Star Struck

by Halpert, Paige

  “Cut!” Sal yelled just before Gavin’s lips met mine. I felt so cheated.

  “Let’s go back and do the first few lines again, up until the middle of the scene.”

  We went through the scene again and again until twilight came, but I never got to kiss Gavin again. Perhaps it was a good thing, though- not having him so close kept my libido in check and allowed me to easily give myself completely over to being Lizzy.

  After a couple more shots, Sal told Gavin he was wrapped, so Gavin headed back to wardrobe. They wanted to get a couple of reaction shots from me in the twilight. Make-up came in and retouched me, preparing my face for the close-ups. Ben, the P.A., was kind enough to read Gavin’s lines to me. It felt so surreal, being the center of attention with so many crewmembers watching, but I pushed them all out of my head to be sure they didn’t interrupt Lizzy’s frame of mind.

  When Sal said we were all wrapped for the night, I thanked him and headed back to wardrobe to change. I didn’t really want to change out of the dress- it was so pretty and comfortable, and I felt very sexy in it. I put on the tank top and jeans that I had come in with that morning and headed back to my trailer to get my purse. I wished I had remembered a jacket, but I could deal with the slight chill in the air.

  When I got to the trailer, Gavin was waiting outside leaning against to the door. He had already changed back into his own clothes and was waiting for me. I slipped my hand around his, looked around to see that we were alone, and pecked him on the lips. He moved out of the way of the door and I opened it.

  “It won’t give the wrong impression if someone sees you come in here, will it?” I asked.

  “What do you mean?” he asked.

  “I mean, about what your manager said.”

  He waved his hand and smiled, dismissing the comment.

  “First of all, I doubt anyone here is going to run and tell the tabloids.”

  He paused.

  “…and second of all?” I inquired.

  “Second of all, I’m crazy about you, and I want to be with you.”

  I bit my lip, holding in my giddiness as best I could. I stepped up into the trailer, pulling him in after me. Gavin closed the door behind him, and I stood in the main area of the trailer. He came up to me and put his arms around my waist and pulled me in as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “I can’t tell you how badly I’ve wanted to do this all day,” he said.

  Then he kissed me. It was deep and smooth. His hands pulled me even closer until I was pressed completely against him. My heart pounded, and even though we had spent the entire day working together, it felt like I hadn’t seen him at all. He pulled his lips apart from mine, and I giggled a little. He pressed his forehead against mine, and the entire world faded away.

  “Would you like to go get some dinner?” he asked.

  “Yes, I’d love to,” I replied. “I’m famished.”

  I grabbed my bag, turned off the light, and we headed out the door.

  We went to this hole-in-the-wall restaurant not to far from the beach. The restaurant was quaint; the atmosphere was pleasant and welcoming. The waitress gave us the best service I could’ve imagined, mostly because she recognized Gavin. I don’t think she ever said one word to me all night, but she gave him full attention, often returning to the table to check on things just a minute or two after the previous time she checked on us. He was very gracious about it- polite to her, but focusing on me the entire time.

  Gavin ordered a bottle of red wine for us to share. The conversation flowed as smoothly as the wine did. He told me all about his childhood, his family, and his hometown. I told him all about mine, too. He gazed at me the entire meal, a gentle smile resting on his face the entire time. Gavin was an amazing listener, and talking with him was one of the easiest things I could ever remember doing.

  “So you went to college back home?” he asked me.

  “Yea,” I replied, sipping my wine. “I wanted to do acting, but my parents knew be a stable career. They supported me in whatever I wanted to do, but encouraged me to have a back-up plan. So I studied English, thinking I’d be a teacher someday.”

  “Do you like to read?”

  “Oh yes, I love it. Probably one of the reasons I decided to study English- I wanted to read, and what better way to get in a lot of reading than to study English? I took a lot of literature classes. But I woke up one day and realized that ready was a hobby for me, not a passion, so I packed my bags and headed out to Hollywood. I’d been doing auditions here and there, hoping something would come along, but I didn’t get much until I was here. I figured if I didn’t do it now, I probably never would.”

