‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

ROSEWOOD CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
tuscany, italy
sunday
july 7, 2024
8am

i awoke to the sound of my alarm going off. i blearily opened my eyes and was greeted by the sight of the ceiling fan blades spinning overhead. i rolled over and grabbed my phone from the bedside table, silencing the obnoxious alarm.

for a moment, i had forgotten where i was. then the memories of the past few days came flooding back. italy. filming. drew.

i sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. sunlight was already streaming through the sheer curtains, promising another hot day.

i got out of bed and made my way to the bathroom, where i splashed some cold water on my face and brushed my teeth. as i looked at myself in the mirror, i remembered that this was it, the first day of filming.

after a quick shower, i got dressed in some comfortable clothes. i decided on white loose-fitting shorts and a white t-shirt, the fabric almost see-through. with summer in italy, i was going to need all the cool airflow i could get.

i walked out of the bathroom and surveyed the room. my suitcase was unpacked and my clothes hung up in the closet. everything seemed pretty much ready for the day ahead.

i grabbed my purse that was filled with essentials and room key and stepped outside. the heat immediately hit me and my body was covered in a thin layer of sweat within seconds.

i glanced across the path to villa four where i knew drew was staying. the curtains were still closed so he was probably still asleep.

i was halfway to the front office when i heard the sound of a door opening behind me. i turned and saw drew walking out of his villa. he was dressed in a white shirt and black shorts, looking like a vision despite his tired expression.

he saw me and raised a hand in a small wave. i could see his eyes scanning me from head to toe, taking in every inch of my body. i felt a shiver run down my spine as his gaze lingered on my legs.

i swallowed hard and continued walking towards him. as i got closer, i could see the same restrained desire in his eyes that i had felt yesterday, only intensified.

"morning," he said. his voice raspy from sleep.

"morning." i replied, trying to sound casual. the heat from the weather wasn't the only thing making my skin warm. i reached my hand out to meet his as we started walking to the front office together.

our hands now intertwined as we walked side by side. the simple touch sent electric shocks up my arms.

"did you sleep well?" he asked, his eyes focused straight ahead.

"yeah, surprisingly i slept alright." i said, trying to keep my voice steady. "and you? you sound like you've been gargling gravel."

he chuckled faintly, not denying the fact that he sounded like he had just woken up from the dead. "yeah, slept okay. woke up like a half hour ago." he paused for a moment, a thoughtful expression on his face. "by the way....nice outfit."

it was my turn to blush. "thanks," i said quickly, a small smile on my lips. "it's the perfect outfit for this weather."

he hummed in response. "yeah, definitely."

we continued walking in silence, the heat of the sun combined with the feel of his hand on mine making my heart race.

as we walked, i tried to stay focused on the path ahead, but i was constantly aware of his presence. he was close enough that i could smell his cologne, a woodsy scent mixed with a hint of musk.

he was also tall enough that i was forced to look straight ahead so i wouldn't be staring at his chest. i bit my lip to keep myself occupied, trying to think of anything that might distract me from the growing tension between us.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

SET OF L'ANIMA GEMELLA
tuscany, italy
9:30am

the set was a buzz of activities. crew members were moving between vehicles, carrying equipment and lights. a catering tent was set up nearby where i could see a few people grabbing coffee and breakfast.

i followed drew through the controlled chaos, heading towards a group of people who were setting up chairs and cameras.

luca guadagnino was standing in the center with his hands on his hips, giving directions to the crew. his eyes were focused on the set, his brow slightly furrowed in concentration.

as we approached, his eyes flicked over to us and a small smile spread across his face. he had always been a quiet and reserved director, but i could see the fire in his eyes. he was excited about this movie, and i could feel the energy radiating off of him.

"ah, buon giorno," he greeted. his eyes went from me to drew, taking in the sight of us together. "i'm glad you both could make it on time."

