Chapter Sixteen - Read all about it

It was the sound of Tom's heaving breathing that woke Rob before the sun came up. His mouth was dry and the room was spinning. He glanced at his watch and felt a wave of nausea wash over him. 5am. He'd had two hours sleep and filming began in three hours. Stumbling around the room in the darkness he felt his way to the bathroom and had to squint against the bright light. Looking at himself through blurred eyes, he wondered how he would make it through the day.

The smell of black coffee moved in the air. It hurt to move, but as she did Seren realised where she was. The rough texture of the carpet grated against her cheek, and it was soaking wet where she had drooled all over it. Wiping her mouth, she realised her lipstick was still there. But it didn't matter what she looked like, everything was hazy and nothing made sense.

"Here....drink this." India said, pushing the cup under Seren's nose.

Looking up at her immaculate cousin, she wondered if the previous night had happened at all. Her clothes were pressed and clean. Her hair combed neatly and pinned up loosely. Her freckles were clear and untouched by makeup. Seren couldn't look.

"What time is it?" She inquired, pushing the coffee away.

"Just after 6. I have to go to work, I thought you should probably get to bed you've been chewing the carpet all night."

Dragging herself up onto the sofa, there was a sense of guilt emanating. Why had she drunk so much? Never again... Every sound, every movement hurt. So when India slapped a magazine down on the coffee table Seren winced.

"You need to check out page 19." She said, putting on her jacket and heading for the door. "Those guys are quick!"

Wiping eyeliner across her face, Seren picked up the magazine and squinted into the pages. Page 1, Page 2, Page 3....India slammed the door on her way out, opening it again to apologise and close it more quietly. Page 4, Page 5, Page 6...The door opened again and India grabbed her handbag, repeating her goodbyes. Page 14, Page 15, Page 16...The table began to vibrate. Illuminating the dark room, there was no use trying to work out the number on the screen. She didn't recognise it.

"Hello?" She croaked, vaguely remembering which number she had to press to answer.

The voice at the other end hesitated. "Uh...Morning."

The hangover seemed to melt away. Her swimming head reached land and her heart soared. He had called.

"Hey..." She replied, trying to remain calm.

"Which apartment number is yours?" He asked, and the familiar sound of footsteps began to drift up the hallway outside.

Checking herself in the mirror the panic began to rise.

"Uh wait...what?" She stammered.

"Some guy was on his way out and held the door open for me, I am in the right building aren't I?"

Frantically pulling a brush through her hair one handed, she splashed cold water on her face. "Yeah, Building 5?"

"Yeah...I'm outside 4A?"

Slamming the phone down she pulled the silk komono she reserved for the hot summer nights on the commune around her and wondered if she should get dressed. She ran into her room and then heard the ominous knock on the door, she looked at it as if he was about to somehow magically walk through it and hovvered between the bedroom and the hallway. She picked up a pair of blue jeans and then threw them back down. He knocked again. Checking herself one last time, she ran to the door and threw the gauntlet down. He came unannounced. It was his own fault if he didn't like what he saw. Deciding a swift approach was probably best, she fumbled with the lock before pulling the door open wide.

"Well, I see you had about as productive a night as I did." He scoffed, looking her up and down.

She couldn't help but laugh at him. Unshaven and bleary eyed, he looked almost as bad as she did. Suddenly having panda eyes didn't seem so bad.

"Didn't take a piss in a cup did you?" He asked, and realising he was still a little drunk added, "No, sorry. Ignore me. I'm a really terrible drunk. Humiliating myself comes naturally."

Seren took him with a pinch of salt and suddenly remembered what she had been doing.

"What are you doing here so early anyway? I thought you had filming to do." She said, absently picking up the magazine.

Within the blink of an eye Rob had snatched it out of her hands, breathing deeply in a way she didn't entirely feel comfortable with.

"No! Don't read that...I mean, not before I explain...."

He'd been incredulous. But Seren had been around too many people who didn't deserve second chances, and she eyed him suspiciously. "What the hell is going on?" She demanded.

His face crumpled and set into a serious furrow. Falling back into one of the arm chairs, he sighed heavily and flicked to page 19.

"Sometimes I hate my job because of this shit. But I can't regret the good things it has brought me, so I keep calm and carry on. The english stiff upper lip and all that bollocks. Just remember, when you see that shit, none of it is real."

He handed her the magazine and sat back.

At first, a gut wrenching pull threatened to collapse her chest inside her stomach. And it was within her to rip the pieces of paper up and throw them out the window. But she looked again, and somehow she knew it was all wrong and didn't have to get angry. There, in the corner of the page was a picture of Rob on set making his way to a car with a mysterious black haired girl behind him. The headline read "TRYING TO KEEP KRISTEN UNDER WRAPS AS ROBERT PATTINSON WRAPS FOR THE DAY" They still thought he was with Kristen. And they thought she was Kristen.

"But this was us...Why do they think I'm Kristen?" She asked, puzzled.

"They couldn't get a good picture of your face. I'm so sorry. I could scream it from the rooftops but they'll always make their assumptions, They want it to be true because we play Edward and Bella."

She put the magazine down, didn't even try to understand it. But one thing she knew, one thing that was glaringly obvious was that deep down, she didn't care.

"It doesn't matter to me. They don't know the real you. They can write whatever they like, it wont make any difference."

The relief in Rob's eyes was obvious. And as she sank down onto his lap she knew it was true. What difference did it make what the world thought? The world wasn't here now, and the world wasn't there yesterday either. And the world had certainly seemed altogether detached from them in that tiny elevator booth.

"When I achieve everything I came here to achieve, I hope to have even half the success you've had. And if they scream my name, and want a piece of me I shall let them have what scrap or morsel they can find. But they'll never have what they seek. And I'll be content with that. As you are."

Rob nuzzled his face into the curve of her neck and breathed her in. "You'll be spectacular. Which brings me to the other reason I came over."

She pulled away curiously so her eyes could meet his. She pouted and waited for him to speak. But he hesitated and lingered on her face, laughing at the expression she pulled.

"Being an extra would almost be an insult to you. So I've told my agent all about you. I didn't want you to think you hadn't earned it. So I'll leave it up to you if you want to get in touch with her. But I think you should, she's amazing. She's the one who got me the Twilight audition after I came to America."

She could have screamed but her lungs felt tight with apprehension and excitement. Instead she squeezed him tightly to her, rocking him slightly with her joy.

"No...no. If it's one thing I've learned since coming here it's to take every opportunity thrown at you! I don't know what to say!"

"Say you'll call her?"

