Chapter Fourteen

"Cut!! Let's try that scene again!!"

Here we are, all dressed up (well, except si moi) for the official start of the music video shooting. We've been here in the location - which, by the way, is a super-posh and lush private hilly estate which we rented for the shooting. The owners were more than happy to lend their land to us. Rich people. - for approximately five hours already.

Since nine in the morning.

Seriously, who wants to wake up at nine for some stupid shoot on a Sunday?

We've filmed a couple of scenes already, and those took just about an hour and a half. My sense of time has been warped from all the hubbub going on around me.

Before that, we had to wait for the set up, then the make-up and dressing up, which took about two hours, then lunch break which took thirty minutes, then the scenes. Everything took just the right amount of time to be done, so I don't understand why is it so hard just to take a single dialogue that we've been going over and over for almost an hour.

And my God, Jay's lines are so damned simple, I could recite it in my sleep.

Well, not literally, but you get the point, right?

All the guy's gotta do is to say, "Please. Don't leave me. I love you,", with the last sentence ending in a dramatic movie-whisper, so therefore, I have no idea why Jay has to keep on getting cuts from the director, Halley.

I looked on at the flower field - which is strangely flowering and not barren and filled with snow or ice in the middle of January. What's up with the climate here? I asked a passing techie and he told me about the field of heaters installed underground. I blanched at this. - and watched as Jay sighed and stood up straight from the bent position he was in, offering a hand to a gorgeous woman with auburn locks sitting in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Tracy. I'm afraid I'm not really good at this acting business," Jay said apologetically with an equally heart-melting smile of apology.

Not good at acting my ass.

Tracy, who is a professional actress, just smiled a genuine smile in return. "It's okay, Jay. I understand that it's quite hard to please seasoned directors when you're just a rookie at acting,"

"Thank you for being such an understanding person," he said, an all-too familiar tone inching into his voice, "Women with such compassionate attitudes are truly alluring. It doesn't help one's heart, especially when they're as beautiful as you. You set a young heart like mine on fire."

Where does he get these lines?

I watched with my mouth hung slightly open. Albeit the fact that he's always like this and the fact that Leo is about hundred fold more cheesy and corny, but why isn't he able to pull a freaking scene like, 'I love you' off!?

Some things never cease to amaze me.

Halley looked like she was about to kill someone. She pointed her assistant director towards the house, and then pointing over at Leo and Lance, who then all went towards the directed area - most probably shooting a separate scene -  before calling Jay over, and me being me, I could hear a distinct echo of their conversation amidst the busy set.

"Jayden, I understand that you're quite new at this, but please try to make it work," she said, holding his arm and shaking it in a pleading manner.

Jay has this look on his face; it was kind of like he was frustrated with himself. "I'm sorry. It's just that I know you told me to be dramatic and heart-broken and stuff, but it's weird saying that to someone I barely know," he sighed, running a hand through his hair in irritation, "This acting business is really not my speed,"

Halley's brows knitted together, tilting her head downwards for a bit. She fiddles with her black wire-rimmed spectacles, which shows, as I've observed, that she's deep in thought.

After a few moments passed, she seemed to have come up with something, because she had been scanning the whole set, giving it a 360 degrees turn when she went, "You!"

The annoying buzz that has been in the air ever since the filming started stopped, and all activity ceased as the head honcho of the production has done the cliche 'You!' eureka thing.

I was looking for the muse for sudden inspiration, when I realized everyone was staring right at me. Then, belatedly, I realized that Halley was pointing at me.

The first thing I thought was, "How rude,", then the next thing was, "Shouldn't I be wondering why she's pointing at me?" 

Good question. Why eureka and point at me?

Halley strode towards me, pulling Jay along with her. "Lightning, I want you to get on set with Jay and read Tracy's lines. Well, there aren't any lines anyway. Just look like you're upset and have deep conflicts within you and gaze at Jay while you're doing that."

What. The Hell.

SHE WANTS ME TO WHAT!?

"Why should I??" I protested, "I'm not taking this mask off!!"

