Jessica
I glanced at the script in my hands. The fresh polish on them glistening in the otherwise unappealing fluorescent lighting of the room. Despite the gorgeous view from the window in the waiting room, this room was bare with the sole purpose of screening. There was a single desk, four chairs, and two cameras. Definitely something I was familiar with.
After years of working non-stop, I had decided it was time for a break and stepped away from the hustle and bustle of tinsel town. I rejected numerous projects and laid low for a while. Of course, that didn’t stop the paparazzi and fans from following my every move, but it had all become a blur at that point. When you’ve been in the business as long as I had, watching every aspect of your life picked apart and prodded was second nature. So I would smile, wave, and move on with my day, then return home and read articles about how I supposedly in rehab because of my lack of public appearances. It was amusing really; seeing the bullshit being fed to the public.
When my agent came to me last year with a script of Highway, she practically begged me to give it a shot.
It wasn’t anything extremely unique but she fell in love with the strength of the character which was something they don’t usually write in stories like this. The role had been written the role with me in mind. It was flattering of course, Hugh Harvey was one of the biggest directors in Hollywood. The idea for the movie had come to him in a dream. In it, he saw me and Charlie Hunnam as the leads. Now he was fixated on getting both of us or the movie wasn’t going to happen. I’d worked with him a few times and knew that he was a very strange and very stubborn man, but he was a creative genius who turned everything he touched to gold. I had him to thank for one of my Oscars.
I offered to do a read for him and see how we played out. He was adamant that we were perfect for the role because he’d seen it all in his head. Still I insisted. Despite both Charlie and I’s successful careers, we had yet to do a work together. A chemistry read was a must. If there was no spark between us, the movie would be a flop, regardless of Hugh’s vision.
“Jessica!” The door opened, Hugh coming inside with a wide crooked smile, Charlie following.
The man was gorgeous on screen, but that didn’t do him half as much justice. He smiled at me. The scruff on his face emphasizing his lips as they curled at the corners.
“Thanks so much for waiting.” The older Brit continued, pulling me against him in a hug and kissing both cheeks. “This is Charlie. I don’t believe you two have met yet.”
“No, but it’s a pleasure.” I smiled, holding my hand out to shake the Nordic God-like man’s hand.
“Pleasure’s all mine.” He smirked, his touch soft but his calloused hand returned a firm shake. “I’m a huge fan of your work.”
Pretty boys with hard muscles and accents were a dime a dozen in this industry but to see one with such natural charisma always caught my attention.
Slowly, hesitantly, he released his grip on my hand, looking me over before turning his attention back to Hugh.
“Okay, there are going to be quite a few heavy scenes we need to test out. If this goes as well in real life as it did in my dream, then we’ll be golden.” Hugh shot us a wink before lowering his dark rimmed glasses over his eyes, flipping through the script. “Let’s start with page 23, scene 9.”
Turning to the page, I looked over my lines as Charlie did the same. Within a moment of him finding the scene, he laughed.
“You would have us start with this scene first.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, looking up at Hugh. I knew the drill all too well. Intimate scenes were his favorite and I was more than prepared for a few of them in this movie. I couldn’t say that I minded. Charlie was hot as hell, who wouldn’t want to be rubbed up against him.
“It’s the best way to determine if there’s a chemistry.” He said the word with air quotes.
He laughed and motioned for the two of us get together. I took my cue, standing toe to toe with the blonde. His height easily towering over mine and I made a mental note that apple boxes would have to frequent the set in order to even us out more on camera.
Charlie
She was beautiful. Her blue-green eyes were accentuated by long lashes. Her hair was down in effortless waves. The only makeup on her face was the chapstick that glossed her full pink lips. I’d never been as star struck as I was in this moment.
Jessica Valentine became every 12 year old’s dream girl when she starred in The Night Before Christmas and only continued to hold our obsession as she got older. Any man with eyes could see how beautiful she was. It had taken me a moment to recognize her with a darker hair color but this worked just as well as her usual blonde locks.
She was America’s sweetheart. Long hair. Bright eyes. Southern accent. Perfectly aligned teeth that could blind you. But from what I’d seen in magazines and interviews she seemed like a real uppity bitch so it was never high on my priority list to meet her.
They always made her seem full of herself, always dressed in designer and heels. Last I heard, she was in rehab somewhere in New York. But the woman standing before me today wasn’t that girl. She wore a pair of dark washed jeans, a t-shirt similar to mine, fitted enough to embrace her figure but loose enough to be comfortable. Hopefully, she’d continue to surprise me.
As scripted, I placed my hand on her hip, my fingers molding over the curve. She looked up at me with expectant eyes, like a switch had gone off in her and her character had come to life. I breathed out, searching her eyes, my free hand cupping her neck, thumb brushing against the soft skin of her cheek.
“You don’t have to do this.” I whispered, agony in my tone.
She leaned into my touch, eyes closing in the comfort it provided before hanging her head, shaking it as she stepped backwards. “We both know I do, August.”
“He’ll kill you!” I raised my voice, stepping forward in anger. “I won’t let that happen. I can’t!”
“Why not?” She asked, her voice as loud as mine, tears welling in her eyes. “What did you think this was going to turn into huh? You killed someone! I’m in fucking hiding! There is no white picket fences in our future, August! But I’ll be damned if I let anyone else get hurt because of me!”
Jesus Christ. I hadn’t expected that kind of performance.
I closed the distance between us, my hands cupping her face as my lips crashed into hers.
Peppermint. The chap stick she had on was peppermint.
Her hands balled the ends of my shirt, pulling me impossibly flush against her frame as she returned the kiss. A small moan escaping her lips as I backed her against the wall. I felt the wetness of her tear against my skin as she let all of her emotions pour into the role.
“And scene!” Hugh called, clapping his hands wildly.
Neither of us pulled away for a minute, relishing in the electricity of the kiss. I leaned my forehead against her as we caught our breaths, looking into each other’s eyes. I’d never been in a read as impressive as this with a connection this strong.
She smiled, wiping her cheeks from the tears before stepping away from me. A switch flipping again as she broke character.
“That was perfect!” Hugh exclaimed, jotting down notes on his script. “Raw emotion – sex appeal! I knew it’d work out! So?” He looked between us. “Will you do it?”