Mooseillefan, Jade, Melissa, Vanessa, EmmaRobertsFan, Claire, lucky-im-terrified, secretxlittlexdarling and especially luakinaga... thank you so much!
Los Angeles, CA
2014
Sitting on the beach, Moose leaned back to look up at the shimmering stars, while the ocean waves crashed just inches from his feet.
A half a mile down the sandy shore, a few close knit friends from the cast were gathered around a roaring fire, each telling stories of their time spent on the Step Up movies.
It was the day before Camille was to arrive, just hours before their first scene was scheduled.
He could hear his friends laughing in the distance, but his mind kept drifting to her, and that first night they spent together.
Closing his eyes he could still feel her soft skin beneath his fingertips, hear the sound of her breathy response as he moved inside her.
Warm breezes tousled his unruly curls around as his heart clenched with the pain of missing her still.
"Hey… penny for your thoughts."
Sighing, her heart filled with sympathy for her friend as she took a seat in the sand next to him, welcoming his, as always warm smile.
"Second thought, keep your money, I know there's only one thing on your mind."
His big brown eyes immediately drifted from her to the vast ocean cast out before him.
"Hey Andie."
Wrapping the drawstring to her sweatshirt around her finger, trying to find the right words to help him, she cleared her throat.
"Listen, you know we're all here for you. Your real friends understand Moose, we know you'd never do anything to intentionally hurt her. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you, is there anything I can do?"
Shrugging he kept his gaze set on the reflection of the full moon as it spilled down onto the water below, carving out a path leading straight to him.
"I tried everything … and she wouldn't even talk to me. Now were going to be face to face with each other, saying things, intimate things. Do you know the very first scene I have with her … we kiss?"
Andie's head fell into her hands, almost pissed that they would do that to him, at the same time knowing that they probably had no choice.
"Oh god, Moose … I'm so sorry."
Shaking his head, his voice broke, filled with unexpected emotion.
"The dialogue, what I have to say to her… Andie I don't know how I'm going to get through it."
Placing a supportive hand on his shoulder, she answered him the only way she could.
"You can do it Moose, just try to imagine she's someone else. Picture another girl in your mind when you're saying the words. And when it's over, we'll all be waiting for you, walk off the set and into my trailer, you can scream, cry, drink … whatever, we'll get you through this Moose, I promise."
Standing, Moose held out his hand lifting Andie to her feet, bringing her in for a tight hug.
"Thanks, just… don't be upset if I can't be with anyone after, honestly Andie, I don't know how I'm going to actually react until it happens, but you know I appreciate all of you."
Hearing both their names being yelled over the sound of the dark sea, she nodded.
"Whatever you need, just know we're here."
Letting her hand go, Moose smiled wearily as he began to back up towards the parking lot.
"Can you … "
Waving him away she nodded, "I got it, I'll tell them goodbye for you, no worries."
Looking past her, he could see Sean staring at him with concern.
"Bye Andie, see you tomorrow."
None of them had to actually be there the next day, but they had gotten together thanks to Sean and Andie, deciding it wouldn't hurt to practice some choreography as an excuse to be there for him.
Working together, growing up together, especially since Moose and Camille were the youngest of the group, they were especially attached to them both, there's nothing they wouldn't do for either of them, but in their heart of hearts they hoped they'd end up together, no one close to them could see either of them with anyone else.
Considering their story, how they started out as friends, both on screen and behind the scenes, then slowly fell in love, both on screen and off, no one could see it this ending up any other way, then with them together, as it was meant to be.
cMc
The next day…
Pacing back and forth inside his small trailer, Moose was a mess, holding his script in his hands, he kept reciting his lines, flubbing them every time.
His hands were actually shaking as a soft knock hit his door, before slowly opening.
"We need you on set in five Moose, is there anything you need? Any questions about the scene you need to discuss with the director before we start?"
Hearing his heart beat loud in his ears, Moose shook his head, unable to even speak.
"Ok well, if you're ready you can just follow me, I'm Jason, I'll be assisting you this afternoon, if there's anything you need, please don't hesitate to ask."
Moose could feel his lips moving, thanking the young kid, but his mind was far away with her as Jason led him to the set of the roof of Moose and Camille's apartment.
It's as if the world slowed down with each step, words spoken while the crew barked instructions to each other felt like a million miles away, somewhere far in the distance.
Looking around taking in what was suppose to be their private get away, their romantic rooftop spot, his legs felt weak.
It was so real, he knew he should be used to this by now, but this was different, decorated with flowers, an intimate table for two, where imaginary candle lit dinners were shared between them, it was perfect, exactly what he'd picture their place to be like, their life together.
