Behind the Time - Herophine

4

HERO

I wake up again with her in my arms, not believing that I felt it all again, that she was there, her scent, her skin covered by the hotel's white blankets, her calm breathing. I enjoyed all time with her there, I watched her still sleeping and I smiled, without noticing. My flight would leave in the late afternoon, I could spend the whole morning with her by my side, I bring her closer to me, squeezing her in my arms, she was still sleeping.
Then I hear our cell phones vibrate, several messages coming in at once, pushing my thoughts away and bringing me back to reality. I reach over to the dresser by the bed, grab my cell phone and read the message from Carter, one of the actors in the last movies we shot, he played Robert, a guy who hangs out with Tessa while Hardin was away, I don't know why but I never liked this character... I read the message that said:

"Hero! We'll have lunch at a restaurant near the hotel you're staying at. I'm with Stephen and Louise, I called Jô too. I know you're still here in Los Angeles, I don't take 'no' for an answer."

Jô starts to move, slowly waking up and staring at me not understanding anything of what was going on.
"Carter is asking us to have lunch with him, Stephen and Louise, are you in?" I see her eyes light up, I know Jô is happy when we meet the cast. She was still thoughtful, but her smile slowly appeared.
Stephen and Louise are also British like me, she is my mom in the movie, Trish and he was a close friend of Hardin's family until then, Vance, who brings a big secret in the last few movies. We are very close because of the shootings and because we were born in the same country, we got together to see the movies, it was a great time to enjoy a little together, before each one went back to their homes again.
"Yes, I would like to have lunch with them! But before that..." She pulls me closer and all the sensations return, it's amazing how much I look forward to having her in my arms again. Our skin prickles when we touch, our breath quickens, our moans, everything. Closing my eyes and being with who you care about, brings a feeling of peace and tranquility, which I only find when I am like this, with her, under the covers, listening to our happy laughter.


"Hey!! They came!!" Louise screams and runs to hug us. We arrived at the restaurant after fight to get out of bed, after fight to get out of the shower where we kissed even more, after feeling again every part of our bodies touching, wet, we squeezed, we felt, and we didn't want to pull away again.
We were hoping our friends wouldn't notice that Jô and I were with our hair wet, or arriving at the restaurant together, or for the simple fact that we were smiling from ear to ear. We hugged the three who had been waiting for us for lunch, and sat down at the chosen tables.
"Wait. Were you together?" Stephen asks.
I look scared to Jô who soon answers:
"No, we meet now, out there..."
"Yeahhh..."
Louise gives a sideways smile, the one we know very well, who doubts if she really believes what we were talking about... Or simply understands that we were together and that we liked each other from the moment we met.
We had a great lunch, full of funny conversations and lots of chicken, just the way I like it. I tried to make the most of my time with them, after all, I would return to London without a date for the reunion. Jô stared at me a lot of time during the conversation, she was no longer able to hide it, and I believe I wasn't either. I held her hand under the table, and sometimes she was the one looking for mine.
As soon as we finished eating and caught up with all the conversations, it was time to go back to the hotel, I needed to finish packing my things to go home. We said goodbye to everyone again, and we arranged a new meeting with the whole cast. Jô and I waited for everyone to leave to go back to the hotel, we went up to my room together.
Jô watched me leaning against the door as I packed my things. I said I didn't need help because I hadn't brought many clothes, at times she would pull me to be with her. She would lie down with me and we would just stand there staring at each other. Yeah... I definitely didn't expect to get to that level of intimacy with someone, of wanting to be close, of not wanting to leave her, it really moves me.


Finally I fly back to London. Jô and I took a while to say goodbye, but we tried to do it without suffering too much, after all, I gave my word that I would show up more to do my work in L.A... And see her, which is the most important thing for me at this moment. Let's try to keep that, whatever that is. Just the two of us, as usual, we don't want anyone in the middle of this. I believe that when we are sure of what to do, we will make it clear even to both of us what all this means.

