When they arrived in Alaskathe land was vast. It elongated for miles, coated with mounds of snow. It was extremely frigid that with each breath you inhaled your lungs were parched with ice and you were left breathless. Fresh wintry snow had begun cascading not long ago.
A large 4x4 had come to pick them up and carry them to their destination. Forty-five minutes later it had become dark and they'd arrived at a ski lodge/resort. There were hotel-like buildings made of reddish brown wood that allowed the building to glow because of the few lights switched on. A small path snaked between the lodge, separating it from other various stores: a bar, a restaurant, and a gift shop. It resembled a small town.
"This heel is killing me," Pansy groaned as she walked toward the lodge in the snow.
"Serves you right for wearing those ridiculous boots," Draco replied. She was wearing mink heeled shoes that were clearly not made to walk long distance in snow that nearly escalated up to you knees.
"Oh, shut up, Draco. What would you know?" In outrage Pansy began stomping fast, almost falling head first, but managing to hold herself. Her cheeks were rosy from the cold and the designer hat, scar and gloves she wore seemed to be doing little justice.
"You'd think they'd at least shovel the snow before we arrived!" Hermione loudly voiced her thoughts, her diva persona taking over.
"Suck it up. You're not going to moan about this too, are you?" retorted Draco. "Did you think Alaska was a fancy term for hot springs?"
Hermione shot him a malevolent look. "Did you?"
"Might I remind you that we're going to be working in conditions like these?"
"I think that point made itself obvious the moment we stepped out of the plane."
Hermione walked a little briskly and managed to fall into step with Draco. They exchanged annoyed glances and trudged in silence until they reached the lodge. Inside, Bruce Marciano, the director, was seated on the lounge chair, sipping something hot from his mug. He was dressed in a pair of fleece pants; a shirt and a vest overtop and warm yellow slippers. His green eyes glistened as Draco and Hermione stepped in. Pansy had already made herself comfortable, sitting beside Bruce, sipping hot chocolate in front of the fire.
"You've made it. How was the flight?"
"It was—" Hermione began but was quickly cut off.
"Marciano, quit the small talk. When do we start filming?"
Hermione shot him a chaffed look which he ignored.
Bruce sized him up. "Tomorrow at 6:00am. You better be up by quarter to five."
Hermione stifled a groan. It was so cold she knew she'd have trouble waking up.
"6:00am? Are you kidding me? Do you know how cold it is?" exclaimed Pansy.
"What are you belly aching about? You're not even in the movie!" The words were out of Hermione's mouth before she could stop them. Damn this cold weather.
Pansy glared icily at her. As if it wasn't cold enough. "I'm here to support my boyfriend…. and where's your encouragement?"
Pansy didn't wait for her to answer. "Oh, that's right. He dumped you to marry a model. Personally, I think it was an improvement. You have nerve to even show your face in public after that public embarrassment. I ought to congratulate Troy on a job well done.'
The room hushed. Everyone knew she'd hit a tender spot.
Hermione glowered at Pansy viciously; you'd have thought she was getting ready to pounce on her. Instead, Hermione averted her eyes to Bruce and demanded, "Where are the keys to my room?"
"Th-they're already in your room. Just go up the elevator, on the third floor, the room at the far corner of the hall on the right. It's open. Your luggage is in there too."
With as much dignity as she could master Hermione walked toward the lift and went up.
Warm tears were flooding down her cheeks when she reached her room. She ran up the small staircase that led to her bedroom and she buckled onto her bed, weeping. Her face was obscured in the pillows and her fingers curled into taut fists.
Shit! Shit! Shit! Shit! SHIIIIIIIIIT!
Damn it, it hurt so much. Remembering everything that had happened in the past couple of weeks was torment beyond comprehension. All the memories poured into her head and oozed into the crevices of her mind, awakening the slumbering throe; the hurt and indignation she'd masked all this time. It all emanated as salty, tart tears. She felt the need to scream until her throat scarred.
I should've kept my mouth shut.
