Chapter 14: Star Photo Shoot

"I need those lights fixed!" Regina yelled.

While Benedict was filming extra scenes, Regina was in charge of the huge photo shoot today. Today, the entire cast- well the influential roles, were taking their profile shots and the big stars were shooting for the cover of Red Rider. There was about five photography directors in the studio and everything was rather chaotic.

"Ugh," Erika complained. "It's so stuffy in here," she complained. "I don't want Misaki to look flushed when she gets in front of the camera."

Honoka leaned against the table and watched everyone run around. "This is going to lovely day," she said, dryly.

"Smile!" a camera man said, walking by and taking candid pictures of everyone.

Misaki just smiled even though her hair was pinned up by a dozen metal clips. It probably looked ridiculous.

"I don't know what Benedict was thinking," Honoka said, sipping her tea. "Doing everyone's photos in the same day…" she muttered.

"It's just what made sense to him," Misaki shrugged.

"MISAKI!" a voice yelled.

Misaki looked up. "Sakura!" she exclaimed, waving to her friend who was two tables down.

"How have you been?!" Sakura called.

"Great! You?"

"The recording went really well!" Sakura replied. "But I'm glad to be back on set!"

Subaru and Erika finished Misaki and she left to go talk to her friend. Sakura's makeup and hair took a lot longer to do. Misaki sat herself on an empty stool.

"So, what did I miss?" Sakura asked as her hair stylist worked on getting her wig on.

"Just more filming," Misaki said.

"What about you know who?" Sakura asked, looking over to the right.

Misaki followed her gaze. She blushed when she realized who Sakura was looking at. Takumi, of course, looked up just in time to catch Misaki looking over. He waved and blew her a kiss with a smirk on his face.

"That freak!" Misaki exclaimed.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked.

"N-nothing," Misaki said, fiddling with her sword.

"Who's she?" Sakura asked.

Misaki sighed and casually looked over again. Beside him was a blonde girl who was chatting with Takumi. She was dressed in a green button down and well-tailored black pants.

"Oh, Alice…uhh Smith?" Misaki said. "She's Takumi's manager."

"That is a young manager," Sakura observed. "No offense," she said to her own manager who smiled.

Misaki shrugged but her eyes flitted back over to Takumi's station. Alice leaned in and whispered something to Takumi. He laughed.

"I need the following: Enchantress, Marina, Derek, Cypress, and Dark King!" Regina said through a microphone. "Please report to studio 5. I repeat. Enchantress, Marina, Derek, Cypress and Dark King, please report to studio 5."

Sakura's stylist carefully rearranged her circlet and they headed off to studio 5. The studio was a green screen.

"This is the cover shoot," Regina told the photographer. She flipped through a sketch book. "You will be posing alone. They'll most likely edit you in the arrangement they want. Let's start with Misaki because you have the different costumes to change into depending on what Benedict wants.

Misaki was dressed in her casual raspberry dress. She stepped onto the set and walked over to the "x" on the ground.

"We'll start with a confident stance," Regina said. "Keep a hand on your sword."

Misaki heard clicking as photos were being taken. Someone turned on a fan and Misaki's hair was blowing to the side.

"Soften your face," Regina said. "Cypress is the fierce one. Yes, perfect," she said when Misaki relaxed her face. "Draw your sword now. Point it at the camera,"

Misaki did her best to look determined yet gentle which was a weird mix. She was supposed to change into her rider outfit next but first they were doing just a normal photo shoot.

"I want Takumi and Misaki together," Regina instructed. "And go find Kyle."

Misaki swallowed as Takumi stood beside her.

"Takumi, stand sideways. Misaki look completely at the camera."

Misaki held her pose as the camera clicked away.

"Now, both of you hold onto the sheathed sword," Regina said. "Yes, look at each other. Good good," Regina said as Misaki glanced up at Takumi

"Romantic one next," Regina said, walking onto set. "Takumi, wrap your arms around Misaki."

"Don't try anything funny," Misaki muttered under her breath.

"You know I would never do such a thing," Takumi teased.

Luckily, it was only a few photos. The fan photos would take place after the actual movie was released. Misaki went to get changed and ready in her Rider costume while the other actors went.

When she came back, Vivian was taking her pictures. She had both her short swords drawn. She looked deadly as she stood there, almost glaring at the camera. Misaki's costume was all red, pinks, and purples but Vivian had mostly greens and browns. Her hair was always in a messy side braid and her exposed ear had multiple piercings. They did a few pictures with and without the forest green cloak Cypress always wore.

Takumi looked just like a model in his pictures. His hair was pulled back into a tiny little stub in the back of his head and he wore a leather cord around his head. His clothes were based on medieval ranger clothes except like everyone else's, they had an edgy twist to it.

Taking photos couldn't take the entire day right? Well, you thought wrong. Misaki and the cast had been in the studios since the morning and they didn't finish until the evening. A production this big had a LOT of pictures to be taken. Besides the ones they took while filming, there was also the ones they took in the studio now.

"Look at this," Misaki said, pressing a huge makeup wipe on her face. She peeled it off and looked like a smudged face had transferred onto it.

Sakura giggled. "Oh, Misaki. You're so funny."

"Hey," Vivian said, taking a seat with them. She unscrewed her water bottle and took a ship. "I'm exhausted," she declared. "Who says we head into the city tonight and blow off some steam?"

"I don't drink…" Misaki said.

"You're funny," Vivian said, laughing and slapping Misaki on the back. "There's this really good sauna and hot tub place I found."

"Oh, that sounds fun," Sakura agreed. "Misaki?"

"Okay, fine," Misaki said, laughing. "Let's go."

"This is heaven," Misaki decided as they sunk into the hot bubbly water.

