The Making of…

Chapter 24

Fixing What Was Broken

[~This chapter picks up where the last one left off, only this time it’s from Kira’s point of view~]

I sighed as Viggo cradled me in his arms, finally feeling safe for the first time since the phone call. I closed my eyes and rested my head against his chest, matching my breathing to his and listening to his steady heartbeat. I couldn’t believe that he’d stood up to Andrew like that… I could never do anything like that, and now… I felt like I wasn’t so afraid anymore. Viggo had promised not to let him hurt me, and I trusted him.

“Are you alright?” He asked quietly after a few moments. I nodded.

“Thank you.” I whispered, wrapping my arms around him and hugging him tightly. He hugged me in return and rested his head on top of mine.

“It was nothing… I’m just glad you’re ok.” He murmured, sitting back on the sofa and pulling me with him. I was a little startled by how easy it was to be so close to Viggo… It just felt natural. I could feel exhaustion setting in, but I didn’t want to sleep, it felt too early.

“Do you want something to eat?” He asked, and I began to realise how hungry I was. As if responding to my thoughts, my stomach growled loudly and I blushed.

“Yeah… That would be great.” I replied, ducking my head in embarrassment as he laughed. He released me and untangled himself from my embrace as he stood.

“I’ll just go see what’s in my trailer.” He smiled, “I’ll be back in a moment.” I nodded and watched him leave, listening to his footfalls die away outside the trailer. I jumped as my phone began to ring on the table… It was as if he knew I was alone.

***Viggo’s Point of View***

I searched through the cupboards in my trailer before producing a couple of cans of soup. They would have to do if I wanted to get back to Kira quickly. I still wasn’t comfortable leaving her alone; she still seemed so vulnerable… As I left the trailer and shut the door behind me, I ran into Orlando outside.

“Vig!” He smiled, “How’s Ki?”

“Better.” I replied.

“What was wrong?” He asked curiously, and I debated on whether or not to tell him the truth. Kira hadn’t exactly said that it was to be kept a secret, but I had a feeling that she wouldn’t like the information to be spread around. I settled on giving him a rough idea, as he was already involved anyway.

“She got a call this morning from her ex-boyfriend.” I sighed, “And she’s pretty frightened of him. From what I could gather, he was quite abusive when they were together.” My hands balled into fists as I remembered what she had told me. How could anyone do that to her?

“That’s awful…” Orlando murmured staring at the ground. “She’s ok now though, right?”

“Yeah,” I sighed, “She’s pretty shaken up, but she seems alright.”

“Good.” He smiled, and then checked his watch. “I’ve got to go,” He sighed, “I’ll see you later!” He waved before jogging off. I walked quickly back to Kira’s trailer, before I even had a hand on the door, I could hear her raised voice inside. He’d phoned again. What had I been thinking? How could I leave her alone when there was still a risk? I’d promised not to let him hurt her again… It looked like I’d already broken that promise. I opened to door and walked in, and I saw Kira pacing the floor with the phone pressed to her ear.

“Get it through your thick skull Andrew, I don’t love you anymore.” She hissed, turning her back to me, but I’d already seen the tears gathered in her eyes. She laughed sarcastically at something he said. “Really? You honestly thought I would take you back?” I saw her clench her fists as she continued, her voice steady. “Nothing you can say will persuade me. How could I ever forgive you for what you did?” Her tone quickly became harsh, and she laughed again. “Beg all you want. I’ve moved on, I advise you to do the same.” I watched as she hung up and stared silently at the phone that lay in her hand.

“Kira?” I murmured quietly, and she wiped her eyes before turning to me.

“Hi Vig.” She sighed, setting the phone down on the table. We stared at each other for a moment; before I set down the cans I was carrying and walked to her, quickly pulling her into a tight hug.

“Ki I’m so sorry.” I apologised as she looked up at me.

“For what?” She asked.

“For leaving you alone, I should have known that he’s call again and-”

“It’s ok Vig.” She interrupted me, looking up, “I’m… I’m not as scared of him now.” Her lips pulled into a weak smile, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing her smile again was like a confirmation of everything being alright. “I actually stood up to him.” She laughed a little, not the hollow or sarcastic laugher she’d been using earlier, but her usual, cheerful laughter. “Oh my God… I actually stood up to him.” Her eyes grew wide, as if she couldn’t believe what she was saying. I smiled and hugged her tightly.

“Yeah…” I sighed, smiling with relief. She was ok.

“Thank you Viggo.” She breathed, wrapping her arms around my waist and resting her head on my chest. “I couldn’t have done it without you.” I felt my cheeks redden a little as she looked up at me and smiled. I stared into her eyes for a long moment. I was never allowed to get used to her eyes. Most of the time when I looked at them, she was wearing her lenses and they’d be green, but I loved her natural eyes. There was something about them that drew me in…

“So, how about that food then?” She smiled, untangling herself from my arms and breaking our eye contact, although she still held my hand as she pulled me to the kitchen part of her trailer, where I had left the soup. She dropped my hand as she reached up into the cupboards and started pulling down pots and things. “Here, you warm it up and I’ll get the bowls.” She commanded me, pushing a pot and spoon into my hands.

“Sure.” I smiled, emptying the cans into the pot and setting it on the cooker. I watched her out of the corner of my eye for a while, for some reason I found myself fascinated by her. Less than an hour ago, she’d been an emotional train-wreck, but she’d somehow pulled herself together, and it seemed like the whole thing had just been some weird dream. Most of the people I knew would spends days wallowing in self-pity, myself probably included. What was it that made her different?

