Page 14 of Between the Lines

This was work.

I did thank him for the coffee, but outside of that I was focused.

I was listening for my cue, listening as the crew did their usual chorus to pull everything together for filming. Shaw left the set, “Shannon” and I got into place, and the roll call went on.

I looked up as it was coming to an end, locking eyes with Shaw.

He smiled at me.

“Action!”

Chapter Four

SHAW

I missedthe hell out of Ellie.

An unfortunate feeling to find myself mired in, considering I’d initiated the breakup.

Even with us being in the same space together, close enough to speak, close enough to touch, there was just this…gap.

Proximity was no competition for the distance between us now, and Ihatedthat shit to my core.

But, again.

Iinitiated the breakup.

I broke her heart.

“Hey, you need to be ready to start in five,” a production assistant told me in passing, already rushing off to complete some other task. I’d been sitting off to the side, watching my costars go through their takes—often, actors didn’t sit on set for this, and understandably so. Depending on complexity, it could take hours to get the scene to a place where it was time for you to enter, whichcouldbe a waste of valuable downtime.

There wasn’t anything I’d rather be doing though.

Aside from my personal preference of picking up on the energy already in the room to inform my performance, I just…enjoyed watching Ellie work. When she took a role, she steppedinto it fully, and elementary teacher Luna was no exception. I’d watched her exude such warmth and joy when she interacted with the students in Shannon’s class, heartbreaking empathy alone with Shannon on the realization that she’d been the one to find her deceased parents.

And now, a dangerous sort of patience with Jude, Shannon’s other uncle.

It was no surprise to me that Alec and Ellie both were killing this scene, one that’d had me holding my breath when I read it.

Jude

You’re outside your place, Ms. Maxfield.

Luna

Maxwell.And I beg to differ. Advocating for Shannon is exactly my place, and I’m baffled as to why it’s a problem. When I spoke to Silas, he?—

Jude

Well, Silas ain’t here, I am. And I’m saying I don’t want those motherfuckers around her.

Luna

You can watch your language or watch your volume. I’d prefer both, but you will do one or the other.

Jude

Who the fuck you think you are?

---