Staring up at the cloudy sky, I frown and look back at the controls in my hand. How did this thing work again?  Fly the drone they said, it will be easy, they said.

Shame the flamin' thing won't move!

So far, I had managed to get it into the air, and I could land it. Two of the most important things right? 

Wrong.. The drone had a launch and land mode. 

Looking around for the crew, I found that they were still within the sanatorium making me grumble and press the land button on the controls. Slowly, the drone began to land and I waited until the propels had stopped before retrieving it and stuffing it into the case. 

"Everything okay Emily?" Bacon asked making me jump. Zak's assistant was a burly man with a long beard and short blonde hair. But despite his size, the guy could disappear and reappear quickly.

"Huh? Oh yeah. Just this stupid drone." I answer motioning to the case I had tossed in the trunk. 

"Can't fly it?"

"Nope. Not a clue."

He nods his head in understanding. "You should get Zak to show you. He wouldn't mind. You're the only one who can get his attention long enough during lockdowns and filming."

A light blush taints my cheeks as I take on his words. A piece of me wanted to deny his claim, but I would be telling myself lies as it was true. No matter what, if I needed any help, Zak would appear and help me. Whether it be getting photos of the location or doing B roll film, he would be at my side, guiding, advising and sometimes explaining. 

I always put it down to his hands on approach to the show, but lately, something had shifted between us... 

"I don't want to disturb him. I'll be fine." I smile quickly before grabbing my camera and looping it over my neck. "Can you just let the guys know that I'm heading into the east wing? There are a few shots I wanna get."

"Sure thing." Bacon replies stuffing a cigarette between his lips and lighting it. 

Heading towards the building, I catch the sight of a few figures walking around, now with our line of work, you would expect me to be loosing my cool and claiming ghosts, but this was the middle of the day and one of those figures looked exactly like Zak.. 

Stepping through the large metal doors at the entrance, I glanced around. Taking in the peeled paint on the ceilings, the graffiti from kids and mother nature which had pushed its way up through the structure of the building. Being as quiet as I can, I make my way down the corridors and towards the East Wing.

Every so often, Zak's voice will float down from the upper level, making me smile gently as he expresses himself loudly and animatedly. Having known him for years, it's easy to pick up on the changes in his voice when he is genuinely excited for a lockdown and this one happens to be one. 

Which is why I want to do a good job. 

If it wasn't for Zak, I would still be in the coffee shop, making other peoples drinks and cleaning up the spills and sugar they left. I wanted to show him that taking me on was a good idea, that I am capable and good at what I do. Even if flying a drone isn't one of my skills, I can learn. 

There's some laughter upstairs from the crew as I kneel down and snap a photo of the old rickety wheelchair that had been abandoned. 

Moving on, I head further into the wing and stop by the operating room where the table still sits, awaiting it's next patient. Giving a shiver, I snap a few shots from different angles before setting my camera down on the side. Pushing my hand into my back pocket, I fish out a new memory card and open the card slot on my camera to ping out the old one to replace it. 

Putting the old one on the side, I pick up the new one and place it into the slot before closing the tab and checking to make sure the card had registered. Because we don't want a memory card that isn't working!

Seeing the icon, I smile and go to place the old one into the small plastic case when I realise it's not on the table.

Frowning, I step back and look across the surface, before lifting my camera and checking under it. Still with no memory card, I begin checking my pockets in utter confusion. 

"Where did I put it? Don't tell me I lost it."

Then of course I am asking myself if I managed to shove two into the cameras memory card slot, which I know is impossible but more possible than me losing a card that I placed down right in front of me!

I let out an aggravated growl and push my hands onto my hips when I look around the room and freeze seeing the card. 

I swallow.

Because the card is now sat on the floor, by the operating table..

"Don't start on me." I speak out crossing the room to retrieve it. I bend to grab it, when a pair of hands touch the bottom of my back and with a hard shove, I topple forward. 

With a shriek, I go down, colliding my head with the table as I do. 

For a few seconds I'm stunned. Completely and utterly stunned. 

That Emily, was your first paranormal experience.. How did it feel?

It sucked and is that blood?

I looked at my hand and touched my head gingerly, confirming that it is blood, and my blood. "Brilliant. He is going to lose his shit over this." I mutter, getting off the dusty floor with my memory card and snagging up my camera. 

It doesn't take 2 seconds for me to leave the sanatorium and for Bacon to see the blood spurting from my head for him to be calling Zak. Interrupting a walk through, interview and impromptu investigation.

It does however have me questioning what state my forehead is in when the blood is running through my fingers and down my top. Jesus when did I bleed like a stuck pig?

"EMILY!" 

I cringe at the voice outside the RV and prepare myself for the grilling and overprotectiveness from Zak when the door flies open. One stride up 4 steps and he is in, looking at me with wide eyes. 

"So um... Funny thing-" I begin.

"Don't." He warns grabbing the first aid kit and snapping on rubber gloves. "What an earth happened?" 

I glance up to find him stood between my knees as I sit on the side. "My memory card played hide and seek, but someone in the East Wing decided to push me. I hit my head."

He sighs harshly, coating me with his minty breath. "You need to be careful."

