← Previous Chapter: Chapter 17 /|\ Next Chapter → Chapter 19 When Andrew calls ‘cut’ the final time and holds up a thumb, I heave a sigh of relief. I may have filmed my share of kissing scenes, but that doesn’t make them an enjoyable experience. Usually I get lost in the choreography of where to place my hands, how to angle my head, all while behaving as the character requires. But, on occasion, I’m dragged out of what’s going on in my head, when an overeager partner decides to ‘infuse a bit more of themselves into it…for realism.’ Very much like today. Despite the fact that I have only had one real kiss in my life, because I’m certainly counting that brief brush with Briony as a kiss, I know it was the best kiss I’ve ever experienced. It still conjures feelings unlike anything I’ve experienced before, so there isn’t a single other person I’d rather spend my kisses on. Which is why, despite resenting the attempt to break me out of character so that the scene would require a reshoot, for the sake of expediency, I endured it. Other than a few brief words between takes to let Amelia know I did not approve of her heavy handed tactics, I just got on with it. “That was bang on you two!” Andrew crows as he approaches us. “Amelia, darling, the kiss was a bit aggressive at first, but as Nick tamed it, it played really well into the story from what we know of the characters. So, we’ve got it.” I’m looking forward to scrubbing my mouth when I get back to the van, and eating one of the delightful pomegranate and peach sweets Briony keeps stocked for such occasions. Yet, Amelia frowns, putting her hands up to her reddened cheeks. “Really? Don’t you think we should get a few more takes, just to be certain we’ve got it?” Looking her in the eye, I quietly, but firmly shake my head in response. “No. Trust the process, and in future, follow the lead of your acting partner. While actors may keep silent, fearing the truth may be poorly received when we express concerns over these things, as time goes on, you may find the well of those willing to work with you will shrink,” I add. “As it has today.” Without awaiting a response, I start towards Alfie at the edge of the nearby crowd. Most of the onlookers already have pens and posters out, so I know it’s going to be a few minutes of signing autographs before I can leave. However, I’m stopped when Andrew rests a hand on my shoulder. “Excellent work today, Nicholas. I have a couple of notes for you on tomorrow’s shoot.” As they often did when I had a break today, my eyes travel the short distance to the dock where Briony has been watching. However, unlike every other time this afternoon, she isn’t looking at me. She’s barely on her feet when her foot slips and she falls, hitting her head on the side of the dock as she tumbles into the water. “BRIONY!” I shout as everything stops, the air freezing in my lungs. Pulling off my shoes, my feet are suddenly in motion, and in three steps, I’ve leapt off the pier into the cold water. No! No! No! As I cut through the water towards the dock, my heart is beating so rapidly, I can’t hear or see anything else. Getting to Briony is the only thing that matters. Diving through the clear water, I scan the area, and when I don’t see her, I come up for air. The world around me looks blurry, and I realize I’ve lost my contact lenses. Still, with no time to waste, I dive once more, and doing another sweep to the right, I finally see Briony drifting with the current, arms outstretched, about 15 feet below me. When I reach her, I hook an arm under her shoulders and drag her to the surface. By the time I reach the dock, Alfie is there, completely stone faced as he easily lifts her out of the water. She’s unnaturally still, and there’s a cut surrounded by a large purple knot on the side of her head. “She’s not breathing,” I grate out, pulling myself out of the water, as panic courses through me. Alfie lays her unresponsive body on the dock, and kneeling beside her, I tilt her head back, pinch her nose and give her five rescue breaths. Her lips are cold, and when there’s no response, ignoring the tears that spring to my eyes, I begin chest compressions. “Come on, Briony. You can’t leave me, this way,” I say hoarsely. “Come on, love.” After a few tense moments, she violently lurches up, coughing up a mouthful of water. Pushing her onto her side, I rub her back as she splutters, trying to suck in lungfuls of air. “Oh, thank God!” I exhale shakily, nearly collapsing from relief. “Briony!” Alfie calls after the coughing abates. “Are you in pain anywhere?” Briony weakly looks back and forth between us, her doe like eyes widened in terror as she locks on mine. “My head,” she rasps before falling into another fit of coughing. When her coughs seem to abate, I lean over her. “Hold on to