"well, we're stoked to be here." drew said as i nodded in agreement.

luca nodded and then looked over at his assistant director. "make sure these two get to hair and makeup, and then into their costumes." he instructed.

the assistant director nodded and gestured for us to follow him. i shot a glance at drew before following the assistant director to the hair and makeup trailer.

as we walked, i tried to steady my nerves. the reality of the situation was starting to sink in. we were actually filming today. i tried to ignore the fact that i would be doing most of it with drew.

we walked up the steps and into the trailer that had been transformed into a makeshift salon. chairs were lined up in front of mirrors, while various supplies were spread out on tables.

a hairdresser and makeup artist were seated at the counter, sipping coffee and chatting. they both looked up as we entered.

"buon giorno" the hairdresser greeted us with a smile. she was a middle-aged woman with a thick italian accent. she patted the chair in front of her. "who's going first?"

i looked at the hairdresser, then at the makeup artist who was watching us with keen interest. the only way to go was to get this over with.

drew smiled. "ladies first."

i raised an eyebrow and shot a look at him. he was enjoying this way too much. i huffed and sat down in the chair.

the hairdresser spun the chair around so that i was facing the mirror. "alright, let's see what we can do."

~~

an hour later, i was back on set in my costume. the hairdresser had styled my hair into loose waves that framed my face, and the makeup artist had applied minimal makeup to let my natural features shine through.

i was wearing a floral summer dress with a pair of white sandals. the dress was lightweight and comfortable, perfect for filming in the summer heat.

i looked around the set and saw that things were almost ready to begin. cameras were set up, lights were in place, and the crew was buzzing with activity.

i searched the crowd for drew and found him joking around with a few of the other actors that had arrived.

as if sensing my eyes on him, he turned and met my gaze. his eyes went wide as he took in my appearance. then, a slow smile spread across his face.

i blushed under his gaze and looked away from him, trying to ignore the effect he had on me.

luca then cleared his throat and walked over to the crew, calling for everyone's attention. once everyone was quiet, he began speaking.

"buon giorno," he repeated, his voice louder this time. "today we begin filming our movie. for those of you who are just arriving, welcome. and for those of you who have been here from the beginning, thank you for your patience and hard work."

he paused for a moment, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"i know there are a few new faces here, and i want to take a moment to introduce you to our cast." he continued, pointing to a small group of actors. "this is our group of friends that we will be following throughout the story." he said pointer to lily collins, daisy edgar-jones, zoë kravitz and myself.

he then moved his attention to another group of people standing off to the side. "and these guys are our supporting actors and actresses." he said as he pointed out each member.

he then moved towards drew, who was patiently waiting on the edge of the group. "and of course, last but definitely not least, our male lead..."

a murmur ran through the crowd as everyone turned their attention towards drew. his presence was commanding, and everyone was clearly excited to see him in action.

he gave a nod and small wave, his eyes flickering in my direction for a brief moment.

"shall we begin?" luca added.

the crew muttered in agreement, a few even clapped their hands in anticipation. luca then turned towards the first camera.

"alright, get ready to roll. and action." he called out. "starting with azaria..." he said as he began directing.

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

7pm

the sun was beginning to sink below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the set. we had been filming all day, and i could feel the exhaustion setting in. my muscles were sore and my mind was starting to feel dazed.

the last scene for the day had been filmed, and the crew was starting the cleanup process.

i watched as cameras were packed away and lights were dismantled. the cast was slowly trickling off the set towards their dressing rooms. my eyes scanned the area, searching for one person in particular.

and as if on cue, i spotted drew walking towards me. he was still wearing his costume- a white shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal his muscular forearms. a thin layer of sweat coated his skin, making him look even more attractive in the fading sunlight.

