17 - filming chronicles

CALLUM'S PENTHOUSE
london, england
march 28, 2024
thursday
6am

i was woken up by the sound of rummaging coming from the other side of the room. i groggily sat upright and rubbed my eyes, trying to adjust to the early morning light.

as my vision cleared, i saw callum standing by his dresser, his back to me as he rifled through his drawers. he was already dressed, wearing a plain black t-shirt and jeans. he must have been up for a while.

"morning." i said tiredly as i looked at him.

callum turned around and smiled when he saw me awake. "morning. sorry, did i wake you?" he said, his voice soft and low.

i rubbed my eyes again and shook my head, "it's fine." i said, stretching my arms out. i couldn't help but admire how good he looked, his unruly hair falling across his forehead, and his muscles rippling beneath his shirt. i shook my head and regained my focus, "what are you doing up so early?"

callum chuckled and made his way over to the bed, sitting down next to me. "it's the first day of filming." he said, his hand reaching out to tousle my hair playfully.

i groaned and flopped back down onto the bed. "how could i forget." i grumbled.

callum chuckled at my reaction, knowing how much i hated early mornings. he leaned down and kissed my forehead.

"you can stay in bed if you want, i'll see you after filming, alright?" he said, his fingers tracing the outline of my cheek.

i raised my eyebrows. "and when is that?"

callum smirked, "around six, i think. gonna be a long day." he said.

i groaned internally, knowing that a 'long day' on set meant even longer for me. "could i visit you?" i asked softly.

callum smiled and nodded, "yeah, of course you can. as long as you promise not to distract me too much." he teased, poking my side gently.

i shook my head. "actually, i'll visit another day. it's only your first day filming i want you to be completely focused."

callum's smile widened, clearly touched by my thoughtfulness. "you don't have to do that, y'know." he said, his thumb tracing a pattern on my arm.

i shrugged, "i want to." i said.

callum leaned down and kissed me softly. "i'll see you later then, alright?"

i nodded, "see you later." i said reluctantly. i wasn't looking forward to spending the whole day alone, but i didn't want to distract callum during filming either. he gave me one last smile before getting up and heading towards the door.

as callum left the penthouse, i lay there for a few more moments, trying to will myself to get out of bed. but the sheets were cosy and warm, and the thought of getting up and facing the day seemed exhausting.

finally, i forced myself out of bed and into the shower. the hot water was a welcome relief, and i stood under the spray for much longer than necessary. after drying off and getting dressed, i looked at the time. it was only six in the morning.

great. i had the whole day to kill. i decided to make some breakfast and scroll through social media, but it wasn't long before i was bored again. "do i have any friends in london?" i muttered to myself as i scrolled through my contact list.

suddenly, an idea popped into my head. "bella hadid." i said out loud. i clicked on charlie's name and hit call. it rang a few times before she picked up. i knew she didn't live in london but she had previously talked to me about making a trip out here.

"hello?" she answered, her voice slightly groggy. i glanced at the clock, forgetting that it was quite early.

"sorry, did i wake you?" i asked, feeling bad.

bella chuckled and the rustling of sheets was heard. "no worries." she said, sounding more alert now. "i was in the process of waking up anyway. what's up?"

"i was wondering if you had any plans for today." i said, hoping to get some form of company. "you're in london, right?"

"yeah, i'm in london right now." she said, her voice tinged with surprise. "i'm staying here for a few days."

"that's great!" i exclaimed excitedly, happy that i had someone to spend the day with. "wanna hang out today?"

"sure." bella said, her voice perking up. "i don't have any plans today. what do you have in mind?"

"shopping, shopping, shopping. that's all i'm thinking about." i said honestly.

bella laughed, "you know i'm always down for shopping." she said, her tone filled with agreement. "where do you want to go first?"

i thought for a moment. "harrods?"

"perfect." bella replied, the sound of her getting out of bed heard on the other end of the line. "everything's closed now so let's get breakfast and then go."

"sounds like a plan." i said, feeling much better now that i had someone to spend today with. "want to meet for some breakfast around 9?" i asked.

"yeah, that works for me." bella replied. "there's a great bakery about a few blocks away from me. they have the best pastries."

"yeah, that works for me." bella replied. "there's a great bakery about a few blocks away from me. they have the best pastries. i'll text you the address."

