CHAPTER 16

Wait Til Real World Directors Yell "CUT"

"You don't know what love means."

"Maybe... But I'm willing to learn. Ma- I mean Kate... ARGH."

"CUT!"

Conveniently enough, a man went up to Jason with a towel and he took it (without forgetting to thank him of course) and wiped the sweat off his brow.

"What happened Jason? Suddenly win an award and get totally thrown off?"

Jason frowned. "I'm sorry, Michael. Just... alot on my mind."

"Fine," Michael gave the thespian a pat on the back. "Want a break? Or shall we do that again?"

"Okay, I think I'm ready."

"Okay.." Yelling commands to everyone the people got ready.

"Lights! Cameras!"

Jason studied the different tiles beneath his feet. They were shooting on a bridge somewhere in London and the scenery was beautiful. But Jason's mind was too occupied to admire it.

Focus, Jason. Focus.

"ACTION!"

Mariene looked him in the eye and he looked back. Lines were running through his mind...

"You don't know what love means."

It was his turn. Jason suddenly thought of Amber. He and her were on the bridge. They were talking. She was telling him he wasn't good enough. That he didn't know how to have a relationship.

"But I'm willing to learn. Kate, if you are willing to teach me, I am willing to learn." He walked up to Amber and took her hands.

"I promise you, I'll try everything possible to be with you Kate. I love you."

A fan near by was switched on. Mariene's hair blew as if there was a wind blowing. The camera had the perfect shot of them; two lovers and wonderful scenery in the background.

"And.... CUT!"

Everyone was so relieved that even there was a faint "phew!" heard. Jason smiled. Then he noticed that he was doing scenes differently from last time. Somehow he kept imagining his reel life lover to be Amber. Did this show that he really did love her? Or was he subconsciously telling himself that their relationship was temporary, once the camera stopped rolling, was it over?

Jason had never dated someone who wasn't in the movie industry too. Ever since the incident with the reporter at the Awards ceremony, he had nightmares of Amber saying that she wanted to break-up either because he was always followed by paparazzi and she needed privacy. Or because he was always in another country, doing promos and shooting so she couldn't date someone who wasn't there. Once he even dreamt she was angry because the "caviar was cold." Jason had no idea what that dream meant but it still made him afraid of doing something that would upset his girlfriend.

My girlfriend.

It took a while for the term to sip in. Jason smiled to himself. So far, nothing bad had happened to their relationship. Amber was a perfect fit for him, she was smart, she had so much in common with him and when he tried to explain the burdens of dating a movie star, she said she was fine.

The crew were taking a break now. Jason walked to one of the snack tables they had put up and took a cupcake. Then he took a seat and looked out at the sky, deep in thought. After a few minutes, he had made up his mind. Taking out his cellphone, Jason went to "new messages" and started typing.

"EVERYONE! BACK ON THE SET!"

Jason's finger hovered above the send button.

Should I? Should I?

"LET'S DO Scene 24 NOW! Fred, remember to wash your hands before handing the equipments! COME ON HARDISLAYE DON'T DILLY DALLY."

"Right... um," Jason stood up but he did not move. Staring at the phone screen, he could hear his heartbeats in his head.

"COME ON JASON!"

"Alright!" Hurriedly, he pressed the 'Send' button, shoved the phone into his pocket and forgot all about it for the rest of the day.

THAT'S IT. CHAPTER 16. YAY. I CANT BELIEVE I DID TWO CHAPTERS IN A DAY. I MUST BE BORED. haha. thanks for reading. rmb to comment.

CHAPTER 15

Atypical But Not Caffeine Free

Kaine stopped outside the club. The beats of the disco music pulsed loudly and the dancing silhouettes were visible from where he stood. Just as a foot stepped closer to the door, something went off in Kaine's head.

That's just so typical of you, Kaine.

Conscience they call it. Your very own Jiminy Cricket. But what made Kaine feel awkward and downright freaked out was that he had heard Jason's voice say it.

I seriously have to spend less time with that guy. He told himself, shaking his head. But now something had gone off in his mind. His hand reached for the door but it didn't reach it. Taking a deep breath Kaine shuffled back down the stairs then with his hands in his pocket, he headed down the street.

