% CHAPTER 33 %

I glare at Bret what seems like the entire car ride to the set. I am so pissed. I just can't believe him. It's like he totally forgot who the guy that wasn't a jerk was. It's unbelievable. I mean how can someone just forget something like that? I couldn't. Bret does always manage to bring out the worst in me though.

The car rolls to a stop. He hums a tune to himself and pays no mind to me. I mumble a few choice words under my breath before opening the door and getting out. Bret is so retarted. Doesn't he notice that I'm staring daggers at him? Maybe he's blind, or something worse, maybe he's ignoring my presence. It's probably Amanda's influence. She's gotten pretty good at ignoring me too.

"Hey kids!" Derek greets. "Long time no see. Well except for you Bret since you stopped by last weekend."

I look over at my co-star. He came to act last weekend? I didn't know that. Why didn't he tell me? Umm, he doesn't have to tell you anything. You don't own him or anything, Internal-me says. True. What scene did he do? Why do you care so much? I draw my lips in a tight line. He probably did something with Jenna. Yeah something with Jenna.

"Yeah..." Bret trails off.

"Okay kids. Get to the trailer. We're doing the Insufferable Scene."

I smile. This sounds good. It sounds feisty. I almost laugh. My thoughts are retarded.

We walk over to the trailer to get ready. I get the dressing room first, like always. I like being punctual. Is that a crime? The outfit I'm wearing is an average house attire dress. It's got a picnic print pattern that I am really taking a liking to. Emily has a really cool taste, well if she were real, she would have a good taste. But she's not like any of those sluts who prance around in frickin combat boots and booty shorts. Did they even have booty shorts or girl combat boots in the early 1900's? I think not. But maybe they could have. Once again, my inner self has a war waging. I let Genevieve tie my hair into a loose bun before she puts on some lip gloss and blush. I sigh. I have to share the script with Bret.

Once he's dressed, we head back to Derek to retrieve the script. Oh yay, the script. Can't there be another copy or something? I hate when Derek makes only one copy in the worst of situations. I mean seriously. All Directors should know to make more than one script. The scenes go by so much faster then. I make sure I don't touch Bret at all as we both crouch down to read the letters. I am not a fan of this guy right now, even though I am practically swooning over his scent right now. Is that Spearmint I detect? Taylor! Get a grip! I noisily clear my throat and begin to read.

Emily: Oh Hayden you make things so complicated sometimes...

Hayden: Listen here my beloved. Stacy set me up!

Emily: (walks towards him in his face) That's not what I saw! You were practically all over her!

Hayden: wait you were at the party?

Emily: Of course I was there! Stacy invited me! And of course the first thing I see is you hitting it off with your ex...

Hayden: I swear to you I was not. Stacy must have set us up Emily. She wanted you to see me with her so you would be jealous.

Emily: (sighs, frustrated) As much as I want to believe you, I can't. So get out of my house. I don't want to see you as of right now.

Hayden: ...so you're breaking up with me then?

Emily: yes...

Hayden: Fine I will leave for the moment, but think about it. We both know how Stacy is.

Emily: I don't. All I know is she's your ex. An ex you were pretty comfortable with. Now I will not say it again: leave my house.

(Hayden sighs before walking towards the door)

Hayden: goodbye Emily

As soon as I'm finished, I back away from Bret and the script. I want to make interaction with him as little as possible, but man that Spearmint scent on him has got me hooked. I take a quick whiff when no one is paying attention. Yup I'm just an average girl, smelling this guy that I really don't like. Pay no mind everybody. The situation is under control. I can honestly say this is the weirdest thing I have ever done. I just shouldn't interact at all, but there are some things you can't ignore, like this amazing scent... Okay I'm done. I furrow my eyebrows together so I look angry. I have got to fool people...and myself. I can't like Bret, not again. This has already been discussed, plenty of times.

"When you're finished flip over a couple more pages to Scene 3 Act 5. That's the next one we're going to act out," Derek says.

