A bullhorn sounded in the distance—their cue to run to their marks for the end of the shoot. As Ana, Rho, and Dr. Iris sprinted for Gilamede, Rho paused, looking back at the colony.
“Come on,” said Ana, grabbing his hand. As she dragged him over the line, AJ felt Noah’s large fingers envelop hers.
“That’s a wrap,” called Em, who had been watching with Ian nearby.
As the booms lowered, Noah held on to her hand. He met her eyes, and AJ’s pulse jumped.
“All right, hit the showers,” said Dave, clapping them both on the shoulder. They broke apart and joined the rest of the cast in applauding another marathon day.
In her periphery, AJ saw Em nearing. “Nice work today,” he said to Noah.
Noah nodded his thanks as Em gave AJ a bottle of water and said, “Not used to that California sun, are you?” Noah took the cue to leave.
“No, am I a tomato?” said AJ, cracking open the bottle for a long sip. When she finished, Em was staring at her.
“You’re…rosy,” he said. He cleared his throat. “I think you should spend some time with Pete and Navi in the next episode.”
As they headed for the cast’s unmarked black coach bus, AJ tried not to show how flattered she was to be getting notes fromEm Tyner.
“We’ve been seeing a lot of Ana and Rho,” he continued. “I think it’s good to juxtapose that with Ana’s old life, show who she is with people who make her…comfortable. And it will heighten their chemistry by contrast.”
As he said “chemistry,” he glanced at her in a way that caught AJ off guard. Was he being suggestive? Or was this just how directors talked to actors?
“Dave and I go way back,” AJ said. “I’m sure we’ll find stuff to play.”
“Um, Em?” one of their interns—Todd, maybe—called from ten feet behind.
“What now?” grumbled Em, leaning close to AJ. “No need to wait—I’llseeyou.”
Once again, this last seemed to hold some added meaning. As AJ climbed back onto the bus, she let the cold blast of air conditioning remove the thought from her mind.
Most of her castmates were already seated. Toni was whispering animatedly with Dave, probably about last night with Ian. She pointedly shut up as AJ neared, averting her eyes. Dave threw AJ an apologetic glance as she passed. Throat stinging, AJ tucked into the row directly behind Noah.
She’s furious because you didn’t stay in your lane.
AJ had never minded having a lane. Good boundaries and shared interests had been the glue in her friendships with Toni and Dave, but apparently that glue had dried to the point of brittleness. AJ had expected some fallout over Alara, but she’d thought Toni would have come around by now. Maybe even supported her, given all AJ had confided. AJ didn’t know where to go from here.
She stared out her window and took a breath to steady herself. Four days ago, she’d known exactly who she was: a background character, but one with a phalanx of friends. She’d been safe. Now she was on track to be a lead in a network drama, and she felt utterly exposed.
In front of her, Noah roused, then stood, glancing at the open seatto her left. AJ nodded, and he slid in, his thigh casually bumping hers. Up a few rows, Toni let out a raucous laugh.
Noah frowned. “Maybe I should talk to her,” he said gruffly. “Try to explain.”
The idea of Noah sitting Toni down was so absurd AJ couldn’t help but smile. Warmth radiated off his torso—he was overheated. “Here,” she said, offering him her mostly finished water.
Noah glanced at it then shook his head. “Thoughts on today?”
AJ sighed. “Good, but long? I’m not really used to being around kids.”
Noah looked surprised. “Really? You seem great with them.”
AJ shrugged, distracted by his obvious physical discomfort. “Here,” she said, forcing the water into his hand. “Don’t be weird.”
Grudgingly, he relented. “You’re giving me your Em water,” he commented, unscrewing the lid.
“My Em water?” said AJ.
“He practically anointed you with it,” said Noah, finishing the bottle in a single swig.
