"K… KJ… what was that for?" she asked breathlessly with a bright red blush on her cheeks. A blush that Konstantin soon began to love seeing and he found himself wanting to find more and more ways to make the girl blush.
"I wanted to show you just how grateful I am to you. You've done nothing but surprise me since we've met."
"I thought you thought of me as a reckless brat who picked fights?" she teased.
"Well I did think that at first but I've changed my opinion."
"Oh really?" she murmured. Then she added, "So have I."
"Oh?"
"I used to think that you were a grumpy grandma type but turns out that you're anything but. You're a little stiff most of the time but you're really beginning to loosen up."
"Thanks to you."
"Not just me, but everyone working together." TK shook her head with one of her rare mature and beautiful smiles.
"It seems you've all influenced me a little more than I'd thought. Any other time and I would've hated you for dancing so inappropriately, especially with your mother present." TK flinched at his slightly chastising tone. "But, I won't, because although it was very risqué, it didn't cross the line. It was a very good show, a show that people would've paid to see."
"It wasn't that good," she blushed again.
"Oh, but it was. It was done so professionally. I couldn't believe that it was you on stage. My sister, I could understand since she'd done dancing before and Karen as well, but you… that was surprising and stunning."
"Are you trying to kill me through embarrassment?" she squealed.
"Not really," he chuckled and brushed his knuckles softly against her cheek.
"To be honest, I wasn't sure whether you'd like the routine. It was risqué, as you'd already said but we all really wanted to do it because we heard the song at some point."
"It's one of my favourite songs."
"Really?" she blinked in surprise.
"Yes."
"You're not just saying that to reassure me?"
"I'm not just saying it to make you feel better, I do genuinely like that song. I like Christina Aguilera's songs."
"That's… a surprise and reassurance. I like her songs too. I love her voice." TK beamed somewhat innocently.
"Ah! There you are!" an unfamiliar voice called out and dashed towards the pair who stepped away from each other to put a decent distance between them. "Hello Konstantin, hello Rayne, I'm Richard Thornton and I'm in charge of all things musical within this project."
"Pleasure to meet you Mr Thornton. Is there something you would like from us?" TK aske politely, wondering why the musical director seemed to be in such a haste to find them.
"Oh just call me Ritchie, and there's something that I would very much like to discuss with you Rayne. I spoke with Carlisle after you first sang and I found out from him that you happen to be highly musically talented. If you feel up for it, how would you like to be involved in creating the soundtrack for this film? You should also contribute a song. It would be perfect!"
"Oh but I can't compose!"
"But we can do that for you," he pointed out.
"I wouldn't want to add any extra pressure -"
"Rayne, it would be a great pleasure to work with you. At least think about it. We have plenty of time anyway. I hope that you will accept, Rayne. It would be such a wonder!"
"I'll be sure to think about it." TK agreed reluctantly.
"Thank you, Rayne. Why don't you just drop by the studio tomorrow to have a look at things? You don't have to be officially involved but since you do have musical experience, it would be nice to hear some feedback about what we've managed to do so far with the soundtrack. I've designed the opening track and the nightmare scene along with the music that will be played during the flight. I have to add that the music for the fight at the beginning between Rose and Dimitri hasn't been completed yet though."
"Not to worry," the young girl smiled reassuringly. "As you've already said, we've got plenty of time."
"So what do you say?" he asked hopefully.
"I'll drop in tomorrow if I have time. I can't remember how full my schedule is tomorrow with the rehearsals and everything so I can't promise you anything but I will try." TK told the man honestly.
"That's all that I want from you for now, Rayne," he smiled kindly at her. He had to give her credit for being honest with him rather than either rejecting him right off the bat or beating around the bush with her thoughts about the offer. It was a surprisingly diplomatic answer and it left something for both parties to be satisfied with.
The music director gave her a wide appreciative smile and gave a small bow which caused the young girl to blush. "I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Rayne," he told her before taking his leave. The ideas that were swirling though the composer's mind made him feel incredibly excited. Already he had various tunes and lyrics for a song that TK could sing with regards to the film. With her wide range, there was a lot that she could do and a lot of things that he could do with the song.
TK watched in total astonishment as the man walked away leaving her along with Konstantin. She couldn't believe what had just happened. It seemed too good to be true to have one of her dreams fulfilled. Just like any other child, she'd had dreams of becoming famous, she wanted to be able to reach the world with her voice and she never would've thought that it could actually happen. It seemed that this project wasn't just a project, it was something that was opening many doors for her. It gave her opportunities that she either wouldn't have had or wouldn't have taken.