  “Very smart to have a back-up, though.”

  “Do you have a back-up?”

  “Yea, but it’s not as interesting as yours,” he said, laughing.

  “What is it?” I smiled at him, and rubbed his hand across the table.

  “Well, my dad owns a small antique shop back in Roseau. My sister helped him out from time to time when he needed it, but she wants to become a veterinarian, so when she started school she didn’t have a lot spare time. I loved the shop, and I loved working with my dad. If my acting career falls flat, I’d be happy to return home and work in the shop.”

  “That sounds fantastic, I love that! That’s more interesting than mine.”

  “The cool thing is that the shop was my dad’s dream. Like acting was mine, he dreamed of having his own shop, taking care of customers, and finding interesting objects and matching them with the perfect person. Just a humble dream, but it’s what makes him happy.”

  “How wonderful,” I said. “Maybe I’ll get to see it sometime.”

  Gavin grinned widely, and leaned in closer to me, holding my hand.

  “I’d like that. I’d love to take you home and have you meet my family sometime.”

  The waitress came back over to ask if we needed anything else. Gavin asked for the check, and she brought it seconds later, along with a complimentary slice of the restaurant’s best cake. Gavin held the door open for me as we walked out into the street.

  Flashing lights and loud voices greeted us when we exited the restaurant, throwing me off guard. I held my hand up to shield my eyes from the bright lights. A crowd of people had been waiting for us, descending upon Gavin and I as we walked out, taking pictures and asking questions. Everyone was yelling, and I was feeling lost in the chaos.

  A man pushed me out of the way to snap a picture of Gavin, and I almost fell over. I had no clue how vicious paparazzi would really be just to get a picture. I scanned around the crowd, looking for Gavin, who had been swallowed up by the horde of people.

  “Gavin! Gavin!” I yelled, but to no avail. Everyone else was yelling his name, too.

  Someone bumped into me, and I dropped the cake, splattering chocolate and frosting all over the sidewalk. I was afraid to bend over and pick it up, fearing I might get trampled over. I tried to push my way through the crowd to get back to Gavin. I felt a hand on my arm, and a tugging toward the center of the group. Gavin had found me and pulled me to safety next to him.

  “Hey!” he shouted to a man who tried to push me away again. “Don’t hurt her!”

  Gavin pulled me close and we walked quickly, trying to lose the swarm of people. The longer the followed us, the bigger the crowd seemed to get. They snapped pictures of Gavin and I, screamed questions at him, and kept pursuing us no matter how fast we picked up our pace.

  We reached Gavin’s car and he opened the door and helped me in. Some of the paparazzi snapped pictures of me as I got in the car, and I felt a little violated. This was not something I was prepared to deal with- I was still just an unknown actress, and being chased by paparazzi was not something I had anticipated as part of the evening’s events.

  “Gavin! Who’s the girl? Someone you’re seeing?” I heard someone yell.

  “She’s a friend,” was all Gavin said as he walked over to the driver’s side of the car.

  I
knew he wouldn’t say that we were in a relationship because of his manager’s request, but I couldn’t quite help but wonder if he still saw me as just a friend. In all the excitement of our passion, I had never stopped to question where this relationship would be going. Was it just a fling during filming, or would it continue to bloom?

  Gavin got in the car and locked the doors. Cameras continued to flash, and Gavin drove slowly away so he wouldn’t hit anyone with the car. It was almost like driving through honey, but once we got out of the parking lot, we were able to get on our way in peace.

  “I’m so sorry about that, Megan,” Gavin said. “I had no idea they’d be there. I don’t even know how they knew where we were- and I just don’t get why they’d even care.”

  “Gavin, you’re a pretty big star now,” I said. “Maybe it was the waitress or something. She seemed a little sketchy.”

  Gavin laughed quietly.

  “You’re not jealous, are you?” he asked.

