Chapter Three

Smile For The Camera

I stood against a white wall as the photographer adjusted his lenses. The bright studio lights were aimed at my face as my hair and makeup team was reapplying powder.

"Okay I'm all ready." The photographer says giving a small smile. "Ryder. Can I get you to stand beside Brooklyn." Pointing towards where I am standing.

Ryder makes his way over running his fingers quickly through his hair. "Okay can I get you to move closer to her and place a hand on her hip." The photographer says as Ryder complies.

His hands are holding me in place. The spark we once had begins to glimmer as I feel the heat pulsing out from my skin underneath his hands. I look up at him and notice he is focused on what the photographer is saying.

"Princess. You need to stop daydreaming and focus on the task in hand." He whispers. His lips lingering against my ear as I feel the colour rush into my cheeks.

"Shut up." I mumble as he gently squeezes my hip.

"Okay okay, enough fooling around." The photographer says with his camera in one hand and the other is placed against his hip. "We have the other cast members coming in fifteen minutes and she still are yet to get one photo of you." Ryder and I both look at each other and let out a little laugh. "Okay Ryder. I want you looking down at Brooklyn and you my dear, look up at him, focus in on each other's eyes." He screams.

Ryder places a hand underneath my chin, moving my head upwards as I look into his blue eyes. I've never noticed he dark blue lining around his eyes or the lines of grey radiating around his pupil.

The sound of the camera continues to fill the air until the noise of a door slamming fills the air as I drop my gaze from Ryder's and his hands fall from my waist. A wave of orange hair walks by as she plops herself down onto one of the chairs around the set.

"So are these the two lovebird of the show?" She asks, her eyes directed at Ryder and I. "I'm Sarah. And you two must be Ryder and Brooklyn." She says giving a large smile.

I step away from Ryder making my way towards Sarah. "So, your playing Natasha right?" I ask reaching for a bottle of Aquafina.

"Yes I am! I've read ahead and it turns out that you and are best friends." She says engulfing me in a hug. "By the way, there's also a steamy scene with you and Ryder."

I almost choke on my water. "Wonderful." I manage to get out while holding back my laughter.

"Oh trust me. Most girls would die to be in your place." She says with a small laugh before making her way towards the set. "Talk to you soon." She responds waving over her shoulder.

Making my way towards the set with a bottle in hand I notice Kate in the corner calling me over. "Honey have you seen these photos." She says placing a laptop in my hands.

I look down at the photo on the screen; of Ryder and I. My brown hair is thrown over my shoulder as I'm looking up at Ryder with slight blush on my cheeks. Ryder is staring down at me, a slight smirk playing with his lips.

"These photos are perfect. I'm going to release them to the press in a couple of days. They will be quite infested to see how the television series is coming a long! Since your character is one that just moved here, they have already finished filming around one-quarter of the season."

I nod. "Which means interviews, televisions shows, as well as premiers will be filling up your schedule soon. So please be prepared." With that she's off, the sound of her heels echoing through the small vicinity.

"Brooklyn!" Someone shouts. "We need you over here for some group photos." The photographer says pointing in the direction of ten to twelve people gathered in a cluster.

Since when did all of these people get here?

"Okay, I'm going to need Brooklyn and Ryder standing in the middle. Sarah I want you to be right beside Brooklyn and Jackson I want you beside Ryder. Kelley, as well as Dana, I want you girls standing beside Jackson and then Braden and Sam, I want you two close to Sarah."Everyone finds their spots as Ryder's reaches out, pulling me closer to his body.

"Okay no everyone listen closely." The photographer says. "Ryder and Brooklyn, I want you two focusing on each other. Braden and Sam, you two will have to focus on Brooklyn. Kelley and Dana, I want you girls to act like you have the hots for Ryder." He says putting air quotations around 'the hots'. "Sarah, I want a hand in your hair and for you to look towards the ground and I want you Jackson, to be looking at her. Okay?"

Everyone follows his instructions as I am once again staring at Ryder, a huge smirk plastered on his face as I couldn't help but smile. The camera begins it repetitive clicking as flashes fill the studio. Every so often we change our poses, adjust our expressions, or move around the set trying for different angles and perspectives.

Finally, after what seems like forever, we finish the shoot. We apparently have some great photos that will be posted onto our Twitter page as teasers, as well as the main photo, being of Ryder and I, will be used as one of the covers, and television poster.

We do not officially start filming for another week but since everyone is here and ready it is expected to start a lot sooner.

I gather my purse and light sweater as I head towards the main door ready to retire back into my room until Sarah's voice fills the air. "Brooklyn! A group of us are going out for lunch you should join us." She says sporting a smile.

"Okay, that sounds like fun." I say before following them out the doors towards the parking lot.