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“Is it true that both of you tried for the same part once?” The interviewer asked.
Anne and Emily looked at each other.
“Go ahead. Tell him.” Emily said.
“Yes, actually that happened more than once.” Anne said, grinning, pretending as if that wasn’t a problem.
“Do you consider yourselves similar styles of acting or you just have the same taste in movies?” The interviewer continued the subject. That wouldn’t end well.
“We’re the same age and enjoy good movies, so I think it makes sense that this happens sometimes.” Emily replied, smiling before Anne could say anything. She knew that Anne would keep being too nice and the subject would go on. They looked at each other and faked smiles. They were both good actresses, so it wasn’t hard to fake it.
After the end of the interview, they both asked for a break and went to another room to get some water.
“That was a good save.” Anne said while getting a glass of water and offering to Emily.
“Well, no one needs to know our story.” Emily replied coldly but accepted the water.
“There has been speculation, you should know that.” Anne said. They kept a safe distance while talking. And even though they were brutally honest with each other, they knew their limits.
“Speculation? That we fought because of a specific part?” Emily questioned.
“That too, but I meant about the other thing.” Anne answered a bit afraid of her answer.
“That we were together?” Emily asked, looking at her.
“Yup.” Anne answered simply, avoiding her eyes.
“We are not anymore, so rumors will keep being rumors. And no one will know. I can pretend to be your friend in front of a camera.” Emily answered acidly.
“I know, I just wanted you to know that there were gossip magazines saying that.”
“When was that?” Emily asked, trying to understand the timeline.
“I think last year. When we-
“When we were together.” Emily cut her mid-sentence. “Look, Annie, why are you saying that to me now? You know I don’t check on these things.”
Anne froze a little when she heard her name in Emily’s voice. Specially saying Annie. She realized she missed it.
“Just thought you had the right to know, in case someone asks you out of the blue. I don’t want you to be put on the spot.” Anne answered nicely.
“You know I can improvise.” Emily answered. “But thank you.” She almost smiled. The whole situation was weird.
“I know you can. You’re the best at it. I...” Anne tried to think of something else to say but lost track of her thoughts for a second.
“Don’t try to Annie me.” Emily said it low and searched for Anne’s eyes.
“What?” Anne looked at her confused.
“The compliment, and the face...” Emily answered as if annoyed, but even like that she was sweet.
“What face?”
“I know you too well, you seem to forget that. The puppy dog's face, with those eyes. Don’t try that on me. You’re very good at enchanting everyone, and we both know that.” Emily replied. She didn’t have a mean tone. It was more of a tired one. The tension grew even more in the room. They stared at each other for half a second.
“Sorry. Force of habit.” Anne admitted.
“It’s fine, just don’t do it.” Emily was still hurt, but she didn’t have it in her to be mean. She could make jokes; she could be serious, but with Annie she just wanted to be soft. And she couldn’t anymore. “We should get back.”
And she left the room. They went back to the interviews and that lasted hours and eventually it ended.
“They sent a car to take both of you to your houses. You’ll have to share it this time.” Anne’s publicist said when they were taking their things and getting ready to go. That was unusual since usually each actor got their own car.
“What happened, why don’t we have two cars?” Emily asked right away.
“There was an issue with the driver. But it’s just this time.”
“That’s fine, I can take a taxi.” Emily answered.
Annie frowned a little but didn’t say anything until both of their publicists left the room.
“Really, not even share a car? Come on, Emily.” Anne said, annoyed. They had been friendly throughout all the interviews. Anne thought things were less awkward by now. Emily looked at her.
“I’m tired, and it’s been a long day of having to be around you. I can take a taxi, you can have the car.” Emily answered, visibly tired. All her invincible charisma was worn out by the 10 hours of work.
“Take the car, then. I won’t make your day harder.” Anne sighed.
“No, it’s fine.” Emily tried to refuse. They had been fighting for so long, but it always sounded as if neither wanted to hurt each other.
The door opened and Emily’s publicist entered again.