It would have made no difference who he was. What he did for a living. As she looked upon his strict jawline and the 5 oclock shadow there she'd never felt such desire. Here was a man she could debate with, laugh with. Tell her inner most secrets to. Her equal? It was possible that everything she held close about herself would change with this man. But only for the better. What could she possibly offer him in return?

"I'll call her. It's just overwhelming. I can't do anything as lovely and incredible as this for you. I wish that I could. But I literally have nothing."

A solitary finger moved down her face and cupped her chin. "I don't give to receive. I never have, just ask my sisters! Every Christmas and birthday they got me awesome presents. And I could barely scrape a good idea together about what to get them. One year, I got Lizzie a voucher for this make-up shop in London only do discover she couldn't use it because she had allergies to their products. That's how shit I am."

Seren laughed, trying to imagine him in the far off life, doing these things he could no longer do.

"Well, thankyou. Sincerely. I don't know what I did to deserve you coming into my life like this. But whatever it was, I'm grateful."

But Rob was more humble than that. "People meet people all the time. Sometimes those people turn out to be those you grow close to. If I had never met you, I'd have carried on. But since meeting you it's brought to my attention that there's a great need for you now. And I couldn't carry on now, without you."

"Very serious for this time in a morning." Sighed Seren, as she realised time was passing quicker than she'd have liked. "Perhaps we should give them something else to print? Breakfast?"

And there was a twinkle in Rob's eye. "Looking like this? They'd have a field day!"

Seren shrugged. "Ok then. How about a shower first?"

Chapter Fifteen - Drunken Conversations

He was tired and his whole body ached. Spying Tom in the corner of the hotel bar he sauntered over, a headache brewing in his temples. Feeling foolish and regretful he sat beside his friend and ordered a beer. There was something odd about the way he felt now Seren had gone. There was some part of him which knew he'd been too impulsive. And a part of him which wondered why.

"She gone?" Tom inquired.

Rob nodded and took a swig of his beer.

"Sorry man." He added, smacking his beer against Rob's. "Here's to dumb friends spoiling the moment."

But Rob wasn't mad at him. He was mad at himself. Everything had been so perfect. And now she was gone he wondered if her cold feet were more than icy. It bothered him that he cared so much if she would answer his call in the morning. It bothered him that when she left he didn't want her to go so badly there was a tangible ache in his chest. Who was she? How had she reduced him to this in such short a space of time?

"We're even now." Rob sighed. "I forgive you for Groucho girl, officially."

Tom almost choked on his beer in laughter. "That was five years ago, and you just forgave me?!"

"It's taken me five years to actually get myself into a situation where I could get even."

Nodding in agreement, Tom pulled his cell from his pocket and laid it on the bar. Above the screen was a huge crack, from corner to corner shattering the whole thing.

"That's why I couldn't give you warning I was coming. I can't see my numbers, make calls or anything stupid thing! Dropped it in the airport like a mug."

But it didn't matter anymore. Downing the entire bottle, Rob patted his friend on the back and urged him to drink up.

"I've got lines to learn. Come on, You can have the couch bed."

As she crossed the city, Seren barely noticed when her cab pulled up outside her destination. She made her way up to the apartment slowly, still bewildered from her day. What was she doing? What the hell was happening? When finally she made it to the front door there was little else to explain her actions. Other than fear. Fear of him, fear of what was happening between them. Fear of getting hurt. She turned her key in the lock, but before she could push the door it swung open from the inside. India stood there with a towel wrapped around her head and bath robe tied around her waist. In her free hand was a glass of red wine and cigarette. She looked surprised to see her.

" Well?" She asked expectantly. "I take it this prolonged absence has something to do with Robert Pattinson?"

Seren kicked her shoes off and sighed as she felt the heat of the day fall off her shoulders.

"Perhaps." She replied, heading for the bathroom. The room was still hot with the steam from India's shower and she welcomed the warmth as she stripped to her underwear. She knew India was lingering by the door, so she deliberately left it ajar. Staring at herself in the mirror, it was hard to distinguish between the girl staring back at her and the girl she had been three days ago.

"Shit!" She suddenly exclaimed. "I forgot to call Mom back..."

She heard India move closer outside the door. "It's ok, I spoke to her."

"She called you too?" Seren sounded surprised.

"She said you had an important meeting. I'll say it was." She teased. "I didn't tell her any different. You'll just have to figure out something to tell her when you do call her back."

"It's ok. I'll just have to tell her about the awesome opportunity Rob offered me to be an extra in his movie."

The bathroom door swung open.

"Are you for real?!"

"I can't explain it...one minute were just talking the next he was offering me this amazing thing! I did nothing to deserve it, I feel like I should maybe not do it..."

India put her glass down, her hands waving in protest. "No! Absolutely not...no way! Are you crazy? These things don't happen everyday, shit, these things just don't happen! Listen to me, he obviously likes you. Don't throw this away because of how you feel. I know you're scared."

Suddenly she didn't feel like having a shower anymore and backed away from her cousin. "Why are you saying that?"

India offered her the glass of wine and gestured her to come to the living room. Pulling on her own bath robe, she knew this conversation was inevitable. Fighting it would have been foolish. But now?

"I'm not saying it to hurt you, I just know what you're like when it comes to people doing you favours. If you haven't earnt it, you don't feel worthy. I know you."

Taking the glass of wine, Seren began to feel like it would be a lecture, less of a discussion. She poured herself a large glass and as it mixed with the beer already inside her she knew she was almost drunk.

"Perhaps. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to do it. I'm undecided."

"It's not that which is stopping you though, is it? I can tell you want to do it, more than anything. It's Robert, isn't it?"

Seren sighed thoughtfully and sipped her wine slowly, feeling it already inside her head.

"He's unlike anyone else I've ever met." She lamented.

India was excited, but Seren couldn't share it. He wasn't that person to her. It almost seemed as if that part of him didn't exist when they were alone.

"You know, sooner or later, when he's done with this movie and has to move on that you'll have to start looking for a job while you get auditions. But doing this might open doors for you. And one of them might even lead to being with him too. If he makes you feel that way, then you should do this. Totally."

In the inconspicuous hotel room, Rob scanned over his script briefly before putting it down and reciting the words out loud. Tom stood by the TV, listening to his friend and reading from a copy to check his accuracy.

"Of anything...." He corrected.

Rob looked up from his reverie. "Of anything?"

Tom rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you said 'I don't want to be bailed out', the line is 'I don't want to be bailed out of anything'."

He flicked through the pages further. "And what's this about riding off into the night with a panda you only just met?"

Rob snatched the script and slipped it back into his bag. "Nevermind. I'm done for tonight."

