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Limelight
By Karisma

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Chapter Five

“Mina! How could you not tell me the truth!” Serena all but yelled into her sister’s ear over the telephone that same night.

“Calm down, Sere.” Mina replied, not the least bit fazed. “I didn’t think it was that important. I figured you wouldn’t even be seeing him, much less going out with him. I just didn’t want to give you useless information.”

The explanation sounded like something Mina would rationalize, but Serena wouldn’t give up. “Well, I think it would have been a pretty vital part considering the entire studio knows Mina and Darien’s relationship really isn’t with the exception of Mina herself—or me, who is really you!” Growing slightly frustrated at her lack of ability to sort the two of them out, Serena stopped ranting long enough to catch her breath.

Mina was silent on the other end.

“Mina? You there?”

“Yeah, okay, Sere.” She blew out her breath. “I didn’t want you to know because I was afraid of what you’d think of me, alright?”

Serena’s face and heart softened at the weak sound in her sister’s voice. “Mina, you know I would never think anything bad of you.”

“Serena, I’m twenty-seven, I have absolutely no life out of the movies, photo shoots, and interviews. They only thing that made me seem even half way normal was the fact I had a boyfriend. And even that is a lie—and for what?—a movie!” She laughed bitterly. “Have you heard anything so pathetic in your life?”

“Yes,” Serena countered gently, hoping to bring a smile to her sister’s face. “I’m twenty-seven going on forty. I have no life outside my physics lab and research. I haven’t been on a date in ages—unless you count late nights with Melvin running tests over and over again—much less been glanced at by anything male and human. And the worst part is, I’m not even creative enough to make up a boyfriend so I can escape the weird looks people give me when they realize I’m not involved.” She rubbed her forehead, suddenly depressed by the fact that now that she had said it aloud, the awareness that her life sucked was tenfold. Her spirits lifted when she heard Mina’s light laughter on the other end.

“Listen, Sere. I’m calling from the airport and my flight’s about to leave. I’m going to be moving fairly quickly so either I’ll call you or write—but don’t write back because I’ll be gone, alright?”

“Sure,” Serena felt a pang of regret, recognizing that once Mina hung up she’d be alone again, facing all the problems that had been unknowingly passed on to her.

“I love you.” Mina sang.

“Love you, too,” Serena murmured and softly placed the cordless phone back in its cradle. She looked around the large expanse of Mina’s home blankly. After roaming about for a few moments, gazing at photos she had framed of them when they were younger and as they had grown up. She smiled softly at a few of them and then settled down on the crème leather couch, preparing to find some old reruns. She reached for the remote lying on the glass coffee table in front of her, accidentally brushing across a black tape. Serena curiously picked it up, peeling off the sticky note attached to it.Mina,Thought you may want to watch what we have of the movie so far. The rest of the plot is in the new script.Nigel

Serena smiled, happy she had something to occupy her time for the next two hours or so. She was also grateful, now she knew what she was going into tomorrow. It gave her a great way to get to know “Chloe”.

She popped the tape in and curled up on the couch, crunching on her pretzels and hugging a cool cushion to her chest. The credits started and Serena settled in, preparing to laugh at the corniness and scorn the entire mushy plot—and groan and how they would change it to make it even worse.

A bit over two hours later, after she had completed the movie and read the new script ending thoroughly, a sniffling Serena wiped one of the few tears the movie had managed to wring out of her. She prided herself on her ability to reason and not get carried away her entire life—Mina was the soft one, the one who lost herself in everything. But Only You had been one of the sweetest movies she had every allowed herself to watch. She had actually wanted the couple to be together in the end, sappiness and all. And after reading the new ending, she was slightly embarrassed to admit she loved it—and was happy Elaine had the good sense to give the lovebirds a happily ever after.

She had scoffed the entire thought of a happy ending, but that was before she had allowed herself to see the characters Chloe and Jared—and see the love they shared was more than puppy love. Nigel had done a wonderful job with the majority of the film, weaving an intense Jared into the simple life of Chloe, a young women who lives to please her parents—so much she would marry a man she doesn’t truly love. Jared Wilkins comes into the small town as a stranger who befriends Chloe. They spend some time together talking and laughing and before Chloe knows it—she’s in love. Jared, however, has known for some time that he is in love with her, but has no clue she has been promised to another. This was where Elaine changed the plot.