me, love.” Gathering her in my arms, I slowly stand as the dock rocks beneath my feet. “Have the set medic meet us at the van,” I say to Alfie as I walk by. He immediately rushes ahead of me to get the staff doctor. Carefully climbing the stone steps to the street, I storm through a group of onlookers with their phones out. I don’t care how it looks, now isn’t the time or place to entertain fans. We’re only a couple of meters from the camper, when Briony whispers, “That doesn’t count.” I glance down to see her teeth chattering as she clings to me. Trembling between coughs, her eyes drift closed. I need to get her warmed up as soon as possible. “What? What doesn’t count, love?” “That—” Briony hoarsely grumbles. “That’s not our first kiss.” I shake my head as I look down at her, curled against my chest. She nearly died and she wants to joke around. “I agree,” I respond tightly as we reach the van. Opening the door with one hand, I stoop to climb in as I hold Briony in my other arm, and swing the door shut behind us. Sitting on the vinyl lounge sofa with her in my lap, I work quickly in the dim light coming through the tinted windows to remove her chef’s jacket, leaving her black tank top on. Wrapping her in a blanket I pull from the back of the sofa, I try to rub her dry. Now that I’m relieved she’s alive, I’m left with all of this adrenaline. “How could you just fall in when you know you can’t swim, Briony?” I quietly grumble. It’s completely unreasonable, but as the grave nature of the situation hits me, I’m shaky with fear. I could have lost her. “I’m from Brooklyn. I can do anything,” she deadpans with a shudder, her eyes still closed. She hasn’t stopped shivering, and before I can respond, she asks, “Are you, ok, Nick?” Reaching down, I pull off her boots and socks, and begin drying her feet. “Why wouldn’t I be?” I respond, my voice sounding rough to my own ears as I return to rubbing the warmth back into her arms. “You’re the one that fell in a lake knowing full well that you can’t swim!” The color is beginning to return to her blue lips, and they turn up at the corners as she lifts the blanket to wipe my face. At that moment, I feel the cold drops of water running from my hair down my neck. My wool pants are itchy, and my shirt is clinging to my back. I blink, in shock, as I realize I’m just as soaked as she is. “Blimey, that water was cold wasn’t it?” I manage to get out. This time, Briony’s dimples pop as she smiles. “You..you saved me.” “I guess that means you belong to me, now.” I stare back at her, suddenly feeling quite warm. And, when she doesn’t look away, I sway towards her. Bang! We look up sharply when the camper door is flung wide open, spilling the afternoon sunshine across our huddled figures. In steps Alfie, followed by the medic, who eagerly looks about the camper. “This here is Martin,” Alfie says, hooking a thumb toward the young red haired fellow in a green smock. “Glad you’re here, Martin.” I nod, shaking his hand. Martin nods, trying to keep the excitement from his voice. “Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bancroft, and…Mrs…Bancroft?” Briony coughs, and I frown as I rub her back. “This is Briony. She’s just had a rough go in the lake. We performed rescue breaths and, when she remained unresponsive, we also performed about three or four chest compressions before she revived.” Martin nods as he sits his physician bag on the table, pulling out a mini oxygen tank and a mask. “Right, well, let’s get you checked out, then…” He turns back toward us, but when he just stands there, I frown up at him as he begins rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ll just need you to put her down, Mr. Bancroft.” All eyes swing to me as I blink at him. Briony nudges me. “Oh, right…of course,” I mutter, as I stand, placing her on the sofa. Stepping out of the way so Martin can get by, Alfie and I anxiously wait for him to begin. Martin puts an oxygen mask on her, and begins his examination, before turning to me and Alfie. “Would you two gentleman mind stepping outside?” “No problem,” Alfie replies, as I say, “I’m not going anywhere.” Alfie chuckles and excuses himself as Martin explains he needs to get her out of her wet clothes, and listen to her lungs. “I’m sorry, it’s a matter of propriety, Mr. Bancroft.” “Nick can stay,” Briony rasps, staring at her hands in her lap. Martin shrugs, and as he begins helping her remove her wet pants, I quickly turn towards the bed. I can still hear Martin questioning Briony as I take my dry clothes into the washroom, shuffle out of the ruined costume, setting it in the sink before quickly toweling off. Pulling on my white shorts and green knit polo, I fetch another towel and return to the lounge. Briony is already bundled in the blanket, so after wrapping her
