I am sitting in the makeup trailer, getting my face on before the first scene of the day. It is summer and the sun is already baking outside. It is looking like it’s gonna be a hot one and the air in the trailer is already stifling.

My temples are kinda pounding, a headache surely forming and the constant chatter from, the elseway sweet, makeup ladies do not really help.

To level with you, it is hard work being on a tv show, as a teenager dreaming of a career in acting I thought it would be the sweet and easy deal to get, you know less travelling and all that.. and of course that is true. But it is still long days, odd hours and a lot of just waiting around.

And well all the perks, premiers, Awards shows, parties.. of course there is still some.. but I have a feeling the a-listers, the real movie stars get a lot more of that.

“Oh god, I saw him outside, he is even more handsome in the flesh.. and he is single”. One of the girl is gushings to the others.

I am wondering who is the latest object at their affecting, probably one of the male actors, on the other hand.. she sounds like he is new to the set.. and it peaks my interest just a bit.

The girl asks my to pucker my lips, as she smear floss on them. “What about you Melina, aren’t you like crazy excited to work with him ?”

“Uhm work with who now ?” I look around the trailer, eyeing the girls. What hasn’t I been told this time ? Apparently there is a New man on set.. someone hot and single I guess.

“You haven’t heard ? For reals girl

?” The youngest of the girls look at me with surprise. “You are getting a new co-star.. they just announced this morning”.

I slowly massage my forehead. Why am I never told anything beforehand ? It’s like my opinion don’t matter at all. “As usual that would be no.. I haven’t heard a thing”.

“It’s Asher Gracer.. uhh girl you are so lucky, that man is sooo fine.. Imagine if you get to kiss him”. The lipgloss girl say with a sigh.

No.. I have to have misunderstood.. heard wrongly. It can’t be right, he can’t be here. They can’t do that to me. Suddenly the hot air is downright choking and I feel faint.

I get up, feeling my legs shake slightly. “Will you excuse me ladies.. I need fresh air.. I need to talk to someone”.

Getting out the trailer I try to steady myself. I have to do something, to end this oncoming nightmare before it’s to late. This could ruin everything.

I almost run over the lot, heading for the administration buildings, as I look for Gertrude, the producer of the show, she is usually around, especially if something new is happening.

“Gertrude !” I call when I spot her. I hate to look like a primadonna, but she has to find someone else for whatever part it is.. I refuse to work with that… man. “We have to talk.. like now”.

She turns to look at me. She is a middle ages, very strict looking woman, but in reality she is much sweeter than she appears. “Well good morning Melina.. I was actually looking for you”.

“Is it true ? The girls in makeup might have misunderstood.. you know how they gossip”. I stop in front of her, breathing a bit hard. “Have you really

hired.. a new actor ?”

“Oh yes, that's what I wanted to tell you”. She is smiling, looking uncharacteristically excited. “It was a Real spur of the moment decision.. but apparently Asher Gracer is a big fan of the show, and we talked him into signing on”.

I close my eyes, breathing in deeply.. I need to get my emotions under control. “I am sorry, but.. Gertrude you have to pull the offer back.. to stop this.. I can’t work with that.. he is standing right behind me isn’t he ?”

Gertrude nods slowly and her face is showing a weird mix of surprise over my behaviour and amusement at the situation.

I breathe in, as I slowly turn around, not wanting to give him the satisfaction of seeing me in shambles. And there he is, looking just like I remember.. all tall, gingery and annoyingly handsome.

A crooked smile is playing on his lips and one eyebrow shoots up as he takes me in. “Well hello there darling.. a pleasure seeing you again”.

“Oh hi Asher.. could you just… like go to hell, find the most desolate place there.. roll up and.. I don’t know.. die.. please ?” It even surprise me how calm and cold my voice is.

As I turn walking back towards my trailer I hear Asher mutter. “Oh yes.. she still hate my guts”.

“I suppose you two know each other from previously.. but you just have to deal with this.. I do not want to see this.. bickering on set”. I am not sure if Gertrude is talking to me or Asher.. but I chose to ignore it.

I slam the door to my private trailer and slump down on the small couch.. **** ! This is some serious.. shit. And he even had

the audacity to show up looking so very complacent and.. argh so very much delicious.

I get on my feet again, pacing.. then I kick a pillow, making it fly through the small room and smack into the wall. Why is fate doing this to me ? It was all going so well.. the series is a success and I have started getting offers for movies.. now he shows up, ruining everything.