And tomorrow, she, Serena Kinsley, would be Chloe Jenkins and change the fate of a couple in love. The thought embarrassingly enough, made her giddy. Except for the tiny detail that she would be loving a man who despised her, or her sister, but she was her sister….Oh, it was all terribly confusing.

But as Serena got ready for bed, an emotion she had been to busy and possibly to ashamed to let catch up to her, overwhelmed her. Just the thought of Darien let the feelings wash over her again.

Happiness.

She was happy Darien and Mina were not in an actual relationship. Because that made Darien single? A free agent? Available? Of course he wasn’t—not to her anyway. Because according to Darien, he despised Mina, and for the time being, she was Mina. And that left no room for any sort of intimate relationship. Not that she wanted any in the first place.

Because she didn’t.

Really.


Morning came and with it a sense of impeding doom. What had she been thinking? She had been so busy sighing and moaning about the movie, it hadn’t dawned on her what she would be doing today. With whom. She would have to act—in front of a camera. She would have to cry—in front of a camera. Oh, Lord in heaven, she’d have to kiss Darien. That thought alone was enough to make her want to faint—not to mention she would be doing it in front of a camera!

Serena quickly drove to the park where it was agreed the cast and crew would meet. After she had parked, she whispered a silent prayer and got out of the vehicle. Jogging over to where Elaine and Nigel stood, she smiled and greeted them. After a moment, they directed her to a large trailer where she would get dressed.

She entered the comfortable atmosphere and immediately found the dress she was to wear for the scene. It was a light summer dress with short sleeves and a full-length skirt. The pattern was simple, a pale yellow with pastel blue flowers. Unfortunately, the material was so sheer, it required a white slip. Serena quickly undressed, feeling slightly awkward being in her underwear in such a foreign place. She slid into the light material of the slip and caught a glance of herself in the mirror. The slip was pretty and modest enough to be a dress of it’s own, Serena shrugged and reached for the sundress when she heard the door of the trailer open. Serena spun around to see Darien there, staring intently at her without a trace of embarrassment or an apology in his eyes.

Serena gasped and instinctively held the dress in one fist over her chest.

“Don’t stop on my account,” he said dryly before entering the suddenly confining space.

“W-What are you doing here?” Serena mumbled, hating herself for stuttering.

“I’m glad to see you too, Mina,” he shot back with mock warmness. “Nigel requests that we run through our lines together. But I’ll permit you to finish dressing first…if that’s what you want to do. I don’t mind in the least if you’d rather not.” He grinned at her and chills were running up and down Serena’s body so fast, she would have thought lightening had struck.

After collecting herself and remembering to scowl at his impertinence, she quickly slid the cool material over her head and smoothed it out. Satisfied, she lifted her head to find Darien’s eyes so intensely focused on her, she had to look away. Clearing her throat, she sat down on the small couch attached to the side of the trailer and waited for him to do the same. Surprised when he opted to sit next to her rather than opposite, Serena blinked and coughed nervously.

“Do you have your script?” Darien asked mildly and Serena jumped up to snatch it off the small table across the “room”. When she arrived back to him, she casually sat directly opposite him so she was looking at him rather than touching him.

Darien gave her an amused glance as if he knew what she was thinking and her immediate reaction was blushing and looking down at the thick binder in front of her. The next thing she was aware of was a slow movement and then the smell of masculine cologne. Looking up, she blinked to find him seated next to her.

“Is page 46 alright with you?” His tone was brisk and business like.

Serena took the hint and nodded, reprimanding herself for thinking his actions had meant something more. This wasn’t high school anymore, they were adults and sitting next to members of the opposite sex meant nothing. Just like the shivers she got whenever their legs brushed meant absolutely nothing. Clearing her head, she focused on her lines.

“Sometimes what you want isn’t always what’s good for you,” she said, her voice thick as she imagined trying to explain her case to Jared.

“And sometimes what you’re forced to do isn’t what’s good for you.” He countered, his voice clear and strong.

“Who says I’m being forced?” Chloe told him haughtily.