Slowly, she rose up and located the bathroom to spatter water in her face. She felt so forlorn it was hard to comprehend. Calling Joan would've been an option, or her parents or even one of her best mates, Ginny Potter. However, they were all busy people with their own busy lives.
Suddenly, a thought dawned on her; a small realization to be exact. She didn't have to feel sorry for herself. She had worked too hard to have someone try to put her down. This break up was not any different from all the other obstacles that had counterbalanced her emotionally. Pansy wasn't the first one to use her weaknesses against her. This was just another trial to overcome and with newborn determination Hermione knew she'd once again pass with flying colors.
She could almost picture Joan say (about Pansy) "She's one of them cracked up bitches who try to pull everyone down, and spend half their lives throwin' back up their food trying to look decent. Shoot, I'd like to kick her bony little ass.''
Hermione smiled. Everything was going to be all right after all…
When Draco and Pansy had retired to their room Draco had almost been furious. As much as he'd enjoyed his girlfriend's performance he realized she could've killed another chance of adding an Oscar to his cabinet and walking off with another six figured check.
"Whose side are you on anyway?" Pansy demanded.
"Don't question my loyalty to you," Draco shot back. "I don't need you messing things up."
"Messing things up? Did you hear what she said to me?"
"Technically, she was right. You're not the one who needs to rise up early."
"Oh, forgive me for trying to be there for you for your job, Draco Malfoy!"
Draco sighed. Women were impossible. If they weren't whining for money, they demanded attention.
He had been going out with Pansy for three months now- his longest relationship to date. He was having good feelings about her, but now he had to wonder …
"Babe, listen," he said, gently snaking his hand around her waist and pulling he closer to his body-something he never did in public. "Granger doesn't seem to be in the state to be reminded about he lacking in relationships…"
"What are you, her psychiatrist?"
"…because this could kill her performance in this movie. Everyone knows that. I enjoyed seeing you put her in her place, but for the sake of the movie, calm down."
He gently kissed her and looked in her eyes. "Okay?"
"Oh, all right," she grumbled, pulling away and stripping into her nightgown. "But if she aggravates me…"
Draco sighed and rolled his eyes. Why did he even bother?
Early morning everyone was jaunty and exited. It was the first day of the shooting and the energy was phenomenal at this time of hour. Hermione and Draco were whisked off to hair, make up and wardrobe, leaving Pansy sitting next to the director, who seemed anxious.
"Could someone fetch me some hot chocolate!" she demanded, nonchalant to the director's low spirits.
Minutes later Draco entered with Hermione in tow, holding sweet smelling vanilla coffee
"G'morning Draco, Hermione, how're you feeling this morning?" said Bruce anxiously.
"I'm great and very excited!" she exclaimed enthusiastically.
Bruce exchanged looks with Draco. She was acting as if last night ad never occurred.
"Perfect, that's what I like to hear."
All the equipment had been set up and both Draco and Hermione walked on to the set. They were doing a bedroom scene, using one of the accommodations at the lodge. The room was furnished as two rooms in one: with a large bed, a fireplace, a red leather love seat, glass table, and a few candles for a romantic atmosphere.
"All right, places. Hermione you're seating on the couch looking distressed. Remember, you want to create a nice sultry, but questionable atmosphere. Make sure your character displays that without expressing the emotion too literally."
They both nodded.
"All right, action!"
...>>>>>>... ...
Veronica sat on the love seat, head bowed in her arms, looking devastated. She'd never thought everything would go awry. Ever since she'd partnered up with this devastatingly good-looking man, nothing had gone for the good. She didn't trust him.
"It's all right, Veronica," he soothed, pouring them both wine. His back was facing her, but she didn't miss the small paper of powder he slipped into her glass. She didn't react. He sauntered toward her then knelt, handing her over the drugged wine.
"Maybe he's gone to a better place, maybe not. We'll find the bastards who did this your father. Maybe drinking a bit will help you unwind just for tonight."
Veronica placed the wine beside his on the glass table. "Will you stay with me?" she asked innocently. Her index finger began tracing his jaw line then allowed her thumb to tenderly touch his bottom lip. He smiled. "Of course, but first…" he reached for the wine and gave it back to her. She grabbed his wine then pressed her lips against his own while switching the wine glasses. She pulled back and smiled, embarrassed.
