When the Heart Soars Into Forbidden Territories (Short Story)

Since 2011, I haven't written another short story for whatever reason or another (my first can be read here) but I decided to change that for the new year. Thankfully, I accomplished my goal (three months in, but, hey, it still counts) and here is the finished product; a romantic drama about two Hollywood actors where one fell in love, while for the other...it was just a job.

Enjoy (and, yes, the title and intro are purposely written to resemble a cheesy, soap-opera production)!

When The Heart Soars Into Forbidden Territories

By 

Luke Abbott 

The setting sun turned the once blue sky into a vibrant orange hue, and brought the sand on a vacant beach to prickling life with a golden sheen.

    Just above stood a beach house, and on its firm oak deck positioned towards the beach stood two figures; a man, and a woman, locked in an embrace. The gentle wind allowed the female's hair to be free from her tangles, allowing the male's fingers to weave their way across her perfectly shaped dome, and massage the smooth texture of her skin.

    The woman, her arms around his waist, asked, No, pleaded; “Why, Richard? Why do you go? Do not leave me.”

    “I must, Frederica” said Richard, “I'm not from your world, or your culture, though I so desperately wish to be”

    “Then do so” begged Frederica, “for if you leave I will surely die. My father wishes me to marry Roberto, but my heart lies with you.”

    As she spoke these words, her dark, passionate eyes began to well up with tears. Richard brought her face towards his; “as does mine for you.”

    Gazing into one another's eyes, and feeling the hotness of their breath, their lips touched once, twice, and opened up on the third. Their bodies pressed against each other, their hands gripping for anything they can hold on to, and running up in between themselves.

    They wanted this, no point in resisting, no point in anything but them, together, their forbidden, fiery love. Nothing would stop this, nothing could stop this, and, for a moment, everything felt right in their little, perfect world.

    “And...CUT!!”

The once silent set was now brimming with life, as production members, assistants and all manner of other personnel made a lot of noise, jotting down notes, retouching sets, the works. The atmosphere around became one of a controlled burst; bodies dashing across the room, and making sure not to bump into each other. It would be a while before they would grow silent, until then, it was business and nothing but.

    “Great work, kids” said Harvey Grossman, the director. “I think that'll make the cut. Audrey, you were fantastic, I forgot I was the director for a second there.”

    “Well, you know” said Audrey Stiles, the “Frederica” in question, and returning to her original American accent. “I like to get into my characters”

    “No kidding” said Scott Spears, aka Richard. “We haven't had the chance to rehearse that scene. I was a little worried, to be honest.”

    “You both did great.” chipped in Harvey, “Now, take a break, and we'll get back to you on the next scene, if we're going forward.”

    “Excuse me, Mr Grossman? Its Mr. Schwartzky on the phone”, said an assistant.

    “Thanks, I'll take it. Jar, what's sup?” Harvey excused himself with the phone call, while Scott and Audrey's assistants attended to the huge stars; removing expensive costumes, and replacing them with finely sewn dressing gowns.

    Audrey couldn't help but take a quick glance at her co-star. He was the very definition of a man; square jawed, short and sensible haircut, and facial features not tarnished by Hollywood's obsession with the perfect look. He was gifted with pleasant features. It also helped that he looked after his body by taking part in extensive, physical exercises, which he had no choice as in between shooting this Scott was needed for an action adventure flick, one that many believed would skyrocket his career to super stardom.

    Audrey was proud for him, but also a little broken hearted. She would be lying to herself if she said she'd never thought about him as anything more than an acquaintance. He was handsome, funny and well off, with the world at his fingertips. Named sexiest man alive by a number of media outlets, and being involved with many charities, is it any wonder Scott Spears was sought after by many women? His humble nature would make him the perfect husband, and father.

    Its a shame somebody else beat Audrey to the punch.

    “How about dinner?” asked Scott, casting Audrey out of her fantasy.

    “Huh?” That was all Audrey could muster.