"awesome, i'll see you there." i said, feeling a surge of excitement. "can't wait."

i hung up the phone and looked around callum's penthouse. the penthouse seemed eerily silent now that callum was gone, and i felt a pang of loneliness. i glanced around, taking in the expensive furniture and artwork that decorated the space.

as i looked around my eyes landed on a note on the living room's coffee table. i picked it up and read it aloud, "love, if you find yourself bored throughout the day there's a gym downstairs and i've listed a few places. also i wrote a few numbers in case you need anything at all. under this note is a set of keys and my credit card. the keys go to my secondary car and the credit card is in case you go shopping or get hungry. enjoy...callum."

i loved the fact that callum had thought of everything, wanting to ensure i had everything i needed while he was gone. i made a mental note to text him later and thank him for being so considerate. i smiled before making my way to the bedroom where i changed into a suitable gym outfit. why not squeeze in a workout when i have the time?

i slipped into my gym outfit, consisting of a sports bra and biker shorts. it was nothing too extravagant, just something comfortable and suitable for working out.

i grabbed my phone and airpods before heading to the penthouse's front door. i opened it only to be met by a shorter and older lady with red hair. i raised my eyebrows.

"good morning." i said, surprised by the presence of the lady. i had never seen her before. she smiled stiffly in response.

"good morning. is callum around?" she said, her voice filled with warmth.

i cleared my throat thinking of how to answer this. i lost a lot of trust as i got more and more famous. "who's asking?" i asked her softly.

the lady seemed taken aback by my response, clearly not expecting me to be so cautious. she cleared her throat before answering. "i'm sorry, i didn't introduce myself. i'm julie, callum's mother. he told me he was back in town and i figured i'd stop by."

my eyes widened and the tension in my body melted away. julie. this was callum's mother. i felt stupid now that i had been so suspicious. a bit embarrassed, i plastered a smile on my face. "oh my gosh! i'm so sorry...it's nice to meet you." i extended my hand, "i'm kacey."

julie smiled warmly as she shook my hand, her grip firm and comforting. "it's lovely to meet you, kacey." she said, her eyes studying me. "callum talks about you a lot."

"he does?" i said, my heart skipping in my chest. i hadn't realized that he talked about me to his family. it made me feel a little flustered, but flattered at the same time. "well i've heard a lot about you, ms. turner." i paused before speaking again, "callum actually just left. filming day one."

julie nodded, her expression filled with understanding. she knew what filming entailed. "he'll be gone for a while then, won't he? are you alright on your own? london can be quite overwhelming if you're not used to it." she asked, her tone concerned.

i smiled, touched by her concern. "i'm fine. i was actually about to go get a workout in downstairs." i said, pointing ahead of me to the elevator. i shook my head, "how rude of me...would you like to come in?"

julie shook her head and smiled. "no, no, that's alright." she said, her gaze shifting towards my attire. "i wouldn't want to distract you from your workout. i just wanted to stop by and see my son. you go and do your thing, dear."

i smiled gratefully. "oh, alright then." i said. "sorry you missed him but i'll let callum know you stopped by." i said, and she nodded. i couldn't help but wonder how she felt about her son's relationship with me.

julie's eyes sparkled as she looked at me. "please do." she said. she paused before speaking again, "and kacey...can i give you a piece of advice?"

my interest was piqued by her question. "sure." i said, curious to know what she had to say.

julie smiled gently and placed her hand on my arm. "take good care of my son, alright?" she said, her voice tender. "he's a good lad, but he tends to get caught up in the whirlwind of fame. he sometimes forgets what truly matters."

i was taken aback by her words. i hadn't expected her to say something so intimate and heartfelt. i nodded, touched by her concern for callum. "i will. i promise you, i will." i said sincerely.

julie's expression softened and she patted my arm once more before stepping back. "thank you, dear." she said, her eyes holding mine for a moment longer. "i'll let you get to your workout."

i thanked her and closed the door before leaning against it for a moment. i couldn't help but be in awe of how lovely callum's mother was. and that she was entrusting me with her son. i shook off the thought and made my way to the penthouse's gym.

the gym was a large space with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of london. i plugged my earbuds in and queued up my favorite workout playlist on my phone. i started with some stretching to loosen up my muscles before moving onto the stair master.

the stair master was my own personal hell, but i pushed through the pain, knowing it would be worth it in the long run. with the sounds of my favorite songs in my ears, i lost myself in the exercise. i couldn't help but glance at the clock every now and then, eager for my hang out with bella to start.

twenty minutes later, i was drenched in sweat and panting heavily. i could feel the burn in my muscles. i decided to wrap it up with a few crunches and sit-ups before heading back to the penthouse to use the shower.