With a groan I slump back down on the couch, covering my face with my hands. Yes I had been naive, Maybe even stupid.. I had just arrived in LA back then.. but it was so not fair for it to come back and bite me in the *** now, more than a year later.

He gets under her skin

 It is the next morning and I am having a cup of coffee at the small cafe with Anni. I am flipping through the new pages for the episode we are filming today. I had been handed them like 20 minutes ago, due to some last minute changes.

“This is so typical.. seriously how am I supposed to learn this the same morning as we are shooting ? Do they think I am some kind of freaking robot ?” I might be feeling just a bit annoyed about all this.

Anni looks into her cup, avoiding my eyes. “Yeah.. I know.. but I guess they had to write Asher into the episode.. I bet they want him in as fast as possible”.

“I really hoped it was just some kind of guest role.. a cameo .. Maybe as some kind of monster.. I could kill him then.. I would love that”. I can’t help smiling at the idea.

Anni shakes her head slightly, glancing up at me. “Okay.. You really hate him with every bone in your body.. remind me to never get on your bad side”.

I sigh, I know I am coming off as a bit of a bitch here.. but they don’t know.. they don't get the pain he send me through. “Believe me.. you would hate him too, if you were me”.

We sit a bit in silence, while I look through the script for the changes, and find them right at the end of the scene.. Asher makes a big cheese entrance and then.. “Oh ****.. no.. seriously ? They can’t do this to me ?”

“What ? What are they doing to you ?” Anni looks all nervous. Apparently the way I am behaving with Asher around is having her on an edge too.

See he is nothing but trouble for everyone.

Honestly this was the one thing I had feared the most and the very last thing I want to do. “He has to kiss me”.

“Do I feel my ears burning ?” Asher’s voice is teasing and I almost jump out of my chair, as I hadn’t heard him sneak up on us. “You wouldn’t happen to be talking about me, would you ?”

“Hi Asher.. Melina was just looking at the new script.. learning her lines and such”. Anni say shyly, glancing up at him.

He sends her one of those flashing grins, making her blush like a teenage girl. “Well good morning there.. Anni right ? So nice to see a friendly face around here”.

“You know I am kind of disappointed they didn’t cast you as a vampire.. putting a stake through your cold evil heart would just be so much fun.. don't you think so ?” I say, sending him a overly sweet smile.

Asher sends me a somewhat acidic smile. “Oh I can believe you would love that.. after all that is something you are quite experienced at”.

I can’t stop the scornful snort. “Okay, we can say that.. if I makes you sleep better at night, then by all means, be my guest”.

“So.. you think you can handle kissing me this time ? Or should I keep a condom handy just in case you decide to jump me again ?” His voice is teasing and very provoking.

Anni clamps a hand over her mouth, shocked at his behaviour and honestly, I see red, who the hell do he think he is ? Without thinking my hand fly for his cheek, to bad for me he is prepared and grab my wrist before my hand reaches

its goal.

“Oh the hell no you ain’t hitting me again, last time you left me bleeding”. He is string at me, shaking his head and I am staring back, then I notice how the corner of his mouth start twisting up into a mischievous grin.

I can see that he is amused by something, but I only have a second to realise and think ‘oh hell no he isn’t’, the he gives my arm a tug, making me smash into him, his free arm locking around my waist and then his lips is on mine.. he is kissing me.

My body goes stiff as a statue and I hear Anni gasp. I want to push him away, I want to hit him as hard as possible.. but then he suck my bottom lip into his mouth, biting it softly and my brain kinda goes into instant meltdown.

I realise that I am kissing him back, my hands grabbing at his hair and a moan escaping my lips against his. Then he breaks away.

“Oh yeah.. Exactly as I thought.. I am so looking forward to shooting that scene”. He quickly jumps out of the way, which is lucky for him as I instantly try to kick him.

He has the audacity to laugh as he walks away and I fling the script after him, screaming at the top of my lungs. “Fuck off you jerk.. I freaking hate you.. you.. you asshole”.

I want to scream and hit things and.. roll up and cry.. but people has kind of started staring at me and I don't want this to be the talk of the studio.

“Come on, let’s get away from here”. Anni hands me the script she has picked up, and gently takes my arm.

We hurriedly walk

away from the outside cafe and towards my trailer. My heart still pounding in my ears and the anger burning in the pit of my stomach.

Anni looks at me like she expects me to explode any second. “Melina come on.. you have to tell me what happened between the two of you ?”

What happened/1,5 years ago part 1

Can I tell Anni the truth ? Yeah, I mean she is my best friend and she is not the type to spread gossip.. she isn’t really judgemental either.

