Page 76 of Keep It

ANYA

Danny wraps on set with an awkward tension. The film has another week or two before the official wrap, but as far as Danny and I are concerned, our time onAccordanceis over. I’m a little sad that my first film job is over, but I’m mostly relieved. It’s not a hardship to walk off the set of a film that Charles Covington is behind.

The day Danny finally told me what happened with Callum, it was like all the puzzle pieces slotted together. It’s pretty clear to me that Callum is a pathetic fame chaser, but I can’t ever forgive Charles for orchestrating this whole ordeal just to get some publicity. Of course, an anonymous source has already leaked that a fight broke out on set, halting production. Danny was quiet the day that came out and not even me waving the guitar in his face was enough to snap him out of it.

Danny hasn’t left his trailer much since his return. I can’t blame him and haven’t done much to encourage him out. I collect our final catered lunch and bump into Jess at the craft table.

“Hey Anya.” Jess greets me with a smile, piling bread onto her polystyrene plate. “It’s so sad you won’t be around anymore.”

“Well you know, I go where Danny goes.”

Jess laughs. “Hey you should come out tonight, a bunch of us are going to this bar in the tenth.”

“Oh,” I say. “Sure, that sounds fun.”

“Nice, we’ll be there from nine. I’ll text you the details.”

“I’ll see you there.”

After Danny’s final scene, there is a polite smattering of applause. Gwen makes a small speech praising his performance, which he ducks his head for. Danny hands out a few gifts to the crew. And that’s it. Danny is officially wrapped.

We bundle into Jaques’ car once he’s freed from set. When we pull up outside Danny’s hotel, he stops at Jaques’ window and hands him a wrapped box that I know contains a very expensive watch that he spent hours choosing. Jaques beams and we say our goodbyes.

In Danny’s room, he collapses onto the bed, exhausted. I climb up next to him and rest my head on his chest. It’s almost second nature now to go to him. To lay beside him as if I’m supposed to be there.

“So,” I start. “All done.”

We haven’t discussed what happens to us after the film wraps. What happens tothis. Production hasn’t booked a return ticket for me yet, but I’m sure I’ll get one soon.

“Yeah.” His hand plays with my hair, twirling it through his fingers.

I can’t bear the thought that this is it, that this is the last time I’ll have him like this.

He clears his throat but before he speaks, I blurt out. “Let’s go out tonight.”

His brow crinkles, “Out?”

I sit up, “Yeah, Jess mentioned the crew are going for drinks and she invited me. We could go out with them, it won’t be suspicious if everyone we’ve worked with for the past two months will be there.”

“Oh.” His eyes catch on my lips as I lick them. “Am I invited?”

“I’m inviting you. It will be a little weird, probably.” Definitely. “But once people start drinking they’ll get over it.”

“You want to?”

“Yeah.”

He brushes my hair behind my ear with a sigh.

“Let’s do it.”

***

The bar the crew have arranged to meet at is down a small side alley alongside the Canal Saint-Martin. The minute we walk through the crowded bar and find the corner commandeered by the crew, I know this is a bad idea. The group have pushed tables together in a haphazard horseshoe shape, surrounded by mismatched chairs and half empty glasses.

“Hey guys,” I say to the group. Comically, everyone does a double take at the figure awkwardly hovering behind me like a socially inept shadow. “Can we join?”

Jess, bless her, jumps up, eager to ease the awkward, pregnant tension. “Of course, grab those chairs over there.” Danny looks around and grabs the two chairs, dragging them into position.

---