Standing on his mark, while the lighting guys set up around him, suddenly the Hollywood sign lit up behind him, just before everything went black.
"Sorry Moose, give us a second, we blew a fuse, we'll get the lights up in a minute."
Looking nervously around him he nodded. "No problem, I'm fine."
Suddenly he felt someone standing near him, just a few feet away.
He couldn't see his hand in front of his face, it was so dark, but he could sense someone there, hear the soft breath of a girl close to him.
Yes, it was definitely a girl as her perfume drifted around him, inundating his senses with wild flowers, sweet, delicate, beautiful…
'Oh god', It was her, he knew it, he felt it… his Camille…
Just then a string of white lights flickered on all around them, along with a glow from above, stars, the moon, all mimicking an hour late into the night, revealing what he already knew to be true.
It was his Camille, after two years, what seemed like a lifetime of regret, endless days of pain and unimaginable loneliness, she was there, standing a mere eight inches from him, on her own respective mark placed on the floor.
Looking down at first, too overwhelmed with emotion to face her directly, he spotted the small strip of neon yellow tape showing her where to stand.
The pull from inside, from his heart, the deepest part of himself that he tried to guard so well, melted away leaving him paper thin, transparent in his feelings for her, dangerously vulnerable.
If she chose to at that moment, she could destroy him, shatter him entirely in every way leaving him broken, unable to go through with the job at all, contract or no contract.
His full lips parted, his lungs took in a sharp breath when he finally found the courage to look up at her, watching as she stared straight through him, unflinching, fearless, seemingly unfazed by their past.
He couldn't help gazing dreamily at her, locked into those beautiful emerald green eyes that once fluttered with passion as he made her come apart in his arms.
Doing his best to shake off paralyzing nerves that had too strong a hold on him, he took a deep breath, knowing he had to be the first to break the tense silence between them.
"Hi Cam - "
Before he could finish, or she could reply, not that it appeared that she would, a voice bellowed overhead into a loudspeaker.
"Okay you two, just so we're all on the same page in respect to your character's story arc, we're going to go through it step by step."
Pulling in his bottom lip after embarrassingly being cut off, Moose couldn't help but stare directly at Camille in the most expressive genuine way, unwillingly baring his feelings.
It was like looking into the sun, her warmth, her stunning beauty had only escalated beyond measure with time, or maybe it was just the love he felt for her shinning through, a love that refused to fade, but against all odds grew leaps and bounds even though they were apart.
As the director continued he could hear his heart pounding in his ears, just as he had feared, it was all too much.
"Moose, you have just left Vegas after Camille walked in on you kissing another girl. You've followed her back to LA, to the home you share, to explain, to show her that she is the most important person in your life."
Moose wished the ground would crack open and swallow him up at this point, hating that the first scene had to do with him, in a way, cheating. A misunderstanding where he was left to beg for her to listen, to forgive.
Art was literally imitating life.
"Moose, your motivation for this scene - "
Trying not to be rude, Moose held up his hand, while his stare still remained trapped in those eyes that were filled with an emotion he couldn't yet identify.
"I got it, I understand the scene, we're good to go here."
An uncomfortable hush fell over the set, he could feel people shifting in their seats, whispering to each other.
He knew why, everyone knew, at this point he didn't care, he just needed for this to be over.
Averting his big brown eyes away from her, up to the boom guy who was adjusting the pole with the large microphone directly over his head, he found it hard to breathe.
Feeling a tug on his sweater, Jason, his assistant, pulled him back several feet to a small mark, where he was to start off the scene finding Camille leaning against a fake brick wall with her back turned away from him, staring at the Hollywood sign.
"Okay, everyone, let's just run through it once and see if there's anything we have to work on, Moose, were starting with your line, 'I knew I'd find you up here.' Quiet on the set everyone! Take one, rooftop scene, and … action!"
He took a deep breath, no longer worried about his lines, he thought back to Andie on the beach, 'pretend she's someone else', so for the next several lines, he did just that, and it was, to his surprise, working.
Back and forth they went, burying their personal issues, their tragic past, doing their job.
Camille acted perfectly, showing no other emotion than what the script demanded of her.
"... I wanted to go home, but home doesn't feel like home without you... does this feel like home to you?"
Everything was fine up till that point, well, not fine, but he was getting through it, until suddenly it all fell apart.
Clearly written in the stage direction that the exchange between the two called for a sweet moment, nothing too extreme or dramatic, typical 'Moose and Camille' heartwarming, cute but simple.