Karyn watched as the man in the shabbiest clothes she had ever seen slurped up the soup and ate his bread in a hurry before moving on to a fruit tart. Before she could advise him on a way to avoid choking to death, there was a familiar clinking sound; she looked up and a red haired man stared back at her before looking at his surroundings then returning his gaze to her. His emerald eyes pierced into hers and she quickly looked down.

"We're closed." She said, staring at a newspaper that wasn't really there.

"Yeah well, this guy's still here." Kaine pointed out. The old man in ragged clothes smiled, happy someone had acknowledged his presence. Then he went back to his fruit tart.

The waitress at the counter looked up and shrugged. "He's always here at this time of the night."

Kaine drew out a chair and sat down, back to back with the other man. "Well then, how about I ALWAYS come here too. Starting from now. He leaned over and took a look at what the customer was feasting on. "So... If I eat all of that... I'd have it free too, right?"

Karyn snorted. She walked to the old man and started clearing the empty dishes. "Are you kidding me? Besides, he pays for these." Immediately the man's head snapped up and his wrinkled old face had a rather worried look. Karyn pulled him upright and seemed to be pushing him to the door. Before he exited, she whispered in his ear and he smiled and nodded. Then it was just two in the cafe.

"So, it's just me, the waitress, wanting to head home soon and you, the lost guy in a cafe that has closed for the night. You-"

But Kaine had got up, stretched, and headed for the door scratching his head.

That's right mister, just walk out... come on

Kaine continued walking towards the door. His hand reached pressed against the glass and pushed.

"WAIT!"

He spun around slowly and looked at her. Karyn was standing there biting her lip. "You're making me feel guilty now."

Kaine controlled his laugh and simply shrugged.

"Sit." Was what Kaine heard. He also heard her mutter something that included the word "idiot". He took his original seat and watched as the waitress took out leftover deserts from the fridge and placed them on plates. Wordlessly, she put a cheese cake on the table. Kaine inspected for a minute before taking a bite of it. There was silence, even the chewing of the cake could not be heard. Kaine looked at the 24 year old who towered above him, hands on hips; she stared right back at him and he found himself turning his attention to a light switch on the wall.

Right. So should I talk to her? What if she bites me. Oh my.

Kaine turned back to look at the woman. She seemed to not have lifted her gaze since the last time. The silence and the staring was creating a rather awkward atmosphere. Kaine even could swear that a Beethoven symphony was playing in his head.

Well. This calls for a fancy introduction.

Kaine stuck out his hand and smiled. "Hi, I'm-"

"What exactly are you doing here?"

The question confused Kaine a lot. He looked at her, then down at what he was eating before answering sheepishly, "Cheesecake?"

"Don't think I don't know who you are!"

"Oh! So you've heard of me!"

"Not exactly. I can't remember what your name is."

"So you haven't heard of me."

"Well no. I know you're an actor and I know this because my best friend is dating your best friend. And I remember you coming in here once with him."

"Oh."

"So what are you here for? Since I last check, A Listers don't walk into close cafes to have a cheese cake at this time of the night. What's really going on?"

Kaine looked at her. Then sighed.

"Sit down." Karyn found the direction a bit odd but she sat anyway.

"Look I," Kaine ran a finger through his hair. He was looking down at the table and Karyn was more than surprised to see his expression had changed. "I'm not feeling too well. So i decided to get a drink but alcohol won't do for me. So I thought maybe coffee or something... but the cheese cake's doing fine...." Kaine was slurring so much it took a while for her to find out what he was saying.

"But the thing is... I really need someone to talk to... unfortunately, you seem to be the only one around..." Karyn met with Kaine's green eyes again. She was lost for words. It was such an odd situation. This man whom she had only seen once had walked into her cafe and now was asking her to be his therapist? She didn't even know his name!

"But...I don't even know your name!" she pointed out. Kaine shrugged.

"Kaine."

There was silence. Karyn listened to the clock ticking. It was very late and she was tired, but she couldn't just ask the man to get out. She pushed her sleepiness away and looked at him.

"So... how do we do this?"

**

It was odd how much different the house looked, even if he had been in it almost everyday after school. Where she was taking him was a completely never-before-seen place. It was all pretty and the walls were covered with musicians who seemed to have lost all their shirts....