I mean, all they assured me was that I'd be in the video footage with my mask on when we're just singing and stuff like that. No acting at all.

Halley held up a hand. "Okay, it's okay," she said, "I've come up with the conclusion that you should take Tracy's place as Jay says his lines, since you're the only girl here whom Jay is familiar with, so he'll be quite comfortable with you,"

I opened my mouth again. "But I don't even remotely look like Tracy,"

It's true. Where I'm just an average five foot four, Tracy's a whooping five foot nine. And as far as I'm concerned, my auburn doesn't actually match the deep crimson of Tracy's hair. And we shouldn't forget the body. Yep.

Halley continued smiling. "That's all good too, because we can digitally replace you with Tracy from the scenes we took just now, so now will you do it?"

I gave up my fight against the director, knowing that I won't be able win. "Yeah. Okay. Sure."

Halley clapped her hands together in delight. "Okay! Get the cameras ready to roll guys!!" she ordered, "Kitty, please get on set! You too Jay!!"

I trudged towards the field, which looked strange with all the out-of-place lighting equipment there. Jay was already waiting, a slight smirk on his face. "Hey, Kitty," he said in his usual sultry voice. Did I mention I hate rock stars with voices like that? I do, I do. "I'm sorry you have to do this,"

I let out a sigh. "Well, this is an obligation. I have to do it," I muttered, "Anyways, I just hope it'll be over soon,"

We took our places - I kind of know everything already having watched the same scene being repeated about a billion times - and Halley took her place in her director's chair. "And action!"

So what we see on TV is sometimes the real thing. Interesting.

I just stood there, staring dumbly at Jay and watched as he adopted a heart-wrenching facial expression. He walked slowly towards me, his eyes burning with intensity. It's kind of bone-chilling in a bad way.

"Please... don't leave me...." he said. His voice had lost its usual tone of confidence and was replaced with a creepily genuine tone of heart-break. He pursed his lips, hesitating, before looking at me straight in the eyes. "I love you..." he whispered.

Okay, now this is officially scaring the living daylights out of me. I considered running away before things could get even more scarier when Halley shouted, "Cut! It's a wrap! Good job!"

I'm not sure if standing there staring at some guy who's actually as good as a seasoned actor is a definition of a good job, but at least Jay's got the scene down pat. Who knew acting could be this scare-inducing? I will never laugh at people with terrible acting skills again. It seems that acting is a really difficult skill to attain.

I left the set as Halley walked past me, towards to Jay to congratulate him for finally being able to take the scene. My thoughts were - obviously - plagued with Jay's face, the same words he'd said earlier repeating in my mind like a tape recorder stuck on replay.

This is about the second time Jay's done this to me. You know, the whole 'words-he-said-and-they-keep-repeating-themselves-in-my-mind' thing.

I allowed myself to be led away by Chace, who's going to dress me up for my real scenes, towards the trailer parked nearby.

-

I sat in a make-up chair, allowing Chace to gain control of my hair and listened to the cynical but begrudgingly lovable stylist chatter away.

"So one of my girls was screaming her head off when she saw what one of the customer's dogs had done to another customer's hair dye mix. It was quite a disaster, really, then-"

"Chace?"

The French-American stopped his monologue flow. "Yes, Kaitlyn?"

"You remember that day when you came over to Archdale?" I asked, "You said you had something to tell me. I want to know what it was."

I heard Chace suck in his breath, dropping strands of my hair that he had been holding up between his fingers. I looked into the mirror, and saw Chace looking back at me. "Well?"

"I'll tell you, but you will never ever repeat this to anyone else," he warned, "Comprends?"

"Comprends," I nodded in understanding, wondering what was Chace going to tell me that was so super-secret.

Chace started fiddling with my hair again, picking up a bottle of leave-in conditioner and uncapping it with ease. "Well, you know how I'm a homo, right?"

"Isn't homo a derogatory term?"

"Is there even such a word?"

"Yes. I checked with my English teacher and ten other dictionaries in the library. I asked Lance, too,"

"I have no idea what you're doing so much work just to look up a single word for, but I'll leave it. Besides, it's not degrading if the homo in question applies it to himself."

