This chapter is very much filler and is annoying the crap out of me. I have been mulling over it for days but it ain't gonna get any better
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DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP! He sat outside in his car for ages, trying to summon the courage to go inside. The last words he said to her echoed in his ears and he couldn’t leave things as they were. He couldn’t deny his feelings any longer. He had to tell her. He had to tell her he loved her…tonight….13 months earlierEloise and Millie sat in front of the television, watching a mediocre movie rerun on a Sunday night.
“I’m off to bed,’ Eloise yawned.
“But its only 9 o’clock. I know you love your sleep but this is ridiculous,” Millie said screwing up her nose.
“Yeah, but I have an early start and a long day tomorrow, all week actually, so I need an early night,” Eloise explained.
“So what earth shattering excitement is Bridget getting up to this week,” Millie asked sarcastically.
Eloise really didn’t want to discuss it, and tried to skirt around the issue.
“Not much really,” she answered innocently.
“But you just said you had a really busy week…there must be something exciting happening.”
Eloise sighed.
“You won’t be interested I’m sure.”
“Try me,” she said straight faced.
“Well if you must know, Bridget and Declan are getting together this week….as I said nothing exciting.”
“Aargh…well I find that very interesting. So you are going to have to spend every day from now on with the man you claim to despise so much,” Millie said intrigued.
“I don’t claim to despise him at all….I tolerate him…barely,” Eloise replied shortly.
“How do you think you will go?” Millie asked.
“What do you mean? How will we not kill each other? I have no clue, maybe I should wear ear muffs when he’s around me or something,” Eloise answered.
It’s not what she meant at all, but she let it go…for now.
Millie had always felt that there was a lot more to Eloise’s disdain for James than she was letting on. She couldn’t help but wonder if them spending more time together would bring out feelings that they may be trying to hide.
“Well you will have to let me know if he’s a great kisser or not…I am betting yes, especially with those gorgeous lips of his,” Millie said batting her eyebrows.
“Oh he’s a great kisser,” Eloise blurted out the words before she could stop them and mentally chastised herself.
“Really,” Mille exclaimed, “and how does one know this?’
“Just forget it,” Eloise sighed as she rose from her seat, still annoyed with herself that she blurted it out.
“Oh no you don’t. Spill!” Millie urged as she grabbed her hand and pulled her back down on the lounge.
Eloise figured there was no way out of this one.
“Oh fine! Well we had an incident a couple of months ago. We found ourselves in this ridiculous argument about who was a better kisser. When we had to do that kiss on screen…well we got a bit carried away to say the least...and we got dragged into the bosses office. It was awful, unprofessional, and highly embarrassing.”
“But you just said he was a great kisser,” Millie quizzed her.
“The situation was awful…the kiss was ok…I guess,” she answered uncomfortably.
“Is that all…OK,” Millie probed further.
“All right it was better than ok… it was amazing…but only because we were both so enraged with each other. We just let it get a bit out of control…that’s all.”
Now Millie fully understood the situation and smiled. It was as she suspected after all.
She didn’t envy her housemate…having feelings for two men was only going to be trouble…and lots of it.
She wondered how long Eloise could deny her feelings for. If she knew Eloise as well as she thought she did, she knew she would deny any feelings for James for as long as she possibly could. Eloise was loyal and would never intentionally hurt Joe. But spending all that time with James…pretending to be a couple, was really going to test her.
Eloise tossed and turned in bed. Bridget and Declan beginning a relationship shouldn’t be a big deal. She was an actor and that was part of the job. She didn’t bat an eyelid when she had to kiss Sam a few weeks prior. But being so close to James made her stomach do flip-flops, but she was determined to blame anxiety due to the volatility of their relationship, and not the fire she felt when he kissed her a few months before.
Eloise had a disturbed sleep that night but as usual was still early on set the next morning.
By the time James arrived she had just finished in make-up.
“Nice of you to make an appearance,” Eloise teased.
“Sorry…I got carried away at the gym,” James apologised as he sat in the chair next to her.
“You know you would be late for your own funeral,” Eloise said shaking her head.
“And you would be early for your own execution,” he said with a sweet smile.
“Smart arse,” she giggled.
He looked over at her and smiled
“So,” he said cautiously “Are you ready for today?”
She felt a bit uneasy at his question and decided it was best not to make a bit deal out of it.
“Why wouldn’t I? It’s just another day at the office. As long as you don’t attack me like you did last time and we end up in the principal’s office again,” she chided trying to make light of the situation.
He appreciated it too.
“It was pretty funny I suppose,” James grinned looking at her.
“Hilarious!” she said deadpan.
He continued to look at her and he became serious all of a sudden.
“You know after our meeting with Susan the other week it’s obvious that they have big plans for us…well for Bridget and Declan…and I think we can make them something special.”
“It seems you are pretty much stuck with me from now on. Do you think we will be able to do this without killing each other? ” she asked him quietly.
“Well it’s going to be tough, “ he grinned, “but we promised Susan that we can do this and we promised her something great, so I am really going to try.”
