March 2021

Today's another sunny day in California, but except this time, Alina had something to look forward to. It was the first day that filming would commence. And she would be the second assistant of Sofia's.

She had mentioned that to start off, she would be shadowing Darcy. That way she'd be able to learn the basics, where things were, and how things worked.

Darcy was a nice person, she seemed to be a few years older than Alina. With already a few years of training in the bag, she easily landed her position as Sofia's assistant.

Right now, the two were on set, walking to deliver paperwork to another producer. Darcy's eyes landed on a woman, with her back facing the both of them, talking to someone she shielded from their line of vision.

Clearing her throat, Darcy gained the woman's attention.

"Hi Darcy! You have the paperwork?" The nameless woman asked.

Swiftly handing her the papers, the woman's attention was on now Alina. "Who may this be?"

A voice behind the mysterious woman was heard.

"Alina." Leaning sideways, Harry smiled.

"Oh, yes! Alina, of course." The blonde was shocked. "I'm Olivia, I'm directing, producing, as well as one of the actresses in the movie. Sofia's told me a whole lot about you."

Her cold tone threw Alina off.

Taking a glimpse at Olivia, Harry furrowed his eyebrows sensing Alina becoming uncomfortable. He quickly interrupted. "Darcy, would you mind if I showed Alina where the craft services are?"

Smiling at Alina, Darcy replied, "Go for it, but don't hog her all day."

Harry beckoned Alina, with a few pair of eyes following them, they ventured off to craft services.

"I'm sorry about Olivia, she can be a bit-"

"Hostile?" Alina finished Harry's sentence, making him laugh.

"Yes, I'm afraid so. But don't worry about her, she's usually like that with new people or just people in general." A few seconds pass before he realizes, "I'm sorry that probably didn't help."

Alina waved him off. "No, it's okay. I was taught to expect to be treated that way when I was in school, just didn't really think it would be this soon."

"Really?"

Arriving at craft services, Harry held the curtain open for Alina. "Thank you. And yeah, my film professors always talked about how hard this industry is. But I was convinced to follow through with it by a friend of mine."

"Well, if you ever need any help or resources, don't hesitate to reach out."

"Oh, I wouldn't want to impose. Watermelon?" Alina offered him some, after she was done scooping some on her plate.

"Please. You could never impose, we could exchange information—Instagram, if that's easier."

Alina thought that was humbling of him. Of course she was already following him, she wouldn't tell him that though. Scooping some watermelon onto Harry's plate, she caved in.

"Okay," she laughed.

"Great!" Harry smiled. "I couldn't help, but notice your expression yesterday."

Confused, Alina furrowed her eyebrows.

"When we bumped into each other. Or when you bumped into me. Are you a fan?" He clarified.

"I don't know if I want to feed your ego by answering that." As the two walked to an empty table, Alina lightly scoffed. A few seconds went by before she actually answered the question. "Fine. I am...happy?"

With the two now sitting at the table, Harry chewed a piece of watermelon, smirking and staring at Alina.

"What song is your favorite?"

Thinking about it, there was a whole lot of songs she liked of his. It was like her brain became a café during rush hour.

What is my favorite song? Is now the time I tell him I was obsessed with One Direction? No, probably not. His vocals in Drag Me Down were hot.

Wait! You can't tell him that, he'll think you're weird. If I Could Fly, vulnerable and underrated, his vocals were also hot in that. What is wrong with you?

Maybe Carolina on his first album, I wish he wrote a song about me. Okay, shut up, just answer him. Don't say anything you'll reg—

"Alina?" His voice snapped her out her racing thoughts. "Are you alright?"

"Mhm." Reaching for her water bottle in front of her, she took a sip. "Adore You."

"What?" Harry looked at her worried.

"My favorite song, it's Adore You." Nervously, Alina stabbed a couple pieces of watermelon before stuffing her mouth and looking back up at Harry.

With his softened stare, Alina blushed. "Enough about me, what's your favorite song?"

"That's a tough one. I mean there's a whole lot of songs out there." Harry gladly steered away from the previous topic, now in his own mind chaos.

"Rumours, Fleetwood Mac. I can't really choose a song from the album, so the whole thing is my favorite."

"I love Fleetwood Mac! I always wished to see them in concert. Would you say you find a lot of inspiration in older music and incorporate it into yours?" Alina wondered.

"Alina! There you are," Darcy rushed into craft services, causing everyone to turn their attention to her. Waving her hand, she apologized.

"Alina, I need your help with something. Do you mind if I steal her away from you?" Darcy asked Harry.

Looking at his watch that was apart of his outfit for his character, he stood up from the table.

"Of course, I should start heading back," he told the redhead, turning his head to look at Alina, "See you around, darling!"

Darcy squealing as he walked away.

"You guys are so cute!"

Rolling her eyes jokingly, Alina slid her arm through Darcy's bicep, as the two walked to the production offices.

"In your dreams."

______________________

The task that Darcy asked for help was accompanying her for different deliveries of various papers and other items or film equipment. She didn't want to be alone, claiming that she needed a buddy.

Sofia trusted the two girls to do such tasks that she left for the day.

As of right now, they were on set observing everything. There were people running around, getting to where they needed to.

It was in between a take, the camera crew still stood by their assigned cameras. The actors walking to their marked spots.

Olivia, in director mode, held a monitor in her hand to see the specific view that the cameras were focused on.

"Quiet on set!"

A few seconds passed to ensure it was quiet.

"Action!"

______________________

The first day was over and everyone began to do their thing. Alina and Darcy headed back to retrieve their belongings.

"So, what'd you think of your first day on a set?"

Thinking about her day, Alina was pleased. "I think that it'll be fun. Though-" she coughed to attempt to hide her following words, "Olivia seems a little scary."

Darcy laughed. "Don't worry about her. She'll warm up to you. Though with the chemistry that you Harry have, it might be a bit."

"Chemistry? Please, him and I barely met yesterday."

Knowingly shaking her head, Darcy disagreed.

"When you have chemistry with someone, time means nothing. It's like a game, just you and the other person left, until someone calls checkmate."

Confused, Alina furrowed her eyebrows. "What does that even mean?"

The two walked to their cars. As they arrived, Darcy opens her car door, putting her stuff inside. "It means that you finally grow the balls to make your move."

Getting into her car, Darcy looks up at Alina. "I'm calling it right now, you and Harry are endgame, him and Olivia are in the sewers by the end of the week. Their relationship is just a piece of paper."

Not sure if she heard Darcy correctly, Alina wondered, "A piece of paper?"

"Yeah, you didn't know that they have a PR relationship? It's to help promote the movie. Olivia seems to be taking it more seriously, being all up and close with Harry."

With a shake of Alina's head. No.

"Huh, this just keeps getting better," Darcy comically states. "Well, I should head home. See you tomorrow!"

With the redhead now off to go home for the day, that left Alina standing cluelessly by her car.

"A PR relationship?"

"You sound surprised."

kami speaks! (12/6/2025)

-  edited quite a bit of this chapter,
i've missed it :(

- hopefully you enjoyed x