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Hannah seemed to have started an online war with him in the last three days. He would post something, and she would respond with a post of her own, often debunking his assumptions about film production, giving a balanced and informative view while also getting members of the crew to corroborate her facts.

For example, Patrick had somehow managed to capture the footage of him striking Caleb on one of the monitors, and he’d made some arrogant bullshit video about the importance of timing.

In response, Hannah had posted a video with Sarah about the importance of safety, skill and experience on a film set. Sarah had even praised Caleb’s ability to take the blow, which was obviously delivered by a novice.

The comments had exploded in agreement, and many people in the industry had thrown in their own opinions in support of Caleb. The video had been a scathing critique of Patrick, showing him up for exactly who he was – a brainless, arrogant idiot.

Not unlike himself. Caleb had been unthinkably cruel to Hannah, and she’d still defended him in public – while he’d humiliated her.

She was right, he was a coward, and it had been his own growing feelings towards Hannah that had scared him, not her doing her damn job! Still, it was probably for the best they’d broken up. He didn’t deserve her, and he was going back to the States soon anyway.

‘What’s up, sad sack?’ said Lucas cheerfully, as he came to stand beside Caleb, chewing on a protein bar.

Caleb grimaced but grunted a hello.

‘You apologised to her yet?’ asked Lucas, gazing around the cast and crew thoughtfully. Caleb supposed he was talking about Hannah. Although he hadn’t spoken about it to anyone.

‘I suppose Emma told you about our breakup.’

‘Word for word.’ Lucas raised an eyebrow. ‘So, you were together. I mean, we all suspected – it was kind of obvious you were in a relationship, but you didn’t strike me as the type.’

Caleb shook his head. ‘Not officially.’

‘Well, it’s not like you to argue with a fling.’ Lucas chuckled. ‘According to Emma, it was the kind of blow-up I usually have.’ He patted Caleb on the shoulder. ‘Sorry, bro. Wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.’

Caleb rolled his shoulders, uncomfortably aware that he’d behaved in the same way Lucas did with his girlfriends. Love-bombing them, only to call an abrupt end when he’d lost interest. That’s what Hannah thought – that he’d lost interest. But that was a lie. If anything, he couldn’t stop thinking about her, had even slept in her room the first night, hoping she would come back home.

Lucas mumbled through another bite of protein bar, ‘When we get back to LA I could set you up with a model friend of mine. Don’t worry, I haven’t slept with her – she was too wise for my usual bullshit for that. But she’s pretty and focused solely on her career – doesn’t want anything serious—’

‘No thanks,’ Caleb snapped, a little more forcefully than he’d intended, but the idea of sleeping with anyone else but Hannah turned his stomach. It was too soon; all of this stuff happening with Baz and Hannah had messed with his head. He needed to focus on his work, and Hannah was right, he needed to step up and take responsibility. Starting first with becoming a stunt co-ordinator.

Lucas stopped chewing and tilted his head thoughtfully. ‘Is Hannah the one?’

Caleb snorted, exasperated with his friend who was so clueless in all matters of the heart. ‘Fucking hell, Lucas, not everyone is obsessed with the perfect one like you! Hannah is great – wonderful even – but she’s not perfect for me. The truth is, she’s too good for me, and she wants to stay in Australia and live a dream life. A life I could never give her, even if I wanted to.’

Lucas swallowed his bite and scrunched up the wrapper in his hand. ‘Why not?’ At Caleb’s huff, he added, ‘No, seriously, why not? You’re a guy that takes risks daily, why wouldn’t you take a risk on being happy? It’s obvious you love her.’

Caleb sucked in a sharp, winded breath, as if he’d just taken a punch to the gut. But Lucas shrugged and then stared at his fist with the protein wrapper still in it. ‘Damn, need to find a trash can – there’s never any pockets in these costumes.’ And with that, his friend sauntered away, oblivious to the grenade he’d thrown at Caleb’s feet.

Was he in love with Hannah? Caleb sighed miserably. It didn’t matter if he was; she would be better off without him.

‘Looks cool right?’ said a voice to the side of him, and he rolled his eyes as Patrick swaggered towards him, swinging his phone between himself and the temple set. The guy was really getting on his nerves now. He was getting bolder with his filming – had even started filming the acting performances, and Caleb had to quietly mention the infraction to one of the ADs. They’d been furious when they’d realised and had given Patrick a sharp warning.

Which made Caleb wonder why he was still being so friendly towards him – as if they were kindred spirits. The idea made him want to heave.

‘Yeah,’ Caleb said, turning slightly away from him, reluctant to give him anything – even his face.

Jerry limped over into position beside the monitor. ‘All ready when you are, Franco.’

Franco and the rest of the crew began to fidget with nervous energy, making the final last-minute checks and preparing the cameras for filming.

Caleb searched the crew for Hannah’s face, but he couldn’t see her amongst the crowd. Part of him wondered if she were avoiding him or Patrick. Probably both. Even so, she might have enjoyed seeing the temple’s destruction. It would be a spectacular sequence, and most of the cast and crew were here to watch.

Patrick sidled up to Jerry. ‘So, how does it work?’

Jerry was always happy to chat about his work. ‘There are explosives set around the doors, and under a couple of the roofs. Those are set to detonate first, as the magical blast erupts from within. Several torches are then timed to ignite, causing fires at the base of the pillars and around the doors. The whole structure will burn down in the most natural and perfect way – so that it will collapse inwards on itself.’

‘Amazing!’ barked Patrick, but Caleb was certain he didn’t care at all about the mechanics of the shot.