With her involvement in this film, she was receiving opportunities that she never would've thought she'd get. She met people that opened her eyes and helped her grow up so much more. She'd learned wonderful things from her friends on set and she'd shared amazing experiences with them too. Although she did miss her friends back at home, she knew that she'd become almost inseparable from her fellow cast members. They'd become that important to her in such a short space of time.
"I… I can't believe what just happened…" she murmured as she leaned against the wall for support. "I've dreamt… but I never thought that it would actually happen."
"You've dreamt about this?" Konstantin arched his brows.
"I've always had a dream about singing."
"Why didn't you audition for a producer?"
"I… I never thought about that," she admitted sheepishly. "What do you think I should do?" TK asked and turned to face him with a genuinely clueless expression. Konstantin contemplated her expression for a moment. At that moment, TK seemed to look like some kind of a lost child, genuinely unsure of what she should do. The lost expression on her face made him want to help her. He wanted to hug her and chase away any dangers and difficulties in life.
"I think that you should go and see Ritchie tomorrow. It won't hurt to go and watch them work and maybe give some pointers. They aren't pressuring you into anything. If you feel that you don't want to do it, just reject the offer. There is no harm in whatever option you choose. Just choose the option that you wish for the most. Don't let the chance slip away simply due to the fear of reaching out." Konstantin told her wisely.
"I really can pick whatever I want to do?" TK asked. Her eyes were filled with hope and amazement for what could happen.
"Yes, TK, you can."
"KJ what would I do without you!" she squealed and wrapped her arms around him in glee. "I knew asking you would be the right thing to do!"
"And what have I done this time?" he chuckled and patted her back softly.
"I don't really know. But talking to you definitely seems to help me clear my mind. I can always think clearer after talking to you instead of going around in crazy circles."
"It's probably to do with the fact that I'm older than you and have more experience than you do."
"But it's really hit home that you're not actually that much older than me." TK smiled teasingly. "It's kind of funny. It makes me think that you sort of have two different characters. Your old wise one, and your young playful one."
"Oh? And which one do you prefer?" he asked curiously with arched brows. He had been thinking the exact same thing about her earlier that evening and suddenly she seemed to bring up the topic. Honestly, he hadn't really noticed that split in his own character but now that he thought about it, he could see it easily. Over the years, he really had developed two characters of his own without even realising. There was one that he had when he was at work, and the other was when facing his friends in more casual situations.
TK glanced at him in surprise and gave him a confused stare. "Do you even have to ask? Both," she stated simply like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "You're both one person, there's no difference, it's just that one is more casual and relaxed than the other."
Konstantin stared at her for a few moments before bursting into laughter. He patted her head gently before running a hand through his hair. "I really am no match for you."
"Eh? I have to say that I don't really understand."
"Don't worry about it."
"I wondered where you two went," an exasperated voice called out to them and both turned to see a somewhat out of breath Maria walking towards them. "I should've guessed that you two decided to sneak away for a bit of fresh air."
"Well it was getting a little too claustrophobic in there for my liking." TK smiled sweetly at her co-worker's sister. "And since you're here, I won't worry about ditching KJ and heading back inside. I'm feeling a little chilly out here."
"You should've said something. We could've gone back inside any time." Konstantin chastised her lightly.
"KJ, tonight is all about you, so don't you worry about it. You looked like you needed a breath of fresh air and to get away from the craziness that's going on inside." TK winked at him before walking back inside.
Konstantin couldn't resist watching as the young girl walked back inside. He also couldn't resist the choke of laughter when he noticed her collide into a trolley. It had been moving to avoid her and she had moved to avoid it and both unknowingly went for the same direction which resulted in the collision. TK nearly fell but she held onto the trolley for support and managed to regain her footing. The woman pushing the trolley apologised profusely and TK smiled and shook her head frantically. Since Konstantin couldn't actually hear what was going on inside, he could only guess that TK was reassuring the woman that she was alright. He found that side of her rather amusing. Her habit of reacting to almost every situation with her heart on her sleeve was a large reassurance of her young age and he liked that.
"You seem quite smitten with her, little bro." Maria grinned with an all knowing smile.
Hearing her voice, Konstantin turned his attention to his sister and smiled apologetically for having ignored her for the past few seconds. "Sorry, you're going to have to say that again."
"I said that you can't keep your eyes off of her."
"You're certainly right about that. Every time I look away, something happens to her."
"And you're saying that nothing happens to her when you're watching her?"
"Well no, but at least I can help to diffuse the situation if I'm there."
"If you think that that's all there is to it then you're dumber than I remembered."
"I'm simply answering your questions with honesty, Maria. If you wanted me to reply differently then ask different questions." Konstantin retorted with a playful tone.
"You are as stubborn as always and as difficult as always."
"I'll have you know that not everyone finds me difficult."
"Oh? And would one of them happen to be Rayne?"
