Not even friends.
And in a week’s time, I will no longer have to consider her my colleague.
My phone vibrates on my nightstand, and I see Cassandra’s name on the screen.
Cassandra:I shouldn’t be telling you this, but our girl is planning on leaving Grangewood early. Like, tonight early. Her flight is booked already. Please make her stay. If not for you, then for me.
Cassandra:Kidding. But seriously. She knows deep down you’re not an asshole. You just need to convince her of it. Prove it to her.
Me:How?
Cassandra:Figure it out, Green. And do it quickly.
Sighing, I place my phone back onto the table beside my head and run my hands down my face.
How can I have screwed this upsobadly?
Six months ago, I was a broke, almost nobody, scrounging for pennies, and God, I was lonely.
I didn’t realize just how lonely I was until I spent every single day surrounded by people I now consider family.
And with work almost finished, I’m conflicted on how to feel. Because on one hand, I’ve never been more relieved for something to end in my life. But on the other, I’m not ready to say goodbye to it all.
That’s a lie.
I am ready to say goodbye, but I’m not ready to say it toher.
I don’t want to go back to being complete strangers who live less than a block away from each other.
I can’t do it.
Iwon’t.
The experience of filming and being on set has been fulfilling in a way I never thought possible, but all the perks thatcomewith being an actor?
I’d give it all up for her.
The money, the fame, the penthouse apartments, chefs, cleaners—I don’t want any of it.
But even if I gave it up now, people already know my name. They know what I look like and my entire resume. They probably already know the address to my new place, and I only signed the paperwork this morning. There’s just no avoiding it.
One week left, and we all go back to living the lives we had before, but it doesn’t feel right knowing I might have to do it without her by my side.
Over the last three months, I’ve realized what it feels like to know her, to have her, and to lose her.
I can’t handle the thought of being lost forever.
***
“Are you coming, hotshot?” Mara calls out across the set, and all eyes turn to watch my reaction.
Laurel pulled the both of us aside once I’d gotten here this morning to talk about our actions and how unprofessional it was.
As if I didn’t already know.
Mara tried to claim innocence, but Laurel told her to cut the crap, put her head down, and focus on the job at hand.
“If word got out to the press that you were too drunk to even function,” she says to me. “And you were attempting to take advantage of a man who physically couldn’t say no to you,” she says to Mara, her face now red with fury. “You will lose all credibility in this industry. Do I make myself clear?”