Enough to give the fans what they want, while also moving the story along.
After her line, Moose was suppose to deliver a romantic plea explaining his feelings. in turn she would except, they kiss and end scene.
Only that's not how it played out.
The script called for him to 'chuckle' scoffing, in response to her question "does this feel like home to you?"
But before speaking, he lost his way, all he could see was their future apart, and how horribly wrong everything turned out.
After all they had been through, after years of this romance that was meant to be, it was all disintegrating before his eyes.
Before he knew it, his heart had taken over, spilling out for everyone to witness, but he didn't care.
Taking a step closer, moving off his mark, Moose reached out grazing his fingers along her cheek lightly, desperate to touch her.
The producer went to stop the scene, only to be quietly held back by Trish, the director, who was curious to see this play out.
Moose closed into her personal space, unaware of anyone around them, while brushing his thumb along her bottom lip, craving her kiss.
All evidence that he was still some teenage, misguided, immature boy was gone, as the man he was becoming spoke from his heart in a deep husky voice, that was full of real emotion, that had nothing to do with the movie.
"Are you kidding me... I... love... my life with you, and I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world."
Even though his delivery was far too intense and passionate for what the director was asking for, Camille, the consummate professional did her job, speaking her next line, in the way in which it was meant to be, trying hard to ignore what was happening with him.
"But being in the spotlight, it's a big part of who you are, and I feel like I'm holding you back."
Sliding his hand along the soft edge of her jaw, he laced his fingers within her silky hair, moving even closer, so she could hear him intensely whispering to her, forgetting that they had a huge mic above their heads letting everyone in on his declaration.
"I found the one that I want to dance with."
There was more to the dialogue, more that he was suppose to say, but he couldn't help himself, it was exactly how he felt, and in that moment, he needed her to know, these words were from his heart.
The double meaning was lost to no one, as the crew and cast held their breath, knowing they were experiencing something real.
Andie, who was standing with Sean and the rest of the dancers, reached out to take Sean's hand in hers, as she wiped a tear from her cheek.
You could hear a pin drop in the large sound stage, tension was thick in the air as they stared lost in each other for what seemed like forever.
Suddenly someone's chair scraped across the floor jarring Camille out of the moment.
Mortified, she looked slowly around at everyone staring at them before turning away, latching onto whatever dignity she could, praying that they would give her a moment to get herself together.
"Trish, I'm sorry, would it be possible to have five minutes, before continuing?"
Over the loudspeaker, one of the assistants announced that they were breaking for lunch.
"Please everyone involved in this scene come back tomorrow, we'll resume shooting at ten am sharp. This space needs to be broken down for a few scenes that have been scheduled for this evening. See you all tomorrow."
Gary, the boom guy quickly moved off set, while the cameras that were focused in on them pulled back immediately.
Within moments there were several crew members swirling all around them, moving away the backdrop, replacing scenery, while conversations converged all over, making them once again invisible.
Anger flashed in her eyes as she grabbed him by the arm urging him to follow her.
"We need to talk!"
Following her swiftly, trying to keep up, he was relieved, having waited two years for this moment.
Pulling him into her trailer, she slammed the door shut, locking it behind her.
Moose almost fell backwards when she came at him pointing her finger hard into his chest.
"What you did out there was inexcusable! This is a professional job, I won't have my career put in jeopardy because suddenly you feel like revealing your feelings, you had two years to talk to me, and I heard nothing from you. I swear to god Moose, you haven't grown up at all, it's only when you're faced with something that you want and can't have, that it all becomes too - "
"Hold on, back up a second, what the hell are you talking about?"
Stunned by her accusations, completely confused, Moose backed her up till she was against the wall to calmly gaze down into her furious eyes.
"What do you mean... you heard nothing from me?"
Shaking his head, breathless, he placed his hands on either side of her head, trapping her in, so she'd have no choice but to hear him out.
"I left countless voice mails, and texts… I contacted all the family and friends that I had numbers for to try and reach you. I flew down to New York three times and sat outside your door waiting for you, I even wrote you several letters, they were all opened and sent back to me, accept for the last one that you didn't even bother to read, that was marked returned to sender."
Camille slumped back against the wall, her eyes cast down towards his chest that was heaving with emotion.
"What?"
Her reply was weak, soft, even disturbed as her mind searched for answers, but nothing made sense to her, nothing except one thing.
She couldn't help tremble with his body so close, all this time feeling as if something was missing, just not right, all but disappeared as he spoke to her in that voice, so sultry, but sweet, completely unaware of the effect he's always had on her, even to this very day.