"Drink up," he urged. And she did. A thin smile fashioned his lips. He took a sip of his own. Leaning closer to her, he inhaled the scent of her dark chocolate hair. "Mmm…you smell nice."
Goosebumps appeared on Hermione's flesh as Draco leaned and breathed on her neck. Her heart leaped and she clawed for all her strength to keep her body from reacting un-accordingly to the script.
"Seth…"she whispered. "I don't think we should really…" Damn, what the hell was the affect of the powder he'd tried to dose her with? It didn't seem to make him pass out, only a bit aroused. His fingers slid slowly into her hair and she closed her eyes in prohibited bliss. Maybe she was wrong about him...
Hermione's heart was in overdrive. This wasn't supposed to be happening. She was supposed to be in control of her persona and reality, yet they seemed to have merged, and now she was truly,feeling things she wasn't necessarily supposed to be feeling. She was brought out of her reverie when a female voice shouted, "Draco, no!" followed by the director's agitated voice of "Cut!"
Draco and Hermione pulled apart.
Pansy ran into he boyfriend's arms. "What the hell are you doing, Pansy?"
"Miss. Parkinson, we're trying to shoot a movie here!"exclaimed Bruce, unimpressed at the magic that had been disturbed.
"Draco, I don't want you to..." she glanced at Hermione and her face grimaced. Hermione returned the look.
"Pansy, I'm only acting. You know, pretending," he replied.
"Yea, but…" she whined. "It looked quite real. A little too real."
"That's the point?" Hermione voiced.
Pansy glared at her.
"Come on Pansy. We have to finish this," said Draco.
Pansy pulled out of Draco's embrace and glowered at Hermione. "Don't get too excited, Granger."
"I'm not the one prancing about, acting like a damsel in distress," Hermione shot back. An ugly one at that.
Pansy walked away without another word.
" 'Kay, we'll start when Draco is running his fingers through you hair, Hermione," Bruce shouted, all business. "Action!"
Hermione and Draco continued to play their roles as Veronica and Seth. They resumed the scene where Draco (Seth) weaved his fingers in Hermione's (Veronica) hair while she desperately searched for a way to find out the effect of the drug. As the neared the bed and Seth lowered Veronica gently on the duvet, Pansy lost it.
"This is bloody stupid. Why is this scene in here? This isn't some smutty love film. They're supposed to be enemies!" she exclaimed, outraged.
"They can't be enemies right off the bat. Seth is trying to get Veronica to travel with him in order to search for a diamond mine, but in truth there is no diamond mine. He's working for someone who kills Veronica's father and is planning to kill Veronica in order to gain access to her estate," Bruce explained wearily. "This scene is necessary because he tried to drug her with a truth potion but alas, he tasted his own concoction. Now she's trying to figure out what the drug is. That ladies and gentlemen is a plot. Seth is a hoodwink hence the name Deceit."
"I don't really care about that. I demand you rewrite this scene." She was now standing on the set near Draco, who looked ready to pop a blood vessel.
"Damn it Pansy, you're not helping. Do you know the definition of "act"?"
"I'm not stupid, Draco!"
Hermione involuntarily rolled her eyes.
"Don't roll your eyes at me!" Pansy snarled, looking chaffed.
"You're inconveniencing us," she replied.
"Shut up!"
"No, you shut up. I'm trying to do my job here and you're in the way. Why don't you go and do the thing you do best?"
"Really, and what's that?" Pansy asked, inquisitively.
Hermione smirked. "Stand on the sidelines."
Everyone's eyes were on the two women. Standing there, glaring at Pansy Hermione felt emancipated. Her inner beast was flourishing, spreading its wings and soaring. She was giving her honest opinion without feeling the least bit guilty.
Pansy's eyes averted to Draco's. "Are you gonna let her speak to me like this?"
Draco glanced at his girlfriend, then at Hermione. He was baffled by her sudden courage and regrettably he felt himself admire that. She finally showed some backbone.
