"Oi, Ice Prince," Cece calls out loud and my eyes widen in horror as I gasp and pull his arm, as if like that I could take back what he did. "What?" he whispers to me. "You wouldn't call his name," is the excuse he gives me, shrugging and with a mischievous smirk.

I hide my face in my hands, completely ashamed when Gareth Maddox actually looks up. I can barely register his slightly surprised expression when he sees Cece and I standing in the lift, stopping this from closing so we can have a chat.

We have a two days break from shooting and everything else, although not exactly for me. I just had a meeting and ended very exhausted, so Cece proposed to go out to a bar or something to have fun. The point is to get distracted and forget all the worries from work. So he came to my room and made sure to pick my outfit and do my makeup so I look easily twenty-one and we avoid people asking for my ID or anything. Whilst he was doing my makeup and hair he mentioned I should invite my "new friend" to join us.

After that day I went to talk to Gareth we've had some other minor conversations. He is always polite and nice to me whilst he's cold and standoffish to anyone else. I've told about all that to Cece and he thinks Gareth probably hates everyone else but me, I say it's just because he's introvert but Cece doesn't buy that, though. I also commented to him how I feel bad about Gareth never having fun and always working. Hence, he suggested to make sure Gareth has fun during this production, besides the whole acting which is what he likes best, apparently.

Foolishly, I said that if we ran into him I would invite him. I never imagined we would actually run into Gareth Maddox on our way down! I mean, what are the odds? Of course, I froze when I saw him, knowing clearly what I told Cece to do and that is why he called out for him.

"Ann?" Gareth speaks, clearly confused as to why the person next to him is calling for him, and using that nickname on top of everything.

"Hi," I manage to get out, knowing pretty well that I'm blushing and that Cece is smirking next to me. "What are you up to?"

"Going for a walk," he replies and I notice his eyes going to Cece for a few seconds and then coming back to me. My friend is still holding the doors. "You?"

"We're going out," I explain. "Oh, this is my friend Cece, he's also a makeup artist in this production," I introduce and Cece waves cheerily.

"Big fan," Cece says. Gareth just nods, his expression colder than usual.

"Would you... would you like to join us? We're just going to a bar," I add, feeling my stomach tied in knots, wanting to run and hide because it's getting too hot in here and he's watching me with brows slightly furrowed.

"I'm not sure that's my thing," he says and I'm about to let it go but Cece literally elbows me, which is clearly a sign I must insist.

You must make sure he gets fun, then! Do something and don't accept a no for an answer, said Cece a while before so I know he is trying to remind me of that now.

"Come on. You said you're always working and it's just us two. Just to see the town and have some drinks," I continue. "I'd feel bad as a producer later on if I know you only came to work and that you got bored during the breaks. I made sure to have two-days break from time to time for everyone."

"You made sure of that?" he asks, one eyebrow arched and I smile at him.

"Yes. I want everyone to feel good during the shooting. Otousan arranges one-day breaks for the crew but never everyone on the same day 'cos it delays the shooting, but I changed that," I explain and I'm pretty sure he is impressed.

Okay, technically speaking, he barely shows any expression whatsoever. I think that for anyone else it would look like nothing changes on his face, but I've been paying a lot of attention to him, trying to get better at reading his expressions so I think I'm learning to catch those small changes.

"Please, pretty please?" I try, putting my palms together like in a prayer and trying to give him the puppy eyes that Cece is completely weak for. "Just for a while."

We stare into each other's eyes for a few seconds and I know the moment he gives in because he closes his and sighs ever so softly. "Fine," he agrees and I can't help myself, I cheer, clapping an everything, feeling horridly humiliated after I do, so my cheeks blush and I have to look down.

"Come in, then" Cece asks, stepping back so Gareth can join us in the lift.

I feel really awkward, specially because Gareth is standing next to me and to his other side it is Cece, who keeps watching him with too intense eyes. I'm sure Gareth is also feeling awkward and anxious, so I'm really grateful when the doors open and we are at the hall, walking to the car that is waiting for us.

The ride is silent and awkward, but what is worse is Cece. I think he's scheming something and that makes me anxious. There's something in his eyes when he looks at Gareth and I don't think it's his celebrity crush or anything.

It's once in the bar that things change. Said bar is quite nice with good selection of rock classics and some more contemporary ones. The clientele look between twenty-five and forty, all drinking beer, playing pool or darts and laughing loudly. Mostly are men and I have a feeling they are all regulars. No one pays attention to Gareth Maddox stepping in.

We order for beers and the moment these arrive, Cece opens his mouth.

"I'm still struggling with the fact you're this handsome up close. And you're not even wearing makeup. You're naturally this handsome," Cece blurts out.

Gareth chokes on his beer and I cover my mouth with my hand to keep me from doing that, Cece only smirks, happy with the reaction he got.

"Th-thanks," he stutters and I think that's his mistake. Cece's grin widens.