1,5 years ago:

“Oh wow.. this is like crazy.. are you freaking serious ? You are not pulling my leg are you ?” I am eyeing my friend Victoria suspiciously.. I have a heart time believing this.

Victoria is smiling, showing of her perfect White teeth as she push one of her dark curls behind her ear. “I promise, it’s totally for real.. no leg pulling.. I would never do that.. my uncle is the director and my dad the producer”.

“But seriously.. why me ? I am a total nobody.. Hell, I just arrived.. how did you talk them into this ?” I have just arrived in LA two days ago to spend 3 months with my pen-pal through ten years Victoria, and chase my dreams of being an actress.

Being an actress is my life's dream, it has been as long as I can remember.. and here Victoria just told me that she has managed to get me a part in a tv movie, no audition needed or anything.. can I really be that lucky ?

“I happened to hear them talk about it the day before you arrived.. they were super desperate to find a pretty Young girl for the part, as the one they had cast ended herself in rehab.. so I grabbed the change and showed them you youtube videos.. so do you love me now ?” Victoria is grinning widely.

I grin back at her. “Oh god yes, I love you so freaking much girl.. here I thought I would have to work my little butt of just to get an audition.. and then you

just casually hands me a part in a movie.. okay it’s a smaller part an a tv movie.. but most work years to get there.. so thanks.. like a lot”.

“Well you are welcome.. just remember me when you are a big star”. She flops down on a chair. “But honestly you are just perfect for this part.. they needed someone capable of looking very young, but who was at least 18, preferably over 21 as there is a pretty heated scene.. I hope you are okay with that ?”

I am 23 years old, but I am aware that I look younger.. and with the right makeup I can probably look very young.. probably it’s my typical light blonde Danish looks and big blue eyes.

Honestly I don’t have to give it to much thought. “It is a part of the job.. and Well it’s not real.. it’s just make-believe”.

“But you do know kisses in movies are real now right ? No fake fifties movie kissing”. Victoria is wiggling her eyebrows and I stick out my tongue at her.. of course I know that.

Victoria grab her phone, quickly typing something and sending it. “I kinda promised daddy we would meet him for dinner if you agreed to take the part.. they are like really short on time.. so he wanted to talk things through with you”.

“Okay.. just hope he isn’t going to be disappointed when he meet me”. Shit, what if he takes one look at me and goes ‘thanks, but no thank you’ ?

Victoria smile, shaking her head softly. “He won’t.. relax. He just want to meet you.. but hey are you not the least curious about who your co-star is.. who you like have to make out with on screen ?”

“Well I

guess.. yeah.. but I probably don't know him anyway.. I mean it’s just a tv movie after all”. I actually hope it’s someone I don’t know.. it would kinda make it easier.

“Oh girl you are so lucky.. like seriously.. it’s Asher Gracer.. my uncle like knows him personally”. Victoria looks about to burst, waiting for my reaction.

I am trying hard to put a name to the face.. I know I have heard about him, but nothing really pops up. I shake my head. “Uhm the name sounds really familiar.. but I can’t remember who he is”.

“Like seriously Melina”. She looks slightly disappointed in me. “He is like so hot.. he played Ibrahim in the second and third Wild earth movies.. He did that show Charlie ? He was the voice of Rider Scott in My kingdom.. and he is going to do Midnighter.. DC’s next superhero right after this.. so he has gotten like totally ripped”.

I kinda remember him from the Wild earth movies, tall, charming, blonde.. but I had probably been busy drooling over Chris Hollings, the lead in the franchise. “Ahh, I have a slight idea then.. he is not really blonde is he ?”

“Well if daddy had let me take the part I would have jumped right in.. I wouldn’t even need to get paid, I’ll do it for free just to kiss those luscious lips”. Victoria winks as she is checking her phone. “Oh by the way we are meeting daddy at 8 at the black Ivy”.

Luckily the meeting with Victoria’s father goes really Well. He is a nice and very friendly man.. and he tells me how grateful he is for me stepping in as they are already in the middle of shooting the movie.. without me they would

have had to shut down production.

So I agree to come to the studio already two days later for my first day of filming. My part is expected to be done in just two days, as I have just 7 scenes. The pay isn’t much either, but enough to get me settled here and I would probably have done it for much less, as it is a great way to be seen and get experience.

I have gotten my script and spend the next day learning my lines. I am playing a teenage babysitter who has a heated affair with the father of the kids I am watching.