Love Island

7

Andre POV

Thank God that scene is over with. The fact I had to lie naked on the beach with Payton was not the best feeling in the world. Luckily for me, it only took two takes to get the scene completed.

Now as I sit on my balcony, being a bit of a creep and watching Darcy in her villa, I knew I would find it difficult to stay away from her. I promised myself that I wouldn’t approach her at all but seeing her again and her not even recognising me made me break my promise.

I began to wonder if she had a boyfriend or even a husband back home waiting for her. I mean it wouldn’t surprise me if she had a line of men waiting to be with her. She is amazing in every single way possible.

Not just in looks either. She is kind and considerate and always caring. I saw how she comforted Savio the other night. Now, he is a character. I have never met a man like him in my life. He is a breath of fresh air around here that is for sure.

When I was talking to Savio earlier on, he was very enthusiastic about his man back home. He told me how much he was in love with him and how much he missed him. When I asked if he was going to visit while we were on location, he shot that down quickly saying he works too hard and wouldn’t miss a day by coming out here. He instantly sounded sad, and a little heart broken about that but within seconds he changed the subject.

When he brought up Darcy, I was listening to every word he said with bated breath. He adores her, you could tell by the way he smiled when he mentioned anything to do with Darcy. A true friend by the sounds of it.

As I watch her pace around her villa, I can’t help but want to be a fly on her wall. To hear what she is saying to herself. I know this may sound big headed, but I know she fancies me. The way she blushed when I spoke to her the other night and when I sat with her group at breakfast this morning just makes me think what things I would love to do with her.

I know she used to be into the outdoor adventures. When we went on a weekend trip with the school one year, she was first in line to do the rock climbing, she was the first to volunteer to jump of the cliff into the water below. She showed no fear whatsoever and that just made me like her even more.

As Darcy wonders around her villa, it looks like she is having a dilemma with herself, what over I have no idea but when Savio comes in they both disappear back out the door, leaving me staring at an empty room.

Snapping out of my thoughts, I head out to grab some dinner and I will have to go and find Payton. We still need to carry on this whole facade of being a couple. I hate it, I really do, but maybe I am being too greedy and the pay cheque at the end of it is far too tempting.

It doesn't take long to find Payton; you actually hear her before you see her. If she isn't moaning about the heat or the food, she is moaning about the lack of respect she is getting from the crew and cast members. Which is utter s**t. Everyone has been nothing but nice to her, but she is so used to getting her own way, the word no is not in her vocabulary.

“About time you got here. People were beginning to wonder if I was being stood up.” She whines in my ear.

“Well, I am here now, stop bitching.”  I whisper in her ear, making it look like I am giving her a tender kiss on the temple, when all I want to do is scream in her face and tell her to stop being a b***h.

She huffs but puts her fake smile on and starts eating. Which she continued to moan about. She is a kale and salad type of girl, doesn't like all the calories and fat from the cooked meat we are being served.

I purposely fill my plate just to piss her off. As I drown out her whinging, I glance around the room to find Darcy. I can’t seem to keep her out of my thoughts. It didn’t take long for me to spot her, sitting with Savio and her other friends Molly and Johnathan. They are all happily chatting away, making me want to join them.

Everywhere Darcy seems to be, she has everyone smiling around her. Where as me, at this moment in time, can’t wait to get back to my villa to get away from Payton and her pure annoyance.

The director interrupts my boring meal, not the food but the company I am currently keeping, to tell me that the shoot for tomorrow has been cancelled as there is a safety concern regarding the boat we are supposed to be using.

Payton is, as always, whining and moaning about it. Whereas I am thankful for the unexpected day off. Normally when a scene is cancelled, they go ahead and film the next scene but that is not until nighttime so a free day for all of us.

I wonder if I can escape for a few hours. Find a quiet spot just for me to chill out and regain focus on everything. I have not really had to worry about being focused in the past, but I think having Darcy near me is affecting way more than I am willing to admit.

Thankfully dinner ended with no drama or any major scenes from Payton and I escorted her back to her villa, which lucky for me is several hundred feet away from me.  She did suggest we share to make things more believable but when I reminded her, I wouldn’t be sharing a room with her and her boy toy of the month, she pouted but agreed.

“Daddy says we need to make sure any pictures of us show how much we are in love. The last picture taken was when we were arguing and the article that followed made me out to be a spoilt bitch.”  She tells me in a demanding tone.

