In the Spotlight

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed. Yup. I don't. Cause it would have just ended there and not continued with Destiny. Blah!

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Woo! Sorry for not writing this chapter sooner. I'm clogged back on work till next January. And even then, after I'll be getting more work again. -sigh-

26/5/06 - I FINALLY managed to upload this. I've been trying for the last 4 days I think.

Chapter 5: Trouble on Set

"You're right, I wouldn't do that to you. Not to someone I don't even like." said the dark haired green eyed man steely as he pushed the blonde away.

A shocked wounded look crept over the blonde's face, her amber eyes wide and suspiciously misty.

The room was silent except for the sound of raindrops hitting the windows.

"And 3...2...1...CUT! Good take! You guys can shut off those sprinklers now!" called Mwu as he waved his rolled up script in the air, bringing the wadded paper down on his knee with a smack.

Cagalli and Athrun released each other with a sigh of relief. Mwu had been running them haggard the past week. This scene by itself had undergone numerous reshootings though why, both could not fathom.

"Good work, guys." called Kira as he waved to them from the side.

"Ugh...give me water, Kira. I need fluids." groaned Cagalli as she reached thankfully for the water bottle and piece of pastry her brother was holding out to her. "I don't understand what was wrong with the previous takes that he had to make us shoot this particular scene again and again and again!"

Athrun who had dropped into a nearby chair nodded in agreement as he picked up another bottle from the table.

"I'm exhausted... who knew one scene could be so much trouble?"

Kira grinned at the pair mischievously.

"What can I say, Mwu feels this scene is important. It's the first awakenings of Arene's love for Haedren, and Haedren's attempt to keep Arene at arm's length from him." chuckled Kira.

"Of course, how could I forget." sighed Cagalli as she munched on a chicken cheese bun.

Eyeing the green eyed British actor evilly, Cagalli tore a piece of bread off and proceeded to childishly bounce if off Athrun Zala's head.

"Hey!"

"It's revenge, Zala. Why is it my solo scene comes before yours?"

"How should I know, ask Director La Fllaga." retorted Athrun as he returned the favour with a projectile of his own.

The popcorn kernel bounced off her forehead and it erupted into a childish mini food-fight for two.

Kira watched them in amusement before a stray piece of bread hit him in the face.

Everything went down hill from there.

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Cagalli frowned at Kira and Athrun who sat nearby watching her with disgusting bright eyed bushy tailed smiles on their faces.

Mwu had found them throwing food at each other and practically sent them for a time out at a corner. Just when Kira was winning the fight too.

Now, the three of them were seated in the community dressing room, reapplying their make- up.

"Get those smug looks off your faces." snarled Cagalli as she gripped her script tightly. It really was getting annoying.

"Miss Attha!" exclaimed the make-up artist in exasperation.

"Right...right. Sorry."

Squeezing her eyes shut, she thought of her upcoming solo scene until where that Shinn Asuka's character came to comfort her.

She was supposed to be depressed and hurt from "Haedren's" words. But the truth was, Cagalli couldn't understand the feeling. "Arene" felt rejected. So what? Was that anything to cry about?

Sure, she'd seen the movies where the leading ladies cried buckets from unrequited or rejected love. So what?

Cagalli had never understood that mystery. The man didn't love you and told you so. In her opinion, if that was the case, the best point of action was to accept and move on. It wasn't the end of the world.

So how in all seven hells was she supposed to portray Arene?

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"CUT CUT CUT!" shouted Mwu as he waved his arm back and forth like a drunkard.

"Cagalli, you're not feeling it! Arene is in love with Haedren, and he's just rejected her in the coldest way possible."

"I know! I'm crying aren't I?" groaned Cagalli as she brushed the tears away from her face.

Mwu stared at her silently before beckoning her over with a finger.

"Take a break, guys! We're done with this scene for now!" called Mwu. "Cagalli, take a walk with me."

Cagalli winced at Mwu's tone. It was one he used when he was tired of something. She hadn't heard that tone of voice ever since he gave up being the actor - Neo Lorrnoke.

