T/W: Mentions minor drinking.

****

I expect Pedro to ask me about what happened earlier, but thankfully, we're too busy on set the entire day and our only interactions are as we're filming together.

James is pleased, too, and is constantly commenting on how much he loves Pedro and I's chemistry. This lifts my spirits considerably. After my last, ahem, fiasco,I was afraid nobody would want to cast me again. I'm grateful that James doesn't listen to his colleagues.

Mel, of course, hovers close by, like my personal bodyguard, warily eyeing anyone who dares to get too close.

Including Pedro.

Despite her earlier insistence on me daring to get close to Pedro, Mel seems...leery about allowing him to get too close to me.

During lunch break, we hide out in my trailer, enjoying some chicken salad sandwiches, orange slices and a chocolate cookie.

"How's your morning going?" Mel asks.

"You were there," I respond. "Why are you even asking?" I pop an orange slice in my mouth and chew.

"I saw Pedro talking with you," Mel says. "You went pale. What did he ask?"

"I did no such thing," I snap.

"Don't lie to me." Mel's tone takes on the 'mom' voice.

"I don't have to tell you everything that Pedro and I discuss." I'm stalling and Mel knows it.

"Spill, now," Mel demands. "Or I'll ask Pedro." I glare at her.

"You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh yes I would." Mel smirks and I relent.

"He said he liked me in Morning After." Mel's eyebrows shoot way up.

"You aren't going to tell him anything,  are you?"

"Why the hell would I?" I growl. "That's not exactly something I care for him to find out."

"You should have been more careful," Mel says, an edge to her voice.

"Hey, he blindsided me!" I protest. "How was I to know he'd choose that particular film of mine to like? That was almost fifteen years ago."

Mel shakes her head, looking extremely disappointed. I fall silent, staring at the floor of my trailer, a few unpleasant memories assaulting my mind. There's a knock on the door and I jump. Mel gets up, going to see who it is. I hear the door hinges squeak open and the low murmur of voices. Mel returns a few minutes later.

"Ten minutes until you're needed back on set," she informs me. I nod, collecting my trash and tossing it in the waste basket before grabbing my bag and standing up.

"By the way," I say.

"Yeah?" Mel is eyeing me.

"You'd kinda seemed like you were a little leery about Pedro earlier."

"Only because I was worried he'd said something to make you uncomfortable."

I sling my bag up over my shoulder and grab the door handle. "He did. Although not intentionally." I pause, a smile playing on my lips as I recall the beautiful brown eyes and magnetic smile.

"You're thinking about him," Mel says, smiling smugly. I toss her a defiant look. She just continues smiling.

"Deny it all you want, I know you're into him."

****

The rest of the day passes (mostly) uneventfully, although towards the end of it, I notice Pedro is paying a lot more attention to me than necessary. It's starting to get on my nerves.

As soon as James yells cut for the final time that day, I'm bolting off set, scurrying away, heading for my trailer before Pedro gets any ideas to start interrogating me about my earlier flub.

Mel looks up as I bang through the door, snatching up my coat and shrugging it on.

"Where's the fire?" Mel asks mildly,  standing up from her perch on the couch and slipping her phone into her bag.

"Hmmm?" I'm now peering out the door, expecting to see Pedro, lurking, eager to pounce the second I descend down the metal steps.

"You're acting paranoid," Mel scolds lightly, pushing past me and clattering down the steps, turning to study me.

"I'm not," I say, as I carefully step down and turn, locking and closing the trailer door.

"You are." Mel starts to add more until she catches a flash of Pedro. He's approaching, smiling a little self consciously.

"Charley, amazing work today." I offer him a smile.

"Thanks. You were pretty amazing yourself."

"I was thinking about grabbing a beer.  You interested in joining me?"

"Oh. Um. I'm...not sure..." I stammer, feeling like a school girl who has a silly crush on her teacher.

"I'd really like it if you could." Pedro's voice has dropped...low and oh my, it's really...sexy.

