Scene of Eve

[ chapter 2 ]

“We goin’ under, babe!” Ian was screaming from the passenger seat of the car, windows fully rolled down. 

“Oh? He’s looking at you Ms. Apple.” Tiana, or Momma Tats as my team jokingly call her, nudged my side while subtly tilting her head towards Ian.

I slightly looked up, my hair serving as a perfect hide spot from his eyes. Indeed, he was looking at me. I chuckled a bit at his antics. He suddenly seemed different. Just minutes ago, he was so quiet. Calm. Gentle. Demanding in a way that I felt assured. But now? He seemed like a child. 

As I got settled in my own van with the rest of my team, Tiana’s phone rang. 

“It’s for you.” She waved her phone at me with such a wide smile that I honestly felt scared of her for a bit. 

I pointed at myself for confirmation before she impatiently pushed the phone in my hands.

“Hel-“ Midway, a quiet voice interrupted me. Even from a phone I would already recognize that anywhere.

I stared at the screen of my phone before I brought it back up my ear.

Ian? Why would he call me? We’re going to the same spot for the next shoot. He could just talk to me there. Or even before we left.

“Apple?” Ian’s voice snapped me away from my thoughts.

“Yes?” f**k. My voice sounded so small like some wounded animal afraid of being touched.

I can hear a smile from the other line if that was even possible.

“Hey,  I told you. Just relax around me, Apple. Like how you were when we were playing under the tunnel. Being so formal with me isn’t really internalizing your character, like how you said you always do for your gigs.”

Formal? It's not even close to formal. More like…scared? Scared because you just give off a certain vibe that makes me feel suddenly insecure. Your eyes. When I look at them, I see…what? What exactly do I see in those muddy waters?

“So I expect a playful Apple in the next scene, alright?” I nodded in confirmation as if he could see it and heard Tiana giggle. I didn’t even notice she was staring at me the whole time with a little smile.

A smile she’s not exactly trying to hide. 

“Apple?” Again, I heard Ian’s voice from the other end. Of course. He obviously did not see me nod so vigorously. But wait- 

His voice sounds like he was  just outside the van. 

Suddenly a head peeped in from my open window. I nearly threw the phone at the person. Gladly my grip was tight because Ian chuckled at my reaction. 

“Just wanted to make sure you were still here.” Ian smiled. But he looked…sad? 

“Of course I’m still here.” I smiled back, or at least tried. It might have worked because it was like his eyes weren’t that sad anymore. Though still mellow, but no longer haunting,. lLike he gained hope from something. Or someone. And of course I’m not saying it’s me. Nope. Not at all.

“Great. Then I’ll see you later.” He waved his hand before bringing his head out from my window. I looked out as he walked back to his own car, a skip to his steps.

“You can drop the call now.” Tiana was laughing as she reached for her phone and closed the windows.

I swear I would not let Tiana live the embarrassment I had if only she was not my temporary agent. But at the same time, I needed her to live because I didn’t think I could  handle all those emotions. I  wished I could keep Tiana with me even after my work with Genesis ends. I couldn’t imagine going back to being the lone wolf anymore. Not after realizing how it feels to be in a pack.

___

The drive to the next scene was short. 

Very short that I had no time to think sanely after a certain call. 

I wasn’t able to completely gather my composure, but at least I found myself exiting the car with stable feet, at least. I felt like jello after Ian walked back to his car. Thankfully the bumps brought back bones in my system. Bumps that shook my thoughts away temporarily. But my mind was just a blank slate.

But because it was back to being a blank slate, I didn't even know how to act around Ian for the next scene. What’s wrong with me? I was never that unfocused before. Even if I was working for big names, I always had a clear mind from beginning until the director ‘cuts’ everything back to reality. 

Must just be the nerves since I have my partner physically with me during the scenes. Yep. That must be it. That has to be it.

___

“That’s a lot of people,.” I whispered to Tiana as she walked me down to where the set tents were. I saw my team waiting for me outside one, their eyes lighting up as they saw me walking to them.

“Ms. Apple, over here!” My stylist, Nessa, was jumping and waving excitedly at me. 

“It’s Nessa’s first time being hired too. So she’s really excited. It’s her first gig. She’s actually hoping she’d still be with you for the next videos with Ian,” Tiana said as she smiled towards the hyper girl.

My mood deflated a little at that. Mike did say my team was temporary. Their contracts we’re different from mine. So there was a big chance that there would be some new faces for the next videos with Ian. Or worse? All new faces. And I honestly couldn’t let these people go just like that. After all, why change when they were already temporary? Why give me different faces instead of a temporary, yet established team?

I do hope I get a word with Mike about this. 

As I reached the tent, I grabbed for Nessa’s hand, squeezing it lightly giving her and myself assurance that I won’t just drop them. 

I’ll take them with me for as long as I can. Or at least until this whole thing is done.

