Second Chances

I’ve been here for about 3 months and I’m still trying to get used to how fast-faced it is. Today the crowd feels especially suffocating. If you had told me a year ago that I’d end up in LA and be in a music video for a popular band, I’d think you were crazy. Still, here I am, meeting my ex-roommate for a quick coffee before I head to the set. I look around the small cafe and, as usual, she’s late. I order a medium iced caramel latte and wait for my name to be called before sitting down at the a table facing the street. She eventually glides in and goes to the counter to order her usual iced cold brew. It isn’t until after she grabs her completed drink that she comes over to greet me. She sits after quickly kissing my cheek and squeezing my hands.

“Val, darling! I’m so busy we haven’t had any chance to talk lately. How are you?”

“I’m great Rei. I just wanted to thank you again for pulling strings to get me this job.”

“Oh please, sweetie. Embry will listen to whatever I tell him to do. I just expected him to have you do their album art since that’s within your skill set. He didn’t tell me he was considering having you act and model since you’re so..”

She trails off, sipping her cold brew.

“Hey, I didn’t expect him to ask either. I figured it was going to be you since you do everything for Bloodlust Angels.”

She laughs and waves away my statement.

“It’s really fine. You needed the work, right? Although, it’s not like you’re broke. The future has a lot in store for you darling. Including some love.”

She winks at me while taking my hand and turning it over to look at my palm.

“Yeah, no thanks. I’m not here for that. I just want to make a living off of doing what I love. No pressure, no stress, no complications.”

She smiles slyly at me as I pull my hand away from her.

“So if I were to tell you that a certain rock star was interested in you..?”

“Emerson? No way. Haven’t you like, claimed him?”

“Please, Embry and I have been best friends for way too long. He’s into you Val. Go for it!”

“Well aren’t you just the greatest wingman.”

She shrugs.

“It’s not like he sleeps with every woman he meets Val! Come on! He can be an asshole sometimes sure but deep down he’s a real sweetheart.”

I sigh as we stand and gather our stuff.

“Fine. If he brings it up or makes the first move then I’ll give it a try.”

She squeals and kisses my cheek goodbye. I head outside and drive to where the music video is being shot. Right away someone is doing my hair and another is putting smokey makeup on me. After everything is ready I’m moved on to change my clothes. I’m dressed in black skinny jeans, a black tank top, a cropped jacket, and boots.

“Alright Valentina, are you ready?”

The director pats me on the shoulder and I nod, my stomach twisting with anxiety.

“Don’t be nervous. Remember you can catch yourself on the fall but make it look real. You’ll need to spring back up once Jace speaks.”

I nod again and take a deep breath.

“Okay, rolling! Let’s try to get this all in one take!”

I walk out in front of the cameras and down the sidewalk. I keep my head down as I bump into someone and fall to the ground. I stick my hands out to catch myself and pain shoots up from my wrist. I grit my teeth but stay focused.

“Jesus christ. Did I hit a brick wall or was that someone in my fucking way?”

I look up to see the tattooed hand, offered out to help me, drop.

“Wow. What a bitch. Don’t help her up.”

I raise an eyebrow and look up.

“Oh my god! You’re Jace Marsh! I’m so sorry!”

I jump up and dust myself off. I pull out my phone as I apologize to the man.

“Can I have a picture? I love Midnight Heart Cult!”

“Uh, sure? Thank you for your support.”

I pose with Jace and fake take a few pictures, completely ignoring the man he was with.

“Shut the fuck up, you’re so loud.”

He gently grabs my wrist and pulls me down the sidewalk with Jace following behind.

“Let me go you fucker.”

We stop and he lets go, throwing his hands up. Jace comes to stand next to me, careful not to block the cameras.

“Why’d you drag her along? No offense hun.”

Jace smiles and I put on a starry-eyed look.

“Oh it’s fine Jace Marsh.”

“You can just call me Jace.”

“She was being loud and I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be bothered by any fans today. This whole friendly thing is cute but you’re a bitch and I’m not going to waste my time standing here chatting.”

“Shut your whore mouth Hill.”

Jace’s eyes widen at what I just said. The script is brutal but Emerson wrote it himself. They took a long time to convince me this was okay. Emerson even had to come tell me he wouldn’t take it to heart and that it’s just for the music video. Still, it’s kind of scary. Emerson isn’t the friendliest person from what I’ve heard, and even less so when someone is rude to him.