"Oh. Okay. Go on."

"Well, I've never actually been interested in a particular male, just interested in them in general,"

"I see."

"Well, the thing is..."

"Yes?"

"I'm gay."

I turned my head a little, giving Chace a look. "I believe we have established that fact a few seconds ago."

Chace shrugged. "Well, I'm not done with my sentence yet," he continued, and with a nonchalant expression, "I'm gay for Tyson,"

His last words shot through my ears as most of his words usually did, but then the sentence did a back-up and went back into my ears, registering themselves into my neurons. "You what!?"

He shook the can, spraying the conditioner into my hair. "As I said, I have a thing for Tyson Gyles, your fellow bandmate,"

O-kay. This is awkward. "Well, um, wow," I said stupidly, not really knowing what to say, "I thought you had this thing for Leo?"

Chace chuckled. "Leon's a handsome young man. He makes practically every girl's and gay's heart flutter,"

"Accordées," I muttered darkly. Hanging around Chace has made me pick up a few French words.

"Tyson is handsome too, but not so much as Leon," he continued, "But I've known him a long time, and he's got substance,"

I blinked and shook my head slightly. "Well, um, as far as I'm concerned, my gaydar isn't setting off when I'm near Tyson,"

"That's the problem, mon ami," he said, "And as well as the fact I'd be a cradle robber to do so, if Tyson were gay,"

"How old are you?" I asked, surprised, "Cradle robbers are defined as people who are around ten or more years older than the other party,"

"Really? Is that so?" Chace asked, brightening up, "I'm only twenty-two,"

"Well, at least you have nothing like age to worry about," I said, brightening up as well, "All you have to worry about now is- oh,"

...I forgot. Tyson's not even gay.

"Now I know why you were so troubled that day," I said with quiet understanding, "You what, realized your feelings for him or something?"

Chace's face came to life again. "Oui! Oui! It actually so happened that I-,"

I held up my hand. "Actually, your realization episode is definitely something you should keep to yourself," I announced, "You should practice abstinence when it comes to giving info to other people,"

Chace held up a laminated sad-smiley-face picture which he took from a table beside him, something which I recommended to him after I told him never to pout ever again. "You're mean,"

"Hello? I'm Kaitlyn Hunter, have you only just met me today-?"

"Okay, okay, I get it,"

I sighed. "You're not the only plagued with thoughts, you know," I mumbled, standing up and following Chace towards the clothes rack.

"Oui? Is there trouble in your love life?"

I shot the stylist a dirty look as he innocently went through the rack, looking for my costume/clothes. I've lot count on how many times he's asked me if I've gotten a new boyfriend, and when I say no, he gives me a lecture on how I'll die a lonely old biddy with forty cats.

Sometimes, I don't like him.

"No," I said firmly, "Rather, you know how sucky Jay was at the acting part until I stepped in, right?"

"Yes, yes I do. Jay was quite troubled with the fact that he couldn't do any romance scenes properly when speaking, the poor boy," Chace said as he held up a shimmery tank top, examining it and then putting it back.

"Well, at least he got it right after a few hundred takes," I commented, "Putting that aside, I never knew acting could be so... convincing and realistic,"

Chace's hands stopped moving. He looked up at me with a questioning look. "Convincing and realistic?" he echoed.

"Well, when Jay said those lines, I really thought he meant it," I explained, and with a defiant look, I added, "Not that I think he's in love with me or anything. No way in Hell."

An enigmatic smile played on the American-Frenchman's lips as he started sifting through the rack again, pulling out a shirt and a cropped vest. "Bien sûr. I understand."

A knock came from outside the door. "Kitty? Are you ready??" a voice called, "We're about to start filming!"

"Coming!!" I answered, as Chace grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the changing room.

"You know which is which, yes?" Chace asked with a sly smile.

I nodded with a sour look. I don't understand why Chace still thinks I'm a fashion illiterate. I still remember the look he gave me when he saw me in the recording room with the guys the other day. Total horror.

