~ & ~ Lights, Camera, Kiss Me ~ & ~
~ Jasper ~
~ Heroes of Olympus/PJO ~
~ O Romeo, Romeo ~
Piper McLean is a very famous singer, thanks to her roots. But she is pushed to manage new stages so she lands a role in a very important up-coming movie. She soon meets her co-star, Jason Grace. New feelings rise and she finds her self falling for him as the time passes. But she also finds out he is taken by Reyna Anton. How will she cope with the flourishing feeling towards him? Will she get her chance?
I stood on the set, rereading my lines once more. The script had been dramatically changed; too much for my liking.
Even the characters. The movie itself.
Originally, the movie was set to be a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. Now, it was going to be the same version as the 1968 version, old-themed. Wearing corsets and long hot dresses here I come. Why the sudden change? I have no clue. I thought it was because of the love scene but I didn't expect it to be so big a deal.
Also casting. A new member has joined the crew apparently they are keeping Count Paris male by hiring another actor and extending the character Rosaline for Reyna.
Good thing the production decided to extended the small hiatus in filming. So now we have more time to memorize our lines.
"Hey, hey, hey, Beauty Queen. Ready for the new movie scenes?" I heard Leo behind me. This made me jump.
I slapped his arm, "Stop that, will you?"
"What?" Leo asked innocently.
I rolled my eyes and turned to face him. "Ask me to read a line on this page. You be Romeo for now."
"Okay," Leo got serious, maybe sensing my nervousness. "Start from line 27."
"Okay. I gave thee mine before thou didst request it: And yet I would it were to give again." I said, waiting for him.
"Wouldst thou withdraw it? For what purpose, love?" Leo said.
" But to be frank, and give it thee again. And yet I wish but for the thing I have: My bounty is as boundless as the sea, My love as deep; the more I give to thee, The more I have, for both are infinite. I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu! Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true. Stay but a little, I will come again.And then I exit inside."I read off the top of my mind.
Leo nodded but just as he was about to read the next part, he was interrupted by someone who beat him to it.
"O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard. Being in night, all this is but a dream, too flattering-sweet to be substantial. And then you enter again."
It was Jason.
"Hey," I said.
He smirked with nothing behind it and gestured me to continue.
So I did, "Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed. If that thy bent of love be honourable, Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow, By one that I'll procure to come to thee, Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite; And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay And follow thee my lord throughout the world."
I find myself saying the last lines very slowly at the end, getting lost in his electrifying blue eyes. Yeah, very cliché, I know.
"Piper Julianna McLean, where you go!" I heard some yell.
Her voice snapped me back to reality. Her, being my lovely sister, Silena.
"Lena, could you next time not, you know, yell my full name across the set?!" I practically said between gritted teeth.
The boys laughed.
"But I like to do it." Silena pouted.
"Well…" I rolled my eyes.
"Lena, my pretty little Lena. Long time no see." Leo said real suave. Or at least he attempted to.
"You know Leo your try real hard, but it will never work." And with that she click-clacked her way to Chiron's side.
Leo didn't give up. "I like 'em feisty. That's my cue. See ya!"
"Leo! It's no use!" I tried. Leo goes after every girl like that. With my sister it's just joke but it's not giving him much to grab.
"He seems determined." Jason chuckled.
"Yeah, that's Leo for you. Anyway, you managed to memorize this old English, I see." I pointed to my head to prove my point.
"Not really, I knew them by heart. I played Romeo in high school." He blushed, shifting from foot to foot.
"Oh," I said, dumbfounded. Of course he knew that. He is Jason freaking Grace. He gets every lead.
"So shall we get to the set? I hear it's pretty wicked." He asked. I nodded and he gestured me to keep going.
We got there in silence. Uncomfortable silence, that is. The set was a set on location. We were in a town in Hollywood where many old-fashioned houses from different eras were. These were mainly owned by Half-Blood Productions for filming. Most of the filming for the movie is going to be here.
The house is beautiful. It is your typical Renaissance house with symmetrical architecture: domed roofs, and arched window motifs. A few miles back down the road, there is a lake with arched tunnels and bridges. In the mansion there is a beautiful garden where the Greco-Roman style sculptures are all over the place and a labyrinth type maze is set up with shrubby neatly trimmed bushes. A domed roofed covers a beautiful fountain that had an angel above it.
Now, where we all are, crew and cast, located is where a balcony seemed to peak out. A few miles from here iss were a great house is set up for the cast and crew to spend the nights. Yes, we are to stay here for a whole month.
And well, I am a little scared of the place we are to sleep in. There a various legends in which it is said that that place is haunted. Many creepy things happen… yeah… I'm scared out of my wits. But anyway…
"Okay, so thanks to every one who has handled this situation maturely. Sadly, in the production area, there was big change in which matters had to be taken care of." Chiron managed as he yelled in to his speaker. He grabbed his script and sat near the camera.
Chiron looked drained. He seemed tired and frustrated not like the casual man I saw at the meeting with Jason.