Completely lost as to what was happening, Moose lowered his voice, rasping closely against her temple, relishing in the fact that he was so close to her.
"I did everything I could think of, I never stopped, never gave up… but I never heard back from you, not once… ever."
Lifting her eyes up to meet his intense expression she shook her head.
"Moose, I have no idea what you're talking about. I-I mean it's true, I did block you from my phone, but no one from my family or friends told me that you were trying to contact me, and I definitely never received any letters from you."
Backing away slightly, he thought for a moment before grabbing her hand.
"Do you have somewhere you need to be right now?"
Stunned and confused by all of this she shook her head slowly. "No."
"Come with me, I want to show you something, please, it's important."
She wasn't sure why she trusted him, why after all this time, she'd listen to one word he had to say, but despite it all she grabbed her bag and soon found herself in his car speeding towards his house.
Sighing when he looked in the driveway to find that his entire family was home, he turned to her as dusk fell over the tips of the palm trees hovering over the hills.
"Camille, if they see you now they'll be a million questions, they love you, and they know how I … well… just stay here, I'll be right back, I have to get something inside."
Shrugging she nodded, not really seeing a choice in the matter as he jumped out of the car quickly.
Sighing as her phone began to vibrate, she looked down to see Ken's face across the screen, unsure why, she shoved her phone back in her bag, feeling as if she had enough to deal with at the moment.
Appearing at the driver's door with a stack of letters in his hand, Moose placed them in the back seat and took off down the road, knowing exactly where to take her.
Stepping out of the car, Cam looked out over the beautiful horizon watching as the ocean drifted out onto the sand only to recede again, much like their relationship, ebbing and flowing, back and forth.
"This is really pretty Moose, but I don't see how - "
"Just please wait… there's something you need to see."
Walking her down to the fire pit, on the edge of the water, where his friends gathered the night before, he easily lit the half burnt pieces of wood that were still there as dusk quickly turned to dark, igniting a blanket of stars up above.
Facing the waves that lapped peacefully before them, she relented throwing her bag on the ground to take a seat on a log next to him.
Lifting her chin, gently edging her face towards him, he quietly spoke, hoping to understand why it was that she had no idea what he was talking about.
Handing her the letters, twelve to be exact, except for the final one that was left unopened, he pointed to dates that were post marked.
"Look at the dates they were sent, if I'm not lying about this, you have to believe that I did all those other things to try and reach you."
Holding them close to the fire to see, she leafed through every one, completely baffled why they were all obviously opened, taped closed, and sent back to Moose's California address.
"I don't understand, all this time, I thought… I mean, I just assumed… " her voice trailed off, visibly moved by all his efforts.
Closing his hands over hers, he whispered softly, sincerely.
"Camille, there was nothing going on with that girl, we dated once in a while. She wanted more, but I didn't want anyone but you, I told her the truth from the beginning, but I guess it didn't matter. I'm not making excuses, lying to you was wrong, but I panicked. That weekend we shared was everything I could've ever hoped for, I was terrified of losing you over some stupid text from a girl that meant nothing to me. Lying was an immature reaction to the very real fear I felt, it was wrong, but I was young. I swear to you, I will never lie to you again."
Remembering brought back so much hurt it was hard for her to even think straight.
"Moose - "
"Cam, I'm so sorry, I would die before I'd even think of hurting you. I love you, I always have. It's all there in the letters."
Suddenly they both heard her cell again, vibrating loudly in her bag, lighting up in the dark it was impossible not to see Ken's face across the screen, and the message along the bottom that she had twenty missed voice mails.
Slowly it all started to make sense, all those times she was away working, Ken had access to her apartment.
Her friends, family, they all loved him, he had gotten close to everyone, close enough to bad mouth Moose, to influence them into not helping him get in contact with her.
Bringing the letters to her chest she breathed out slowly.
"I think I know why this happened, why I never got your letters."
Looking at the guy on her phone, Moose recognized him immediately.
"Is that the manager from the Rainbow Room?"
Nodding slowly Camille looked back out towards the black sea as the flames of the fire reflected brightly in her eyes.
"Cam, are you ...with… him?"
Whispering slowly she nodded. "Sort of... engaged, actually."
Moose felt the blood drain from his face, heartbroken, his head fell into his hands, clutching his dark curls tight.
Shoving the hood from his sweatshirt over his head, hiding the fact that his eyes were welling up with tears, he failed to see her reach for his letter.
Pulling out the unread letter, Camille tore off the seal.
Holding the paper up to the fire, she began to read the words that poured from his heart.
Words that had always been meant for her, and her alone.
Dear Camille,