"You have a very odd room."

She grinned at him and went pink slightly. There was an arrangement of cards on top of a book shelf that caught his attention. Walking closer, the cards seemed to be for different occasions but something about them rang a bell in his head. He took one down, handling it with utmost care.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS! Or haven't you noticed? It's Christmas. That's right you blur little girl. Hope your next year at high school is much better off. Heard about that jerk Hayden, he is really a git. Don't think about him! You know you're better than that cheerleader he ran off with. What's her name again? Biatch? She's so ugh. I mean for my standards she's just another one of those girls who are sooooo superficial. You know you're better than her! You're smart, funny, PRETTY. yes you are! Okay I take back when I said you look like your brother (he's not very good eyecandy, huh?), you are totally H-O-T. that's right sugar. Now stop reading this and get to bed. It's late.
=)
Merry Christmas
CandyKaine

Kaine smiled. He remembered this. He placed it back on the shelf and read another one. It was a badly made card with a pencil drawn boxing glove on the cover. He opened it and read:

Happy boxing day? Really, who celebrates this anyway. Whatever. Stay out of trouble, kid. Once I graduate, I can't keep coverin for ya! -Mr K.

Placing the card back to where it was before, Kaine turned around and met with her eyes. Those beautiful blue eyes. They were hard to forget.

"So, what's with keeping all these?" She frowned slightly, as if in deep thought. Then after a moment's hesitation she looked up and stared Kaine straight in the eye.

"They remind me. Of you."

**
"And that was my first heartbreak." His hands felt warm, clutching the cup of coffee Karyn had offered him while he told his story.

"Heartbreak? But she likes you, doesn't she?"

"Well yes but you know! I'm not exactly married to her now so I think you can take the hint..."

"Oh right." The waitress answered sheepishly. Karyn didn't think she was doing a very good job at this. Fatigue was taking over her and every now and then she would pinch herself just to make sure she had not fallen asleep.

"It's late..." It took a moment for Karyn to realise it was not she who had said it, but Kaine. He looked at her and smiled.

"Thanks." Kaine could see she was deadly tired but she forced a smile anyway and went to wash the dishes. He waited for her and when she came out he stood up and thanked her again.

"Ah.. well. I didn't do much actually." She admitted, taking off her apron. They walked out the the street together and Kaine eyes took awhile to get used to the street lights.

"Well, we'd better be going."

"Wait! I'll walk you home."

"There's no need to! I know where I live."

"Yea yea but it's late. Not really suitable for a pretty yet vulnerable woman like you to be walking along the street alone. Dangers lurking all around you know! So I'll walk you home.... Karyn. It's Karyn right? Did I pronounce it right?"

Karyn had to look away to hide her face when she blushed. "Yea, you did. Fine then. C'mon."

Walking home with someone seemed to be no different then walking home alone. Karyn and Kaine barely spoke a word but somehow she did feel safer. Stars were absent from the night sky that night but the moon shone brightly. A soft wind blew sending chills up her spine. Soon, the soft wind had grown stronger and Karyn found herself shivering even though she repeated rubbed her arms.

"Here-" Next thing she knew, Kaine had his jacket off and and placed it on her shoulders. She was on the verge of declining but another wind blow and she wrapped the jacket rightly around her.

Finally, Karyn was up her front door steps and she turned around and smiled at Kaine. He smiled back.

"Well... bye." He said with a wave. "Last night was really awkward... But thanks for keeping me company."

"Yea it was awkward! But I guess... whatever. If we both don't tell anyone else, it'll just be another normal night."

Kaine nodded.

"Bye..." She took off the jacket and handed it to him then turned to face the door.

Kaine decided to whole the jacket in his arms instead of wear it. He walked down the door steps and was about to make his way home when he heard her call, "Hey."
He turned and saw her head sticking out of the half closed door.

"I'm not vulnerable!" She argued. Then she smiled and shrugged and closed the door.

is this chap long? haha. to me it is. i didnt know how to end it so i kept writing. i think it's really crappy. i NEED TO READ MORE. ahh. okay. so thanks for reading and please comment. thank yewwwwwwwww. and once i get this story off my hands, i'll move on to fan fiction!