"Let's begin. Places!" he yelled.
When he yelled places, I was barely getting there, to the balcony.
I saw everyone below scurry to their places. I even saw Leo hitting on my sister. Ehhew.
"Lights!" It was night time so the big bright lights hit brighter.
"Camera!" I saw the cameramen move the cameras and adjust whatever needed to be adjusted.
Leo spoke out loud. "Marker! Act two, Scene one: Capulet's Orchard. Take one."
Leo snapped the marker and stood out of the cameras. Chiron nodded and yelled, "Action!"
Jason: But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
Who is already sick and pale with grief,
That thou her maid art far more fair than she:
Be not her maid, since she is envious;
Her vestal livery is but sick and green
And none but fools do wear it; cast it off.
It is my lady, O, it is my love!
O, that she knew she were!
She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that?
Her eye discourses; I will answer it.
I am too bold, 'tis not to me she speaks:
Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven,
Having some business, do entreat her eyes
To twinkle in their spheres till they return.
What if her eyes were there, they in her head?
The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars,
As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven
Would through the airy region stream so bright
That birds would sing and think it were not night.
See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand!
O, that I were a glove upon that hand,
That I might touch that cheek!
By the time he finished his lines, I have been looking dreamily at the sky, with my head resting on my hand.
Me: Ay me!
I sigh. And continue to look dreamily at the sky.
Jason: She speaks:
O, speak again, bright angel! for thou art
As glorious to this night, being o'er my head
As is a winged messenger of heaven
Unto the white-upturned wondering eyes
Of mortals that fall back to gaze on him
When he bestrides the lazy-pacing clouds
And sails upon the bosom of the air.
I pretend I hear nothing and continue to dream.
Me: O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.
By this time, Jason has climbed a tree nearby the balcony is right under me. Supposedly.
Jason: Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?
When I hear his words, I begin to move. I reach for a flower, more precisely a rose.
Me: 'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.
I stuttered at the last part.
Oh please Piper Julianna McLean! Don't mess up!
Jason: I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.
Oh how romantic! Focus!
Me: What man art thou that thus bescreen'd in night
So stumblest on my counsel?
By this time, now, I have 'heard' him. I wonder who is here?
Soon Jason comes into view.
Jason: By a name
I know not how to tell thee who I am:
My name, dear saint, is hateful to myself,
Because it is an enemy to thee;
Had I it written, I would tear the word.
I gasp at those words and he motions to sit on the rim of the balcony. He could fall off the thing.
Me: My ears have not yet drunk a hundred words
Of that tongue's utterance, yet I know the sound:
Art thou not Romeo and a Montague?
Jason: Neither, fair saint, if either thee dislike.
Me: How camest thou hither, tell me, and wherefore?
The orchard walls are high and hard to climb,
And the place death, considering who thou art,
If any of my kinsmen find thee here.
I try to hide him, or my 'kinsmen' will kill my Romeo.
Jason: With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls;
For stony limits cannot hold love out,
And what love can do that dares love attempt;
Therefore thy kinsmen are no let to me.
He slaps the stone balcony, as if it were nothing.
Me: If they do see three, they will murder thee.
"Cut!"
"You said three instead of thee." Jason chuckled. I laughed and did some weird vocals sounds with my mouth and tongue.
"Let's try that again. Take two. Action!" Chiron's voice blasted through the speaker.
Me: If they do see thee, they will murder thee.
Jason: Alack, there lies more peril in thine eye
Than twenty of their swords: look thou but sweet,
And I am proof against their enmity.
…
…
Jason: Lady, by yonder blessed moon I swear
That tips with silver all these fruit-tree tops-
Me: O, swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon,
That monthly changes in her circled orb,
Lest that thy love prove likewise variable.
Jason: What shall I swear by?
Me: Do not swear at all;
Or, if thou wilt, swear by thy gracious self,
Which is the god of my idolatry,
And I'll believe thee.
Jason: If my heart's dear love—
This is the part where Juliet kisses Romeo. The first balcony kiss. I begin to lean in but he beat me to it. He tilted his head a bit and placed his lips on mine, softly. He placed one of his hands under my chin. Suddenly, I felt weak-kneed and I was glad that I had the balcony to support myself.
The weirdest thing happened. I had been told that the theme song had been changed and was now 'You and Me' from Life House. That song immediately began to play in my head.
I pulled back.
Me: Well, do not swear: although I joy in thee,
I have no joy of this contract to-night:
It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden;
Too like the lightning, which doth cease to be
Ere one can say 'It lightens.' Sweet, good night!
This bud of love, by summer's ripening breath,
May prove a beauteous flower when next we meet.
Good night, good night! as sweet repose and rest
Come to thy heart as that within my breast!
I kissed him the same way as before. Only this kiss was more passionate. Passionate? Great? I pulled back, as Juliet knew she had to get inside.
Jason: O, wilt thou leave me so unsatisfied?
Me: What satisfaction canst thou have to-night?
Jason: The exchange of thy love's faithful vow for mine.