But Tom was disillusioned by his friend's unpredictable mood. It had been a long time since he'd seem him so preoccupied, and the last time it hadn't been pretty. Breaking up with Nina hadn't been something easy to watch. He had liked Nina, and was sorry to see them part. It had been almost two years ago, and still he remembered vividly the day it ended. Rob was going to America, there was too much keeping them apart, they tried to stay friends, but in time there was nothing else left to say. But this was something different. Years of friendship had formed the basis of what he'd had with Nina. This was entirely something else. He'd never seen his friend like this before, and it bothered him.

"What is it about her that's got you like this, man?" He asked, "You're meant to be happy when you meet someone new."

There was a flicker of a smile. "I am happy when I'm with her. I'm not unhappy anyway! You make it sound so...complicated!"

Perhaps it was. Tom launched himself into one of the chairs and put his feet up on the other.

"You need to chill the fuck out, or you'll end up like that fucking vampire."

Rob laughed sarcastically and kicked Tom's feet off before sliding into the chair himself. "I'm just disappointed things didn't go to plan."

Tom snickered. "You mean you're disappointed you didn't get to shag her before I turned up?"

Yeah, he was. But he was never going to admit that. And he wasn't going to admit it was more than that, too.

Tilting her head back, Seren downed the last of the wine and waited for the room to stop spinning.

"The thing about....Rob is..." She slurred, "He is so hot and he doesn't even know it. Like, if he had the smallest idea of how hot he is then he would be dangerous."

She was drunk. India sat laughing at her trying to string a sentence together, but it was no use. She was drunk too, and as they both fell into fits of laughter Seren forgot how much she had wished the day had gone differently.

"I could have had sex with him, so easily...today." She hiccuped. "We were this close..."

India stumbled towards the fridge and moaned about the lack of wine. "We've got gin! You like gin, right? No?"

But Seren didn't protest as India proceeded to pour the clear liquid into her empty glass.

"I think you should go back there and finish what you started." India quipped, sipping her gin and grimacing at the taste. "This needs something...." She said, going back to the kitchen.

"Oh sure because that's not going to look totally weird, me turning up drunk asking for sex."

India was more philosophical. "Actually, I'm pretty sure that's most men's idea of the perfect woman."

Seren's head was pounding. Wine had never agreed with her, and Gin was never a good idea.

"Obviously all the guys you've been with have had high expectations." Seren said sarcastically, laughing for no reason and then steadying herself against the side of the sofa.

"I haven't met Prince Charming yet, that's true. But you could guarantee if it was Robert Pattinson I'd keeping that man satisfied!"

Seren shrugged off the comment and rolled her eyes. "You like him?" She asked.

"Sure! I mean....not like that. I mean...he's good looking, obviously and if we were like....sat here talking about him and you hadn't completely met him for real, and we were just being subjective about him in movies then sure....but not really."

Seren burst into hysterical fits of laughter. "You're so dumb." She giggled, before downing more Gin.

It was clear that Tom was in the mood for getting drunk when Rob realised he was almost there himself. Watching his friend try to piss into a cup was fundamentally entertaining, but once he realised the time he knew he had to sober up.

"Dude, you're pissing on the carpet." He said, pointing to a wet patch at Tom's feet.

"Have you ever tried to piss in a cup? It's bloody difficult."

Somehow it had never occured to him to piss in a cup. "I like to take my pisses the conventional way."

"Fuck it. This cup is too small." Tom said finally, zipping up his fly and pouring the evidence down the toilet.

"You better wash that I don't want yellow milk in my morning coffee." Rob quipped, throwing a hand towel in Tom's face.

"Ironic that your sex towel has ended up around my cock." Tom joked, wiping the cup and then stuffing it down his pants.

Rob almost choked on his beer in laughter. "Sex towel? You still do that?"

Staring at his friend in mock bemusement, Tom threw it back in his face. "Still? Dude, it's a requirement!"

Rob ducked out of the way and spilled his beer. "Great. The cleaners are going to wonder what the fuck went on in here with the yellow wet patches and two blokes in a hotel room."

Tom shrugged. "It's fairly obvious I was pissing in a cup and you were spilling beer, isn't it?"

Rob looked around the room and felt a sudden pang of tiredness. He was too tired to clean up, and too tired to move to the bed.

When the sun came up Seren found herself curled up on the sofa, India's leg sprawled behind her head. Rob awoke to the sun streaking through the curtains and into his face as he sat upright in the chair by the window. And even though they were racked with hangovers, their first thoughts were of each other.

Chapter Fourteen - Peeping Tom

"Dude, are you deaf?!"

Walking in with a hold all in his hand, he breezed past Rob and looked around the room. Rob's heart sank. And he felt guilty because Tom was the one person who he still connected with his pre-famous past.

"I'm not deaf, but I'm busy." Rob sighed, giving his long absent friend a hug.

Tom had been vague about his visit. But then, Tom was always vague. Ever since they were kids in school together, to going into acting together, there was one thing you rely on Tom Sturridge for...that he couldn't be relied upon to arrive when he should. After surveying the room, Tom turned to look at his old friend who was still adjusting his shirt.

"You've got the kidding me." Tom laughed, dropping his bag in the middle of room before stifling his laughter behind the sleeve of his hoodie.

Rob rolled his eyes. "You need to leave!"

Hanging behind the door, Seren pulled her dress back up and pulled erratic fingers through her hair. Her heart was beating wildly for an entirely different reason now, and somehow she felt light headed. She sat back down on the bed and listened for a sign that she could move.

"I just got here." Tom replied, his tone playful but tired. "Would you prefer I leave momentarily so you can sneak her out and then come back?"

"It's not like that." Rob protested. "You know there's been nobody since Nina."

Seren flinched. They hadn't had the "exes" talk yet. The days were too early. But to discover there had been a girl called Nina...it made her feel strange in a way she didn't entirely like.

"Dude, you actually want me to leave?"

Rob sighed heavily. "Remember that time we were at Sam's flat? And he was in France at that family thing? Remember how I walked the 5 miles home so that you could have the place to yourself with that girl you met in Groucho?"

There was a short silence. "You could have got a cab."

In any other situation, this would have been an argument. But between the two of them it was simply a discussion between two people who could talk to each other in such a way without causing offence. Seren realised he must be a really close friend, and wondered if she should just make her presence known and leave herself.

"You could have kept it in your pants and let me stay there. Or given me some cash. I seem to remember you having some that night, when I didn't!"

Tom seemed to be munching on something as he spoke. "Well...fallen on your feet now dude. Nice Sushi..."

Rob muttered something under his breath.