°˖✧✿✧˖°

SCARLETT GREEN BREAKFAST RESTAURANT
london, england
9am

the weather outside was beautiful as me and bella sat in a spacious booth at a popular breakfast restaurant called scarlett green. the conversation was light and easy, and i felt myself relaxing as i sipped on my matcha latte.

bella took a bite of her eggs benedict and sighed contentedly. "god, i love eating here." she said, her eyes closing in bliss.

"how often do you come to london?" i asked her softly.

bella opened her eyes and sipped her tea before answering. "not often enough, if i'm being honest." she said, her tone laced with admiration. "i love this city."

i smiled, understanding her sentiments. "i get what you mean. it's like, the vibe here is just so different." i said before taking a bite of my avocado toast. "the culture, the architecture, the people."

"exactly." bella agreed. "i find myself falling more in love with it each time i come here. and the food," she added, gesturing to her plate, "don't get me started on the food."

i laughed, agreeing with her statement. "the food is definitely a plus." i said before asking her, "so, how's it going with the cowboy?"

bella's face lit up as i brought up the subject. "it's going great, actually." she said, her lips pulled into a smile. "i quit modeling and now i'm focused on him and my future of course."

my eyes widened in surprise. "you quit modeling?" i asked, not expecting that bombshell. bella had been in the modelling game for years, so her decision to step away caught me off guard.

"yeah." she said, her tone firm. "it was time. i wanted to focus on what truly made me happy. and right now, that's just enjoying life and being with him."

i nodded, understanding her reasons. "that takes a lot of courage, you know." i said. "especially since you've been doing it for so long. but good for you. i know kendall will be upset though." i said with a small laugh.

bella chuckled, her face lighting up at the mention of kendall. "oh, believe me, she was devastated when i told her." she said, amusement dancing in her eyes. "she practically cried on the phone when i called her."

°˖✧✿✧˖°

HARRODS
london, england
11am

after finishing our breakfast, me and bella hopped into callum's mercedes and made our way to harrods. as soon as we walked through the lavish doors, we were greeted by the scent of high-end perfume and the sight of hundreds of expensive brands.

my eyes widened with excitement as i took in the store's opulence. the glossy marble floors, the rows and rows of designer fashion, the glittering jewelry displays. this was the kind of place where you could easily spend thousands without batting an eye.

me and bella made our way from one luxurious department to the next, browsing through the displays like kids in a candy store. we tried on extravagant dresses, admired jewelry and even stopped to admire a rolex that i was tempted to buy for callum.

"should i?" i asked as i looked at it.

"absolutely you should." bella said, her tone firm. she admired the watch, her eyes sparkling. "he'll love it."

"i don't know if he's a jewlery guy." i admitted as i tried to recall him wearing rings or watches.

bella rolled her eyes in response. "trust me, he'll love it." she said. "all guys love watches. especially flashy ones like that."

my eyes lingered on the rolex for a moment longer before i sighed. "you're right." i said, my tone slightly reluctant. "i'm gonna get it."

bella clapped her hands together excitedly. "yes!" she said, a grin plastered across her face. "he's going to love it. and if not, me and you can wear it." she teased me.

i laughed and shook my head. "yeah right." i said, as i handed the salesperson my card to pay the 10 thousand dollar watch.

after making my purchase, we continued our shopping spree through harrods. we tried on a few more items and soon found ourselves in the shoe department. as we were browsing the designer heels, i noticed a group of girls giggling nearby.

i tried to ignore them at first, but their laughter kept getting louder. i glanced over at them, curious about what they were giggling about. that's when i noticed them looking at me and pointing.

my heart sunk as i realized they were probably talking about me. i tried to brush it off, telling myself not to care, but i couldn't help but feel a pang of irritation.