He had instantly burst in, mid-recording, and grabbed me, not caring that my ears were nearly torn off from the headphones I was wearing and marched me up into a spare room, a bag of 'emergency clothes' in hand.

Emergency clothes my foot.

-

I can't help but feel a tad bit nervous as I walk towards the big oak tree where the band's going to shoot footage at. The guys were waiting, fiddling with their instruments, and I could see the filming crew adjusting their equipment.

Jay was tuning his guitar with Leo beside him, and he seemed to have heard me approach, because he looked up with a supercilious smile, saying, "Hey, Kitty. You look pretty cute,"

"You're good at telling lies too, huh?" I asked with a slight scowl as I took my position in front of the microphone stand.

Leo chuckled as he pulled his guitar strap over his chest. "She's got you there, mate,"

Jay faked a wounded look. "Your misanthropy stabs my heart," he proclaimed theatrically, "Since when have you become such a cynic?"

"Since forever, Stanford," I replied dryly.

"Now don't be such a killjoy," he said with a wink.

Oh. Now I wonder why my heart just skipped a beat there. I really should follow a solid meal schedule. It's not good for my body. My heart did not skip a beat just because Jay winked at me. My heart did not skip a beat just because Jay winked at me. My heart did no-

"Kitty!! You're here!!" Halley exclaimed, "Now we can start!!"

My heart definitely will not do superhuman crap just because of a lame, corny wink.

"Sure," I smiled and clasped my hands over the mike, "Ready to sing whenever you are,"

You know how good the sound quality is in music videos, right? It's because they lip-sync to the lyrics and add in
the recorded soundtrack later, but since I seriously suck at said ability, they've decided to let us sing, record, wipe the sound out then replace it with the studio version.

Music-biz people are seriously talented geniuses. I kneel before them.

Wait. Actually, I'd rather just shake their hands, because I have dignity. And dignity usually disappears when you kneel down before someone.

Jordan and Leo started playing the intro bars, and Jay picked up on the melody, with Tyson
drumming on his kit. I recognized the cue in the song and opened my mouth to start singing.

I wind back to the past

Don't really remember much 

But there was one thing I'd trust 

And it was a person who was nonesuch. 

I closed my eyes, feeling the music taking over me and dominating my mind. I opened my eyes again, looking straight into the camera, trying my best not to feel weirded out and continued singing normally.

You left me all alone,
With your face
Haunting my dreams every night,
'Till I've forgotten who you are.


And as I grow older, 
The memories start to fade away,
But the only thing that stays,
Is the day you went away.


How could you just ignore me,
Giving me empty promises,
When you knew I'd be waiting,
But instead you stepped out of my life's premises.

I sneaked a glance at Jay, who had joined in in the singing, and he looked directly at me, and I saw a smile creeping up onto his face. I couldn't help but smile as well, and he leaned over, sharing my mike and singing the lyrics.

Although I know now that this song's actually about Gabriel, I can't help but still feel sorry for Lance. He's still searching for Gabriel, not knowing that he's actually found him already. I guess his lyrics are real, because he can't even recognize Gabriel anymore.

Belatedly, I just realized how slightly complicated things are right now for Gabriel. Poor guy. I've already tried asking him to tell Lance who he - Gabriel, that is - is, but Gabriel refuses, saying that Lance has probably forgotten him.

I'd like to tell him of my conversation with Lance, but then I'm not exactly in the position to do that, therefore, I will stick my nose back into my own business and not park my nose into other places.

Damn. I should've told Jay and Leo that on day one when they met me!

I hate my chronic illness of delayed thoughts.

I looked at Jay again, and the scene from before replayed itself out of the blue.

"I love you..."

ARGH!! I shall not be affected by what he did not really mean. I shall not be affected by what he did not really mean. I shall not be affected by what he did not really mean.

"Love you..."

I believe I also have a chronic illness for delayed memory-triggers.

Remind me to call a therapist when I get home later, because I think my brain's actually conspiring against me. Why can't my brain behave, like other people's?