"If you leave now, you can go downstairs and drink whatever you like as much as you like, on me. And I'll even buy you breakfast tomorrow. With coffee."

"You really like her, don't you?" Tom said, all joviality in his voice gone and it's place was a genuine affection for his friend.

She heard Rob sigh again. "Seren...come out here."

She stared at herself in the full length mirror which hung on the back of the door and took a deep breath. Pushing the door aside slowly she saw a scruffy looking guy appraise her. He dressed like Rob, but without the charm. She greeted him with a smile, and he smiled back. He had a kind face, and as he extended his hand for her to shake she knew she already liked him.

"Tom...this is Seren. Seren...Tom Sturridge. Our local cock blocker."

Seren giggled at the reference as Tom clipped Rob playfull around the head.

"Nice to meet you." He said, before nodding in agreement. "Well, I'd best get down to the bar so your cock is no longer blocked. See you again sometime Seren."

And with that he left, leaving behind a sense of bemusement.

Rob pulled her into the circle of his arms again. "I'm so sorry about that."

"Don't be." She murmurred. "I have to go now, anyway."

But he held her tighter. "You don't have to go. He wont come back up here unless I say so."

But for the first time all day Seren realised the time. "India will be wondering where I am."

"Call her." He requested. "I didn't know Tom would be coming tonight. He's never been good about making solid arrangements. But I can get him another room. You could...stay."

"You realise what you're saying?" Seren checked.

"I know I only just met you three days ago. I know all of that. But you have no idea what you do to me. And it's not just sex...I swear. Since Saturday I've thought of nothing else. If I was stuck in an elevator with you again, It would be the most amazing thing ever. And I know it's insane, it's not like me. I'm sorry...I always spoil things. I either say too much or don't say enough."

He pulled away and shook his head regretfully. But Seren felt the pull and wished he hadn't moved away. Despite herself, she had thought of nothing but him too. And try as she might, three days felt much longer when she was with him.

"I want to stay. More than anything. But if I do, I'm afraid it will be too soon. We've barely scratched the surface. And if we do this now...what else is there?"

"What else is there? You make it sound like you've never had a relationship before." Said Rob, his hand touching hers, gently pulling her closer.

"Not really." She confessed. "There has been nobody....significant. How about you?"

He knew she had heard him speaking to Tom. She sensed he mulled it over in his mind, the way his eyes darted away from her and back towards the window.

"I suppose so. But we were always better as friends. I loved her because she was my friend."

She knew she had to regain herself. Everything which had happened since she arrived in the city was so far removed from her life her head was spinning.

"You have my number now. Call me when you want me on set." She said, and his body tensed up.

"You say it so casually." He remarked.

"I've never done this before. I don't know what to say."

He smiled ruefully and placed a solitary kiss on her forehead. "I'll call you in the morning." He promised.

Chapter Thirteen - Interruptions & Propositions

There was a vibration from somewhere. Beating against their skin. Rob looked down at their bodies which were still side by side. Unaccustomed to the sensation, Seren jumped.

"What the hell is that?!" She proclaimed.

As she moved away it became clear that it wasn't Rob's phone. Digging into her pocket she picked up the cell phone she had no idea to use. And then felt stupid for not remembering it vibrated. She looked up at Rob was waiting for her to answer it.

"I don't...I mean, I can't remember..." She handed it to Rob who pressed the button she was looking for.

He politely went over to the window and whispered that she could use the bedroom to take her call. She didn't want to take it, but couldn't ignore the name which had flashed up on the screen.

"Mom." She sighed, walking into the bedroom slowly, unwillingly.

"Serendipity! You got a phone!" The voice exclaimed excitedly.

"Yeah, can't live here without one, apparently."

She could hear the voices of the commune in the hum behind her Mother's voice and a pang of longing began to stir within her. But only for a moment. And then it passed.

"I would have called sooner but we only just got here and checked my messages."

"That's ok. How is everyone?"

In the distance she could hear her Mother's name being called. Greta....Where's the bottled water?!

But she ignored them. "Yeah. All present and correct. Leon is already talking about leaving, but Caleb and Ezra seem to like it here."

She flinched at the thought of Ezra. "I miss you all." And once she said it, she realised it was true.

"We miss you. But you're a city girl now. Well, for as long as you want to be."

It could have been easy at that moment to throw the towel in and follow her family down to Jacksonville. If it weren't for the man waiting for her in the other room.

"Mom...It's kinda a bad time. I'll have to call you back tonight."

There was a moment's hesitation on the end of the line. "Oh." Said Greta. "Your brothers wanted to say Hi."

And there it was again. That old pull towards them tainted with resentment.

"I want to say Hi to them too, but I have a really important meeting in, like, 30 seconds and I need to be ready."

"Oh! Of course...Sorry. Call me later!" Greta said, retracting all bad feeling.

It was a sad thing to have to lie. But Seren knew the bombardment of questions if she told the truth would keep her even longer from Rob. She said a quick goodbye before returning to the other room.

He was swigging beer by the window, absently staring out across the city. He only turned when she appeared in the doorway.

"Sorry." She apologised. "I haven't spoken to my family since they dropped me off here."

"You didn't have to cut the conversation short on my account." He told her, sincerely.

"It's ok, three of my brothers wanted to talk to me I would have been here all night." She joked.

But Rob didn't flinch. "Well, that would have been ok." He winked.

Reality had come crashing down around them, and only the memory of that kiss remained. It was as if it had happened to someone else, something she had watched but not been a part of. But she knew that wasn't true as she still felt it there on her lips.

"My family were the same when I first moved out here. Especially my Mum. But they get used to it. Quicker than you do, really."

Seren raised an eyebrow. "Where do you live? Certainly not in a hotel."

Rob laughed, gesturing towards the clothes laid out on the bed behind Seren. "I live out of that suitcase. Haven't quite figured out that part yet."

"You're like me." She said, smiling. And when he thought about it, she was right.

He had no fixed abode. They had come coliding together even though their lives had gone in completely different directions. For the first time, Rob had no real home. For the first time, Seren finally had one.

"I suppose so. Except my commune is nice hotels." He joked.

The evening grew darker, but neither of them noticed. Both lost in conversation, Rob knew he would never tire of hearing her speak. He watched the way her mouth moved when she spoke. And she loved the way he played with his hair when he got nervous. Neither of them noticed when the lights of the city spurred to life. It felt like they had known eachother forever. Seren eased into his company like someone she'd always known, and he seemed to feel comfortable with her.

"I have something to ask you." He finally said, after hours of putting it off.

Seren was sat in the chair opposite him, her legs tucked up underneath her.

"You can say no." He said.

