“What exactly are you trying to say?” he asks, confusion lacing his tone. “There is no ‘us’. There has never been.”
“Oh, but hasn’t there?” she scoffs. “Haven’t you felt it all this time? The way every conversation has led to this? Don’t tell me you haven’t felt the ropes of fate, tying us tighter and tighter together every time we touch. Don’t tell me you haven’t felt the inevitability of it, of us.”
“Clara,” Declan replies in a hushed tone that echoes around the empty auditorium. “You… you’re my best friend. We can’t- you’re my best friend,” he repeats helplessly.
“You’re mine too, Jacob,” she replies with a heavy tone. She glances down, almost like she is shy then looks back up with a fire and determination in her eyes. “You’re my best friend, but you’re also my future- the only future I’ve ever wanted. I love you. I have been in love with you for years now. And maybe you don’t feel that too, yet, but we are meant to be together. I know it and you will too.” She gives a careless shrug and a small smirk as her green eyes shine with unshed tears. “I don’t mind waiting for you to catch up.”
The room is left with heavy silence when she is done speaking. Her chest seems to be slightly heaving with the breaths she takes, and I feel my heart racing in my chest. I turn to Declan and see that he too is wide-eyed. I clear my throat to get around the knot in it.
“Thank you,” I say to her. “We will be in touch before the week is over.”
She gives me a small nod and walks down the stage.
“Dude…” Declan says once she is out. “That was…”
“I know, Declan. I know.”
We end the auditions after her. We both know that we’ve found our actress.
‘Jasmine Tate,’ I think. ‘I can’t wait to bring this script to life with you.’
Jasmine
“Oh, my God!” I scream.
“What is it?” my best friend, Vanessa, rushes out of my kitchen where she was preparing dinner for us. “What happened?” she asks. “Are you okay?”
“I got the part!” I scream and look stunned for a moment. “The job with Declan Hart, I got it!”
“Oh, my God, that’s amazing!” Vanessa wraps me in a tight hug as we squeal together.
“I can’t believe I’m going to be in a movie with Declan Hart!” I gush as I scan through the script that was emailed to me.
“And you get to see the sexy mystery director again,” Vanessa teases, causing me to blush. I still remember the intensity of those blue eyes as he watched me act the scene, even though it’s been three days. The director was a sexy man, I could admit that, with dark brown hair, and deep blue eyes that sparkled behind the glasses he wore.
“Oh, hush,” I say, still blushing. “I don’t even know if he is the director. I just assumed.”
“Either way, you’ve got the hots for him.”
“I’ve got the hots for this job,” I correct her.
“I’m so proud of you,” she says, dropping the teasing tone and hugging me again. “It’s your big break. Finally.”
‘My big break,’ I think with a smile. ‘I’ve never been more ready.’
Chapter 2
Jasmine
“Cut!”
I resist the urge to sigh loudly as Clark’s loud voice booms through the set. Declan and I glance at each other as Clark approaches us, and we exchange slightly worried looks.
“Declan, you’re giving off too much emotion for this scene,” Clark says as he approaches us. I resist the urge to roll my eyes heavily at Clark. Declan and I have filmed this scene over four times now, and each time, Clark has had one complaint or the other.
I’ll admit I’ve always been more interested in the cast of movies than the crew, and I had no idea who Clark Webster was, even after I found out that he was the director. A quick Google search revealed all I needed to know about him, though. Besides being the sexiest man I have ever met, it turns out that he is also some big name in the movie directing industry. His Wikipedia page was pretty standard, but the tabloids were less formal and factual. Numerous articles talked about him being a sellout or jaded. When it was announced that he would be directing this movie, the paparazzi jumped with the bone with various pieces on how the world had high expectations of him and comments on some less than appealing film he had directed in the past.
I understand why he is so particular about the movie- the pressure is high on him, and he seems to want to use this movie to redeem himself and his reputation. But we have been shooting the same scene all day for God's sake. I’m done with his attitude, and Declan seems to be on the same page as me.
“Clark, buddy,” Declan says tensely, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Let’s talk in private for a moment. Take ten, Jazz. We’ll be right back.” He winks at me before he steers Clark away, hopefully, to talk some sense into him.
“Take ten, guys,” Clark yells to the crew as he and Declan head out.
I head to the concession stand to get a snack.
“Hey, girl, how are you doing?”
I turn and see my co-star in the movie, Lydia Staples approach me. Lydia and I have developed a nice friendship in the two weeks since we’ve started shooting the film, but I can’t help but still feel slightly starstruck as she approaches me. Lydia Staples is not only one of the most decorated actresses in the industry right now, but she has also been my idol since when I
