% CHAPTER 38 %

"We're actors," Taylor blurts out loud at the table.

Everyone stares at us two in confusion. Goodness, we are just not good at explaining things. After Gwen left, we were trying to figure out the best ways to bring out the news that we were actors, but no good ideas came into mind. I thought we were going to put more thought into it, but Taylor already blurted it out. Now no one believes us.

"Actors?" Vic asks slowly. "Are you sure?"

I guess the best thing to do now is go with the flow. I've always been more of a "go with the flow" type guy anyways. I should take over though before Taylor has a nervous breakdown and dies of trying to explain things.

"Yup. Taylor and I are starring in a movie. We're really not supposed to tell anyone so it doesn't go around and stuff until the previews show on tv but we really trust you guys and we didn't want you guys to be mad at us when you saw the previews and had no idea," I tell them. "Hopefully it's not too hard to take in."

"Well it sure brings up a lot of questions," Isaac mutters. "Who else knows?"

"Well Whit has been knowing because I've known her since before my acting career even started, but other than that its just the movie cast and crew. Oh yeah and Amanda Shorack."

Hurt flashes in the groups eyes. I knew this would be the reaction to that. "You told Amanda before us?"

I shake my head rigorously. "No not at all! Her sister is starring in the movie so Amanda knew about it that way."

"Oh," Jake responds. "Anyone else?"

Taylor and I look at each other. We already discussed not to tell them about Gwen's little accidental discovery. It's best not to tell them Gwen knew because then it would arouse a lot of suspicion, like how she found out and explaining that would just make things a little more complicated. Then we would end up spilling everything, including Taylor and I's relationship status.

"No," we say simultaneously.

"Kay, cool," Aaron says slowly.

A growing awkward silence takes hold of the table. Oh no. This isn't good. If it lasts more than four seconds, a gay baby will be born. Actually, that's not anything bad I guess. I don't want to sound like I'm discriminating. I'm just saying that things are getting awkward at the table. How about that?

It feels as if the air in the cafeteria is being sucked out of the atmosphere. I don't realize I'm holding my breath until Taylor nudges me on the shoulder, causing me to exhale. Wow, that was longer than I expected it to be.

"So are you two even cousins?" Connie asks out of curiosity. Now another truth will be revealed.

"No," Taylor replies. "I don't even know how the doofus came up with that fib."

"I got put in the spotlight okay?!" I say, holding my hands up in mock surrender. "I never was good at improv."

Taylor rolled her eyes. Obviously she isn't impressed with my excuse. I thought it was pretty good. I mean I really suck at theatre improve. It's where you have to pretty much make up your lines as you go based on the current conversation. That's just not my scene. I don't get paid to make up lines. I get paid to read the script and be on television. I never really needed improvisation skills.

"So now its safe to say that you two actually can date." Isaac winks at the table and our friends start agreeing with him.

No one misses the fact that Taylor's cheeks are as red as tomatoes. She made it pretty evident by trying to turn away her face so no one could see it as well. The girls all coo while the boys laugh. I just whistle to myself and try to pretend like I don't see patent splash of red on her face.

"Aw look, she's blushing!" Vic croons.

Taylor puts her hand over her mouth to clear her throat, trying to divert everyone from her flushed face. It obviously isn't working, but I honestly wish I could make her believe it was just so I could see that adorable lip bite of hers. We both turn our heads back to the group once everything is settled down.

"You two would just be the cutest couple," Connie says with a smile.

Gwen smiles faintly at the end of the table. I bet she's thinking how ironic all of this is. Everyone is telling us to be a couple because we would be a good couple, but we are a couple already. That is actually pretty ironic. Too bad no one else can see the irony in it. If they knew though, it wouldn't be ironic anymore. I catch the little wink Gwen sends to Taylor, who gives a curt nod before proceeding to act as if this conversation wasn't affecting her.

Listening to my friends rant about all this though, I suddenly do want to tell everyone about our relationship status, but Gwen said to wait. I also don't want to rush everyone into all of this. Just learning this new acting thing must be hard to take in. How many people can actually say they know someone who is going to be the main character of a big hit movie? Not many. It's just best to stick with the plan. We decided to save the "big news" for the beach.

Wow, they are just so interested in our love lives. I can just picture Victoria being an obsessive One Direction fan. She really looks the type. Luckily, Whit comes to my girlfriend's rescue on the whole couple issue.

"Aren't you guys interested in what movie they're starring in?!" She shrieks.

She receives looks from all over the cafeteria. Death glares come from Victoria and Connie. They really were engrossed in getting Taylor and I together. I guess it wasn't that much of a save, considering the fact that the whole cafeteria is staring, including two very angry girls aka obsessive Braylor fans (Bret and Taylor, get it?). "Keep your voice down Whit," I growl.