I also wanted to keep the same team for myself. I’m not the type to easily adjust to new people. So I was hoping that they would stay with me during the whole thing. I needed at least a short stability in my life.  I would need to set a meeting with Mike sometime. I just hope Tiana’s up for helping me since I was not entirely sure how contracts work for non-artists. 

But at the moment, I cleared my thoughts of any worries for my team as they all started to close in on me. Their weapons, actually just brushes and blowers, all poised towards my direction. 

___

The sun was already at its highest once my make up was done. Stepping out of the tent, I was thankful that Nessa forced me to apply sunscreen on my arms. The heat was hurting my skin. I already felt my palms sweating even though I hadn't even started anything.

“Ms. Apple.” Mike walked towards me and I laughed. He was wearing beach shorts and a top that almost revealed his chest. Tiana was also laughing – not so discreetly – behind me.

“I should apologize that I don’t look presentable today. But-“ He smiled as he led me to the lower part, under the bridge. He was holding a piece of paper or, actually, brochures? 

I just stared at him as he started explaining that after shooting a picnic scene here, we would move on to the beach and Ian wanted my opinion. I did know that Ian wanted me to have freedom as much as I could have with this project, but it wasn’t even mine to begin with. I just didn’t feel right dropping opinions when it wasn’t my story that I was working on. It’s Ian’s story. Obviously, I wasn’t a part of the story. Rather I represented something or maybe someone else. I was  just playing a part that was not even mine in the first place. It was a part that was just given to me because someone scraped it off their schedule for bigger opportunities. I was always the trash can people will choose instead just because I had so many gigs before yet I didn’t ask for a higher pay. One of the many things I regret was not finding an agency.

So many gigs and yet nameless. A big whoopee for the oh so great Apple. Do insert sarcasm.

“Stealing my girl from me already?” Ian approached us with a smile. I nearly tripped on my own feet as I turned towards him. Suddenly Ian’s hands were on my back, stopping me from hitting my head on the rocky ground and dying on the spot.

“Actually, Ian, I was in the middle of asking ‘your girl’, if you will, where she would like the next scene to be. As you requested.” Mike made air quotations as he said ‘your girl’. 

My eyes were stuck on the brochures that Mike was holding. Suddenly, I released a breath I did not know I was holding as Ian bumped his shoulders against mine, his head tilting towards the brochures in question. His eyes twinkled in anticipation. 

“Don’t overthink. Anywhere you want is fine. Anywhere you want to revisit? Or perhaps someplace you’ve never been before?” Ian grabbed the brochures from Mike as he browsed it himself, his eyes meeting mine once in a while, still waiting for my choice. 

“Here.” I pointed at one. Not randomly, really. I just noticed how Ian hesitated before flipping its pages. Suddenly, I was scared. What if that place didn’t hold happy memories for him? There has to be a reason for his hesitation.

“Nice choice. I was hoping you’d pick this. Been here before?” I found myself staring at Ian. He opened the brochure and stared at the image of the beach. His eyes were not really scanning the image. Rather, his eyes were seeing something else. A hazy memory as his eyes glanced from one side to the other. Finally landing on the sunset.

I was about to ask him if he was really okay with the choice when suddenly boisterous laughter was heard. Suddenly arms were patting and hitting Ian playfully. Only remembering Mike’s presence, he pulled me to his side as he cleared his throat. The noise died down as the new arrivals calmed down and stared at Mike with smiles. Then their eyes grew wide as they saw me beside him. One even whistled and winked as our eyes met.

“I’d be careful if I were you, Xander.” Mike taunted. “By the way. This lady here is Ian’s chosen muse. Apple, these rouges are Ian’s personal team. They’ve been working with him even before we recruited Ian in the company.” 

They each offered their hands for a handshake. Xander though, his hands held mine for another second too long. Gladly though, Ian pulled me towards him, probably noticing how I - yet again - nearly lost my footing as I tried pulling my hands free subtly. 

“On with the shoot, then?” Ian asked as he looked at his team. Mike went back to the tent and I was pulled into the shot. Ian’s team followed us. I looked back curiously and Ian chuckled. 

“They’ll be joining us for this scene. Figured you'll adjust more easily with something less...intimate?” he said the last word, unsure of himself too if it was the right deduction with how I behaved for the last few hours around him. 

I just smiled at him as the director came our way and gave us some final reminders. My team also retouched what was needed with me. All the while, Ian’s hand was resting on my back, barely touching, but just there. Like some sort of support I never knew I needed until then. 

There was an RV parked just below the bridge where we were at. Right outside the RV were some seats and picnic mats. There were also some chips laying on the mat. Some were already opened and being munched by Ian’s team. With Ian’s hand on my back, he led me towards his team. 