    “Dinner. You want some? I'm starving. I think we're still within the time zone.” Scott checked his watch. “Just about time. What do you say”

    “Love to, but I can't. 'Gotta go over these lines”. That was the only realistic excuse Audrey could think of, without it sounding like she was avoiding him, which she was.

    “I don't think I've known anyone who works as hard as you.” said Scott. “You should switch off at least once, though. All that revising can't be good for that brain. You'll overload with too much info.” Scott made an explosive hand gesture around his head, and his own sound effect to match.

    Audrey smiled. “It hasn't happened yet.” She wasn't budging. “Besides, I don't think your wife would appreciate you seeing another famous face around town.” As soon as she said those words she regretted them.

    She was being difficult. She knew it, and she was pretty sure Scott knew it, but it didn't bother him, or at least he never showed it. That was just like Scott, always the professional, always keeping a straight face. Audrey admired that about him, among other things, of course.

    Scott laughed at the remark. “What's the point of trust if you can't see a friendly face from time to time? You should see the amount of guy friends my wife sees. Really, Audrey, its no problem.”

    Audrey felt her face blushing. She so wanted to take him up on the offer, but her thoughts and feelings continued to battle within her. To be honest, she didn't trust herself.

    She turned him down again, and as predicted reassured her things were fine, and suggested another time. She didn't say anything to that, just smiled. She took her script, and walked into her trailer where she locked the door, and proceeded to break down.

On her knees, her face in her hands, and tears streaming down like the great Niagara falls, Audrey's psyche had finally had enough. Its one thing to share a scene together in a cheesy soap opera, but its another when they invite you to dinner. The man is married, with kids, and he openly talks about relationships with other people? Like it means nothing?

    To be fair, it was a friendly conversation between two friends. Scott probably wanted to further discuss their scenes together, and the environment of a world class restaurant would've been the perfect distraction. It was a harmless gesture, nothing more.

    Of course, if Scott had known how Audrey felt about him he'd probably not have bothered, or, knowing him, he still would've, keeping the peace and all that.

    Audrey liked him the moment she met him, but as all innocent fancies start it grew into full blown infatuation. She thought about him everyday, dreamt about him almost nightly about living a life forever shared with this perfect gentleman. Hell, he was the reason she agreed to have anything to do with this dreadful production, now she was suffering for it.

    The day his wife and kid visited was the worst day of her life, as it was the day she finally worked up the courage to ask him out on a date, and hopefully taking it somewhere further. The fact that he never mentioned them before bothered her, or that he never wore his ring either. The only time they ever saw each other was during scenes, as lovers caught in a forbidden romance. It only made sense to remove his ring, for authenticity's sake.

    She damned herself for not acting on her feelings sooner, maybe she would've been spared the pain and humiliation of shaking hands with the woman who had everything. Of course Scott introduced them, he was that guy; a charming individual, who resented a thick air of awkwardness.

    Too late, thought Audrey. Way too late.

    She sobbed uncontrollably. All these emotions suppressed inside her finally burst open, and spilled out everywhere in her trailer. Thankfully she was alone, she hated to make a scene. Would you believe it? An actress who doesn't want to make a big deal out of herself? But its true. Audrey would rather stay in her trailer and get all her emotions out if it meant not making a fuss, not revealing her current state of mind. Easier said than done.

    She dreaded being called back to do another scene with Scott. All those wounds reopened, while she tries hard to keep them stored within. It isn't professional to fall in love with your co-star. All the gossip magazines and paparazzi would have a field day, and Audrey didn't want to do that to Scott or his family. She'd been through it before in the past, she knew how it felt. Some reveled in it, any publicity is good publicity, right? No, it isn't. Not when marriages are at stake. It was a hard lesson for Audrey to learn.

    A knock at her trailer door.

    “Miss Stiles?” It was one of the assistants.

    “Yes?” answered Audrey, sniffing and fighting back tears. “What is it?”

    “You're needed back on set. Mr. Grossman wants to go over a few things with you.”

    “Okay, I'll be a minute.”