"Sorry Pimp." She gives a sheepish smile. "Yeah you're the Pimp now I changed my mind. I wanna be a bitch."

Everyone at the table looks at us weirdly. I stifle a laugh. If only they knew the half of it. The possibilities of the way they perceived that are endless. Hopefully they were... clean.

"So what's the movie?" Jake asks, curling his fingers around Vic's. Aw, how cute.

"It's called Love Sighting," Taylor replies.

"It's a chick flick," I add with a frown.

"What are your roles?"

"They're the main ones. A boy and a girl who are lovers."

"Aw! How adorable!" Vic squeals.

"Yeah but the name... That's got to be changed. No one is gonna watch a movie with such a stupid name. Tell your professor that," Isaac states.

Suddenly, everyone at the table is confused. "Professor?" I ask.

"Yeah, your mentor or somethin; the one who directs the play."

"The director?" Taylor asks bluntly.

"Fuck it..." Isaac says with a frown. I can see Taylor is holding back her laugh. She should laugh. I love her laugh.

"Okay...well guys just remember. You can't tell anyone this at all. We'd like to keep it in the down low." I say.

Whit takes that as an opportunity to be her weird self. "Keep it in the down low?"

"Yes..." What the heck?

"Down low to the floor?"

"Yes..." I repeat, what the heck?

"Floor to the low down?"

"Huh?" What. The. Heck?!

"Let me hear you scream yeah!"

"What..."

"The fuck," Connie finishes off.

Then the bell rings and lunch is over. I shake my head of all the confusion. It's best not to dwell too long on anything Whitney Audet says. You will become insane. She's just a weird soul. Still, who knew it would get so weird?

$_$_$_$

After school, Rachel picks us up and we head out to the movie set to do our next scene. I'm smiling as we ride in the car, feeling a little better about myself now that my friends know a little more about my hectic life. They don't even know half, but it still feels good to let out a little more of the secrets. I've never been a fan of secrets. I like to know that I can trust people.

"Ugh I just can't wait until the beach!" Taylor notes.

The smile on my face becomes even bigger as soon as I set my eyes on her. Her blonde hair is pulled up in a messy bun. Her cool blue eyes are just so captivating in every single way. I reach over and pinch her on the arm.

"Yeah you need the sun," I joke, knowing she'll have a little temper.

Taylor smacks my arm. "Oh shut it!"

"No I'm kidding. You're perfection."

She gives me a small smile before saying, "Far from it."

She then begins to fiddle with her thumbs and I turn away from her to look at the scenery out the window. I'm being truthful though. She really is perfection, even though she doesn't realize it just yet. I close my eyes and listen to the hum of the tires. It's so peaceful. I start grabbing my stuff once we pass Hollywood Hill. Then Rachel turns onto a new road and its only a few more minutes until we reach the set. Derek greets us outside, opening the car door for Taylor.

"Thank you good Sir," she retorts.

"Welcome back lovebirds," he says with a wink.

We both laugh as if it's the funniest joke on Earth. The funny thing is we are lovebirds now, in the movie and in reality. This whole day is just filled with irony. Thank you Gwen.

"Yeah its good to be home." I smile and breath in the Hollywood air, already feeling it calm down my anxiety. Wherever there's acting, there's peace, unless you're starring in a movie with Taylor Bradwick. Your first few weeks, no, months, will be as if bombs were exploding in your eardrums. Thank goodness she couldn't read minds. I'd be six feet under right about now.

"Cone on, let's go!" Taylor tugs on my arm to pull me towards the set.

"Wow you two are extremely quiet and comfortable with each other today. Are you guys doing well?"

"Couldn't be better," I reply.

"Well that's good. I guess I won't be needing these." Derek pulls out a pack of earplugs and throws them in a nearby trashcan. "Now off to make the number one romance movie of the generation!"

$_$_$_$

"So we've gotten some feedback from a group of friends who said the name Love Sighting for a romance movie is horrible. Bret and I have agreed and we think you should change it. I mean no one is going to want to watch a movie called Love Sighting. It sounds dumb and childish. It's not catchy enough."

"You two agreed to something?!" Derek asks in amazement. We both nod. "But you never agree on anything!" Is that all he caught from what Taylor said?

We are chilling at OJ's Smoothies. The smoothies are actually really great. I think I'm going to go more often. After we finished up our scene, Derek decided to take us out to this place because he liked our companionship on the scene we had today. He also had a coupon. Now how gay does that sound?

"Well this was worth agreeing upon."

I shrug. There is so much even Derek doesn't know about our lives. We haven't told him about our relationship. We don't want it getting out. Taylor and I have decided not to spill about our relationship because it might result to unwanted drama. We've had too much drama to last us a lifetime. Now we just want peace.

Hopefully peace isn't asking for too much.