"On the contrary, she's the one who finds me difficult the most. She's always complaining about something about me."
"Ah but it's all said in kindness, no?"
"I'd hope so." Konstantin scoffed. "I wouldn't want to know how she'd behave if I was someone that she doesn't like. Rayne wears her heart on her sleeve. She doesn't hide her emotions except on very rare occasions. If she disliked someone, she isn't afraid to show it."
"So you're saying that she's very honest."
"Sometimes, she's so honest that it's a bad thing."
"Isn't that bad when dealing with the press?"
"Carlisle has already put her through several lessons already about things like that and she's learning fast. There are a lot of complaints from her about how difficult it is but she understands that it's a necessity. She understands that unless she keeps certain details to herself, she will end up with no privacy whatsoever later on in her career if indeed she does choose to continue with it."
"You think that she will quit acting if there isn't a second film made?"
"Right now, I can't be certain that she'll stay with the business, but I think that she's enjoying herself and would probably consider keeping this type of occupation. What I don't want to think about, is how she will react when she faces the bad side of having an acting career."
"Are you talking about the drugs and parties and people who let the press get to their heads?"
"Surprisingly, that I'm not so worried about. Rayne has already seen that part of the world, I'm sure of it. What I'm not sure of, is whether she has seen someone trample on someone else in order to step higher in the industry. You've read the papers, you've heard me talk about it, so you have an idea of how bad these people can get. But she doesn't. She hasn't even bothered reading the entertainment section until recently when we suggested that she should start to pay attention because it was part of her life now. She doesn't know how bad a person can get if they begin to crave for the limelight. She doesn't seem like the type of person who has faced a situation where someone has intentionally crushed their opponent in a cruel way in order to achieve their goals."
"Konstantin, Rayne is a big girl, I'm sure that she could handle something like that."
"I don't want it happening to her. There are times when I think that she's so naïve and innocent that she should just be locked away and be sheltered from all the wretched things that happen in the world."
"Well aren't you a protective guardian." Maria teased lightly.
"Maria," he groaned in frustration at his sister's lack of seriousness at the situation.
"Konstantin, you can't lock her away and you know it. She'll knock down whatever wall you decide to form around her. If you try to hide her away, she will hate you for it and you know that. Rayne is a perfectly capable girl, and there will be times when she will be crushed and brought down. That's when she will need her friends the most, to remind her that not everyone is like that. That not everyone would be so cunning as to harm someone else to get what they want. What Rayne needs isn't shielding, but kind guidance from those whom she can trust."
"I know, Maria." Konstantin sighed and stared up at the star filled sky. "I've seen the consequence of what she may look like when she's been seriously emotionally hurt and I'm in no hurry to see anything like it on her face again."
"What do you mean?"
"Rayne is a cheerful girl. She's like that most of the time, unless you bring her family into the occasion."
"Stop beating around the bush and just get straight to the point. I know that you don't mean her mother since I already know that Rayne has a close relationship with her mother despite the distance between them."
"It's her father. I don't know anything about it but every single time the conversation turns to talking about her family, she's fine until she mentions her father. Then she's closed up tighter than a clam. The expression on her face is filled with bitterness and pain and suffering. I don't want her to experience any more situations that will bring that type of expression to her face."
"Well, since I haven't seen it before, I can't say that I can imagine that girl knowing how to smile bitterly but since you've seen it, I'll take your word for it." Maria frowned in surprise.
"I hope that you will never have to see it." Konstantin scoffed. He turned around when he heard frantic footsteps approaching and he saw TK dashing towards him with an exasperated expression on her face.
"Rayne?" he asked curiously and gave her a moment to catch her breath.
"Karen accidentally drank alcohol again and now she's turned into a mumbling monster. Will has gotten hysterically drunk in that he is now spewing out jokes left, right and centre. And your brother, Roderick is also a little bit too far gone." TK reported and ticked each person off her list as she counted with her fingers.
"Karen is drunk?"
"Unfortunately, yeah."
"It is about time to end the party." Konstantin glanced at his watch and noted the time. It was well past midnight. They had been at the party for just over four hours, that was certainly enough for anyone.
"Oh you don't have to. I was just going to catch a cab and take them back."
"Rayne."
"Yes?"
"It's alright. I have a feeling that the party has already gently come to a close." Konstantin reassured her.
"If you're sure…"
"Which I am."
"Is there anything else you'd like me to help with?"
"Rayne, you've done so much already for tonight, just sit back and relax now," he told her with a laugh and patted her shoulder. "Let's go back inside and I can thank everyone for coming. That will be an indirect way of letting them know that the party is ending."