The scene started. Surprisingly, I was indeed more comfortable because the focus - or Ian’s focus rather - was not entirely on me. But I always felt eyes on me. Was it Ian’s? I’m not sure. What I was sure about though was that Xander was keeping an uncomfortable distance most of the shoot. He wasn’t mean at all. Just all over my personal space, I guess. Unlike Ian who was always beside me, but he knew his space from mine. He was careful not to cross that boundary I unconsciously have around everyone, him especially. I have it not because I didn’t want to get close, but I just did get attached. Ian and I, we would both move onto other things after all of it ends. Work is work. Besides, it was too early to say that we’ve established a connection. Ian is just a gentleman, that was all. He respects people around him and I respected him for that. As a professional working with an amateur, his attitude and personality was more than enough to help out a colleague. It was more than I could ask from him.

“Okay?” I heard Ian whisper beside me as we took a little break. Most of his team was getting drinks. Others were playing by the lake under the bridge. 

I answered with a nod and smile towards him. I was about to talk about the beach of my choice, maybe just have a casual conversation with him as my way to help myself out in adjusting around him since we still had a pretty long way to go. But as I was about to talk, Xander came running and settled  in between me and Ian.

“Am I disturbing a moment?” He looked at Ian before looking at me then offered a drink. I awkwardly took the drink from him but placed it beside me on the floor. All of a sudden, my stomach felt weird. I was about to excuse myself when I suddenly heard Ian muttering something under his breath. Somewhere along the lines of ‘You’re always in the way.’ But before I could do anything else, Ian stood up from where we settled in on the picnic mat and stormed his way towards the director. 

“Always had a problem with me. Never did anything to piss him off,.” Xander said, laughing as he shook his head towards his friend.

“Maybe just tired?” I said as I looked away from him. 

I didn’t know what was wrong with me. But I felt uneasy around Xander. More than the uneasiness around Ian, at least. I couldn’t exactly pinpoint why though. He had been nothing but friendly towards me. It must be his advances? Too straightforward for my liking, especially since we just literally met a few hours ago. 

I was too distracted looking at the others playing by the lake that I didn’t notice how close Xander had become. His face was inches from mine. If I turned around, his lips would have met mine, accidental or not. How can he be so comfortable already? Can’t he at least sense that I’m not exactly enjoying the non-existent distance between us? I decided to just scoot a little farther from him. But at the same time, I felt him move with me, closing in on the gap that I tried to create between us. Saved by the bell, the director called all our attention and my team came running at me for a retouch. I exhaled a breath, glad to finally be surrounded by people I was fine with invading my personal space. Xander, too, released a breath, though he sounded annoyed. He seemed annoyed too as he stomped his way back to where he was during the shoot, on the other side of me and Ian. A perfect distance for me from him. 

Ian walked back to our position first. I was expecting for him to call me, at least. But instead he just walked past me and my team, not even looking my way. I released a sigh and Tiana noticed. 

“Anything wrong with your lover boy?” she whispered as the rest of my team retreated back to the tents while she walked me to my spot, pretending to apply more sunscreen on my skin but, really, she just wanted the ‘tea’. I didn’t exactly know what to tell her though because I was just as in the shadows just as much as she was. Instead, I gave her a shrug and a tilt of my head towards Xander. I did notice that there was some kind of silent hostility when the two butt heads. But they were friends, right? 

My eyes were on the ground as I found my steps becoming slower and tinier as I reached Ian,. sScared of how to approach him all of a sudden. 

“Ready for another round of fun?” I always found myself snapping my head toward Ian’s direction in an instant, as if he was demanding for attention. But his voice was always quiet around me. Always gentle. But behind that gentleness, I could hear the irony especially on the ‘fun’ part. 

Was he not having fun? Of course not. I’m here instead of someone else. I am just an emergency replacement. But as I looked up at him, his quiet hostility was not directed towards me. Or at least I assume it was not as his eyes were on Xander for a second. It was a short stare, but it was enough to see that there was something going on between them.

“As ready as I ever will be.” I laughed to hide the sudden awkwardness that I felt around him. I should be adjusting to Ian. But his behavior was confusing. Sometimes he seemed fine. But there were times where the rumors of him being cold  surface on my mind and I was  suddenly scared to approach him. 

Hesitant, but his eyes held determination, he slowly patted my head and his eyes met mine fully. They were warm just like his eyes. The hostility was gone in an instant as his head turned fully my way. So it isn’t me then. Xander? I didn’t see why. He was nothing but friendly. Maybe too friendly for my liking, but it could just be me not being the social butterfly like he is. But of course, I also didn’t really know Ian or his friends. Again, I was reminded that I was in a pretend world. I would make myself and everyone else believe that I knew all the people with me. I played along with their antics. I laughed along. I shouted on top of my lungs. But I felt empty. Surprisingly though I didn’t feel cold in my emptiness. There was warmth that somehow made up for the emptiness. A warmth that came from the supposed cold hearted one.