After hugging my mom and sister, throwing all my things on the living room floor and trying to rest from the trip, I light my cigarette, read Jô's message and say that I've arrived. I keep listening to the M-Boys commenting that they missed me, singing their usual raps and eating the food I caught on the plane. I open my Instagram and see a photo of Jô with a fan. I smile and go back to doing my usual stuff, avoiding the guys's questions about what I did in Los Angeles. The M-Boys have been my friends since I learned to speak my full name. I've known them since I was very young and since then, we haven't split up, we play football together, we go out to parties, watch games, everything, I trust them more than my own shadow.
"You can say, you both had sex! We already know that you and the blonde girl don't waste time!"
"And you are very happy, with good skin!"
"It's true Hero! Why is it so hard to admit that you like each other and want to be together!"
"Dude, he knows that! He just doesn't want to assume anything because he wants to keep on partying with us, isn't it Hero?"
"Can you guys relax? That's not true! I like Jô a lot and she knows it, as well as I know she likes me, but being between London and Los Angeles is what messes everything up..."
"You're not leaving us are you?"
They continued with their questions, following me to my room as I hung the clothes back on the hanger.
"Not! I'm not leaving London! London is my home, I will always come back to London!"
That's why I find it so difficult for us to end up together. She is there, I'm here, it's not the best romance story anyone could want, is it? But it's our story, and only we know our feelings.

It was late, the guys had already finished all the food I had at home. I lay down on the bed to organize myself and get back to my normal routine. I light another cigarette, here in London it's very common for young people to smoke, and I started early too, I avoid it a little because I know it's not good. But it's an addiction I can't avoid. Felix calls me.
"Hey man!"
"Hey Felix!"
"I miss you, man! You're going tomorrow for Rosie's birthday right?"
"Yes I will! Will it be at her apartment?"
"Yes! Don't be late, I miss you man! Let's drink and share the news with friends!" And hangs up. Felix is ​​crazy, one of my oldest friends. I'll take a break, I lost all my morals with Jô, after talking about the girls I stayed and didn't remember.

As I imagined: I spent the whole party talking to Jô, now we're like this, we were back to talking about feet at parties, this is the kind of thing I like most about her, she's not afraid to be exactly like she is, if she wants to talking about movies she does, if she wants to sing rap of nowhere or snap her fingers she does, even if people around finding it weird. She's funny, lively, sexy, smart, and then people still asked why I'm stuck on her...

They take a picture of us with the birthday girl, the guys pull me into the center of the circle with them, we're rapping all night, feeling the rhythm of the music and the insane energy of being home again.


JOSEPHINE

"What are you laughing about?" Hadley was confused by everything that was going on, weeks before, I didn't even touch the name Hero, I was accepting the ending and trying to create new feelings for another guy...
"This? Ah! Hero sent me a video of him and his friends dancing at their friend's party."
I couldn't stop laughing at Felix putting his sweatshirt with the cap covering his face.
"They like a party don't they?" I nod yes. "And... They smoke and drink a lot too." I wave again without taking the smile off my face. I was already used to the smell of Hero, he smoked a lot during scene changes, but he always ate a gum or a candy afterwards, put perfume... It was never a problem.
Once we even made a video for the stories where I hit his hand, which held a cigarette in a no-smoking area. I feel Hadley's eyes staring at me.
"You guys came back?" I look at my friend drinking coffee with a suspicious expression.
"No... Actually, we never had anything to come back with something..."
"Oh, you understand me, come on..." She takes another sip.
"Have you told Henry yet?" The question made me shiver, I like Henry but not to the same degree that I like Hero...
"Where are you going Josephine?"
"In the bathroom!"
"Get back here girl! You won't get away from the question!" I stick my tongue out at her and walk towards my room, close the door, lie down on the bed and look thoughtful. My head is full with work, with the promotions of the new movie that is approaching, Hero, Henry, London, Los Angeles, I can't take it... I decided to turn everything off and take a shower, all this will be resolved with a good shower, I learned that from him too.