Behind the Scenes

Chapter 4

KATE

Stepping out of the bathroom, the steam that had filled the room crept out into the hallway like an eerie mist following in my wake. The cooler air of the rest of the house was invigorating after the heat of the shower, but it didn't do much to lighten my mood. Nor had the last half hour of standing under the hot spray of water, desperate to ease some of the tension set in my shoulders since the announcement had gone live across social media and other outlets that morning.

At least I was at home, in the refuge of my familiar surroundings, and not still in L.A. As much as the experience had been thrilling and dreamlike, I needed a bit of normalcy, especially today. It was already well known that the Netflix adaptation of Life After You was in the works, but the biggest thing everyone had been waiting on had been the casting of the leads. Now that it was out, the true frenzy would begin.

I was glad to be in the safe and quiet comfort of my North Carolina home, away from the bustle that was no doubt converging on the production team back in Los Angeles. Plus, if I was being honest, I was still licking my wounds after two less than pleasant run ins with the now confirmed lead actor.

The rest of that week in Los Angeles felt almost disconnected; it had started as a fantasy come true from the famous streets and iconic sign, to sitting in on production meetings to take something I had written at the age of sixteen and turn it into a ten episode show. This was supposed to be a high, a thrill; but even as we went through the casting for the rest of the main characters for the show, all I could think about was Harry. Especially as we casted who would be his female partner in crime in Layke, the well known Instagram model and actress Madison Regis claiming the title. She was stunning in a way that made me self conscious even being in the same room as her, and I immediately questioned her suitability for the role. Layke was shy, reserved, and the type of girl who didn't recognize her appeal. Surely, Madison was very aware of heads turning when she entered a room. But when she read her lines, drawing us in during an emotional monologue, I had to admit she knew how to connect to the character.

Even if the thought of her and Harry during some of the more heated scenes made my stomach tighten in a mixture of annoyance and thinly veiled envy. Even if he was an arrogant ass.

Adjusting the towel on my head, my wet hair threatening to escape, I shuffled into the living room in nothing more than pajamas and bare feet. I knew I was being silly, childish and possibly even unfair for letting my personal feelings at the Harry's behavior affect my excitement in this journey; but I just couldn't help it.

Ashley looked up from the papers in her lap as I entered the room, and I didn't miss the way her lips fought against curving into a smirk at my expense. She had made it clear she thought I was overreacting the moment the press releases went live confirming Harry Styles as Madden and I succumbed to one of the biggest vent-fests in history about what a jerk I thought he was, to the point that her accurate and table turning responses pointing out that the irritation was mine alone when all I wanted to do was bitch about him caused me to escape to my shower refuge.

Despite how close we were, we couldn't have been more different. My long dark hair and pale eyes countered her short blond bob and chocolate colored eyes. She was tall and fit, whereas I was short at five foot two, and while slim in stature, had always been rather soft. She had always been the positive one, the glass half full and hopeful possibilities of our little duo. We were more than just cousins; we had been best friends for as long as we could remember. Being born exactly seven days apart, we went from play mats and teething rings to trainings wheels and training bras, all at each others side. Now that my life was taking an expected turn; away from the original plan of college and tuition and to the realm of Hollywood and film sets, she was still by my side as always. She kept me focused, kept me on track, and forced me to keep my cool when my natural tendency to be an 'unpredictable hot head' would surface. She was organized, calm and always in control, which was a much needed balance to my hectic disorganization and inclination to put things off until the last moment. She had only completed one year of college for pubic relations, before taking a break to help me manage my sudden career, and I couldn't do it without her.