  “No,” I lied. “Well, she was just talking to you a lot. You might as well been there by yourself. I was completely invisible to her.”

  “She’s just a waitress,” he said, taking my hand. “In my mind, you were the only one there. I couldn’t take my eyes off of you.”

  “Gavin,” I hesitated. “Can I ask you a question?”

  Gavin nodded, “Anything, yea.”

  “I hate to seem like the stereotypical woman, but did you mean it when you told that photographer that we were just friends?”

  Gavin squeezed my hand.

  “I didn’t want to say that,” he said. “I just knew my manager wouldn’t approve if I said otherwise, and he’s been on my back ever since I told him about us, worried I’m going to slip up or something and spill the beans. He’s terrified that us being together is going to affect the box office when this film premieres. He even told my agent, so now they’re both breathing down my neck about it. There was no way I could say what I really wanted to say- I wanted to shout from the rooftops that you’re my girl, and I’m your guy. I wanted to tell those people that you’re the most amazing girl in the world, and that you’re the only one for me.”

  I smiled.

  “So I’m your girl?”

  “If you want to be. If you’ll have me.”

  My smile stretched from ear to ear, and I held Gavin’s hand tighter.

  “More than anything,” I said.

  We sat in a comfortable silence as we drove down the road. The stars had begun twinkling above us. Gavin kept peering over at me from time to time. When I shivered, he turned on the heat for me. Little gestures like that made my heart soar- he knew what I needed and gave it to me so willingly. I looked up at the road and realized we were going a strange route.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “I’ve got a surprise for you,” Gavin said.

  We continued on the road until we came to the empty parking lot next to a lonely beach. Gavin turned off the car, got out, and walked around to open the door for me.

  “We shouldn’t have any trouble with the paparazzi out here,” he joked.

  He opened the trunk and got out two blankets-- one of them was the same blanket we had used on our first date-- and a jacket. I hadn’t even realized I had been holding myself so tightly, trying to keep the warmth in, until he came over and put the jacket on me. He kissed me, and led me down to the sand.

  We slipped off our shoes and I dug my feet into the frigid sand, feeling it fill the spaces between my toes. It felt invigorating, even with the slight chill in the air. Gavin moved down towards the sound of the waves, and I followed closely, trying not to trip over my own two feet on the unsteady terrain.

  Gavin set the plushy blanket down on the ground, and gestured for me to take a seat. When I was sitting down, he threw the other blanket over me. Then he sat down and got under the blanket with me. I made my way between his legs, leaning my back against his chest and resting my head on his shoulder as we watched the movement of the night sea.

  The melodic sound of the ocean waves cradled my mind and put me to ease. The chaos that I felt earlier was completely forgotten as I rested in Gavin’s arms and felt his touch soothing my skin. Under the blanket and next to Gavin’s warmth, the chill couldn’t penetrate me. I closed my eyes, and without realizing it, drifted to sleep.

  Gavin woke me up with a tender kiss on the side of my face, and I couldn’t have been out for more than a couple of minutes.

  “Do you want to head back?” he asked.

  “Just a few more minutes.”

  He nuzzled his nose into my neck and I giggled. His hands wrapped tighter. I pushed him back, making him lay down, and rolled over to face him. There was a stray strand of his hair that had fell onto his forehead, so I brushed it aside and ran my fingers through his hair. I pressed my lips against his.

  My hands glided down his sides, and under his shirt. I felt his abs ripple underneath me as he did an impromptu sit-up so I could lift the shirt over his head. He took off my jacket and guided my shirt over my head, and I pressed my body against his. The heat radiated off of him, and I regretted not taking our clothes off sooner. I kissed him hard, and his hands wandered around my body.

  Gavin took a deep breath and looked at me. His eyes floated back and forth between mine. His lips parted as though he was going to say something, but then he closed them and quietly gulped. I stared back at him, my heart fluttering and my body feeling surrounded completely by Gavin’s spirit. His hand came to my cheek, and he brushed my hair behind my ear.