“Vig careful!” She suddenly cried, breaking my trance.

“Huh?”

“You’ll burn the soup!” She laughed, ducking under my arm and turning the heat down.

“Oh…” I murmured, smiling a little at my own stupidity.

“You looked like you were off in another world.” Ki grinned as she rescued our meal.

“Yeah… I kinda was.” I mumbled sheepishly as she handed me a bowl and smiled.

“Come on Space Cadet.” She teased, pulling me back over to the sofa. As we sat and ate, I found myself staring at her again, still marvelling at how quickly she’d gotten over her fear.

“How do you do it?” I asked, only realising after the words were out that I’d spoken my thoughts aloud.

“Hm?” She looked up, twirling her spoon in her fingers absentmindedly.

“I was just wondering… How is it that you can smile so quickly, when a few minutes ago you could barely speak because you were crying so much?” She blushed a little and shrugged.

“I guess sometimes you just have to keep smiling.” She murmured, her lips pulling into the sweet smile that sent my heart racing. I smiled in return, my eyes meeting hers.

“Erm… Do you want to watch a movie or something?” I asked, quickly changing the subject and breaking our eye contact.

“Sure, you can pick.” She smiled, waving me towards where she kept her laptop and DVD collection. I began to leaf through the collection, trying to decide on a film. She probably wouldn’t want anything too romantic right now… And I didn’t think a horror movie was appropriate… I laughed when I came across her small selection of chic-flicks.

“‘Sleepless in Seattle’? Really?” I laughed as she blushed.

“It’s my guilty-pleasure movie.” She murmured as I rolled my eyes.

“Corny…” I muttered under my breath, before I picked up the only movie I could find that wasn’t loaded with romance, or was too scary, or too violent. ‘Jaws’.

“Go ahead.” She laughed when I held it up. I shrugged and turned it on, before retreating back to the sofa with her. She pulled a blanket over us both and leant against me as the movie started. I smiled and slipped my arm around her shoulders and hummed the cliché theme tune. “No, don’t go swimming there!” She murmured sarcastically as we watched the characters on screen run into the water.

“Yes, watch out for the big rubber shark.” I grinned as we both laughed quietly.

As the film went on, Kira moved closer and closer to me, resting her head on my chest – I hoped she couldn’t hear how my heartbeat increased each time she shifted. We were just getting to the part in the movie where they come across the destroyed fisherman’s boat, and the scientist goes scuba-diving to look for shark-evidence.

“This is the scariest part.” Ki murmured, huddling close to me as the tense music started on screen. We both knew what would happen next, but it didn’t stop Kira jumping when the fisherman’s decapitated head popped up on screen. “I always jump at that part… Sorry.” She whispered as I smiled as held her a little tighter.

“It’s ok.” I murmured as she turned back to the screen. It surprised me how well we both knew the film, as we both knew pretty much every famous, cliché line, including: ‘We’re going to need a bigger boat’. Ki laughed and pulled the blanket a little tighter around us both, as I arranged a few cushions and slumped down onto my side. She nestled herself beside me and pulled my arm around her shoulders again. “Are you cold?” I asked curiously.

“No… Your arm’s just comfy.” She smiled. As we continued to watch, I sensed her becoming drowsier and I yawned in spite of myself. It was far too easy to relax around Kira. After a few minutes, I was sure she was asleep. I considered moving her over to her bed, but I decided to wait until the end of the movie. I yawned again and shifted a little so I was comfier, using my free arm as a pillow. I felt my eyelids drooping shut as I stifled yet another yawn. Ki rolled over a little in her sleep, so her head was now also resting on my arm. I smiled as I looked at her peaceful face, and closed my eyes. I was sure I would wake up before the end of the movie…

***Kira’s Point of View***

An irritating buzzing sound dragged me out of my blissful sleep. I cracked one eye open and yelped as I found myself face to face with Viggo. I rolled away and proceeded to fall off the sofa as he blinked awake.

“Ouch…” I mumbled sleepily, sitting up on the floor.

“Huh? Ki?” Viggo yawned, looking at his watch. “Ugh… I must have fallen asleep.” He moaned, rubbing his eyes as my cheeks flushed red. I stood and went to find my alarm clock to stop the buzzing, before dragging myself back over to Viggo.

“Morning.” I muttered, rubbing the last traces of sleep from my eyes. Vig laughed a little as I flopped onto my side on the sofa.

“Get up.” He smiled, prodding me in the side.

“No.” I groaned, curling into a ball.

“Come on, we have to work today.”

“No.” I protested again. “I can’t work… I’m sick.” I coughed dramatically as he rolled his eyes.

“Up.” He stressed, “Or we’ll both be late.” I rolled onto my back and grumbled. “Ki, you can either get up yourself, or I will drag you to the studio myself.” He grinned as I scrambled to my feet.

“Fine, I’m up.” I yawned.

“Good.” He smiled, also standing, “Right, I’m off to get ready, see you in the bus.” He ruffled my hair a little and made for the door.

“Vig!” I called after him and he hesitated at the door, “Erm… Thanks… For last night I mean.” I blushed and he cast me a gentle smile.

“No problem.” He murmured, opening the door and hopping out of my trailer. I smiled and stretched, before making my way to the bathroom to prepare myself for another day.