"how do these look?" i asked bella, my voice shaky as i showed off the white jimmy choo kitten heels.

bella looked at me, her smile faltering as she caught onto my discomfort. "those look amazing." she said before noticing the girls eyeing us. "ignore them." she said quietly, trying to assure me.

i took a deep breath and nodded, trying to follow her advice. but it was easier said than done. the girls continued their giggling and whispering, making it hard to concentrate on the shopping.

we continued to browse the shoes, but i couldn't shake off the feeling of being watched and judged. it was a part of being famous, i knew that, but it didn't make the experience any less uncomfortable.

the girls' giggling got louder as we moved to the bags section. my heart was racing, and i felt like i wanted to hide under one of the giant displays.

i leaned over to bella and quietly asked, "can we go somewhere else, please?" my voice was low and shaky, reflecting my anxiety.

bella nodded, her face filled with concern as she noticed how much this was affecting me. "of course." she said gently, placing a comforting hand on my back.

we made a subtle exit from the bags section, leaving the group of giggling girls behind. as we headed towards the store's exit, a paparazzi photographer spotted us and called out mine and bella's names, his camera flashing.

i flinched at the camera's flash, feeling vulnerable and on edge. i tried my best to smile and wave, but my anxiety was taking over.

the photographer shouted questions at us, asking us about our shopping spree, but i couldn't focus on anything but the feeling of being watched. i clutched tightly onto the large harrods shopping bag as we walked towards callum's mercedes that i had driven here.

once we were safely inside the car, i leaned back against the leather seat and let out a deep breath. "i hated that." i said quietly, my voice shaky.

bella placed a comforting hand on my arm, her expression sympathetic. "i know." she said softly. "it's tough being in the spotlight like that."

"it's exhausting." i said, shaking my head. "i can't even go shopping without paparazzi and giggling girls making me feel uncomfortable."

bella nodded, understanding my frustration. "that's the price of fame, unfortunately." she said sadly, her eyes showing sympathy. "but hey, on the bright side, that's a damn good watch you bought."

i chuckled softly at her attempt to lighten the mood and nodded. "true." i said, my irritation fading a bit. "i hope he loves it." i said as i started to drive. "he did the cutest thing today, he left his credit card and his keys. i mean, of course i didn't touch his card but."

"aw, that's adorable." bella said, a grin spreading across her face. "he's whipped for real."

i blushed at her words, feeling a sense of warmth at the thought of callum being 'whipped' for me. i didn't want to admit it, but i was feeling pretty whipped already too.

°˖✧✿✧˖°

CALLUM'S PENTHOUSE
london, england
6:30pm

i was lounging on the large sofa, scrolling through my phone, waiting for callum to return. the sound of the penthouse door opening caught my attention and i looked up to see him walk in.

"hey." i said with a smile, placing my phone down and standing up to greet him. he looked tired and a bit disheveled, but a smile spread across his face when he saw me.

he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a tight embrace. "hey, love." he said softly, his voice low and quiet. "god, i'm exhausted."

i giggled softly and wrapped my own arms around his torso, feeling his body against mine. "long day, hm?" i asked as i pulled back to look at his face.

he sighed and nodded, his eyes closing momentarily. "yeah, filming is no joke." he said, running a hand through his hair. "i thought i could handle it, but those 12 hour days are brutal."

i smiled sympathetically and placed a gentle hand on his cheek. "you're tougher than you think." i said, trying to reassure him.

he chuckled softly and opened his eyes, his gaze meeting mine. "i'm not so sure about that." he said before pulling away and collapsing onto the sofa.

"so thanks for being so thoughtful...i took the benz for a spin." i said as i sat next to him.

he raised an eyebrow and looked over at me. "you drove my mercedes?" he asked, his tone amused.

i nodded, a smile creeping onto my lips. "mhm." i confirmed. "and i was very careful, i promise."

he laughed softly and shook his head in disbelief. "you're something else." he said before adding, "i can't tell if i should be worried or impressed."

"hey! you're the one who left the keys and your card with an adorable note." i said putting my hands up.

he laughed again and reached out to pull me closer to him. "i'm surprised you didn't rob me blind." he teased, his tone lighthearted.

i shook my head, "i didn't even touch the card. no dents were made." i assured him.

he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me so that i was partially sitting on his lap. he placed a kiss on my forehead before looking into my eyes. "thank you." he said quietly, his tone sincere.