    Satisfied, the assistant left and an overbearing terror crept over Audrey.

    Harvey needs me? For what? If Harvey needed to see her, then he'll more than likely have Scott with him as well. That's how it always went down with him.

    New tears poured down her rosy cheeks. She had her make up on, of course. She figured she'd be needed for a scene, and had prepared to face it but now that the moment was here she feared it. Clearly, she had been lying to herself.

    Why did she agree to this? Because she didn't know any better, and now there was no backing out. She had signed a contract, or, how she felt, turned over her soul, to say she would be part of this. She had regrets, and through it all she wondered if Scott ever felt the same about her? Or was it all just business for him? She'd never know because she'd never asked. How could she? That would go down well, wouldn't it? Scott would laugh in that charming “oh, you're so precious” kind of way, give his answer, which more than likely would've been No, and that would be the end of it. No more discussions, no more embarrassments, except there already was. It was slightly condescending on him, not that Audrey thought about it, but it was just the way he was. He liked to avoid confrontations of that sort because he was married, or because he couldn't control himself either?

    Audrey finally made a move. She grabbed the handle of the door but couldn't turn it. She was stopping herself.

    Taking in a deep sigh, she went for another attempt then she saw her own reflection in the mirror.

    She was a mess. The tears had streaked her mascara, and laid like a crooked road map across her face. Her rosy complexion ruined by the black spawn of snakes spread about her famous cheeks. There was symbolism here, it wasn't lost on her and it was staring Audrey right in the face.

    She couldn't go out like that, like those drama queen's of old. Painting their faces like a child's twisted nightmare, because they either couldn't get their way or their heads were so screwed up from all the manner of drugs passed around the inner circles their ego's finally caved. Audrey hated them during her acting classes. She found them repulsive, and now she had become one of them.

    Her eyes stung thanks to the mixture of her tears and chemicals. She wiped them away with the sleeve of her dressing gown, and instead of feeling relief felt more horror; not only was her face now smeared, but so was the sleeve. How would she explain this to the make-up department?

    As she stared at the face she thought she knew, of a woman who was once so independent and strong, now a slave to the system that many an anarchist talked about. She decided what her answer would be.

    She would tell them nothing.

    Audrey aggressively wiped the rest of the monstrous mask off, with the very dressing gown she had worn. She would tell them all absolutely nothing.

The assistant returned, “Miss Stiles?” They said, knocking on the door once more. “Its been fifteen minutes. Is everything okay?”

    The assistant opened the door. It was unlocked.

    Surveying the area, the assistant saw the inside was nicer, less messy than most Hollywood trailers. Miss Stiles obviously liked to be neat, and tidy. Then the assistant saw it.

    The extremely cushiony, extremely expensive white dressing gown lying on the floor next to a smeared mirror. It was make-up, and there was more on the sleeve of the gown, with no sign of Miss Stiles.

    Great, thought the assistant. Just great.

Audrey roared down the studio lot, and out onto the busy Los Angeles streets ahead, piping her horn and wooing at the top of her lungs.

    She never felt so alive. Her decision to leave the studio in such a manner was very abrupt, and not at all like her, but she couldn't have stayed in there for much longer. She just couldn't. She had to get out. No doubt everyone would be mad at her for leaving so suddenly; the producers who hired her, Harvey Grossman, a director you don't want to cross, and Scott Spears, Mr. Freaking Wonderful himself. Mr. Professional, Mr. I was married with a kid, and didn't tell anyone or wore a ring to indicate such.

    That environment was damaging her. She probably never would work with them again, or in this town for that matter, and if that be the case then so be it.

    She purposely left her phone behind, they'd be ringing it none stop. She could afford a new one, it was no problem. Come to think of it, there were no more problems, none at all.

    Audrey put her foot on the pedal, hard, and stormed out of this poisonous life. Moving forwards, not looking back.

    For the first time in a long time, since Audrey started working with tight lipped, back stabbing phonies, she was happy. No, more than that, she was free.