Bret flips the pages until he lands on the right one. I reluctantly scoot closer to him so I can read the script. Great. Now the Spearmint is filling my nostrils again. If me and Bret get on good terms again- which will never happen- I'll have to ask what body wash he uses. Is it new or have I just not noticed before?

Bret kicks my leg. "Taylor, are you even reading?"

I snap back into reality. Come on Taylor! Think quick! Act mad! Or distant or something! I curl my top lip up in a snarl and don't reply. Then I turn my attention to the script.

(Hayden and Emily are tangled into each other in between the sheets as they lay on the bed sound asleep. The rooster crows and they slowly wake up. They smile at each other lovingly and stretch their arms before getting out of the bed.)

Emily: (looks out the window) It's such a wonderful morning.

Hayden: (stands behind Emily and wraps his arms around her waist) I agree.

(Emily turns her head to face Hayden while he leans in closer. They share a passionate kiss before they hear thumps downstairs. Hayden gives Emily a quick peck before opening the window.)

Hayden: I'll see you this evening. (Gives a wave)

Emily: Yes. Goodbye Hayden.

(He leaves and Emily sighs before starting to change. Lights slowly fade and the scene ends)

I angrily point at the script. "Oh hell no! This is not happening! Happiness?!" I scoff. "Kissing?! I'm so not in the mood."

"Well then get in the mood," Derek retorts in an agitated tone. I scowl. Who pooped in his cereal this morning?

We are guided to the Victorian house, aka Emily's house. Of course the only real part of the house is the first floor so we don't do the actual scene in there. We have to do it in the neighboring building, which is just a small set up. Bret walks on the set first. We're both careful not to step or run into any filming equipment. He completely ignores me until Derek tells us to start acting. I take a deep breath before starting.

"Oh Hayden you make things so complicated..."

"Sometimes," Bret whispers my way.

"What?" I hiss.

Derek grumbles and waves his hands around in the air. Goodness, what is wrong with him on this very fine day? Well okay, it's not a fine day for him, or me, or Bret. Aww, it's just a very bad day for everyone. We should just all go kill ourselves. Just kidding! Well Bret can go kill himself. Cough cough, what? Oh don't mind me. Those mental discussions again...

"No no Taylor! Concentrate on your lines. You're usually so focused!"

I stop glaring at Bret, which I started as soon as Derek began talking, and turned to face my director. Party Pooper.

"We only just started!" I whine. "There's nothing wrong with messing up a few lines."

"Because you're too caught up in eyeing me up," Bret says as he winks.

My head snaps back towards him. "This is an AB conversation so C your way out before D jumps over E and F's you up, G. Come at me bro." I pump my fists on my chest a few times to look like a macho chick.

"If you haven't noticed we're taking a scene, which makes me involved by the way, which also means I have to work with what I have. That means you're the only fun I'm going to be getting." A devilish smirk sets into his face.

I put a hand on my hip. "Excuse me Mister, but I'm not a toy. You can't play with me when you want. That's what you have your peppy little girlfriend for."

Something in Bret's face darkens and he looks a little scared...and lonely. Does that mean I've struck a nerve? I guess so. Derek's shocked interruption in the fight brings me back to reality and turns Bret's face back into a dull expression, one I can't even read.

"Ermahgerd Taylor! Of course how could I forget! You're picking a fight because you don't like Bret's girlfriend," I nod, "and you're jealous since she's getting all the attention you used to get!!" I'm about to nod my head again, thinking he had it all figured out, but of course stupid Derek doesn't!

"No you jerk!" Yes I called Derek a jerk. "His girlfriend is just an evil little bitch that's all! And so is Bret!"

Derek sighs. "Taylor can I talk to you in private for a minute?"

I cross my arms. "I don't know, can you?"

He rubs his eyebrows in a tiresome manner. "May I talk to you in private?"

"No, you may not!" I state with a sense of triumph.

"I'm the instructor Taylor, not you so you listen to me young lady! Come with me outside right now!"

I give a small huff before marching after Derek, who has already started walking away from the set. Once we get far enough away, he turns on his heel with his arms crossed against his chest.

"What do you want?" I ask harshly.

"It's not what I want. It's what you want Taylor." He sighs for the millionth time today. "I can see the way you look at him."

