As we step inside, my gaze immediately finds Mackenzie, as if seeing him is going to be the highlight of my evening. He is standing in the corner of the reception room with an untouched glass of champagne in his hand. One of the producers is talking at him and Mackenzie looks as bored as hell. I’m ridiculously pleased to see that he hasn’t cut his hair. Shoulder length really does suit him. I’m glad he has realized this.
My feet carry me over to him. Liliah lets go of my arm and says something, but I barely notice her leaving.
“Hi!” I say stupidly.
Mackenzie looks at me. There is a flash of some emotion in his eyes that I can’t interpret, but I can decipher the surprise.
“Hi,” he replies, and I want to punch the air in celebration because he is actually talking to me.
“How are you?” Is the best I can come up with and it sounds so British and stupid that I inwardly cringe.
He shrugs, “Great, you?”
Before I can reply, the producer claps me on the shoulder, makes his excuses and leaves to go talk to the director. As soon as he is gone, Mackenzie’s eyes narrow.
“Why are you talking to me?” he hisses.
I should have known it was too good to be true. “Because I’m not a rude ass.”
He looks decidedly unimpressed. “What do you want?”
“Nothing, I just wanted to say hello. Jeez. No need to bite my head off.”
“Nobody talks to me unless they want something.”
“Well, maybe if you weren’t such an entitled jerk, people might actually be nice to you.”
He blinks at me and looks all kinds of hurt and upset. That is not the reaction I was expecting. How on earth do I respond to that? His expression turns blank and hostile again, but I can’t unsee what I just saw.
“You do know you are rude right? And that’s why people only talk to you when they have to?”
He glares at me and sips his drink. “We can’t all be born with buckets of charisma and charm, always knowing exactly what to say and do.”
I can only stare at him for a long moment. A thousand thoughts tangling in my mind. He thinks I have charm and charisma? He is claiming not to have any people skills? I don’t know where to start. It’s all too much.
“I don’t believe that Mackenzie Jones is socially awkward.” I snap and it sounds harsh to my own ears.
“Fuck you!” he says and he stalks away from me.
Watching him go makes me feel unbelievably sad. Like he is taking all the light and warmth with him. Leaving me alone in the dark. I yearn to run after him and beg for his forgiveness. I don’t want him to be mad at me, and I really, really don’t want to have upset him. The thought of it feels awful.
What if he really does struggle with social skills? His first acting role was before he could walk. This was never a life he chose, it was thrust upon him. For a naturally shy or introverted person, this industry would be a living hell. Is Mackenzie suffering?
The thought is startling. He is so damn good at acting. Surely only someone who is good with people can pull that off? But I suppose following lines and directions is vastly different from the improvisation that is day-to-day life, where you don’t know what people are going to say or do next.
The lights flash, indicating that it is time to take our seats. I reclaim my glamorous girlfriend and we make our way into the auditorium. It’s bitterly disappointing to see that Mackenzie’s seat is so far away from mine.
The show begins and Liliah squeezes my hand in excitement. The intro looks great and the theme song rocks. My heart rate picks up pace. If this show does well, it will be the making of my career.
The first few scenes are Maisie, either with her mom or her friends. Then it’s the big reveal about her powers. It all looks good so far. Then suddenly, I’m on the screen and part of me cringes. It’s always awkward seeing and hearing yourself. But I look good as Abe and I’m happy with my performance.
Then it’s the rainy alleyway scene. The one we shot on the first day of filming. My dramatic pause and over the shoulder glare looks amazing. Plus, my ass looks incredible. I’m loving everything so far.
The camera cuts to Cain’s dramatic entry and I can’t breathe. He looks so fucking hot it has to be illegal. Then our characters are fighting. It was done by stunt doubles and I’ve not seen it before. It looks fantastic. Cain and Abe move like graceful bad assess.
I blink as suddenly it’s my face dominating the screen. Water is pouring off of me and I’m snarling as I push Mackenzie back against the wall. Seeing that longing look he gives the dagger, up close, on the big screen makes me feel all sorts of uncomfortable.
Then his look changes, and so does mine. The way I am looking at him can only be described as smoldering. It’s intense. Full of hunger, lust and need. It raises the hairs on the back of my neck and gives me goosebumps.
