Becoming Ready

Chapter 22 - The Kiss

River and Charlie sat in a car together, with Professor Roth and a cameraman in the backseat. There was another camera on River's side of the car, getting an over the shoulder closeup of Charlie. Because of their small budget and limited equipment, they only had a couple cameras, so they would be running the scene several times to film it from several angles.

This was it, the climax of the movie. Their characters were realizing they were trapped, surrounded by police, and they had no choice but to surrender. After a heated argument, they were supposed to kiss passionately, then get out of the car with their hands up. River's character was then "shot," and Charlie's character escaped on foot. Realistically, the cops would have caught her, but in Professor Roth's dream world of a script, she would get away. The last shot of the film would be her running through a field, implying that she made it out. According to Professor Roth, the film was going to be some kind of metaphor for toxic masculinity. Charlie was hoping that would come across in the finished product. Otherwise, it didn't really have an edge.

But, back to the task at hand. They had to get this kiss out of the way in order to finish the damn movie. They had technically already kissed when they blocked it out. Blocking was setting up 'choreography' of sorts so the camera would know where to shoot, and at what angle. The practice kiss was just a peck, though. Not exactly passionate.

Everything was set. Professor Roth called, "Action."

River and Charlie delivered their lines, full of emotion. Charlie's emotions were already on the surface after that phone call with Kaley, so it was extremely easy for her. Tears stung in her eyes as she thought about Shawn. She was supposed to be heartbroken in this scene, and she knew she could very well be heartbroken in real life soon.

When it was time, River reached over, grabbed Charlie and kissed her.

The only way to describe it was electric. Charlie had experienced a kiss similar to it once before, years ago when she was a Sophomore at Saint Peters High. A Junior named Tony Duran, whom she'd had a crush on for quite some time, kissed her in the rain just like a Hollywood leading man.

This was like that, but times ten. Charlie felt like the world was spinning, but not in a bad way. When they pulled apart, and Charlie tried not to look as shocked as she felt. It was a struggle to stay in character. They both exited the car, and Professor Roth yelled, "Cut!"

Charlie avoided looking at River. It was all too much to deal with at the moment. Especially when she remembered they had to get back in the car and do it again, because films required several takes.

Once the scene was good and wrapped, she stepped away from everyone. She checked her phone to see if Shawn had responded to her, but he hadn't. Kaley had probably deleted her text when it came through. The devious bitch.

She was vacillating back and forth between thoughts of Kaley kissing Shawn and her own kiss with River, when she sensed someone behind her.

"You ok?" River asked her.

She turned around. Deciding to be truthful, she answered, "No."

The way he was looking at her was new. The joking self-assuredness was gone, but the attraction was still there. It made her feel guilty.

"I don't want to talk about whatever happened between us out there," she said, before he could start that conversation.

"So you admit something happened, then," he countered.

She groaned, and looked skyward. "Ugh, this day."

"Am I really affecting you this much?" he asked, walking toward her.

She held up her hand. "Don't flatter yourself. It's not just you. I called Shawn earlier, and Kaley answered. She told me she kissed him. I know she's lying, but I can't get ahold of him. She probably messed with his phone, but I'm still freaking out."

He titled his head. "How do you know she's lying?"

"Because Shawn wouldn't do that to me," she spat.

"Maybe not, but Kaley would definitely make a move on him," he pointed out.

Charlie shrugged. "Fine. She probably did. That's not his fault though."

"No," he agreed. "But why hasn't he called you?"

"I told you, she had his phone. She probably deleted my text. I should send another one."

River shook his head. "He should have called you to tell you what happened by now, text or not. If I had a girlfriend and another girl kissed me, I would call her right away and tell her."

"Maybe he thinks I'm still busy filming," she replied, wavering slightly. River was playing on all her worst fears and doubts.

He shrugged. "Maybe."

Charlie had so many feelings swirling around in her stomach she felt like she was going to be sick. 

***Should Shawn have called by now?