Page 90 of The Fate Of Us

And then I remember that this, the looks, the smiles, the shivers—it’s all pretend.

The gift-wrapped book, which I know is a book, with a note inside detailing thescavenger hunt Harry’s about to send Anastasia on, just like the dream prom-posal she’d mapped out for him earlier in the movie, is placed in my hand. I look down on it, before looking back up at Nate… Harry.

We don’t say anything, because there's no dialogue. Eleanor relied on using eye contactand body language to tell the audience everything that needed to be said. And I’m thankful for that, because Nate’s stare is starting to burn again and I don’t know if I can handle that and the heat from the stage lights. But then he lifts his hands and brushes his thumb across my cheek, burning me there, too.

And then he walks away, like he’s been directed to, out of the shot but not leaving themake-shift hallway, because I still need to kiss him. Anastasia still needs to kiss Harry. I carry on doing what I’ve been told to do. I tear back the shiny pink wrapping around the book and reveal it.

I gasp, bringing a shaky hand to my mouth. A bit dramatic, but it helped disguise themyriad of emotions running around my head right now.

I peel open the page of Anastasia’s favourite book. Alice in Wonderland. A beautifulchoice. Eleanor’s favourite, she confessed to me before. The camera to my right angles so it captures my expression from below, as I find the note on the title page. The camera catches my tear, a single one that rolls down my cheek. Hardly acting given what happened earlier.

I close the book and peel open the note. They’ll get a shot of someone holding it later,zooming into the words ‘I LOVE YOU’ written in boyish handwriting.

I know in the final edit they’ll add the big dramatic, heartfelt score to play alongside theway I drop the book, realisation crowding my face as I run over to Nate. The way the camera follows him makes it look like he’s been walking since the moment he left, making it easy for me to stride towards him, dress swishing at my thighs, as I grab his shoulder and spin him to face me.

“Is this true?” I ask him, holding the note to his chest.

He nods at me, doing well to let Harry’s feelings be known by everyone around us.

“How long?” He doesn’t answer. “How long, Harry?—”

“I can’t remember, okay?” I inch my head backwards, my mouth gaping. “I’ve been inlove with you for so long that I forgot the moment I realised it.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was scared.”

“Of me?”

“Oflosingyou.”

And that’s when I’m instructed to kiss him out of the blue. Rise up on my tiptoes, in theempty hallway, and kiss the boy who I’ve secretly been in love with for years. But I can’t. Something about it doesn’t feel right. The sneak attack of it all. I might get grilled by Eleanor for this later, or maybe she’ll approve of it, but I can’t think about that now.

Maybe it’s the inner writer in me that wants to shine. Creep out of the shadows.

Whatever it is, I enjoy the way it’s making me feel like a superjet about to glide down therunway, as my mouth prys open.

“I don’t think there could be anything you could say or do to make me lose you. Youknow that, right?” I take a step closer, ignoring the murmurs from the crew in the darkness. “Remember that, the next time you want to tell me something that you think will make me run.”

And then my lips are on his.

And it’s bliss. Just like I thought it would be. This wasn’t new to us anymore, we’dbroken down that barrier that led to the unknown. His lips encased mine, gliding so perfectly, moulding like we were always made to kiss each other.

His hands find my cheeks, holding them still as they burned red. I felt my stomach dropwhen he pulled me closer, edging us together in a way I used to dream about. Crave. I soaked up every moment of it, not knowing when we’d even be like this again. If we’d ever be like this again—

“CUT! Great job, guys!” Seb calls, the call bell sounding as a few of the crew clapand whoop as we fall away from each other.

I didn’t have a chance to look at Nate before he stormed off in the direction of hisdressing room. Away from me.

I couldn’t register it, not before I spotted Eleanor heading towards me, with a scowl onher face. Maybe I’d been an asshole for improving a line. I got ready to spit out a million sorry’s, but before I could, she grabbed my face and planted a kiss on my forehead.

“You are a genius!”Oh. “Like, are you kidding? That line was… oh my God, I’mdemanding that this be your last movie. Addy, you were born to write!”

I’ve always known I was.

Chapter twenty-six

Nate

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