"i met your mom." i said softly.

he raised an eyebrow at my statement, his eyes widening slightly in surprise. "you met my mom?" he repeated, his tone laced with curiosity.

i nodded and smiled, memories of our encounter flooding my thoughts. "mhm. she's wonderful." i said as i gently ran my fingers through his hair. "she stopped by when i was headed to the gym...she was looking for you but you were on set by then."

he chuckled softly and leaned into my touch, his eyes closing momentarily. "yeah, i told her i'm in town." he said before adding, "did she give you a hard time?"

i laughed and shook my head. "no, not at all." i reassured him. "she's lovely."

he smiled softly and opened his eyes again, his gaze meeting mine. "yeah, she is." he mumbled as his eyes wandered, taking in my appearance. "god, you look pretty."

i blushed slightly at his compliment, my heart fluttering in my chest. "thanks." i said quietly, feeling a bit flustered under his gaze.

"so what else did you do besides take my car for a spin?" he asked.

i got up from his lap and grabbed the harrods bag before handing it to him. "surprise!"

he looked at the bag, his expression curious as he took it from me. "for me?" he asked, his tone surprised.

i nodded, unable to hide the excitement in my voice. "open it." i said, watching as he reached into the bag and pulled out the rolex box.

his eyes widened at the sight of the expensive watch, his mouth hanging open slightly. he looked up at me in disbelief before saying, "you didn't..."

"oh i did." i said whilst nodding.

he shook his head in awe, his expression a mix of shock and gratitude. "this must've cost a fortune." he said, running his fingers over the watch's sleek design.

i smiled and shrugged, trying to downplay the cost. "don't worry about it." i said breezily, feeling proud of my choice.

he looked at me, his eyes filled with appreciation. "you really didn't have to do this, you know?" he said, his tone soft.

i chuckled and rolled my eyes. "i know. but i wanted to." i said as i sat back down next to him.

he shook his head, still in disbelief. "god, you're too nice to me." he said, a smile playing on his lips.

i laughed softly and leaned my head against his shoulder. "get used to it." i said, feeling a sense of contentment wash over me.

he wrapped his arm around me and pulled me closer, the watch box still in his other hand. he placed a soft kiss on the top of my head and said, "thank you, seriously. i love it."

i snuggled closer to his side, feeling happy that he loved the gift. "i'm glad you like it." i said, wrapping my arms around his torso once again.

he set the box on the coffee table and shifted so that he was facing me fully. he reached up and gently tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, his gaze intense.

"you hungry? we could go out for dinner." he said softly.

i thought about it for a moment before nodding. "i'm starving, actually." i said, my stomach growling to emphasize the point.

°˖✧✿✧˖°

34 MAYFAIR RESTAURANT
london, england
7:20pm

we sat at a cozy table in the corner of the upscale restaurant, the low lighting creating a romantic atmosphere. the restaurant was bustling with chatter and the clinking of utensils, but we were lost in our own world.

callum's eyes were fixed on me as he leaned back in his chair, a casual smile playing on his lips. he looked relaxed, like he didn't have a care in the world. watching him made my heart flutter.

i took a sip of my wine, my fingers tracing the rim of the glass. i felt giddy, like a teenager on her first date. it was crazy how much this guy affected me.

he must've noticed my nerves, because he reached across the table and placed his hand on top of mine. the simple gesture sent a jolt of electricity through me, and i felt my cheeks heat up.

"tell me more about this first filming day adventure..." i said with a small smile.

he chuckled softly at my request, his hand still resting on mine. "it was intense. 12 hours straight," he said, his tone a mix of exhaustion and exhilaration. "but it was also incredibly rewarding." he paused for a moment, his thumb tracing small circles on the back of my hand.

i nodded, taking in his words. "i can't imagine how tiring that must be." i said sympathetically. "but it sounds like you're enjoying it, despite the long hours." i offered him a small smile.

he nodded in agreement, his eyes locked on mine. "yeah, it's tough but it feels worth it." he said, his thumb still moving in gentle circles on my hand. "working with this cast and crew is incredible. we're all just so passionate about this project."

i smiled wider, loving the way he lit up when he talked about his passion for the film. "i can tell." i said, my tone soft. "you're in your element."

~~

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bellahadid my bff

khloekardashian bella in london??? what!!!

carmenhawkins soo cute

user1 you guys think callum took the first photo?

user2 best jenner

justinskye kacey 💕
⤷ kaceyjenner miss you so much

~~

a/n

i almost shed a tear writing this because of how much i hate the stair master