"I will in future." I answer staring at his eyes before making my way down his nose and to his lips. I watch his tongue peek out before disappearing. 

"Do you have a headache?"

"Nope. Just bleeding well."

"It's not that deep. Thank god. You should never have gone in alone. I thought you were flying the drone?"

I give a sheepish smile "I can't get it to move.. I can launch and land. But no movement."

"Why didn't you get me?" He asks.

"Because you were busy."

"I'm never too busy to help you, Em."

With Bacon's words and now Zak's confirmation, I lower my head and stare at his shirt buttons. "I know.."

With a gentle touch, he lifts my chin back up to face him. "What am I going to do with you?" He wonders before smiling. I return it and sit patiently as he patches me up.

 "There.." He speaks removing the gloves and tossing them into the bin. I scrunch my nose when he leans forward kisses the top of my head

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." He mumbles against my hair. 

"Are you okay?" I wonder as he stays close and doesn't move.

"Just.. I was scared."

"About what?" I ask lifting my head, causing his hands to fall from my hair onto my shoulders. "Is there something evil in there?"

"I was.. I was scared when Bacon rang. I- Something just snapped and I just left. All I could think about was getting to you."

I want to reply, to say sorry or just appreciate his kindness, but I can't because my words clump in my throat as I stare at him. Stare at the man I have admired from afar.

"I didn't hear what happened, Bacon said your name and that you were hurt and that was it. The shutters came down, I just left an interview. Gave it to Aaron, ripped my mic clean off. Jay is going to be pissed but I didn't want anyone hearing us or listening or.... I- Jesus why is this so hard to say.."

"What? What is so hard to say?" I ask staring at his beautiful eyes.

And he had beautiful eyes. The mix of grey, blue and gold were truly breath-taking. 

"I really like you Emily."

I blink. "Um, well I hope you do. We have been friends for years now."

He shakes his head. "No I mean. I really like you... More than a friend."

My mouth runs dry as he wets his lips quickly and fiddles with the ends of my hair.  For years I have stood by this man and watched woman after woman enter his life, hiding my feelings and jealousy. Convincing myself that he doesn't feel the same way I do, yet here he is.. Telling me something completely different! How could we have got this so wrong between us?

"I've tried not to. Because I know you value our friendship but... But I can't help it.  I hated being on the road and leaving you behind, I damn near fell over when you showed me those photos, I knew that I could take you with me. I knew the crew loved you and you fit in so well. Your work is amazing. But the only problem is, I see you now. All the time. And I can't stop thinking about you. You do these little things and they drive me crazy. Seriously, drive me batshit. But there is no malice, it's just.. I don't know. You scrunch your nose up and I find that so fucking adorable. You chew your lip when you're in thought, you always twiddle your hair when we watch TV. You are a complete blanket hogger and you snore but its a tiny little snore and it's just too cute."

I know my cheeks are flush now because I can feel them, but I couldn't care because this man.. This man right here is telling me things and my heart feels like it is going to give out. 

"I don't know if I am right or if I am wrong but sometimes you have this look in your eyes and I feel like a fucking superhero. Sometimes I think you feel things for me, like I feel things for you. But you haven't ever said anything, we just dance around it all the time. But hearing Bacon say your name and the idea of you being hurt.. I couldn't deal with it. I just had to see you."

I swallow thickly "What are you trying to say Zak?"

"I'm no good with words.. I just them all jumbled and I begin to worry about if I am going to upset you or if you will hate me after and I-"

I cut him off..

With my mouth.

He is not the only one taken by surprise at my sudden attack, but instead of feeling regret or stiffening, I decide to own my actions and thread my fingers through his head tugging him a little closer. 

After a few seconds of recovering, he moans and steps in closer, wrapping his arms around me, creating a safe cocoon around my body as he brings me into his chest. His mouth is soft, warm and I feel his kisses right down to my toes as he bites on my lip gently before resuming to seek my tongue out with his. 

I'm so consumed in his energy and his mouth that I forget to breathe and only remember when my head spins. Subsequently, I have to push him back to take a breath. With a little protest, he lets my mouth go, and pushes his forehead against mine, pressing small pecks onto my lips as I suck in some air. 

Holy macaroni. That was intense..

"If I knew it was going to be that good. I would have done it years ago.." He whispered making me stifle a giggle. 

His mouth finds mine again before he pulls back enough to see my face "So was that a yes to feeling something for me? Or a new technique to shut me up?"

"Bit of both.. More the first than the last."

He grins back at me. "Well I like it.. Both of them to be exact. More the first than the last."

I giggle and push my head into his shirt before pulling back to make sure I hadn't just wiped blood into him. Can't imagine that will look good for TV.

"I really like you Emily."

"That's good.. Because I really like you too."

I see the shy young boy within him as he looks down at himself and smiles "Really?"

I nod before grabbing his shirt and pulling him against my mouth again. Another scorcher of a kiss passes between us before I have to push him away. "That is going to take some getting used to.."

"Kissing? After being friends all this time?" He asks rubbing my arms. 

"No, I mean remembering to breathe."

He looks up and cocks a brow. "So you're telling me, I make you breathless?"

Rolling my eyes, I can't help but grin. "Yeah, I guess it does.."