"Pansy, you're giving me a headache. Stop acting like a child and start acting like an adult," said Draco. " I'm sick of this bull."
Pansy's eyes widened in righteous anger. He might as well have dropped on one knee and proposed to Hermione. "You know what? I'm sick of you. I'm taking your plane back to New York!" She then stepped up to Hermione and hissed. "You bitch, this isn't over."
"Is that a threat?"
Miss. Parkinson sneered. "Interpret it anyway you want, but I'm warning you. Watch. Your. Back." Briskly, she stormed off the set. The crew exhaled a sigh of relief.
"Don't think you've dignified yourself because of the outcome of this scenario," said Draco, turning to Hermione. His features were impassive.
"None of this would've happened if you settled with a real sophisticated, mature woman who wasn't too clingy. Personally, I believe your taste in women is perverted and repulsive."
Draco's brow rose. "Perverted? She's the same age as you and I."
Hermione chuckled. "Surely, you realize she's a twelve year old trapped in a twenty-five year old's body."
This woman was becoming a bigger pain in his ass than he'd speculated. "Who I date is none of your business. I suggest you keep your annotations to yourself."
With that said, he walked away. Bruce called for a fifteen-minute break. It was already 8:45am and they weren't getting anywhere.
Hermione joined some of the crew at the restaurant and she got a chance to call Joan, her parents and Ginny.
They commenced filming at 9:15am and stopped at 2:30pm because of the sudden blizzard that had occurred. Pansy had already left at 12:00pm after she'd had another row with Draco. He'd hoped that she had gotten caught by the stormy weather, and was probably half dead in the mountains, but obliterated that thought instantly. Pansy was his girl. Sub consciously he anticipated that she would be the one he would settle with. He had dated enough women to be the envy of all men and now he wanted to settle and ease.
It was now 6:30pm and the sky had already coated itself black. No visible stars were in sight, the snow had slowed to a gentle sprinkle and it was getting frigid by the hour. Inside his room it was warm and toasty. Draco even had his shirt off as he lay there, his muscle toned body sprawled on the bed, contemplating about the last person who meant nothing to him.
At first glance he'd thought she was a hard headed woman who had a big voice, anda bit sensitive. That had been slightly proven when Pansy had lashed out at her about Troy. It was obvious she'd given her all to the guy, to have her poor little heart torn. On television, she appeared zealous and determined and maybe she was, but to him she had the strength of a twig. Didn't anyone notice this?
He closed his gray eyes. Her smiling face from this morning materialized. Her light colored brown hair had been dyed dark, her make up flawless and the way her outfit had outlined her voluptuous body had been appealing. How had he not noticed?
His eyes fluttered open suddenly, and he sat up. He had noticed! He hadn't really looked at her but he'd definitely noticed. Abruptly, his body shivered as Draco recalled the feel of her smooth neck on his lips. She'd involuntarily shivered at the skin contact and he had felt the rush of her heartbeat. Her scent had been alluring, making it easier to get into his role and forget about reality. What had she been wearing, Coco Mademoiselle?
"Hermione," he breathed softly.
What the hell was wrong with him? Had Pansy seen through all this feeling before he'd deciphered it? Was that her reason for being furious?
He realized he couldn't blame her because he didn't understand himself. It was as if his mind and body were suddenly aware of Hermione's beauty and sexiness. His body only reacted this way when he perceived a beautiful woman that he'd want a one night stand with, but why Hermione? He wasn't interested in her.
The feeling he was experiencing was distinct and yet not very distinct at the same time.
The real question was why her?
What did it mean?
O.0
Thanks for the reviews. I appreciate it. Draco and Hermione are not gonna ''fall in love'' in Alaska. Next chapter something is going to happen. I'm thinking of living it a cliff hanger, but that would mean they won't return to New York until chpater 4 and i don't want to drag it that long. Hmm...decisions, decisions. Anyway, i hope you liked this chapter.
Oh yes, by the way, i might change the title. I hate this title now because i realized it just won't do with the way the story will be at the end.
Review