"you did well today," he said as he approached. his eyes were focused on my features, scanning me from head to toe. "you look exhausted though."

i let out a small sigh and let my shoulders sag. "yeah, i'm pretty tired." i admitted. "and sore. i don't think i've ever been this sore in my life."

he chuckled faintly, his eyes still locked on mine. "yeah, it's gonna be like that. filming every day doesn't really give your body enough time to recover."

i groaned and pulled him in for a hug as i leaned my head on his chest. "trust me, i know." i said.

he chuckled again and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me closer against him. i could feel the heat radiating off of his body, and the scent of his cologne filled my nostrils.

"i'm starving." i complained as i looked up at him, still holding onto him.

he smiled down at me, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "i think there's still some food left at catering." he said. "let's go grab something before it's all gone."

i nodded and he released me from his grip, but grabbed my hand instead. he pulled me along behind him as we made our way to the catering tent.

as we approached the catering tent, we could see that the crew was already beginning to pack up the buffet tables. most of the food had been taken and only a few crumbs remained.

"damn, looks like we missed the food," he said, his gaze scanning over the almost empty table. "figures."

i sighed, my stomach growling in disappointment. "great." i mumbled. "looks like we're going hungry."

"eh, hold on," he said, holding up a finger. he walked over to one of the caterers who was packing up the last of the food. they spoke for a moment, and then the caterer handed drew a large package wrapped in aluminum foil.

he thanked the caterer and then walked back to me, a sly smile on his face. he held up the package and wiggled it. "got us a lil somethin'."

my eyes widened in surprise as i looked at the package in his hands. "what is it?" i asked, curiosity piqued.

he handed it to me and gestured for me to open it. "go on, see for yourself."

i took the package from him and unwrapped the foil. inside, i could see a few sandwiches that looked freshly made. my stomach growled loudly at the sight.

i turned to drew with a grateful look. "thank you." i said as i held up the aluminum foil full of sandwiches.

he shrugged casually. "it's no big deal. i figured you'd be hungry." he paused for a moment, his eyes lingering on my face once again. "and i know how grumpy you can get when you're hungry."

i let out an indignant gasp. "hey, i am not grumpy." i protested, trying to sound offended. "i just...get a little hangry sometimes."

‿︵‿︵୨˚̣̣̣͙୧ - - ୨˚̣̣̣͙୧‿︵‿︵

ROSEWOOD CASTIGLION DEL BOSCO
tuscany, italy
10pm

after taking a shower and doing the essentials i was prepared for bed. i wore a two piece flowered pajama set as i sat in my bed, journaling, like i did most nights.

i was lost in thought as i wrote, my pen moving across the page in a fluid motion. the cool night air filtered through the open window, bringing in the sound of crickets and the smell of summer.

suddenly, a soft knocking at the door interrupted my thoughts.

i paused and looked up from my journal, wondering who could be visiting me at this hour. i set my pen down and got out of bed, making my way over to the door.

as i opened the door, my heart skipped a beat as i saw drew standing in front of me. he was dressed in a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt.

"hey neighbor." i greeted him before meeting him in a soft kiss.

"hey." he said as he broke the kiss. he leaned against the door frame, his eyes taking in my appearance. "hope i'm not interrupting anything."

i shook my head and stepped aside, gesturing for him to come in. "not at all," i said. "just journaling."

he stepped into the room and i closed the door softly behind him. he glanced at the bed, noticing my journal and pen lying next to the pillows.

"what were you writing about?" he asked as he settled down on the edge of the bed.

i sat down next to him, my body close enough that i could feel the warmth radiating off of him. "just some random thoughts," i said. "nothing too important."

he looked down at the journal, his eyes narrowing as if trying to read the words written on the pages.

"can i see?" he asked, his hand reaching out for it.

i hesitated for a moment, my mind going through the various journal entries i had written. most of them were just random thoughts, but there were some more personal entries that i didn't really want him to see.

i shook my head. "can't a girl have privacy?" i said jokingly.

he chuckled and held up his hands in surrender. "alright, alright. i won't push." he said, although the curiosity in his eyes told me otherwise.

he moved his body so that he was facing me, his knee resting on the bed.