Jared scoffed, “You’re telling me you want to marry him? A man you don’t even love?”

Chloe stuck out her chin proudly, “Who says I don’t love him?”

“You can’t.” He said simply.

“And just why not?”

Jared’s hands cupped Chloe’s face and forced her eyes to meet his. “Because you love me.” He said softly before dipping his head and kissing her gently.

Chloe’s head swam with thoughts as the kiss lasted. And lasted. Suddenly, it wasn’t Jared and Chloe kissing. It was Darien kissing Serena…and Serena kissing him back. The short but sweet kiss that was written in the script had been erased and with it came a new scene. One that had nothing to do with a movie. This one was only the two of them in their own world.

When they pulled apart slowly, Darien’s hands still braced around Serena’s face, a slow grin formed on Darien’s face at the shock written on his partner’s.

“I think I hear them calling us. Shall we go?” Darien stated calmly, getting up and preparing to leave the trailer. He stopped only to look at Serena and smile wryly. “I would…freshen up if I were you.” And with that he was gone.

Serena furrowed her brow at his last comment and walked over to a mirror. What she saw angered and embarrassed her all at once. Her hair was tousled about her face and her lips were bruised red from his kisses. Anger took over her as she smoothed her hair and licked her lips. The nerve of him! Doing this to her and then advising she fix it! But, she admitted wryly, she hadn’t exactly put a stop to his behavior. But what had caused him to kiss her? Hadn’t he stressed enough last night he wanted nothing to do with her?

Frowning at her reflection, she sighed and walked out the door, unsure of what the day would hold.


Hours later, Serena was finishing the take in the park where she broke of her romance with Jared due to her duty to marry someone else.

After breaking away from his kiss, tears forming in her eyes, Chloe pursed her lips and took a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I never meant to hurt you.”

Jared reached out for her, his face pained and anxious, but Chloe shook her head and back up.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated hoarsely before taking a few steps backward. Then, with a choked sob, she spun around and fled.

“Cut!” A loud voice announced, and Serena stopped to walk back to the group, hope on her face. “Wonderful take, that’s it for that scene!’

“Yes!” Serena pumped her fist in the air with happiness, they must have gone over it a million times before Nigel was finally happy with the work they had produced.

“Now the last scene. While there is still light. Then we’ll see if we can call it a day.”

Serena sighed tiredly and walked over back to the trailer where her next costume awaited her.

“You act like you’ve never done this before,” a cool voice said behind her. She spun around to meet Darien’s discerning gaze.

“I’m just tired. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Lying takes it out of people,” he said pointedly and Serena winced.

“Look, I’m sorry. Alright?” Serena sighed and walked closer to him, feeling the entire crew need not hear this. “I don’t know what else to tell you. I understand where you’re coming from and it’s over. I’ll tell the press we mutually decided to call it off. Would that make you happy?” She finished, suddenly feeling incredibly tired.

Darien’s expression was one of suspicious disbelief. “No games?”

Serena sighed again, rubbing the bridge of her nose, “None.” And she entered her trailer; unaware of the piercing eyes boring into her back.


Chloe stood in front of her mirror, full bridal attire in place, sobbing her heart out. She sniffed loudly and took the tissue to swipe her face dry, careful of her immaculate make up. She had a wedding to attend in less than thirty seconds and instead of anxiously waiting to meet her husband, she was gladly willing to trade this appointment for a root canal.

Taking a deep breath, she exited the small room and barely remembered walking down the aisle with her happy father. She met her future husband where the priest was waiting and was numb at the prospect of spending her life with this man. As the priest waited for her consent to start the ceremony, she looked around the room and her eyes were immediately drawn to a lone figure in the back, staring at her with intense passion. This was it—her last chance. If she turned it was over.

She dropped her eyes to the floor and brought her gaze back to the priest and gave a slight nod. Her answer was given. It was done.

After a few moments, while her husband was regurgitating his vows, Chloe snuck a glance at where she had seen Jared last.

The space was empty. Her heart sank the finality of it all. Turning her attention to the cold band on her finger and equally icy emptiness in her heart, she looked at the priest just as he finished his question.

“..so long as you both shall live?”

“No,” she said softly, shocked by her own answer. She blinked and a small curve of a smile grew on her lips, giving her answer more strength. “No,” she said firmly.