Seren smiled sarcastically. "I know that." She chimed.

Rob nodded. " I was thinking you could come to the set again tomorrow. Not just to hang out. I know this is what you want to do and I've done nothing but dominate your time since you got here, so I thought you could come and do some work as an extra or something. Being executive producer has some perks. If you want to. I know you need to do things your way. I just thought....why not take full advantage of this chance meeting we had. And if nothing else comes of it, at least you'll have that experience."

He seemed genuine when he said it. But she was afraid to accept his offer.

"That's the most amazing thing anyone has ever said to me." She lamented. "I've already had some extraordinary experiences since I got here."

"Think about it. You don't have to say yes straight away."

But she knew she would be insane to say no. She wanted to strive to make the best of things here. But what if she didn't have to? What if this beautiful, shy, witty and sensual man had come into her life for reasons other than the obvious?

"I would have to be insane to say no." She told him. "Of course I accept. I'm just not sure I'll do the job any justice."

Rob guffawed. "Don't doubt yourself now, not when you've come so far. Left everything behind. You'll be great."

Seren cracked open another beer and thought about it. She would have to make it work. It was more than she could have hoped for. A job offer!

"Where do I sign?" She said raising her bottle slightly in mock celebration.

Rob's smile was dazzling. He slipped off his chair and came over to her, his long arms resting on the arms as he leaned down. Without hesitating he kissed her, and this time there was no fear. She wrapped her arms around his neck and allowed him to pull her up out of the chair. On her tip toes, she leaned up towards his face and kissed him more. He nuzzled her face to the side and moved his lips down onto her neck. That electricity shot through her again, only with more urgency this time. She felt his hands around her thighs as he pulled her up. She wrapped her legs around him and let him carry her. His lips never left that part of her neck that drove her crazy with every touch. She didn't give a moment's thought as he carried her into the bedroom. He dropped her onto the edge of the bed and stood before her. He wondered if he had been too bold, and faltered for a moment. He waited to see what she would do. She looked up at him, her eyes serious and piercing. She looked him up and down before staring at the part of him which was at her eye level. Grasping his belt buckle, she pulled him towards her. Excitement flared through him as she begin to pull the belt off. And then she stopped. He cupped her chin in his hand and without saying a word, reminded her that she could stop...if she wanted to. Trembling hands pulled his button fly apart to reveal the white material of his underwear. Underneath it she could already see the pulsing veins and contours of what awaited her. Her eyes widened and instinctively she moved back, pulling the zip of her dress down so that the straps fell around her shoulders. Rob climbed onto the bed, slipping the material of her long dress up her legs. He moved up her body, taking in every inch of her before returning to her lips. As he laid on top of her, she felt that part of him against her open legs. And though they were both fully clothed, it was obvious something had awoken inside of her. She felt the wetness and the hardness through the material, and gave herself over to him entirely. She helped him pull his shirt off. And the sensation of his skin against hers was more than she could take. She felt she would go mad if he didn't take her there, and then. His hands caressed her breasts, pulling her dress down to reveal her bra. He hesitated there for a moment, kissing her neck and moving his lips down towards her chest. She leaned her head back and urged him on. Never had she been struck by such passion. Never had it felt like this. Her mind was not detached, but fully participating. He would have removed her bra and gone further. But the knock at the door jolted them both. Half naked and breathing heavily, they looked at each other.

"Who is that?" Seren asked, almost hyperventilating.

Rob looked down at her, preoccupied by her breasts. " I don't care..." He breathed.

Then came a second, more pronounced knock.

"That's not room service."

Rob let out an exasperated groan and fixed his buttons back up and pulled his shirt back on. "Stay here. I'll go check."

Chapter Twelve - Confessions

Seren's eyes widened at the selection of canope's and sushi. Suddenly she was ravenously hungry. Rob urged her to tuck in, as he took a plate and handed it to her. The platter was set out perfectly, with bottles of beer in an ice bucket for good measure. Rob ate heartily, like he hadn't eaten all day. But technically, this was their second meal together. Neither of them spoke as they savoured the taste. Sushi was a new thing for Seren. She'd never eaten it until visiting Simeon. The more she thought about it, she wondered just how much influence her brother's settling had had on her own.

"Shouldn't we be eating this on the floor?" Rob asked, as they both stood by the food trolley.

Gathering the platter and plates, Seren spread out the cloth which had come with the trolley and laid everything on the floor precisely.

"There." She said, satisfied with herself.

Rob shot her a sideways glance. A half-smile. She thought he had never looked more handsome than when he did that. And suddenly she was shy again, looking down at her food and trying to regain some composure as she ate. Rob noticed her looking down, strands of her hair falling around her face. He noticed her eyes wanting to look up, but instead a rush of colour flooded her cheeks. He wondered how she could be so unaware of her own beauty.

He cracked open the beers and decided someday he would tell her. But not today.

"So..." He began, taking a long swig of his beer, "There's nobody...waiting for you....anywhere?"

He took another swig and looked out of the window. Seren, oblivious, swallowed her Sushi and shook her head profusely.

"Oh no...not really. I mean my cousin will be home from work at like, nine...but I can always call her if...well, I'll probably be home by then anyway."

He was touched by her initial wanting to stay in his company, but it flustered him that she had misunderstood the question and would have to be more forward. It was his turn to blush.

"Umm..no, I meant...there's nobody like a boyfriend or anything..."

She almost choked. "Of course not. I'm not really in the habit of spending time with other men when I'm in a relationship."

And she hoped he would see that as a positive thing, rather than a put down of his request. He felt slightly foolish for asking, knowing she'd always been the type that would never do this sort of thing if she was attached. His head was spinning from his own stupidity. But she liked that he had asked.

"I have a confession to make." She said finally, interrupting his inner dialogue.

His face looked intrigued. "You're a Twilight fan, aren't you?" He said sarcastically.

And somehow she wished it were so.

"I'll check it out and let you know." She sighed. "But, no. It's not that. I'm afraid you might not like me, once I tell you."

His face grew serious. "Try me."

She bit her lip and drew in a deep breath. She knew everything was riding on this. She ached to remain in his company, but mentally prepared for him to ask her to leave as she gathered to words to try and say them right.

"Well...Saturday night...after we met...I wondered...I mean, I was curious..." She stalled and stuttered, but put her hand up in protest when he would have spoken, trying to make the words sound right. " I was thinking about you all night. But not....like, I mean I'd just been stuck in an elevator with you for two hours...So I used India's computer and...I just wanted to see your face again. And I saw all these pictures of you with Kristen and...I'm not better than any of them. I'm just as guilty for thinking you were with her. I almost didn't come today because...well, you know now. And I'm sorry for doing that. But I just thought you should know, I don't want to keep it from you. So...there it is."