"The whole icy attitude suits you perfectly. It makes you more desirable. Are you really that cold?" Cece asks with a seductive tone. Gareth looks at me and I'm glad I have my hand on my mouth because that hides the nervous laughter. His eyes look a bit confused and like asking me if this is normal. "Will the alcohol warm you up?" my friend asks next, leaning a bit closer and I can't help it this time, I really laugh, making my friend look at me and wink.

Gareth doesn't reply, he just drinks all the content from his glass and Cece can't stop smiling.

"Oh look, the boy can look uncomfortable after all," Cece laughs. "I'm sorry, man. I just wanted to make sure you actually showed emotions. Ann kept telling me you aren't made of ice but I couldn't believe it," he speaks now in his normal voice, not his flirty one. "I'm really not hitting on you, I'm taken already."

"O-oh," Gareth says, but his expression is still surprised, confused and a bit bewildered. I'm chuckling into my hand, hoping he won't notice.

"Don't take me wrong, you're totally my type but I have eyes only for one man, and you're too straight. It's like written all over you. What a pity," Cece laments, practically talking to himself and Gareth actually laughs, that incredulous type of laughter.

I don't think he's offended or anything, it's almost amused. Like he can't fully believe what Cece is doing but at the same time he is strangely entertained by it.

"Let loose a bit, mate. You need to have fun, too. It's not all work," Cece advices and Gareth's little smile disappears. "Just look at Ann. She's taking the whole company's weight on her shoulders and she still manages to find time to do fun things and make friends," Cece continues at the same time he asks for another beer for Gareth. I've barely touched mine. "Isn't that right, Ann?"

"I try," I reply. "But I think Cece is right. Just a bit of fun or just a distraction. It can't be all work, can it?"

"And you're so talented that I think even if you get wasted every day it wouldn't affect your performance. Like seriously, share some talent, mate!" Cece playfully punches Gareth on the shoulder and the actor's left corner of his mouth curls up in a little smile.

"Let's have fun tonight!" I propose, rising my glass and Cece immediately joins me. "Come on," I add, just looking at Gareth and he chuckles lightly before also raising his new glass of beer.

We drink a bit more, although I don't much. It's mostly Cece and Gareth and it seems the latter is a bit of a lightweight, because soon he looks a bit more at ease, to the point he actually laughs at Cece's teasing. We play pool and it turns out I'm terribly, I don't even have beginner's luck, whilst Cece is amazing and Gareth is fairly decent. Surprisingly, at darts I'm better and we have loads of fun whilst playing that. We don't talk much about ourselves because every time Cece tries to get something out of Gareth, he goes back to the rehearsed answers from every interview and closes up a bit. I think it's just automatic by now, to answer like that, especially if he's a little drunk. So instead we just talk about other things, making jokes and betting over scores.

Cece goes completely crazy when Arctic Monkeys starts playing-by that point he's had like five beers-and starts singing. Amazingly, he gets other locals to join him and sing together and it becomes quite the show. That has Gareth and I laughing and this is the loudest I've ever heard him. I really think he's having fun.

A bit later Cece literally pushes Gareth and I to dance together and even if we refuse-although it's mostly me because I just don't even know how to dance-Cece doesn't accept any excuse. He practically takes Gareth's hands and places them on my waist and then mine on his shoulder.

"Now. Dance!" he commands, clapping twice as an order and Gareth just chuckles.

I blush, I can't do anything else, as I awkwardly start to follow Gareth's lead. We don't move much, but I guess we are dancing. Still, it isn't like a romantic atmosphere or anything, considering Cece is singing near, thinking he is Lenny Kravitz. However, my heart races when I feel Gareth's hands moving from my waist to my back, pulling me a bit closer, practically making me lean on him. I tense in his arms and I'm like aware of every part of my body that is touching his. My heart is going to burst out of my chest!

"Thank you," Gareth talks into my ear and I shiver slightly.

"What for?" I ask back, hoping my voice doesn't sound as shaky to him as it does to me.

"For inviting me tonight. I never did this before," he says and I pull back to look him in the eyes this time. I can't help my surprised expression.

"Never?" I ask and then I want to slap myself. I never did this myself either, but then again I'm just seventeen so I guess it's not that weird.

"Never," he confirms. "I'm having fun," adds Gareth next and my surprised expression disappears for a satisfied smile.

"I'm really glad you're having fun," I comment, from the bottom of my heart.

"Cece is inappropriately fun," he says next, his smile fond.

I'm really getting better at reading his expressions, besides, the fact he's a bit tipsy also makes him a bit more expressive.

"He's a gem," I comment and Gareth nods, which makes me happy that he seems to like Cece, too, despite how uncomfortable he did things for the actor at first.

"I hope you'd invite me to something again in the future," Gareth says, really surprising me and making me ridiculously happy at the same time.

"That's a given."

~·~

Did you enjoy this chapter? I had fun writing it :) from now on we will have more #Anneth so get ready ;)

Dedication to @Pebblesz05

Bel, xx

PS: If you like vampire stories why don't you check the one I'm writing on DramaFever news? Just go to that websites, check the news section and look for "Orange Marmalade: Look At Me". Please, I'd love if you at least take a look at it. (I've posted the link on my profile and tumblr and twitter and instagram and even Pinterest!) - Check external link!