Konstantin made his way into the grand hall and he noticed instantly that TK had been right. Things really were beginning to get a little too rowdy from some of the rather drunken guests, while others were sitting at the various round tables scattered around the room. He stepped onto the stage, took hold of a microphone and gave his thanks to everyone for attending the party. The speech was short and brief but sufficient enough to get his message across. Everyone in the hall gave a large cheer and applause as Konstantin gave a small formal bow.
In the next half an hour everyone began to disperse until only Konstantin, his family, TK, Alexandra and Carlisle were left. Roderick was able to walk on his own but just barely and Maria had had to steady him several times to prevent him from colliding into a wall. TK and Konstantin walked his family back upstairs to their rooms in the hotel while Carlisle and Alexandra chose to remain downstairs in the lobby to wait for them.
As soon as they got upstairs, Maria steered her youngest brother into his room and dropped him into his bed. She got a glass of water and some neurofen and left it on his bedside table in case he woke up in the middle of the night and felt the effects of the alcohol. She made sure that he would be alright before leaving his room and heading to her own. She stepped out of Roderick's room just as TK finished saying goodbye to Konstantin's parents.
"Do you have work tomorrow?" Maria asked as she approached them.
"Unfortunately, yeah." TK nodded with a disappointed sigh. "But I've made a deal with Mister Director and I'll be able to see you guys off at the airport and so will KJ. We've altered the schedule slightly so that Mister Director will be running through some scenes that don't involve KJ and me."
"So this won't be the last time we see you?" Maria asked with hope clear in her voice.
"Of course not!" TK gasped in shock as the concept of that. "I will make sure to see you off and to keep in contact even after you guys fly back to Russia!"
"You'd better, Rayne, otherwise I will be very upset with you and I just might have to fly back to America to give you a good beating for neglecting me."
"Well then I just might not contact you for a while just to be able to see you again." TK grinned cheekily.
"I had better let you go then if you have rehearsals and training tomorrow. Be sure to call me if things aren't too hectic. I know how busy things can get from the lack of times that this guy over here calls home."
"I'm so glad that you were able to make it for KJ's birthday this year. I'll see you at the airport." TK smiled and gave Maria a tight hug. "I'll wait for you downstairs while you say your goodbyes, KJ."
"Thank you, I won't be long." Konstantin nodded appreciatively.
"Take your time, we're in no rush," she shrugged and made her way downstairs. By now, TK had completely given up on trying to walk in her heels and she'd simply taken her shoes off so that she walked bare-footed along the carpeted hallways.
Konstantin was quick with his last minute chat with his family, well except for Roderick who was asleep, before making his way downstairs. He was keen to head back to the castle to get a good night's rest because he remembered how hectic the schedule was for later that day. That afternoon, he remembered that they would try and shoot the scene between 'Jesse' and 'Rose' while they were making out on the couch and 'Dimitri' would intervene.
So far, they had been staggering practices for intimate scenes so that TK wouldn't feel overwhelmed by them. Both Carlisle and Konstantin could still notice the way that TK would stiffen at the beginning of each rehearsal which involved intimacy. She had tried her best to hide it and the two men saw through her act clearly but they chose to say nothing because they knew that TK would try even harder and end up hurting herself emotionally.
However, despite TK's stiffness during some intimate scenes, they were still making incredibly fast progress with their rehearsals and their scenes. Her discomfort with intimacy during scenes was only a minor delay due to her ability to adapt and excel in all other scenes. She was quick to learn and change the way in which she portrayed certain situations within a scene. With each rehearsal she became bolder and there were times when she wouldn't hesitate to try adding something new to the scene that was not explicitly stated in the script or in the novel. She brought in personal opinions and perceptions which made rehearsals more fun and exciting.
She was growing and she was growing up fast as an actress in her uptake of how to act and how to exaggerate when needed in order to enhance the emotion of a scene.
When Konstantin got back downstairs the other three stood and they headed to Carlisle's car. Carlisle was the one to drive with Alexandra sitting shotgun and Konstantin and TK sat at the back. Within less than a minute Konstantin felt pressure on his should and glancing down, he found TK already asleep and leaning against him. He gave a small smile of amusement. He'd known that she would fall asleep on the car and he also expected for her to lean against him. Konstantin crossed his arms and stared out of the window.
Throughout the entire journey back to the castle, he was thinking about the wonderful time he had that night and how grateful he was to TK for organising for his family to come over. It seemed that as part of his birthday present, the director and Alexandra had put in joint effort by splitting the costs of getting the Javavich family into America. Carlisle and Alexandra had paid for their plane tickets and for their stay at a beautiful and fancy hotel. The reason why Konstantin hadn't spent his birthday with his family for the past couple of years because it was far too expensive and he felt that the amount which his family would have to pay to visit him was not worth it. But although he felt that, he still loved seeing his family. He glanced down at TK and his lips curled into a warm smile.