She closed her eyes for a moment, unwilling to look at his face. She opened her eyes slowly to see him shaking his head. But he didn't look angry. He was almost laughing. She wouldn't let herself feel relief yet. Not until he said something.

He chuckled under his breath. "You were thinking about me?"

Seren rolled her eyes. "I just tell you all that and you're focusing on THAT part?!?"

He shrugged. "If I had any way of seeing your face after we had left each other that night, I would have used it. I'm sorry that you thought those things. But you are one of the few who know the truth. And you didn't know it back then. What else were you meant to think? It's ok."

She was taken aback by his coolness. Left wondering why she had worried so much. He had an uncanny way of keeping calm, even in the most extraordinary situations. Rob watched her face closely. That little flame inside him was ignited, and deep down he was angry. But not at her. At the way every picture of him was percieved. How it could have cost him this girl being in his company right now. But he soothed the anger, buried it under layers of cool. She was here, she had been honest. And he had never thought her more attractive.

"I have a confession of my own." He mused. "I was meant to be filming this afternoon but I got them to switch the schedule so that I could come here and be with you away from prying eyes."

From somewhere within, a feeling began to stir within Seren. Her heart thumping wildly, the warm feeling between her stomach and chest began to spread. She stared at him with all the intensity she could muster and didn't feel stupid. How had he come into her life so suddenly and done this to her? All the boys on the commune who she'd known, none of them compared to this messy haired stranger she had met only a few days ago. How was it that he held her attention so effortlessly?

He wondered if he had said too much. He couldn't keep his eyes off her as he listened to her breath quicken. He realised his own body was leaning towards her. For every girl, every kiss he'd ever had, nothing could prepare him for this. It was as if he'd never known another girl before her. Seren noticed his adams apple flex as he swallowed. Suddenly her mouth was dry, and she realised she was nervous.

He would have kissed her, but she giggled softly and began to sip on her beer. He pulled back. Why was this so hard?

"I'm sorry." She whispered. "I've never...I mean, this...it's just...I've never..."

This time the words escaped her entirely. Thoughts of how his kiss would taste invaded every corner of her mind and before she knew it, she was reaching for his face.

His hand ran through the black strands of her hair, his fingers savouring the touch like he knew every inch of her already. They moved closer, their breath now warm on each other's lips. Seren closed her eyes. But Rob watched her face. He knew the moment he closed his eyes and kissed her, there would be no going back. He took one last moment before he knew he would love her completely and then closed his eyes tightly shut.

He guided his lips to hers softly. She was trembling underneath his touch. She was entirely submissive, allowing him to pull her towards him. There was a muffled urgency in his kiss that she noticed as he wasted no time in parting his lips. Hers moved with his, and the warm wet feeling of his tongue entered her mouth. She moved with it, feeling electricity surge down her spine. Every thought, every inhibition seemed to melt away as his arm came around her waist and their bodies were fully aligned. Her arms wrapped around his neck she submitted herself over to his kiss entirely and wished never to let him go. Rob felt the sweetness of her breath, a mixture of beer and something else. But it was heady, like nothing he had tasted before and he breathed it in with each movement. All too soon the kiss became dangerous. One more move and it would go too far. Rob knew it as he moved his hand slowly down her back and felt the strap of her bra underneath her dress. He imagined himself taking it off, and felt the usual stirrings of a man begin. Seren's hands rested on his torso, and he wondered if she had noticed what was happening. Suddenly he was aware of everything around them, and slowly he pulled away. She placed two solitary kisses on him before he looked down.

"What?" She breathed, her lips fuller from the hardness of the kiss. "What's the matter?"

Rob smiled wryly. "Nothing it's just....I don't want you to get into something before it's right."

She almost laughed. "Really?" And then she was touched at his sentiment. She'd never met anyone who'd wanted to make love, instead of have sex. All the boys on the commune were horny and ready to lay down with anyone willing to have them. Virtue was an afterthought. Not with everybody, but with the few Seren had encountered. Rob's thoughts wondered back to Nina, the girl he had left back in London before breaking up with her. She'd been the only one to ever hold a place in his heart. And none of their kisses had ever compared to this.

"Or I could just take you over to the bed and fuck you right now. It's your choice." Rob said, looking over towards the door to the bedroom.

Seren giggled and finished the last of her beer. "Choices...Choices."

Chapter Eleven - Carpet Picnic

The elevator didn't stop. It smoothly went up to the top floor. But Seren wished she hadn't dressed in her long flowing maxi dress as she stepped out and caught it on the closing door, narrowly avoiding being taken up with it or having the whole thing ripped from her body. Rob smothered laughter under a wobbling smile.

"Not having much luck with elevators, are we?" He guffawed.

Seren wasn't amused. "Next time, we're taking the stairs!" It wasn't until she had checked all the material was present and correct did she see the funny side.

This hotel seemed more tempered than the other. Still grand, but more simple. Rob lead her down the corridor until they reached the room at the very end.

"I didn't have time to tidy up." He said, apologetically.

Seren rolled her eyes. "Commune girl, remember? Like I care!"

This seemed to calm him a little, and he took the slightest of deep breaths before opening the door. There was a bedroom, and an adjoining room with a table and arm chairs facing a flat screen tv on the wall. The bathroom was en suite, and Seren was even surprised to see there was a juliette balcony at the windows. It was large, and had everything you would want and more in a hotel room. But it was not imposing. Nor overstated. She decided she liked it. And the fact Rob's clothes were strewn across the bed made it seem all the more homely.

"You want a drink?" He asked, heading for a tiny refrigerator in the room.

"Sure." She replied, instinctively going towards the window and looking down over the city.

It was breath taking. Some buildings stood towering above them, some were far below. The yellow cabs weaved in and out of the tiny streets and the sun reflected off each crystal clear window from the building opposite. She'd never been this high before. Rob came and joined her, handing her a can of soda.

"This is just...amazing!" Seren breathed, excited.

Rob looked at her peculiarly. "You've never seen anything like this before?" He asked.

Seren shook her head regretfully. "The things I have seen, some people never see in a lifetime. And the things I have never seen, so many take for granted."

Rob fell silent for a moment. "Tell me what you have seen." He then said quietly.

They stood together at the window, and Seren thought she could hear his breathing deepen. He stood close enough to hear it, and as he took a step closer she felt the warmth of it on her skin.

