Cece actually passes out once we are in the car and as I am the one who is more sober I have to drive. Needless to say I go in a panic mode, scared that the police will stop us and ask me for my driver licence-which I don't have-and notice I've been drinking and we'll go to jail and it'll be terrible for Gareth's image and Father will be disappointed and the production will be ruined and it'll be all my fault!

"Ann, are you okay?" Gareth asks from the passenger's seat above Cece's loud snores.

"Yes, yes, perfectly fine! Why wouldn't I be?" I reply but even I notice my shaky and nervous voice and my hands actually hurt because I'm clutching the wheel too tight. "Is that a police car? Are they following us?"

Gareth chuckles and I would look at him but I'm too scared to look away from the road. I'm not the best driver even when I'm sober, I'm just learning, so if I dare to look at the actor by my side I'll cause an accident and bring our deaths upon us.

"Ann, relax. It's just another car. And if you're too nervous to drive, I can do-"

"NO!" I shout. "You drank much more. Technically, your reflexes are slower and clumsier and will most likely get us killed. And if there's an accident and it's known you were the one driving under the influence of the alcohol, then it'll be a blow to your career. I'll drive," I blurt out and I can hear him chuckle again. I don't know why he finds my panic amusing.

"Okay, okay. You drive, but relax, you're fine and we are almost at the hotel," he reminds me and I nod, hoping we can get there now.

Only when I park, horridly because I have no talent to park and I'm sure this is the reason why I'll never get my licence and I'll have to have a chauffeur for the rest of my life like those rich kids in dramas.

"Ann," Gareth calls my name and his hands grab my shoulders, shaking me a bit when I'm still in the car but I haven't moved to get out. "Why are you still panicking? We got here, nothing happened."

I take a deep breath and finally look him in the eyes. These seem still fairly amused but a bit concerned so I try to calm down. I'm freaking out for no reason now.

"I'm okay," I state, finally sounding calmer and attempting a smile to show him that. "I was just scared but we made it even if I can't park the car."

Gareth actually laughs this time, looking down for a second as if he isn't able to hold his head anymore, his shoulder shakes and I just watch him as the corners of my mouths tug in a smile at the sight. My heart starts fluttering with the sound of his laughter.

"I guess... that as long as you don't crash into someone or bump another car then it's a success," he says, finally looking at me again. "You're cute," he adds next as my eyes widen.

Next thing I know he is ruffling my hair softly and with a smile on his lips before removing it and turning to open the door and get out the car. I stay inside, my heart practically beating in my throat and butterflies partying in my tummy. My cheeks flush and my hands shake as I cover my mouth to hide my parted lips in surprise. I can still feel his hand on top of my head, ruffling my hair and his eyes looking at me like that. And he says I'm cute. He really said that. I don't know why I feel like screaming.

A door opens again, startling me and I notice it's Gareth at the back, dragging Cece out. That snaps me back to reality and I rush to help him so the two of us carry Cece, a taller and more built man than Gareth, towards the lift and then his room. I have to literally look for his key in the pockets and open the door so Gareth can finish carrying the makeup artist to his bed where we make sure he is in the right position. Before leaving his room with him inside, I put a glass with water on his nightstand, his mobile charging and some paracetamol I find in the bathroom cabinet.

"Thank you for helping me with Cece," I tell Gareth when we walk back to the lift. "I wouldn't have been able to do it myself so he would've ended up sleeping in the car."

Gareth smiles and shrugs to lessen importance to what he did. "No problem there. Thank you for inviting me. I had fun, loads of fun."

"That's what matters," I smile at him and then the doors open so we step inside together.

We are staying in different floors and I'm the first to bid goodbye. It's a bit awkward and I'm not sure what to say but there isn't much time so I just bow my head lightly.

"Goodnight, Ann. Sleep well, I see you at the shooting," he says and I nod, waving him goodbye from the corridor already until the doors close with him still inside. Only then the same hand I was using to wave ends up on my chest and feels my still erratic heartbeat.

It was an eventful night, that's for sure.

~

The break is over and we are back shooting and it's all like usual. Jerry is still a jerk to me but I don't let his words affect me. As Cece says, "When you step on poop you better clean the shoe immediately instead of dwell on it. The more you pay attention to it, the longer you smell like shit, too." And although quite disgusting, the analogy helps me quite a lot. Every time Jerry has some bitchy commentary or disregards me, I just brush off his words and focus on my work. I at least fulfil my role and make the suggestions I think necessary, as director he is entitled not to listen and ignore them, but I still made them.

I have noticed, as well, that not everyone acts like Jerry and some start to show me more respect. It clearly isn't like when Father is around but I really understand and accept that. No matter what my status is, they don't owe me respect for that, I have to earn it. Still, it feels like a big achievement when, for instance the head writer doesn't glare daggers at me anymore and actually listen to my suggestions for the script or how he is happy working with Terry.

