( CHAPTER 16 )
' real life '

* ･ ゜ ﾟ ･ * ☆

ELEANORE RELEASED A SHAKY BREATH from her lips, watching the directors get into their ready positions. Her cheeks were flushed with the color of roses from the crisp fall air surrounding them. Eleanore was nervous—actually petrified. She had done many on screen kiss scenes before, enough to not be nervous for them anymore, but for some reason—some odd reason—she was extremely anxious.

"You look like you've seen a ghost." A voice laughs, breaking Eleanore out of her thoughts.

Eleanore looked to her left to see the exact reason why she was so anxious stand next to her. She let out a slight grin from seeing the boy in his 80's costume.

"I'm freezing that's why—it's like forty freaking degrees our here!" Eleanore exclaimed, rubbing her hands together, hoping for heat.

"You are such a drama queen it's not even that bad!" Joe protested, looking down on the shorter girl.

"Oh, please you're hair is the only thing keeping you warm. Face it, Kerry—that thing is like armor on you." Eleanor laughed, flicking a loose strand of his hair with the tips of her fingers.

"Hey—hey—hey! No touching the master piece!" Joe shrieked, swatting Eleanore's hand away from his hair.

"You are such a spazz." Eleanore spoke, folding her arms against her chest.

"I am not a spazz. I just have appreciation for art and that's exactly what my hair is." He defend himself, putting the strand where it was once before.

"You are such a dork." Eleanore giggled, her breath visible from the cold weather around them.

"A dork that you love!" Joe joked, nudging her shoulder slightly.

"That's up for debate—"

"Just face it, Ellie. We all know at night you secretly write my name in your diary with hearts all around it saying Eleanore Keery." Joe joked, but the brunette could feel her cheeks heating up.

"You are literally the most annoying person ever. I don't understand why i'm friends with you." Eleanore scoffed.

"Your life would be boring without me and you know it." Joe spoke, a smirk appearing in his lips.

Eleanore rolled her eyes, a smile appearing onto her lips from the boy's comment. Suddenly, the two heard a loud snap coming from the director, making the two young adults snap out of their conversation.

"Eleanore, Joe—we're starting!" The director's voice boomed, his breath coming out like smoke from a chimney.

"Oh, by the way I ate pickle onion chips about ten minutes ago—you're welcome." Joe whispered into Ellie's ear.

"Joe!" Eleanore shrieks, her mouth gasped open. Joe laughed, as he walked away from the disgusted actress. There was one think in this world that Eleanore hated and that was onions. She cant even look at them without getting grossed out.

The two actors filmed their outside scenes for about an hour. The cold air made both of them have chills up and down their arms, but they continued anyways, trying to finish so they could get to the scenes inside. Eleanore's stomach did flips when the director yelled cut, indicating it was time to move inside.

"At least we get to go inside now." Joe spoke, trying to make the situation less awkward.

"Yeah, and then we get to go home and get some actual warmth." Eleanore spoke, her voice cracking from her nervousness.

"Try not to bite my tongue off like you did the first time you kissed a dude." Joe spoke, a mischievous grin forming on his face.

"How did you find out about that?!" Eleanore exclaimed, feeling her face become hot.

"Millie told me and I'm so glad she did because that—that is hilarious." Joe confessed between his laughter.

"Stop, laughing at me! It haunts me enough already." Eleanore pouted, stopping her feet like a child.

"Eleanore—Joe, lets go! We are starting in a minute." One if the cast directors demanded.

The two looked at each other before walking towards the set of Joe's character Steve's room. Eleanore could feel her hands getting sweaty and they haven't even sat on the bed.

"Did you actually eat pickle onion chips because if you did i'm literally going to throw up." Eleanore sighed, as Joe sat next to her.

"No, I was just kidding. I know how much you hate onions." Joe chuckled at the distraught of her face.

"Okay, ready guys?" The directors asked. The two actors nodded, but little did the two know that they were both freaking out on the inside, "Alrighty, Action!"

The two began to recite their lines between one another. As her character spoke, Eleanore could only think of how certain she was going to pass out with nerves—good nerves. The kind that we're giddy, like when you are cranking up on a rollercoaster.

She haven't even realized that she was speaking because of her anxiousness. They flowed out of her mouth until Joe said his last line. He leaned in closer and closer until the space between them was no longer there.

The kiss came quick and bare. The two pulled apart, with the realization that they had done it, a laugh escaping both their lips. Then once again with fumbling hands, another go. Longer this time, as their back hit the wall.

Although it was just their characters, they kissed like they were each others center of gravity. Eleanore could feel herself falling and falling for him, as their lips moved in sync. She felt the back of his hand move to her neck, his thumb gently caressing the strands of her hair. Breathless, unsteady, abruptly shy as their panting breaths chased the silence when they pulled apart.

Their eyes met—their hearts beating out of their chests. Eleanore looked into his soft eyes, feeling something she had never felt before—a feeling that somewhat scared her. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth—something that was not intended to be in the script.

"Cut!"

lil note from kara

so i didn't add a lot of dialogue to their scene bc i didn't wanna spoil embers but the kissed!
well—their characters kissed... also thank you guys so much for 20k it means the world to me!! you don't understand how happy and giddy i get form reading everyone's comments and love for this book—thank you thank you thank you.