“What?” The man in front of her asked, stupefied.

“I can’t,” she said simply. And with a grin, she hiked up the thick skirts of her white dress and ran out, hoping it wasn’t too late. On the way to her destination, she tossed the veil aside and her blonde hair was soon out of the constricting bun and flowing behind her as she sprinted.

Coming to a stop in the parking lot, she searched frantically for his car and fought down the panic rising when she didn’t find the vehicle. After scanning a few times, she sank down on the curb, looking quite ridiculous, unable to believe what she had been waiting for her entire life had slipped through her fingers because of her own stupidity.

“What took you so long?” A clear voice asked from behind her and Chloe’s head shot up. Daring to hope, she slowly turned her head to see a man with dark hair and bright eyes smirking at her a few yards away. She jumped up and ran toward him, stopping when she was a foot away from, afraid to touch him.

She stared at him for what seemed like forever and he stared back. They remained like that for some time until she couldn’t take it anymore.

“I’m sorry,” she apologized again, this time for an entirely different reason. She bit her lip in fear. What if they couldn’t go back? What if he couldn’t forgive her?

After a second, he embraced her roughly, crushing her against him before kissing her. They parted for a moment, only long enough for him to whisper

“You say that too much.”

And he kissed her once again.

“Cut!” The same loud voice interrupted, and Serena broke away from Darien’s warm embrace, her head slightly dizzy and foggy. “That’s a wrap, folks. Tomorrow you have off! Now get out of here!” Nigel’s warmness touched all of them as they packed up.

Serena finished changing, and helped the crew. By the time the work was done, it was clear into the evening. She rubbed her eyes in exhaustion and dragged her feet over to her car.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. I can meet you at your place.” Darien’s voice once again came out of nowhere and startled her.

“Pardon?” She asked, confusion obvious in her blue eyes.

“I’ll come over to your place and we’ll sort out the story for the press.”

“Oh, okay,” she consented, rubbing her eyes, too tired to argue. She covered her mouth as a yawn escaped her. She blinked hard and searched for her keys.

Darien’s surprisingly soft touch on her arm guided her over to his car.

“What are you doing?” she protested mutely.

“You can’t drive like this. I’ll take you home.” It was an order and Serena slipped into the warm car without much objection.

Darien watched the strange woman that had entered his life drift off to sleep. Her head lulled one side and he had the irrepressible urge to kiss her forehead. He focused on the road instead and gripped the wheel so hard his knuckles turned white.

When he pulled into her parking space and turned to wake her, her faltered for a moment. Sighing, he got out of the car and opened her side of the door. Picking her up with ease, he smiled against his will when she shifted slightly but never woke up.

Arriving at her door, he looked at her in his arms, then at the locked door. As if sensing his dilemma, Serena stirred and open her tired, clear eyes. It took her a moment to place where she was and who was holding. Once realization struck, she drowsily tried to get him to put her down. He leaned over to place her feet on the carpeted floor. She fumbled with the key before opening the door and turning to face him sleepily.

“Thank you,” she murmured, staring at a spot on his blue shirt rather than his eyes.

“Don’t mention it,” he said equally soft.

She sensed the mood and recalled a scene similar to this one sometime ago. “Are you going to kiss me again?” she asked.

Darien blinked at her boldness and realized her tone wasn’t coy or seductive. He looked down at her to see a sleepy woman smiling slightly up at him. Her question had been one of curiosity and innocence.

His lips curved up and he leaned in to plant a soft kiss on her forehead. “Yes.”

“Bye,” she whispered and slipped inside, clicking the door locked.

Darien sighed heavily, leaning against the door of her penthouse. What was he doing? One minute he was yelling at her for playing games and the next it was him doing the game playing. And the way she carried herself, Darien would bet good money she didn’t even realize how sexy the changes had made her. Mina had something so different about her. Something that was undeniably attractive and…sweet. It wasn’t her looks, he had known Mina was a gorgeous woman from the first time he had laid eyes on her. But now, on top of carrying a different kind of beauty, she also possessed personality traits he had never seen before. And it was making it harder to resist her. What’s more, he wasn’t sure if he even wanted to try anymore.