I also feel extremely accomplished when Zoe approaches me and asks me my opinion on how she wants to interpret certain scene and whether she is doing fine. She actually considers my opinion and seems comfortable around me. At the beginning I noticed how tense and nervous she was but now she is more smiley and seems to be having fun at the shooting. She doesn't even seem that intimidated with Gareth as her co-star.

"Producer Ann," she calls one day. No matter how many times I tell her it's just Ann she won't budge and keep calling me Producer Ann. I've accepted that. "You seem to be friends with Gareth," she asks and my eyes widen immediately.

I don't know if I would say we are friends and her words feel too much. I blush and feel nervous immediately.

Since we went out that night with Cece and Gareth, the latter spends more time with us. We have lunch together most of the time and when he is on standby he is normally next to me. We mostly discuss the production and comment on how the shooting is going and what is off with a particular scene. I even help him read lines sometimes.

It is true he seems to loosen up a bit more every day with us, showing more emotions and expressions. He laughs more and it's actually easier to read his face, even Cece can do it now, although he always thinks Gareth lacks emotions whilst I think I got used to him because I find him extremely expressive. However, with everyone else Gareth acts the same as before, he continues being the Ice Prince he is labelled as. He is especially cold towards Jerry, more so after he's said something mean to anyone, although Jerry's animosity seems aimed mostly at me. I've noticed how Gareth doesn't always follow Jerry's direction, and if he's heard what I said he actually follows my comments.

I think I've noticed those things because I pay a lot of attention to him and because we do spend more time with him but I didn't think anyone else noticed it.

"I think friends is going too far," I say, looking down because I feel weirdly embarrassed.

"Really? But he seems closer to you than to his manager," Zoe comments and I meet her eyes just to see her confused expression. "Weren't you yesterday playing cards during the night shooting while waiting for his next scene?"

"Yeah, but isn't that normal?" I ask, utterly confused.

"Not with him. He barely looks at everyone else. That's what I wanted to ask you, Producer Ann. Does he really hate us all?"

"Hate you all?" I repeat, incredulity clear in my voice.

"Yeah, that's what everyone thinks because he can't smile at us or anything. He only nods his head when I greet him. So I was wondering if maybe I did something bad to offend him and that's why he hates me." I can only look at her with wide eyes. "At first I was excited to work alongside Gareth Maddox because I knew of his talent and I thought 'I'm gonna learn so much from him!' I really thought he'd help me to be a better actress so we could make a great film together," Zoe confesses. "But he has never talked to me when we are not shooting. He only acknowledges me when he is Sasha and I'm Lana." I can feel her troubled emotions and how concerned she is about this, so I smile at her, trying to reassure her before taking her hands.

"He doesn't hate you. I'm sure he doesn't hate anyone. Gareth is just... not a people person. It has nothing to do with you, Zoe. Don't worry. It is a pity it can't be as you expected, but he really isn't comfortable with people and focuses only on working," I tell her but she still looks sad.

"I guess you're right." Zoe takes a deep breath, her blue eyes a bit glassy and she sucks in her lower lip. "I'm just glad he doesn't hate me." She then looks at me and offers me a big smile. "Thank you, Producer Ann. And just for the record, I really think you two are friends, to say the least. You seem to know him a lot already."

I just blink in surprise and at my reaction she smiles wider.

"I have to get back for my next scene. Thank you again!" she exclaims, letting go of my hands and waving me goodbye before running back to her manager and stylist, and I'm left there, thinking of her words.

Friends. I don't know if Gareth could actually consider me his friend as he's never had one. I think it'd be too big of an honour to be his first friend. For me he is... I guess I do consider him one and Zoe isn't that wrong about that in that aspect, but I still think I'm going too fast with that. Gareth isn't just anyone.

"Oi, what are you doing spacing out there?" a familiar voice calls and I turn to see Cece walking up to me. "Were you thinking of your Ice Prince again?" he teases me when he's by my side, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.

"He's not mine and don't call him that, Cece," I scold the makeup artist and he just rolls his eyes. "But yeah. I talked to Zoe before and she thought we are friends."

"And aren't you friends? I thought you were, too," Cece comments, sounding as confused as Zoe before.

"But isn't that like too much? I don't think friends is the right term?"

"Why?" my friend asks next. "Because you want him not to be just your friend but your boyfriend?"

"Cece!" I cry out, scandalised with his words but he just chuckles.

"Oh come on, I don't think I'm seeing things but I do believe you fancy him, love. You always blush when he smiles at you and seem to glow when he touches you. I'm pretty sure that's a sign your celebrity crush became a real crush."

"That's absurd!" I defy, refusing to believe such a thing even folding my arms and stomping my foot.

"Is it?" he questions, his eyebrows arched and a smirk that makes me blush because I feel too closely observed.

No, it can't be possible I have a real crush on Gareth, that's absurd. It can't be, can it?

~·~

Yay update! And quite early, right? I think I'll be back updating on Tuesdays and Fridays. It works better. I hope you don't mind ;) However, I won't be able to update this Friday because it's my graduation exam so I'll be busy that day. Wish me luck!

Dedication to @Just_Carolina

Bel, xx