Their gaze lingered on each others, and James felt an awkwardness that was becoming far too familiar to him. Ever since the second meeting with Susan Bower a few weeks earlier and they discovered just what they had planned for them, he felt uneasy. He knew he cared deeply for Caitlyn, but Eloise stirred feelings in him that he couldn’t explain or deny. As they gazed at each other he suddenly felt the need to put some distance between them.
His thoughts were interrupted by the director.
“Good morning guys. Just wanted to check that all is ok with you for the day.”
“Yes Karl, don’t panic. We promise to behave this time,” James said subtly rolling his eyes.
“Good to hear, but of course we need a bit of passion for the final scene. Do you think you can kiss passionately without making it look like an R rated film?” he asked deadpan.
They both nodded and watched him walk off, but she couldn’t help but notice how uncomfortable James looked.
“So what about you? How do you feel about us working together again?” Eloise asked cautiously.
“Fine,” he said flippantly, “It’s just a job, and I think we can work together now without too much friction.”
Eloise was a bit disappointed in his almost disinterested attitude to the whole thing and it made her feel silly.
Why on earth am I feeling nervous about this if it’s not affecting him in the slightest she said to herself? I am being ridiculous…just keep your distance and do your job.
“I mean it’s not like we have anything to be uncomfortable about...right,” James asked suddenly.
“No of course not,” Eloise answered uneasily as she hopped out of the chair.
“I mean we are both in happy relationships…right?” James asked quietly, “there is no need to be weird around each other…right? We’re professionals and it’s just a job…right?”
“Right,” she agreed nervously as she stared at him
Oh God why is he saying this stuff, she panicked to herself…maybe he is feeling weird and uncomfortable too.
“Good…I’m glad we got that sorted,” he replied uneasily.
“Um…yeah…me too. I’ll meet you on set,” she mumbled.
She had to get out of there.
It didn’t mean anything; Eloise tried to convince herself as she headed down the hall…he obviously had too much weight on his dumbbells that morning.
She continued to stew about it and crazy thoughts kept entering her head.
“Oh God…is he worried that I have a thing for him. Surely he knows that’s ridiculous,” she muttered to herself.
As the day went on and they rehearsed and chatted with everyone they both relaxed around each other, until finally it was time for that scene to be rehearsed and filmed.
“I don’t think I like how this last bit goes in this scene,” James whispered in her ear as he came up behind her.
“What’s wrong with it?” Eloise asked bemused.
“Well it’s boring. They kiss passionately but then just hug once they break apart. I think they should race over to the kissing booth and kiss again. They have waited all this time to be together….it needs to be special don’t you think?”
Eloise couldn’t help but smile at his plan and agreed wholeheartedly. She loved how he wanted to make Bridget and Declan memorable.
“Karl we are just going to try something a bit different in the rehearsal and see if you like it if that’s OK,” James said matter of factly.
“You had better not be wasting my time,” he said drolly.
They began the scene and Eloise held her breath as James gently cupped her face and kissed her sweetly. She tried to control her emotions but she couldn’t stop the tingling that started from the tips of her toes and worked its way up.
He reluctantly pulled away slowly, his heart pounding, and stared at her for what seemed like an age. She really didn’t know what she was supposed to do now.
“One down,” James finally said, his voice cracking.
“Forty nine to go,” she said taking his lead, and he turned and raced over to the booth, with her following close behind.
They flung their arms around each other and kissed passionately, almost destroying the booth in the process.
All of a sudden they heard a few people clapping, and Margot squealing with delight in the background.
“That is awesome…you have to film it like that,” Margot gushed.
Eloise and James reluctantly broke their kiss and with their arms still around each other, looked expectantly over at Karl.
He stood there silently for a while before he spoke.
“I like it,” he grinned.
Eloise and James grinned at each other before quickly breaking apart.
“Yes…that was much better,” Eloise said excitedly grinning at him.
They finished filming the scene soon after and everything was rapped up for the day.
“That was fun,” James commented as they headed leisurely for their cars.
“Yeah…it was,” Eloise agreed, “and you know what. We didn’t even look like arguing…not once. And we didn’t get into trouble either.”
“Yes I noticed that,” he laughed, “wonders never cease.”
“Except of course we were cutting it fine with your scene change,” she said as she reached her car door.
“It was worth it though,” he smiled nervously, “so what are you doing now?”
“I am meeting Joe at the shop, and then just going back to his place,” she answered casually.
“Oh,” he said solemnly. He felt a twinge of jealousy as he thought of Eloise spending time at her boyfriends place…alone, but instantly realized he had no right to be feeling that way.
“What about you?” she asked.
“I’ll probably go to the gym, ring Caitlyn later, and have an early night,” he answered.
“OK…well I guess I’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.
He hesitated, almost like he didn’t want to leave, but he finally turned and walked over towards his car.
She felt bad for him then and she wondered if he got lonely, having Caitlyn so far away. She didn’t like the thought of him being alone.
Eloise considered asking him over for dinner, but the thought of being alone with both Joe and James made her feel uncomfortable.
She convinced herself that her discomfort came from the fact that James and Joe were very different people and may not get on that well, but in reality she was in complete denial about her growing feelings for James.
Tbc…
DISCLAIMER - This story is fictional and in no way reflects the actions or day to day activites of the characters involved. In other words..ITS MADE UP!