As the pair walked down towards a drink vending machine in silence, Cagalli snuck glances at him. Mwu La Fllaga was like an older brother or father figure to her. She hated it when he made her feel like she was 10 years old again.

"Cagalli..."

Here it comes.

"You're not getting my meaning when I tell you you're not feeling it. I know you're trying, but maybe that's why you're not getting it. You're trying too hard." sighed Mwu as he popped a few coins into the vending machine.

"I don't understand." replied Cagalli confused.

As the two cans of chilled coffee tumbled from the machine, Mwu picked up one and handed it to her. "I guessed you didn't."

Opening his drink and taking a leisure sip, he turned to look at Cagalli.

"Look, heartbreak and pain don't necessarily go hand in hand. Just as sadness and tears. You're acting with your brains, Cagalli. You think that girls just have to cry when they've gone through disappointment in love. But that's just the stereotype you have. You weren't crying, Cagalli. That was just salt water coming out from your eyes."

"But-"

"You have to think for yourself Cagalli. How would you react if you were in Arene's shoes? If the man you love and deny loving, who is usually so kind and so warm, treated you coldly? As if his eyes tell you he hates you? But in the next instant, he can simply brush it off?"

Cagalli blinked.

When put that way...

How would she react?

When she had never been in love herself... how was she supposed to know how Arene would act?

"I don't know."

Mwu patted her shoulder. "Think on it. For today, you're done with that scene." sighed Mwu as he walked away, leaving a confused Cagalli standing by herself at the vending machine.

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Athrun watched as Cagalli sat down on a bench next to the vending machine, a can of coffee in her hands and a confused look on her face.

His heart gave an odd flutter.

She looked so calm... so feminine, that he had the sudden insane urge to hug her. But Cagalli wasn't that type of girl, was she?

So instead, he sat down next to her, startling her from her reverie.

"Hey, you alright?"

Cagalli blinked, unsure how to answer. "Um...yeah. Just thinking." she mumbled idly as she turned the can of coffee in her hands.

"Want to talk about what's bothering you?"

Cagalli was silent for a moment, still turning the can in her hands, unsure of how to begin or even why she was contemplating on spilling her insecurities to this man, her co-star.

"Cagalli?"

"It's just... I don't get it."

"What?" asked Athrun confused.

"I don't get how I'm supposed to portray Arene. I've never been in a relationship, Zala. So I can't say I've ever been in her shoes to understand the sort of things Arene does for Haedren in the story. What signifies as love?" asked Cagalli as she put an elbow on her knee and proceeded to rest her cheek on a knuckle.

Athrun pulled the tab open on his own can of coffee and took a sip, his brow furrowed and his expression pensive.

"Well... I'm not the best person to discuss this problem with as I've not had much experience in relationships."

"But you've been in some haven't you? I've got zero experience on this."

Athrun gave a laugh as he brushed a hand through his hair.

"Some I guess. But I always get dumped."

"No way. The great Athrun Zala?" teased Cagalli.

"Yeah, but don't tell Kira." chuckled Athrun.

The pair shared another laugh, and when the laughter settled, Cagalli offered her co-star a grateful smile. She was no closer to understanding Arene's character but she felt better than she had a few moments ago.

"Thank you, Athrun. I feel much better." smiled Cagalli as she got up, handing him her can of coffee. With a smile and nod, she left, searching for Mwu, not noticing the look on her co-star's face.

Athrun watched as she walked down the hall and out of his view, a blush staining his face a pinkish red. He brought a hand still holding a coffee hand to cover his face as he tried to slow down his heartbeat.

He had been caught totally off guard by that smile of hers.

It was ludicrous. What reason was there for his stupid blood distributing organ to be pounding this hard in his chest?

And he wished that stupid heat on his cheeks would go away.

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To be continued...

It's a shortie chapter, I don't even remember how I wanted this chapter to go. And I've only got a vague inkling on what's supposed to happen in the next chapter. So bear with me as I don't really know where the story is going. I just write what comes to mind, so the characters are flying on their on path now.

22/06/06