"We'd love to," Mel pipes up, giving my shoulder a rough nudge. I'm too distracted by my...unusual feelings to even give her a dirty look. Pedro grins, those dimples digging into his cheeks, making him appear more youthful.

"Fantastic!" Pedro is beaming at me and I can feel very face overheating. I know has to be beet red. "Do you want to ride with me or...you could follow?"

"We'll follow," Mel responds for me. I feel like a total idiot for allowing Pedro's mere presence to effect me this much.

"All right, ladies. Let's go!" I stand rooted to the spot until Mel snagged me by the crook of my elbow, hustling me towards the car. I can't feel my feet touch the ground and thank God Mel is far more coherent than I am. She makes sure I'm securely in the passenger seat before closing the door and walking around to the driver's side and climbing in. She's smirking but I barely register this, as I'm still stunned into a stupor by Pedro's dark good looks.

"You feeling okay?" Mel's voice snaps me back to reality, briefly, as she pulls out behind Pedro's car on to the street. I lean against the window, a smile pasted on my face.

"I'm perfect."

****
Despite my earlier concerns about Pedro getting too personal for my comfort, we really have a good time. He's such a down to earth guy. It's no wonder half the population in the world is smitten with him. He's much more than just a pretty face.

He doesn't comment on what happened, although he'll occasionally shoot me these looks, like he's thinking about it. Thank God for Mel's presence. She makes sure we stay on neutral ground during the conversation.

"I wasn't lying, you know," Pedro says, his leaning in a little closer.

"About?"

"Grateful to get to work with you."

"That's not something I hear much of these days," I say quietly.

"You're talented, Charley," Pedro says bluntly. "You shouldn't believe everything you hear from the media about yourself."

"Only trouble is," I find myself saying, even though Mel is shooting warning glances at me. "Most of it's...true."

"I disagree," Pedro says. Immediately I take offense, all that old rage flowing out.

"You've known me for what, ten minutes and you think you know everything about me?" I spew. "We'll lemme tell you something, you don't know shit about me!"

Instantly, Mel is reaching for my hand, gently squeezing it, and running her other hand down over my back, trying to soothe me. Pedro is looking in the opposite direction, probably feeling uncomfortable at my sudden outburst.

"I apologize," I murmur. "I shouldn't have lashed out at you like that." Pedro's head turns in my direction, our eyes locking.

"Think nothing of it. I overstepped."

"You didn't," I insist. "You just trying to be nice." Pedro's eyes crinkle as he flashes that amazing smile.

"I was. But I did have an ulterior motive," he says, his tone playful. I actually laugh and Mel moves away, satisfied that she's done her job well.

"Did you?"

"Yeah." Pedro's leaning in closer again. My breath catches in my throat, as my heart starts thudding against my ribs.

"What?" I whisper, finding I desperately want to run my fingers through his hair.

"I like you."

"Is that so?"

"It's so." We gaze at each other, completely oblivious to our surroundings. It's like everything and everyone else has faded away and there's no here except Pedro and myself.

"Wow." I break eye contact, looking down at the tabletop. "Now I really feel like an asshole for freaking out on you."

"Charley." I look back at Pedro. He's smiling, softly and tenderly. My mouth goes dry. His lips are only inches from mine. And while, I'd kill for them to be on mine, his tongue exploring mine, a little part of brain is screaming at me not to do it.

"We should probably head out," I say, rising from my seat. Disappointment flickers across Pedro's face. He nods, getting up as well. We weave our way through tables, dodging bodies and making our way outside into cool, night air.

"Thanks for joining me," Pedro says.

"Thanks for inviting me," I say, smiling. Pedro chuckles.

"I enjoyed myself." He pauses, fidgeting with his phone, his gaze never straying from mine. "I hope we'll have plenty more times like this."

"You'll just have to wait and see," I say.

"I look forward to it. Goodnight, Charley. I'll see you, bright and early tomorrow morning on set."

"Goodnight, Pedro. I'll be there."