"When the sun sets over the grand canyon...there's no sun set like it. All colours and shadows. We sat there and watched it until the very last shard of light disappeared under the horizon. I've seen babies being born in thunder storms. It's the most scary thing to see them crying out in pain, and then everything just fall away once the baby arrives. Once, I swear, the storm ended the moment the baby came. And the taste of home brew. My Mom's ex husband had his own brewery, my brother's and sister remember it better than I do. But we went there once, when my Mom was married to her second husband, my Dad, and he gave me a sip. I almost choked but it tasted like nothing else."

Cutting away from the window, Seren caught the way Rob was looking at her. His eyes bore into her. But she didn't feel uncomfortable. She stared back, wondering why it was that she couldn't tear herself away.

"What?" She finally asked, barely in a whisper.

Rob blinked. "Nothing...nothing it's just...I've never seen any of those things. They sound...amazing...to say the least."

The spell was broken. Seren managed to pull away for a moment to think about what she had said.

"And here I am, never been on the top floor of a hotel before."

But Rob shook his head. "No, you've had an amazing life."

"It's all relative." Seren surmised. "You've had things I've never had, and vice versa. Tell me about the things you've seen."

He thought about it for a moment but couldn't think of anything as extraordinary as the things Seren had spoken of. And then he remembered, that to her, all of those things had been ordinary and perhaps the things he had seen and done would amaze her too.

"I remember going on one of the open top buses in London with my sisters. We took sandwiches and rode around on it paying no attention to the historical landmarks around us we just couldn't believe we were sat on a bus with no roof! And we picked apple's at my Uncle's house from the orchard behind his house, every summer."

Seren smiled. "I aint never been apple picking."

"You should. It's bloody hard work when you're 4ft nothing!"

They both laughed.

"Not so 4ft now..." She said, looking up at him.

He towered over her. Strands of his messy hair falling as he looked down. She took a nervous sip of her soda and suddenly she realised she was alone with him...in a hotel room.

"So...what are we doing for the rest of the day?" She asked, changing the subject.

Rob's smile faded. "I'm not sure. You've seen what it's like for me right now. Especially with all the hype around the film. I don't want to draw attention to us. Maybe nobody will notice, but I don't want to take that chance while Dean's not around."

"Is it really that bad?"

He sighed. "A little. I know it's not going to last. And it's not actually me they are screaming for. Which is probably the most frustrating thing about it. If they knew me, they'd realise I'm not worth screaming for."

He walked away from the window and went to one of the chairs. He moved them both towards the view so they could sit and enjoy it.

"That's kinda why me and Kristen get it. Everything blew up for us at the same time. She knows what it's like. But even that is hard. We can't be pictured together without something being made of it."

Seren flinched. The guilt began to gnaw at her.

"They think you're a couple?" She asked, testing the waters.

Rob laughed. "Couple, not a couple, breaking up, making up. They've written about an entire relationship that never happened."

She couldn't look at him then. She knew she had been taken in by the stories without knowing the truth.

"Excuse me..." She said, " I just need the bathroom."

She fled to the bathroom and locked the door. Palms down on the cool tiles infront of the mirror she stared at herself. How could you do that? Why did you do that? You have to tell him...But she didn't want to. She was afraid he would turn her away, tell her she was as bad as everyone else. Taking a deep breath, she splashed her face with cold water and tied her long black hair into a messy bun on the top of her head. Systematically flushing the toilet, she took one more deep breath before returning. He was sitting in the chair facing the window, his leg draped across his other knee, both arms on the side of the chair. He looked comfortable. And she wasn't about to ruin his peace. She decided not to tell him what she had thought. What good would it do? She liked him, and not for the same reasons as those girls who had never met him. Everything had changed today. She knew, from that moment on, she would never listen to another story again in her life.

"You got room service?" She asked.

He turned around. His face was incredulous. "Wow." He said. "You look pretty with your hair like that."

She forgot that she'd tied it up, the way she did when she was having a lazy day. But somehow, it didn't bother her.

Rob caught himself. "Sorry...yeah sure, I can get room service."

Seren smiled. "So let's have a Pretty Woman carpet picnic!"

Rob's smile became coy. "Pretty Woman?"

It was one of the films Seren had managed to catch on the TV at the motel.

"Yeah, when she goes to the guy's hotel and has a little carpet picnic!"

"You do remember what happens after that, right?" Rob laughed.

Seren began to blush. "Of course. But...I'm not a hooker. And you're not Richard Gere!"

Rob shrugged sarcastically and went to the phone. "What do you want?"

That was a good question.

Chapter Ten - Paparazzi

She watched him closely. His whole persona changing into character. He was entirely different. There was nothing of himself left as he carried the lines from the script into life. Seren sat on a chair behind the camera's, her eyes not moving from him. For the briefest of moments she thought he looked at her, but then his eyes moved downwards and he was in character again. It seemed to Seren that she was inside a bubble and the faintest of touches could burst it. Nothing here seemed real, not even Rob. He had seemed entirely ordinary in that elevator. And now here he was surrounded by this madness. She watched them filming him, how each part of the scene came together. How everyone in the crew had their part to play. It felt strange to see how they did it, how seamlessly it came together on screen but during filming it was like none of the jigsaw pieces fit together. Caught up in the madness, she found herself falling in love with it. And knew, once and for all, that this was what she wanted to do.

"So, you're Rob's girlfriend?" The woman with the clipboard asked, appearing at the catering table behind Seren.

Seren was taken aback by the question. "Umm..No."

The woman nodded with a smirk on her face and Seren decided she didn't really like her.

"You will be by the end of the day." She sniggered.

Seren wasn't entirely sure what she meant by that, and decided to smile politely without giving a verbal answer.

"There's paps all over the place. I'm sure atleast one will have managed to get a picture of you two standing together. That's the downside of shooting on location, in a public place. So you'd best be prepared for it. And every woman he's seen with is his girlfriend these days."

But she didn't care. And the woman was starting to annoy her.

"I'm sure all the relevant people know the truth." Seren replied dryly.

The woman nodded in agreement. "I'm sure they do. Just be prepared for it. Only in the tasteless magazines, obviously. Where everyone has a 'source'."

Seren wondered if that was why she asked. Because she was a 'source'. Then decided it was better if she didn't know. And suddenly she felt sorry for Rob. But then dismissed it. He didn't need pity. She could see that as he finished his scene and came back to sit with her. The woman hastily disappeared, and Seren watched her go.

"She's only here as a runner. But since they gave her that clipboard she's gone power mad." Rob said, watching where Seren's eyes went.

"No harm done." Seren replied, feeling relieved to have him back by her side.

He smiled and moved closer towards her. She felt her whole body tense up, leaning towards him but rigid with nerves. He smelled of cigarettes and a fresh scent she couldn't put her finger on. It smelled good.