"Who?!"

"Bret. Now before you interrupt and kill me with your psychotic voodoo, hear me out. You may think you're glaring at him because of an unexplained hatred burning inside, but that hatred is called jealousy. You don't really hate Bret. You actually like him, more than you'll admit. And he feels something for you too. It's written all over both of your faces! It's like a grand love story!" He starts mumbling happily to himself.

My mouth drops open in shock. What is wrong with this man?! Has writing all of these romance films finally gotten to him? Has he reached midlife crisis?! Something has got to be wrong with him. Bret and I? In a relationship?! That was never happening. Bret doesn't like me like that. A sinking feeling takes over in my stomach. Do I want him to like me like that? Do I want him to have those feelings for me? I mentally scoff at myself. What am I thinking?! Of course not! Having an annoying Bret that's in love with me following me around the halls at school is not something I would look forward to. I mean we live together! It's worse than having a stalker!

"No way Derek! That's absurd," I gripe.

"Love is absurd Taylor." He retreats back to the set. I stomp back to my place.

"What was that about?" Bret leans in and whispers in my ear.

I look into his brown eyes with fury. "None of your business," I state. "Now can we get on with the scene?"

"Actually," Derek begins, "I think you two need to go over the script again because Taylor isn't getting it." He winks at me quickly and I groan in misery.

"I'm just fine!" I argue.

Bret grabs ahold of my arm. "No your acting is horrible. Let's go." He grabs the script from Derek and leads me out into the trailer park. As soon as we are out of anyone's hearing range- which happens to be in the grass- he stops and turns around to face me. "What is your problem?"

I'm shocked. "What do you mean? I'm supposed to be saying that to you!"

"No you're not. Now tell me Taylor. What is your problem?! You've been shooting daggers my way the entire day!"

So he had noticed. I shrug. "Not my problem."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not."

"Yes it is."

"No it's not! Stop being a bitch Bret and let me go!" His hand is still holding onto my arm.

"No! Not until you tell me why you're so mad at me!" He tugs on my arm and I fall into his chest.

Using the pride that's left in me, I pick my head up from his chest and look him in the eyes.

"You're my problem." This is the part where I'm supposed to walk out dramatically, but I can't do that considering Bret has not let go of my arm. "Let go!" I screech.

"You're not being descriptive enough."

I huff. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Why are you angry with me?"

I groan. "Do I have to say it again?! It's your stupid girlfriend! She's a piece of shit yet you treat her like she's a Goddess! She's not even your type!"

"Oh and you know what my type is?" He inquires.

I sigh. "Good point. I just don't think it was right for you to leave me hanging. I was going to introduce you to my best friend that day!"

Suddenly the sprinklers come on. I jump a little, which ends with me stumbling since Bret still hasn't let me go.

"It was all Amanda's idea," Bret continues as if we weren't getting wet right now.

I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

He closes his eyes and sighs. When he opens them, he says, "You'll figure it out Taylor."

His lips hit my cheek and the next thing I know, Bret is walking away. I stand there for a couple seconds thinking over his words. Then I realize I'm getting soaked and head back toward the set.

"You too?!" Derek shrieks. "Why are you two wet?! The sweat doesn't produce that fast..."

I almost puke my guts out. "We weren't...!!"

Bret silences me. "We were rehearsing on the green and then the sprinklers came on. No biggie."

Derek nods, even though he doesn't believe Bret at all. He's still hung up on the sex junk he thought we were doing.

"Well we can't film now that you two are soaking. Let's call it a day."

"We didn't do anything though!" I argue my case.

"You better have not," Rachel scolds.

"No I didn't mean that I meant we haven't filmed at all!"

"So you have-"

"No!" I scream. "Just forget it..."

"Can we go home now?" Bret asks.

"What so you can suck your girlfriend's face off?" I spit at him. Don't worry that's a figure of speech. No spit hits him, at least I don't think so. You know what they say, "Say it Don't Spray it!"

We start walking to the trailer so he turns his head to me. "Well some people actually have a life, unlike you."