Jason's eyes twinkled and he could've just won an award for that.
Me: I gave thee mine before thou didst request it:
And yet I would it were to give again.
Jason: Wouldst thou withdraw it? for what purpose, love?
Me: But to be frank, and give it thee again.
And yet I wish but for the thing I have:
My bounty is as boundless as the sea,
My love as deep; the more I give to thee,
The more I have, for both are infinite.
Nurse calls within
I hear some noise within; dear love, adieu!
Anon, good nurse! Sweet Montague, be true.
Stay but a little, I will come again.
I exit. I head back inside and wait for Jason to says more.
Jason: O blessed, blessed night! I am afeard.
Being in night, all this is but a dream,
Too flattering-sweet to be substantial.
I go back outside.
Me: Three words, dear Romeo, and good night indeed.
If that thy bent of love be honourable,
Thy purpose marriage, send me word to-morrow,
By one that I'll procure to come to thee,
Where and what time thou wilt perform the rite;
And all my fortunes at thy foot I'll lay
And follow thee my lord throughout the world.
Nurse calls me
I come, anon.-But if thou mean'st not well,
I do beseech thee—
Nurse calls again.
By and by, I come:-
To cease thy suit, and leave me to my grief:
To-morrow will I send.
Jason: So thrive my soul—
Me: A thousand times good night!
I kiss him once more. Only this kiss was more agitated, more demanding. He had sat on the rim of the balcony and had bent down to kiss me.
Silently and subconsciously, I begged him to kiss me more with his lips. I didn't want to let him go. So he complied with the same desire. He cupped my face and kissed more impassioned.
Breathing hard, he continued his next line, seeing me as I leave his side. In the script were told to hold hands, where the camera would close-up, and let go of each other slowly. So we did as so.
Jason: A thousand times the worse, to want thy light.
Love goes toward love, as schoolboys from
their books,
But love from love, toward school with heavy looks.
"Cut!" We'll leave it here for the moment! Take twenty."
I saw that Jason jumped over the rim of the balcony. He was coming over to my side. I was already inside to room so when he shut the balcony's doors, I knew something was going to happen.
"Whoa." Was what he said.
"What?" I asked.
He grabbed my arm to stop me from walking to the door.
He made me see his gaze. He had something in his eyes, desire, lust, something.
"I don't know. What do you have, Piper McLean? What do you have that makes me feel funny inside? Percy told me it was love but I wouldn't know. I've never been in love. And I barely know you so how it could be?" He ranted, moving me to the wall near the balcony's door. I'm sure no one would anything if something here to happen.
"Jason?" I managed although it sounded weak, just as I felt. Weak under his hold.
"You feel it too, huh? That effect. Since we met that day, we felt something. I felt it. And I was with Reyna back then. Now I'm alone and the effect has only gotten stronger. What do you have?" he asked me desperately.
"Me?" I heard myself say, "Me? What do you have that you make me feel all weak in the knees? I have to keep myself calm and tamed around you to not make a fool of myself. But it doesn't work! What is it?"
"If we both don't know then what?" he practically begged.
"I…don't…know…" I said but he was getting dangerously close to me. To my lips.
If he were to kiss me, I wouldn't be able to keep myself contained. But I need his lips on mine, but for real. No staged kisses. Real!
He is teasing, isn't he?
"Lights," he whispered. "Camera…"
"Kiss me." I said and he didn't hesitate.
He kissed me as he smashed me against the wall. He let his lips roam around my jawbone, neck, and collarbone. I held on to him for dear life around his neck.
"Jason," I moaned. He began to kiss me more tenderly.
He traces my bottom lip with his tongue and I part my mouth, sighing into him, and when I bite his lip gently he can't stop a low growl from escaping.
I don't know where we are going with this, but I know we don't have enough time for anything more.
He slides his hands under my dress top (the dress consists of a top part and bottom part, thank gods) just to keep them there. I know he doesn't want to do anything. At least for now. Somehow I know.
I love his warm hands in contact with my skin. I love it. And I think I love him…
I pulled back but he continues his task to attack my neck.
"Jason, we have to go back. Someone might come and gets us." I reasoned. He just groaned but continued.
I gave him a kiss just as – if on cue— there was a knock on the door.
I quickly pushed him away. I ran to open the doors of the balcony and Jason seemed to get the idea. We quickly sat next to the balcony and grabbed the script I left there, just in case I messed up. We pretended to be rehearsing when the one responsible for the knocking came into view.
It was Reyna Anton…
A/N: You guys happy with this chappie? Huh, huh? Hope so because that was fun to write. :)
Anyway, sorry for the late update. Life is hectic. I can't find time to write anymore or the energy. Beside, I have exams…
Yeah, it's crazy.
So please review to bring a smile on my face and I might update sooner. I normally don't like to bribe you guys for reviews but now I need some… Thanks.
~BeautiWind – heart-
P.S. – Romeo and Juliet belong to Shakespeare and PJO belongs to Mr. Riordan.