Most people had a romanticized view of television sets. It was probably because of all the movies and tv shows that made them seem glamorous, laid back and professional. But honestly, filming was my least favorite time on projects, the sets were hot, humid and chaotic. Pulling my clingy shirt from my body I cursed myself for wearing polyester as I tried to dodge people intent on sticking their noses where they didn't belong.

With the temperatures pushing 90 at eight in the morning I knew it was going to be a long day, especially since our 'push to stardom' actress hadn't even bothered to leave her trailer yet. The early morning light was waning and there were promotion photos that had to be taken. Stepping around nosey producers and cameramen straining for the right test angle I tried to find the exit for a breath of fresh air without Darren noticing.

"Cecily," His voice boomed over the set telling me that I had been spotted and bringing me to a halt, "Please go see what has been keeping Miss Long."

Groaning at my 10th task in the last hour I escaped out the door marked 'exit' and headed back towards the trailers. I wasn't quite sure which one was Jasmine's but from the screaming it was easy to figure it out. A rather scared looking assistant was backing slowly down the stairs and I sent her a reassuring smile knowing that she had probably just lost her job.

I never got virtually unknowns that acted like total divas. They didn't have the status or the experience to demand things but yet they did, and were often the hardest people to work with, and the most hated on set. But from the set gossip train that was already up and running I had heard that Jasmine Long was the niece of one of the producers who had landed her the part. I guess it is true in the business it isn't about how good you are it's about who you know.

Dreading going in but knowing it was my job I let out a knock on the door before entering the dimly lit room. What I saw wasn't what I was expecting. As Darren's assistant I had to be familiar with every part of the project; so I had seen Jasmine's headshots. But the girl in front of me with damaged, bleached hair and a bad breakout was probably 30 pounds heavier than her picture; I nearly hadn't recognized her.

"What do you want?" She asked

"You were supposed to report to make-up over an hour ago, we're losing the light so we need you to go immediately."

I tried to keep my voice steady and professional but I could still see the look that crossed her face. I'd gotten the look before, a 'who the hell are you to talk to me.' Jasmine sat up a sneer across her face but I could hardly take her seriously as crumbs fell in a steady cascade from her ‘trendy oversized sweater’ onto the floor. Tapping on the back of my clipboard I turned back towards the door fully intending to go tell Darren what a mess this was going to be.

“Can they cover this?”

Sniffling was the last thing I expected to hear from behind me but turning around Jasmine had finally turned her full face towards me. A large, sickly colored bruise stretched across the side of her face. It was the kind of bruise you only get in a fight and fervently deny. Crossing the trailer in two strides I slowly inspected it in the light wondering how the hell we were going to deal with this. Ignoring the worried and intent gaze aimed at my face I dropped my hand.

“Stage makeup does wonders.” I stated lying through my teeth to try and get her to at least make an appearance.

With a small teary nod, which I still wasn’t entirely sure was genuine, Jasmine followed me out of the trailer and down the small winding path to the hair and makeup tents. Iris quickly grabbed Jasmine the second she entered ushering her towards one of the over-lit tables, before grabbing my arm tightly.

“What happened?” She hissed sending a worried glance at the girl, with tensions running high and schedules running behind, the heat was starting to get to all of us.

“I don’t know she had it when I got there.”

“I don’t think I can fix it.”
She states sending a worried glance at the girl who had ducked behind a curtain of unwashed hair probably in an attempt to avoid people’s staring. I just sent Iris a pleading glance. We’d worked on sets together before and she knew the pressure and temper behind Darren’s polished smile.

“Just do your best.”

Iris looked as if she was going to say something the thought crossing her face before she froze, along with the rest of the entire team, staring at something over my shoulder. I should have turned, the natural impulse to do so shaking me to my core but in the mirror I could see a flash of something, someone, I didn’t have time for.

To say I hadn’t seen him on the screen before was a lie. My mother used to be obsessed with the sit com that propelled him to stardom as a boy, watching reruns on repeat instead of sleeping. But I was confused as to why he was in the hair and makeup tent considering I had been informed he had been ready for over an hour. So, when he cleared his throat in an attempt to get everyone’s attention like he didn’t already have it I turned to face him.

“Darren said maybe someone here can help me run lines, since everyone else seems to be busy or incompetent,” Louis Tomlinson boomed into the tent before sending a glance over our shoulders at Jasmine, “I see sleeping beauty decided to make an appearance.”

What followed was a chorus of people stating how busy they were and why they couldn’t do it. I knew why, Louis’ reputation for perfection and an infamous attitude, already making its way through the gossip circles. But I just stared at him trying to find the appeal. With his hair stylishly messy and a rather significant five o’clock shadow he was someone I wouldn’t give a second glance on the street. It took him clearing his throat again for me to realize he was staring back.

With a cocked eyebrow Louis just stared, “So Miss Evans, looks like you’re running lines with me.”

Notes

Hey everyone,

So I was looking through all my old stories trying to figure out if I wanted to continue some of them. And this one jumped out at me. It was one that I hadn't continued due to a bad case of block and a problem with one of my plot points, but when I looked at it again I found a way to fix it. So without further ado this story is back!

Hope y'all like the chapter

-A