“Well, if you weren’t such a moaning little brat then it would be so much easier, Payton. The sooner this is over with the better. Why you can’t come clean is beyond me.”  I tell her and storm away from her.

She really does get my blood boiling sometimes. I mean, I am doing her and her father a favour by doing this whole fake relationship thing. If people who read the magazines or papers think it's fake, it's all on her head. I have done nothing but follow her lead in this.

I mean, it's not my name that will be dragged through the papers and destroyed if the truth gets out. I think she forgets that her dad could lose millions in investments if word gets out about her f**k up.

It's not my secret to tell but it really is killing me that I have literally nobody I can confide in with the whole situation. If only my parents were here to guide me in the right direction. Of course I told them the truth, I have never and will never lie to my parents. When they found out the whole fake thing, my mother was disappointed in me but supported my decision to carry it on.

Dad on the other hand, took a few weeks to get used to the idea. He wants me to find love and settle down one day, but this could potentially make that even harder for me.

The whole story is fool proof, if only Payton keeps to her side of the deal, which right now I am finding hard to believe she can.  She keeps breaking the rules, the rules her father came up with in the first place.

The fact she has no respect for her father just goes to show how much of a spoilt brat she really is. She is putting not only my life in jeopardy but her fathers, career as well.

If this all goes pear shaped, which I have a feeling it will, I lose nothing really. Maybe a few potential big selling acting jobs, but nothing I can’t handle.  

I had been so lost in my thoughts that I had not realised I had ended up on the beach that we had filmed on this morning. It all looks so different now. Not a single piece of equipment in sight, no crew members sitting in place.

You really couldn't tell we had filmed a love scene here a little over twelve hours ago.  I sat a little way from the actual area, not wanting to be reminded of the scene. As my fingers made their way through the soft sand, I looked out to the horizon, just the perfect amount of quiet for me to regain focus.

I have no idea how long I have been sitting here but hearing sniffles and cursing from somewhere in the distance broke me from my thoughts. I was in two minds whether to ignore whoever was having a little meltdown or go and investigate. The nice guy in me, walked towards the sound and who I found, was the last person I expected to see.

Savio was sitting in the wet sand as the waves broke around his legs. He didn’t hear me approaching or when I said his name quietly. His sniffles got louder and his shoulders shaking I knew he was having a serious moment.

I crouched down beside him, me placing my hand on his shoulder made him jump. He stared up at me, his eyes red and puffy from crying.

“Come on man. Let’s go for a drink.”  I said to him, putting out my hand for him to take. I helped him up and we walked in silence back to my villa.

When we got inside, I hand him a towel and a change of shorts. The man had no shame in stripping down infront of me and changing. I chuckled at him, as he stood there in all his glory, not a care in the world.

I poured us both a drink, scotch is my go-to drink when I am sad or upset about anything. I waited for him to speak. I wasn’t wanting to push him into telling me what was wrong but clearly, he has something on his mind.

“I miss him.” Savio says breaking the silence. “I want to go home, but my job here is nowhere near finished.”  He says downing the drink and placing the glass on the small table beside him.

“Can you not talk to you boss and see if you can go back for a few says?”  I ask. I’m pretty sure he can persuade anybody to do anything with his charms.

“Technically my man is my boss.” He tells me.  I look at him confused. I thought he was Darcy’s assistant, and she works for CCJ Productions meaning Tim Booth is her direct boss.

“Tim?”  I ask. Savio nods but then instantly shakes his head. “Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.”  I tell him before he panics the news will be in the gossip columns in the morning.

“I love him. He says he loves me, but I just don't get why we need to keep it secret.”  Savio huffs out.

“This world we work in, it's not always open for change. I didn’t realise Tim was gay, I have no issue with that. I think others will, since he was married and has a kid. Have you talked to Darcy about this?” I ask.

“No. She is my best friend and I know she will support me, but keeping this secret is literally killing me. I agreed to it at the beginning when things were new and exciting. Things are still pretty exciting but it's not new anymore. It's been months, nearly a f*****g year and he is still wanting to keep it secret.”  He sniffles as he tells me.

“If he really loves you, you should be able to tell him, and he should understand. I get that his job and things might get in the way. Have you told him how you feel?” 

“I’m too scared to lose him.” He says hanging his head.

“Savio. We all have secrets. Even I do. You need to talk to Tim. Maybe he is feeling the same way. You will never know.”  I tell him as I pour us another drink.

“I will speak to Darcy in the morning. See if I can get a few days, fly back and talk to him face to face.”  He says sipping his drink.

“So, you have secrets, care to share?”