"so what brought you here at such a late hour?" i asked, raising an eyebrow at him. "couldn't sleep?"

he let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair. "yeah, actually. i was tossing and turning for hours." he said. "i can't seem to quiet my brain."

i nodded, understanding his struggle. "i know that feeling," i said. "my mind is always racing, especially at night."

he looked down at his hands, his fingers picking at the thread on the comforter. "it's like as soon as i close my eyes, my brain starts going a million miles a minute. thinking about the scenes we filmed today, worrying about tomorrow's scenes, wondering if my acting was good enough..." he trailed off, his voice tinged with frustration.

i reached out and placed my hand on his arm, interrupting his thoughts. "hey, it's alright." i said, my voice gentle. "you're doing great. everyone is impressed by how well you've been doing."

he let out a sigh and looked up at me. "i just want to make sure i'm doing everything right," he said. "i don't want to let anyone down."

i gave his arm a gentle squeeze. "you're not going to let anyone down," i reassured him. "you're doing an amazing job. and the fact that you're worried about it shows how much you care."

he let out a small laugh and shook his head. "i just hate feeling like i'm not in control of my thoughts," he admitted. "it's like they're running wild and i can't make them stop."

i nodded in understanding. "i know what you mean," i said. "but sometimes the best thing to do is just let them run wild. let your mind wander and see where it takes you."

he looked at me, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "so i'm just supposed to let my mind do whatever it wants?"

i shrugged. "pretty much," i said with a small smile. "you can't control everything. sometimes you just have to go with the flow."

he leaned back on his hands, his gaze locked on mine. "and what about you?" he asked. "do you have a special trick for shutting your brain off?"

i chuckled softly. "i'm a chronic overthinker," i admitted. "i could probably write a whole book on ways to shut my brain off. but the best thing i've found is to just find something to distract myself with."

"yeah?" he asked, leaning closer to me. "like what?"

"well, there's reading, watching tv, exercising, meditating, journaling...pretty much anything that requires my brain to focus on the task at hand instead of letting it run wild." i said as i placed my journal and pen on my nightstand.

he nodded in understanding, his eyes still locked on mine. "sounds like you have your own toolbox for dealing with your thoughts," he said. "maybe i should borrow some of those tools sometime."

"you're welcome to borrow anytime," i said, a hint of flirtation in my voice.

he smiled at my response, his gaze drifting down to my mouth. i could feel the air between us grow thick with tension.

i then moved where i was seated to under the covers, my body leaning up against the headboard.

he followed my cue and moved himself under the covers as well, settling down next to me.

"so what, you're staying the night?" i questioned with a smile.

he smirked and turned on his side to face me. "if you don't mind," he said, his voice low. "i mean, i'm already here. it would be a shame to go back to my villa now."

i laughed quietly and shook my head. "yeah, what a shame." i said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. "i guess you're stuck with me for the night then."

he chuckled and reached out, his hand coming to rest on my bare shoulder. "i suppose i am," he said, his thumb tracing small circles on my skin.

"goodnight, drew." i said as i turned off the light next to me on the nightstand, causing the room to go dark.

he shifted closer to me, his body molding against mine. "goodnight, azaria." he responded, his voice soft.

we laid in silence for a moment, the only sound being the steady rhythm of our breathing.

i could feel the warmth of his body against mine, and the weight of his arm around me. it was a strange comfort, having him so close.

"drew? are you still up?" i questioned, only to hear his steady breathing sounds back. i turned to look at him...he was asleep. "so much for tossing and turning." i mumbled referring to what he said he had encountered in his villa.

i studied his face for a moment, taking in the peaceful expression on his features. his eyelids fluttered lightly as he slept, his lips slightly parted. he looked so vulnerable and young in this moment, so different from the confident and charming man i knew.

i smiled before i closed my own eyes and headed into a deep slumber.

~~

a/n

filming day #1, how are we feeling???

i'm so excited because i have so many fun silly ideas i wanna do during the filming duration!