“The car is here girls. Time to go.”
“I’ll take a taxi, we don’t have to go together.” Emily said quickly.
“Em, go with her, if they see you taking a taxi instead of sharing a car it can get weird and raise questions. It’s a 10-minute car ride.” Her publicist said.
“Fine.”
They left the building and went to the car. Emily opened the door, and instead of entering, she opened her arm, signaling Anne to get inside. Anne was surprised for a second, but then again, she wasn’t. That was a glimpse of how Emily really was behind the mask of hating her.
“Thank you.” Anne said as she glided on the back seat of the car. Emily entered and sat next to her. They were now closer than they were the entire day. There was a wall on the car so they couldn’t see the driver. It was just them. In a small space.
“No problem.” Emily said without looking at her.
“Will you ever forgive me?” Anne decided that they needed to talk.
“There’s nothing to forgive, you didn’t do anything wrong.” Emily looked at her. Anne tilted her head a little. “I said no eyes, Annie.”
“I can’t control how my eyes look.” Anne replied softly.
“You know the effect you have on me.” Emily couldn’t keep quiet. She looked out the window, avoiding Anne’s gaze. Anne reached out and squeezed her arm softly. Emily froze.
“You know I can’t control the eyes. Not when I’m looking at you.” Anne said honestly. They were now too close. Anne’s hand still on Emily’s arm, and their legs were almost touching each other. As soon as the words left Anne’s mouth, Emily’s eyes couldn’t help but stare at her lips for a few seconds, and that was enough for Anne to kiss her.
Emily kissed her back instantly, both of them desperate. It had been months since their breakup. A messy, sad break up. Those ‘we still love each other deeply’ breakups. So, they couldn’t see each other without caving and ending up in the back of a car, desperately holding onto each other.
If anyone checked their interviews or moments talking about each other, it was always friendly enough so people would believe it. Sometimes, even a hint of a relationship could appear for smart eyes. But overall, their relationship was messy. They hated each other in many moments, but most of all, they loved each other so obsessively that it was just painful.
They lost control of what they were doing for a few minutes. Andy’s hand pulling Emily’s waist closer to her and Emily holding on to Anne’s hair as if her life depended on it. They kept kissing passionately until Anne broke the kiss, breathing heavily.
“Come stay with me tonight.” She said and kissed her neck. Emily let a low moan.
“We shouldn’t.” Emily said no but pulled Anne for another kiss. Her body was stronger than she was. Anne broke the kiss again.
“Just tonight. Please, Em!” Anne asked and planted kisses on her face. Emily’s eyes closed, allowing her to just feel her.
“You know I can’t say no to you.” Emily answered still with eyes closed. She pulled Anne’s hair. “God, I missed you.”
“You have no idea, I thought of kissing you the entire day.” Anne looked at her blue eyes.
“Just kissing?” Emily teased, biting her lip.
“My god, you’re amazing.” Anne laughed at her and they started kissing each other again.
Suddenly, the car stopped. They broke their desperate make out session for a second and realized they had arrived at Anne’s stop.
“Come on, let’s go!” Anne said, opening the door and trying to pull Emily’s hand.
“I’ll go home first, I’ll meet you later.” Emily answered.
“Em...” Anne tried to protest, she knew that if Emily went home, she would probably change her mind. She hadn’t left the car yet, but her door was open.
“You know it’s a bad idea.” Emily said, confirming Anne’s thoughts. Anne put her hands around Emily’s neck.
“Please, come with me. Please.” Anne asked looking at her, unafraid to beg. Emily smiled against better judgement.
“Ugh, these eyes.” Emily replied. Kissed her softly. “Let’s go.” She agreed. Anne grinned at her with that gigantic smile. They left the car and went to her house.
Anne knew they were still over. She knew she fucked up. But she also knew she still loved her and that Emily loved her too. They both knew that they didn’t resist each other's charms. Deep down, they knew it was a toxic situation. But Anne wouldn’t let go. She would get her back.