Under the Lights by Dahlia Adler

pulls me close and kisses me, just as the script demands. I tell myself to imagine it’s Zander’s mouth on mine, but that’s not helping me muster up the enthusiasm I need. Especially since I’m all too aware of Brianna’s laser-green eyes on me, imagining those lips in their naturally smug curve—
    I don’t even realize I’ve opened my mouth until I get the strong, sharp taste of cinnamon on my tongue, and I shove him away. I’m grateful we’re still in mid-scene, because I know Josh would be grinning at me like a wolf if we weren’t, sure I’d succumbed to his charms, ignorant of the fact that I’d forgotten I was kissing him at all. But he’s Luke now, not Josh, and his face flashes with hurt and confusion and heat instead.
    â€œYou want me,” he says determinedly. “I know you do. And you may think you want Monroe, but he’ll never kiss you like I do. So before you decide to toss me aside for that surf bum, you better be sure you’re okay with losing what you’re giving up.” One more hard kiss, and then he walks out.
    Cut.
    Everyone seems pretty pleased with the scene, but of course, we have to film it again. We get backinto place, and as we do, I catch a glimpse of Brianna standing next to an empty chair, thumbs tucked into the belt loops of her denim miniskirt, jaw clenched tight until she notices me noticing her.
    If I didn’t know better, I’d say she wasn’t all that thrilled with that scene.
    And for some reason, that gets me excited to do it all over again.

    â€œYou and Josh have some pretty crazy chemistry,” Carly observes as the two of us walk back to the trailer we share once filming is done for the day. “Is this one of those things where you guys pretend to hate each other when you’re actually totally in love?”
    I snort. “Trust me when I say there are no positive feelings between me and Josh, unless you count that he throws good parties. That, I’ll give him.”
    As if just talking about him summoned the devil, I feel a hand clap me on the shoulder, and turn to see another one land on Carly’s. “Ladies,” Josh says genially.
    â€œLord Douchington,” I reply with a nod of my head. “Don’t you think you’ve touched me enough today?” I pry his fingers from my shoulder. “What do you want?”
    He grins, not remotely affected by any of my insults, which doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. “Actually, I have a question for you.” He nods toward my half of the trailer. “May I?”
    â€œIf the question is whether I’ll sleep with you, the answer is going to be vomit on your shoes. I’m warning you now.”
    Carly laughs and flutterwaves goodbye as she disappears into her half, and I reluctantly let Josh in tomine. “What is it?” I sit down at the mirror and douse some cotton balls in makeup remover, anxious to get this crap off my face.
    He coughs. “I…I need your help with something.”
    â€œIf you think I’m gonna run lines with you right now, after all the ad-libbing you did in there, you’re crazy.”
    â€œOh, please—like my lines weren’t a thousand times better than the cheesy shit they write for us. But no, this has nothing to do with the show. This is more assistance of the…parental-pleasing variety. As in, I have no idea how to, and I kind of need to. At dinner. Tonight.”
    He looks so convinced that this is something I actually have vast experience in that I almost feel bad laughing at his face in the mirror. Almost. “Oh, you’re serious,” I say after a minute, wiping my eyes. “Josh, if I was capable of pleasing parents, trust me, I’d be doing it. My parents think I’m just as much of a waste of space as yours probably do.”
    â€œYou?” He snorts. “What’s your parents’ issue? Were you five minutes