"Agreed," Sakura said, leaning back.

They all wore new bikinis with their hair up in buns. Misaki usually felt paranoid in such public places but not many people recognized them and each tub was pretty private. She finally relaxed completely and let the hot water soothe her.

"Drinks?" a woman asked, walking by.

"A martini," Vivian said, not looking up.

"I'll have a Pina Colada," Sakura added.

"And you, Miss?" the woman asked.

"I'll have water and lemon," Misaki replied.

"When do you turn 'legal'?" Vivian asked.

"Not for a few months," Misaki said, sighing. "It's okay though," she said, stretching out her legs. "I am going to stay away from alcohol. I do not want to end up in rehab."

"That's silly," Vivian said, closing her eyes. "Those are the stars without work. I'm sure you'll always have work."

"Do you know what you're doing after Red Rider?" Misaki asked.

Vivian shook her head. "I'm hoping offers will start pouring in after the premiere."

"Maybe we'll all be in the same production again," Misaki suggested.

Vivian smiled. "Except this time maybe I'll get the lead," she joked. "You are my biggest competitor."

Misaki laughed. "Let the best actor win then?"

"Or I could drown you in your lemon water," Vivian said, nodding to the drinks that were set on the side for them. "Then I can have all the leads to myself."

"I think you're better off drowning her in the hot tub," Sakura said. "That's a tiny glass of water. How stingy…"

Misaki looked at her martini glass of water. "One standard serving of water," she agreed downing the tiny glass.

They all laughed and enjoyed the rest of their hot tubbing time.

"Are we ready to head out?" Sakura asked when they changed back into their street clothes.

"Yup," Misaki agreed, sliding on her hipster glasses. She was dressed in a casual denim shorts and a pretty t-shirt with nice flats.

Sakura had on a floppy hat with a dark purple sundress and jeweled sandals. Vivian on the other hand was wearing stilettoes with cropped shirt and skinny jeans.

"Let's hit the streets," Vivian said, tossing her hair. "I'm kind of hungry."

"I think there was a bakery down the street," Sakura suggested.

"Perfect."

They each bought a tea with a slice of cinnamon swirl bread.

"I love New Zealand," Sakura declared, taking a bite of her bread.

Misaki was about to say something when she got a weird feeling.

"Are we being followed?" she asked, looking around.

They slowed their walk and looked around. There was a faint clicking sound that Misaki had become so accustomed to.

"There's a reporter," Misaki said under her breath.

"It's not like we're doing anything," Vivian said. "Don't mind them. They will not ruin our evening!"

Sakura agreed. "Unless they want to make a headline about what tea we're drinking. There's honestly nothing interesting to spin into a story."

Misaki nodded. "I guess I'm just being too careful. Where to now?"

Sakura thought about it. "Let's head back," she suggested. "I'll call our driver."

"Yeah," Vivian agreed. "I want to be well rested up for tomorrow."

Sakura agreed. "I think Benedict and Regina would make such a cute couple," she giggled. "Did you see them at lunch today?"

"Yes!" Vivian laughed. "Benedict was being his crazy self and Regina wasn't having it."

"What happened?" Misaki asked as they got into the car. "I missed it."

"Benedict wanted to change something about the photos but Regina wasn't having it. She told him that was what they all decided and that was how it was going to stay. He tried to complain but she smacked him with a binder."

"Wow," Misaki said. "That's bold."

Vivian nodded. "It's so funny watching all the professionals get cozy with each other. It's just like Takumi and that girl!"

"Who?" Misaki asked, confused.

"Oh," Vivian said. "You know, Takumi and…" she lowered her voice. "His manager."

"What?" Misaki asked.

"I think they have some secret relationship," Vivian told them. "What's her name? Alice? She sleeps in his trailer when she stays on set."

"Really?" Sakura asked. "That would make sense. She's like the only girl he seems really comfortable with…" Sakura pouted. "And I thought he liked Misaki."

"Me?" Misaki scoffed. "No way…"

Vivian shrugged. "You don't think they're really close?"

Misaki thought about it. That girl was really close to Takumi. Her mind flitted back to earlier when they were laughing together and exchanging smiles.

"I'm sorry," Vivian said. "I didn't know you actually liked him-"

"That's nonsense," Misaki said, feeling slightly disappointed. "I'm not into him. Not my type," she said, keeping an even voice.

They got into the car and headed back to their trailers.

"See you tomorrow," Vivian said, getting out.

"Bye," Misaki said, heading back to her own trailer.

"Hi," someone said as Misaki opened the door.

Misaki almost screamed if Takumi didn't cover her mouth.

"What the hell are you doing hiding in the dark?!" she demanded. Why did her heart feel this way? He seemed so different to her now.

"I didn't see you earlier so I walked over to see if you were here," Takumi said with a shrug.

"I'm an adult!" Misaki exclaimed. "Why do you care?!"

"What's wrong with you…?" Takumi asked. "And why are you always asking why I care?"

Misaki clenched the handle of her trailer. "W-what's wrong with me?!" she exclaimed. "You're the problem!" she snapped.

"What did I-"

"Takumi!" a voice yelled.

Misaki saw Alice run over.

"Hi Misaki," she said, smiling. "Takumi," she said. "Come back to the trailer," she said in a low voice. "We need to talk."

"Mi-"

"Go," Misaki said, looking away. "I'm tired. Good night," she said, slamming her trailer door. Call her stupid but she glanced behind her shoulder through the small window and her heart hurt. Alice had looped her arm around Takumi's and they walked away.

"That's fine!" Misaki yelled into the empty trailer. "That's fine… I don't care," she told herself. "Professional! Professional!" Maybe if she said it enough times, this feeling will go away.