My eyes turn into slits. That's coming back to bite him in the ass later.

"You should know of all people I have a life, one waiting for me in Oregon, which I can go to any fucking time I want."

"Guys shut up!" Rachel says in a demanding tone. "You two need to stop fighting. I've never seen you act like this before and I've witnessed your fights plenty of times."

"Well he severed our friendship pretty bad. In fact he severed it so bad there's no chance I'm ever forgiving him," I state. Something in Bret's expression changes. I ignore it and face Rachel.

"Taylor you don't need to be pointing fingers. I'm pretty sure you helped with the mess."

"No it was all my fault Rachel," Bret admits.

"Thank you! Gosh it wasn't so hard to just admit it..."

"By trying to protect her, I made it worse. She doesn't need to forgive me. I get that. I just hope one day she will."

Okay now he's talking bullshit. If he's trying to get to me, it's definitely not working. The warm fuzzy feeling in my chest is totally just an illusion! I glare even though his head is turned away. If he caught all the other stares I'm pretty sure he'll catch this one. This dude always knows what to say. He's tactful I'll give him that, but he has a long way before he can reach my heart again.

We get to the fitting room and I immediately grab my regular clothes and change as fast as humanly possible. Then I get out and Bret walks in. Once we are both finished and have all the make-up off and hair clips taken out, Rachel comes up from behind us and wraps her arms around our shoulders, squeezing us all together.

"See there you go! When you two get home I want you to work this problem out."

"I got a date," Bret and I blurt at the same time.

"You have a date?" He asks incredulously.

"Don't look so surprised Bret."

"I should be; there's not too many people who would go for a girl like you."

I scowl. "And you would know..."

"I would. I'm the expert with this stuff remember?"

"Whatever," I mumble.

Bret smirks. "I thought you had a whole stack of new comebacks."

"Well that was before. Now I have nothing. I don't waste my time on people like you."

"You did for the longest time."

"Because I thought you were better than this!"

He stays silent. After a few moments of awkward silence he says, "Did you know every time there's an awkward silence a gay baby is born?"

I roll my eyes."That's bullshit Bret."

"Did you also know Amanda and Jenna are step sisters?"

This gets me quiet. I turn my head to him. There's an unreadable expression on his face. It's like he's testing me or something.

"No I didn't. Now that I think about it though, they make a formidable team!" I'm saying it just to get on his nerves.

He sighs and shakes his head. "You don't know how right you are." Now he's confusing me. Why is he telling me this shit?

"Get in the car you two," Rachel commands. As soon as her arms have disappeared from our shoulders, Bret and I separate.

"I call shotgun!" I yell, but Rachel looks at me sternly.

"No one calls shotgun. You two are sitting in the back...together."

I moan. "I can't sit with this douche!"

"I've done nothing to you Taylor so calm the frick down! Can you manage that?! I think you need an anger management class or something because this isn't normal. No girl gets so worked up over nothing."

I scowl at Bret. "I wasn't talking to you was I? So sit your ass down in the car seat and play with your frickin dick for all I care."

"Okay this has gone too far children!! BOTH of you sit your asses in the back NOW!"

The silence is unsettling. I make my way towards the car door and open it before sliding into the seat. Bret does the same, fiddling with his thumbs as the uncomfortable quiet drowns us all. The only audible noise is the hum of the tires rotating on the asphalt road. If it wasn't for that we'd probably be able to hear an ant screaming.

I keep my distance as much as possible without seeming too suspicious. This moron may not know it, but I want to bash his head in with the tire rims on this car. We reach the house faster than I expected, probably because I was so deep in my thoughts. Bret steps out of the car without a word and paces to the house in long strides. The door slams shut in my face right before I can make it inside.

"You jerk!" I yell as I pound my fists on the wood.

"Calm down!" Rachel exclaims and sighs. "I don't understand it. You two seemed to click..."

"We never clicked. That's a bunch of bullshit."

"Language missy. I don't appreciate how you throw those words around so carelessly."

I wave her off with my hands. "I'll see you tomorrow Rachel. Night."

She sighs again. "Goodnight Taylor."