  “Is something wrong?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” he said softly. “I’m just so happy right now. I couldn’t imagine a more perfect moment. Being with you is like a dream- I feel like I’ve been holding my breath my entire life without even realizing it, and now that you’re here, I can exhale. Like being with you is the thing I’ve been searching for without even knowing I was trying to find something.”

  I beamed, and my heart fluttered. We were floating on a cloud; all I could feel was his affection wrapping itself around me, filling every alcove of my soul. I felt myself doing the same to him; covering every piece of his body, mind, and soul with the devotion I felt toward him.

  “Gavin, I feel the same way,” I said. “My life began when I met you. I feel like life is complete now, and no matter what happens with anything else, all I need is you.”

  He smiled, and his breathing quickened.

  “I’ve wanted to be with you since the day I met you,” he said. “I know that sounds cliché, but it’s true. I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. Megan, I love you.”

  My whole being soared. I had wings, and I could fly anywhere, but I was exactly where I wanted to be.

  “I love you, Gavin.”

  He let out a nervous laugh he had been holding in, and a goofy grin swept across his face. I had never seen someone look so happy. We kissed, our essences dancing together in heavenly bliss. He held me firmly against him, and I pressed my body as close to him as it would go.

  Gavin and I let our mouths linger together, and he rolled me over with care. I looked up at him on top of me, and bit my lip. No one had ever looked at me the way he did; so fond, so true.

  “Wow,” he breathed. “The way your hair flows around your face makes you look like an angel.”

  My cheeks grew hot from blushing. His hands slithered down my sides and to my hips, and then he gently unbuttoned my jeans and snuck his fingers inside my panties. Gavin’s hands were so manly, but so very amorous at the same time. I inhaled sharply has his fingers slipped inside of me and he stroked me from inside. My hands gripped onto his arms, and I could feel his biceps moving as he pleasured me. Watching him as he watched the intimate delight on my face made it all that much stronger of an experience- with each moan and smile I gave, his face would light up a little more. His focus was completely on my desires and needs.

  My back arched as his fingers pressed all the right spots inside of me, and my grip on
him tightened. He leaned in and kissed my neck as I swung my head back and closed my eyes, taking in the entire sensation he was giving my body. I turned and nuzzled my nose in his hair, and then nibbled his ear a little bit.

  I stretched my arms above my head, running my fingers in the sand as they slipped out from under the warm blanket; the temperature of the sand was so cold, and my entire body was on fire; the colliding of the two drastically conflicting temperatures made every nerve of my body come alive, and I felt even more of Gavin as the movement of his fingers intensified inside of me.

  His name fluttered out breathily from my mouth and my eyes rolled as I felt my entire body contract and spasm with pleasure. I called his name again and again, saying it as though it would enhance the intense pleasure I was feeling. He made me come wildly, and held onto my body, inside and out, as though he would never let go.

  As my body started to relax again, I put my arms on his face and pulled him close to me, kissing him fervidly.

  Two weeks later, we finished the film. It was an amazing experience being able to be on a big-studio set as opposed to the tiny sets of student films and such that I had mostly done up until now. Although I loved doing the short, small budget stuff, there was just something magical about being on set with so many people and getting my own trailer. I hoped that it wouldn’t be too long before I landed another role like that.

  The wrap party was endearing yet poignant. I had come to know all the cast and crew, though some better than others. It was a great feeling to have finished the film and know that it would be premiering in two months, and see the finished project with an audience. But part of me never wanted to finish Bittersweet Memories because that meant not being able to get up almost every day and go to work with such an inspiring group of people and work on a project I felt great about, not to mention getting to be with Gavin every single day.

  Around the set, Gavin and I had become open with our relationship after talking to Sal and letting him in on the secret, though we never directly said that we were an item to the rest of the cast and crew. Everyone just seemed to accept it. A few people gave us comments in approval, but most just smiled at us and didn’t say a word. It went without saying that this was a secret, and thankfully, everyone seemed to respect that.