thought of what Howie had said and cringed to himself at the thought of all the guys seeing how obvious he was. Had Belle seen it too? Is that why she had left without giving him the chance to ask her out? He had wanted to go somewhere quiet to have dinner with her to talk and get to know each other, and if he had to ask her in front of everyone or not, today he would ask her out. “Watch you don’t slip on the drool,” Nick laughed as he rushed by on his way out. “Still waiting Brian?” Howie asked him as he walked by. “You don’t want to be late.” Brian gave him a self-conscious grin. “She asked me to wait for her while she took something to her room.” “The rose.” Brian looked surprised. “I saw you standing here holding it. You really are smitten with her aren’t you?” “More than you know Howie,” Brian answered him, just as Belle came running down the stairs again. Brian’s smile returned and he forgot that Howie was there, Howie’s face lighting with a satisfied smile. He was happy for Brian if this was what he wanted and it sure looked like it was. “You okay Brian?” Belle asked him at his expression and Howie chuckled. She turned Howie’s way. “Hi Howie.” “Hi Belle. I think we better all get going, they seem to be waiting on us.” At that Brian froze. “Brian?” He stood shaking his head. “I can’t do it.” “Do what?” Belle asked then realised what he meant. “Go on the mountain?” His eyes widened with fear, his body rigid and he nodded. “I can’t do it Belle.” Belle reached over and took his hand in his. His body instantly relaxed and he looked at her. “I’ll help you, remember.” His eyes softened and he tried to smile. It came out more like a grimace and she laughed softly. He heard Howie talk and looked his way for a brief moment before locking his eyes on Belle again. If she was with him he was sure he would be okay. He blindly gave his trust away. He saw Howie smile from the corner of his eye. It was an encouraging smile and Brian took heart. He would overcome this fear. ********** To make matters worse for Brian this day, the first scene that was being shot was to be done on the chair lifts. Granted they weren’t too far from the ground in most places, but sometimes the ground disappeared below and watching them glide around made his fear return. On top of that, Brian was to ride this alone at the same time trying to look as though he was longing for Belle. This scene would appear before yesterdays filming in the final video, but they were shooting out of order which was so often the case. “You going to be okay?” Belle asked him as they lined up to take their places on the chair lift as it came towards them slowly. AJ and Nick positioned themselves to get on their chair laughing at something Nick had done just a few moments before. Kevin and Howie followed, but Brian stood back. It didn’t matter what order they filmed them in so he waited. Four of the girls got on in two separate chairs leaving only Belle and Brian. “I can’t do this,” he said again. Staring at the chairs as they came towards them. “Are we going to do this some time today?” the director yelled in his megaphone, clearly annoyed that three chairs had gone by with no one getting on. Belle held up her hand to calm him and said to him, “Just give us a minute will you?” She turned to Brian. “I know you can do this Brian. Don’t look down. Okay.” She looked at him encouragingly. He had to get on before her or he might never get on. He nodded slowly and positioned himself in front of a chair, skis on his feet and poles in his hands making it harder. He closed his eyes and waited, hoping he didn’t make a fool of himself, opening them right before the chair arrived behind him, sitting himself down. His stomach lurched as it swung below him and he wondered how he could be so stupid for getting on. He looked at Belle and she smiled at him and he forgot his fear. Maybe if he kept the vision of her face in his mind he would be okay. Her smile was etched in his memory. The he remembered he was supposed to be acting and schooled his face to the love torn guy he was portraying. |