“Uh, Embry… We should go.”

“What did you say to me, you dumb bitch?”

I shrug at Emerson’s growing irritation. Jace flags down the hired taxi as I answer.

“You heard me, Emerson. Or did all those drugs go to your head?”

I’ve been a fan of Emerson and Jace for a long time, so I knew about Emerson’s temper. Even if it’s just for show, he looks like he’s about to explode. I wasn’t exactly keen on bringing up his past drug abuse but again, he wrote the script himself. Jace shoves me into the taxi before getting in between me and Emerson.

“Um, I have somewhere to be.”

“Please, woman, be quiet for 10 minutes.”

“Am I being kidnapped?”

“For the love of all things, SHUT UP. Please. I don’t want to witness a murder.”

I close my mouth at Jace’s raised voice and glance over at Emerson, who’s clench-fist staring at me.

“CUT! Valentina, darling, that was perfect! The fear on your face looked so real!”

I’m slightly trembling as we all get out the the taxi. The director comes over to pat me on the back. I mumble under my breath as I walk away.

“That’s because it was..”

As Jace walks past me he gives me a thumbs up. Embry just smiles and winks.

“Alright! We’re filming this last part at Emerson’s place just up the road. Please be careful. The shot will pick up with Sterling unlocking the front door. Valentina, there’s a platform just like in rehearsal so don’t be scared. Let’s wrap this up today!”

It takes maybe 20 minutes to set everything up. Jace unlocks the front door, staying between Embry and I. As soon as we get inside Embry lunges forward, ready to kill. I shriek and hide behind Jace.

“Embry, calm down. Think for a second..”

“Get the fuck out of my way.”

“That’s not going to happen. Calm down..”

I grab onto the back of Jace’s shirt.

“L-listen, I’m sorry. This is all just a-“

“Bitch, I don’t fucking care. Stop being a pussy. Where was all that shit you were talking earlier?”

Embry tries to step around Jace but he’s too quick.

“I know there are rumors but you wouldn’t actually hit a woman, would you?”

Embry laughs, a bit psychotically.

“You might be the exception.”

“Please Embry, I’m so sorry.”

“Keep my name out of your fucking mouth.”

“We can work through this without violence.”

“The fuck we can.”

Embry punches Jace and his hands are wrapped around my throat in an instant. I step up onto the platform so it looks like he’s holding me up against the wall and off my feet. He’s squeezing a little too tight though, making my eyes water. Panic spreads throughout my body and suddenly I’m no longer acting, My hands pull at Embry’s, trying to at least get him to loosen his grip. Jace jumps up from the floor, trying to pull Embry away from me. He shrugs Jace off like he’s nothing. Jace glances at my face and registers my panic.

“Emerson, dude, you’re hurting her!”

Embry momentarily stiffens before loosening his grip a little. It’s easier to breathe but black dots still obscure my vision.

“Emerson! Let her go!”

“Fine.”

He lets go and I fall off the platform onto my knees, holding my throat and trying to stay conscious.

“Dude!”

“Cut! That was perfect! A fucking masterpiece!”

Jace kneels at my side and rubs my back as the staff around us ignores me.

“Emerson, what the fuck! Were you actually trying to kill her? Your grip was way too tight! You’re okay, breathe deep, in and out.”

“It had to look real and it definitely wasn’t that tight.”

The world around me spins and Jace helps me get the the couch.

“Can someone get me a water please?”

A staff member hands Jace a bottle. He opens it and brings it to my mouth. My throat burns as I drink. My ears ring as I close my eyes to try to stop the world from spinning.

“Valentina? Are you okay?”

“She’s fine! Just needs to take a few deep breaths.”

“I didn’t ask you Emerson. Seriously, you almost killed your groupie.”

“Come on Sterling, I said sorry.”

“No, actually you didn’t.”

I grab onto Jace’s arm as I lay set my head on my knees.

“Can you two shut the fuck up for a second? I feel like I’m going to pass out and you guys arguing is not helping. You were holding my throat too tight but it was also a trauma reaction, so, fuck you very much.”

Embry kneels next to me as Jace continues rubbing my back.

“Okay, I’m really sorry Valentina. Do you want to go lay down in the guest room? Or my room?”

“Emerson! Now is not the time!”

“I think it’s the perfect time.”

Jace scolds Embry as they help me upstairs to the spare room. I lay down as they leave to help clean up.