Chapter 12
899 Words
"We've been practicing all weekend Lisa. You'll be fine," Christian assures me as we walk into
the production building.
I'm stunned by how many sets there are and the extent of the detail put into them.
"My scenes don't start until tomorrow, so it's all you today babe."
I nod and follow him to where Cam yells at set and sound control people while pointing around
the first set of a long street furiously.
It's fake cobblestone and there are even balconies put in along the city buildings. This is insane.
"Ah there you are. The first take starts in an hour Vasilisa. The actor playing Ben is right over
there," he says pointing to the food table where a brown haired hunky guy sits in a black chair
while chowing down on a donut. "Go build a connection. I'll call you over when we're ready."
He turns away and I look at Christian who frowns at his phone. He probably heard that, so I
figure he'll stay here to sort out his business.
With a small sigh, I walk over to the man and smile as I approach.
"Hi," I say shyly.
He smiles and slide out of his chair, hugging me unexpectedly.
"Don't tell me you're playing Scarlett? Vasilisa right? They didn't tell me you were this
beautiful," he compliments with a very white smile.
I try to keep my face from reddening while I nod.
"Thank you. You play Ben right? I don't know your name."
"Ty. You're on screen ex boyfriend," he says with a bow.
I laugh a bit and let him joke around about my character before two people come up and pull us
both away.
"It's just hair, makeup and wardrobe," he waves it off as we get dragged in different directions.
And that it was.
After being pulled through a mini barber shop and having crap brushed into my hair and a short
makeup fix, I look in the mirror with unconcealed horror.
What have they done to me?
"CHRISTIAN!"
My boyfriend comes running into the room with alarm not a moment later and his mouth gapes
when he sees me.
He flops his mouth speechless for a moment and I raise my eyebrows.
My hair is blonde. They died my hair. That on top of the makeup...
"Scarlett?! Are you ready?!"
I avert my angry gaze to the black curtain the separates me from everyone else and look back to
a still frozen Christian.
Realizing he's not going to do anything, I storm my way out of the space and towards the director
with fury.
"Sam! Do you see what they've done to me!? I didn't agree to this!"
He sighs lightly and nods.
"You did. It's in your contract. After you leave Ben, you change your look to blonde. The
opening scene is a present day view and only in the back flashes are you a brunette. We do the
back flashes last, so for now you're blonde, but we'll dye it back when we're done with these
scenes okay? It'll only be a month or so."
A month. I'm supposed to be blonde for a month! The most average hair color that everyone
seems to dye their hair to!
"We're ready for you on set A. Just follow the script and get these first two scenes done with and
that's good for the day."
He walks off and starts to set up the five different cameras that watch from all angles. This can't
be happening.
"Lisa, it's okay. Actors dye their hair all the time and you've got this script down. You'll do
great," Christian says pulling me into a quick kiss and sending me off.
Actors always dye their hair. That's just it. I'm not supposed to be an actor.
The first two scenes are slow, consisting of me walking down the street paranoid and stepping
into an alley cautiously in fear of being followed.
Seeing I'm just oversuspicious, I make my way back to my apartment and go to bed.
The next scene shows me getting ready for work, putting my last picture of me and Ben into a
box with other similar pictures with different men. Then I arrive at work and end up staying late,
and the scene cuts right before detective Derick is supposed to break in.
A bell similar to that of a school bell goes off and Sam yells cut.
"Good job Vasilisa! That was all perfect and I don't think we need another try. That was exactly
how I imagined it. That's a wrap for the day. Get some rest and be here same time tomorrow."
"Impressive," a deep voice says from behind me.
I smile seeing Ty and thank him.
"No really," he insists. "Even the best actors who have worked for decades rarely get anything
perfect on the first cut. I've never seen that happen."
"Well then there's one thing I'm good at I guess," joking to my already well know clumsiness as I
failed to walk in the costume heels and had to wear flat boots instead.
Ty laughs heartily and an arm slips around my shoulder.
"Ready?" Christian asks refferring to going home.
I nod.
"I'll see you tomorrow," I say.
"You too. And you Chris," Ty says casually.
Christian smiles tightly and pulls me away just a little too forcefully.
Jeez. What up his ass?
- Writer