"I feel bad that you're having to wait here for me, you must be bored." He said, but she shook her head in protest.

"No! No, I could never be bored this is so...amazing. It feels unreal. I've never seen anything like it. I can't thank you enough for inviting me."

His smile broadened as she spoke. " Well, in that case I'm sorry to tell you it'll all be over soon."

She was genuinely disappointed. "Oh, really? How long have I been here?"

Rob checked his watch. "It's almost 3. The crew have some other scenes to film over in Queen's with Emilie. I'm not part of them so I get the afternoon free."

He checked her face for any hint that she would know what he was about to ask. But he couldn't read her. She seemed forever content. Perhaps she truly was.

"But it doesn't have to be over." He added, and then her eyes met his. "You could come with me."

"Where will we go?" Seren asked.

"I have a car waiting to take me back to my hotel. But we don't have to go there."

The corner of Seren's mouth turned upwards. "Are you afraid of getting into an elevator with me?"

Rob laughed, and didn't even notice as his hand came up to rest on her arm. "I wouldn't mind getting stuck in any elevator, if it was with you."

They stood for a moment, neither of them moving until someone behind them made a noise. Rob's phone began to vibrate.

"That'll be the car. So...are you coming?"

Without responding she followed him out of the marquee. Dean was waiting for them outside.

"Are you sure?"He asked Rob. And Seren didn't know what he meant.

Rob nodded. "I don't care."

Dean laughed. "No, but she might."

Rob's face fell. Turning to face Seren he looked at the crowd, and then back to her.

"If you come with me now, I can't guarantee they wont take our picture and I can't guarantee it wont end up in some tabloid. They'll speculate. So if you don't want this, tell me now."

Looking over to the screaming crowd of girls she wondered how many of them had boyfriends or husbands. Rob was just a man. In a world of billions. Yet here she was, with this one that so many wanted. She didn't want to be like them. But she couldn't blame them either. He was the most handsome man she had ever seen. And even though it was overwhelming to think of the position she was in, there was no question that she would take whatever came with it. She had come to him today, at his request. She had already gone too far to turn back. None of those girls had met Rob. They only knew the men he played in movies. And safe in that knowledge that she liked him for him, she knew the crowds would not bother her.

"No, It's fine." She said, taking a deep breath. "I don't care either."

The flashes began immediately. The clicking of each camera was audible. Dean didn't let the crowds too near but they all got close enough for Seren to hear their gasps of confusion as she followed behind. She put her head down. But Rob could not. He smiled and waved, and shouted Hi to them all as they made their way to the waiting car. Heart racing like a locomotive, Seren thought the crowd would close in on them. Camera bulbs flashed into her face, blinded her. And then she felt a warm hand curl around her own and lead her into the open door of a black car. The hand was Rob's. And once they were both safely inside, still he didn't let go. Dean slipped into the driver's seat and headed into the street.

"Seren...this is Dean. Don't let the muscles fool you. He's a complete pussy."

Dean smirked into the rear view mirror. "Don't let him fool you Seren, he's not an actor he's just a drama queen!"

The two men laughed and Seren finally felt able to breathe.

"Are you ok?" Rob asked, his hand still firmly in hers.

"Yeah, that was insane." She confessed.

His hand remained in her's. And neither of them spoke directly for a while, instead sharing the conversation with Dean until they reached Rob's hotel. They managed to get from the car into the lobby without being noticed, and once inside Dean made his departure.

"I'll see you in the morning." Said Dean, as he walked back to the car.

As they approached the elevators, they gave each other an apprehensive look.

Chapter Nine - Alice in Wonderland

Standing underneath the silhouette of the tree's, a film crew began to unpack their equipment. It was still too early to tell how many people would turn up. But the office workers and runners on their day off were already passing by, taking an interest. Sitting under the canopy of a small marquee, Rob sat patiently as stylists played with his hair. He took a few phone calls as he waited for his call, and scanned over the lines in his script. He eyed his co-star, her bored face staring into the space behind him. He had only met her twice before, at rehearsals. An Australian, with striking eyes. He probably would have found her attractive, under different circumstances.

"Emilie..." He said, with a yawn.

The girl's eyes moved from behind him. "Sorry." She said, snapping out of her day dream. "Yeah?"

"You going to go over the script?" He asked, making small talk.

She shook her head. "I've got this."

Her native drawl was mixed with the American accent she would use during filming. Rob smiled, thinking of the times he had slipped into his own version of the American drawl.

"You seem distracted." He said, hoping he hadn't crossed the line.

But she shrugged casually. And he liked her for being open with him. There was no way they could make the movie without the chemistry the producers had seen in them. He had liked her from the off-set. He reminded her of a girl he once knew back in England. A girl he had been friends with, and nothing else.

"I'm getting divorced." She said quite boldly, but sighing heavily as she allowed the stylist to arrange her hair.

Rob felt stupid for asking then. "I'm sorry." He muttered.

"No it's fine." Sighed Emilie, breathing a sigh of relief as the stylist finished. "How about you?"

Rob looked out towards the park and wondered if his answer was out there.

"It's weird." He confessed. "I'll know later."

Emilie smiled politely and didn't push it further.

Waking up to an empty apartment was a welcome relief for Seren. India had left for work early and left a note on the kitchen table. Back at nine, be good! She thought about wasting the morning in bed, but it soon became clear that her mind was on other things. Looking out across the park, she knew he would be there and knew there was never any doubt in her mind that she wouldn't go. She knew, as she began to put her shoes on, where she was going. And knew, all along, that she was always going to go. He had asked her to, afterall. It was still early when she left the house. Not even 9am. People were walking through the park, some dressed for work, other's on rollerskates or in running shoes. She found an instant fondness for it. Here was a place where everyone came together, just like on the commune. She walked around for a while, subconsciously avoiding looking for where he might be. She walked on, her head almost low, hoping somehow he would come across her first but knowing that wouldn't happen. And then she heard his name...

"That was so amazing!" Said the girl sat on the park bench behind her.

"He is so much hotter in the flesh!" Said the second girl, giggling girlishly with her friend as they shared breakfast in the park.

"It's going to be insane here later, so glad we got a chance to see first!" Said the first girl, her voice high and excited.

Seren walked slower, her ears attuned to their conversation.

"They're gonna need security, I swear, I heard there was a crowd gathering already." The second girl said thoughtfully.

"Yeah. That poor statue. Having Robert Pattinson sitting on it all day...such a chore!" The first girl joked.

"Lucky Alice." Said the second, before they burst into fits of laughter.

Seren remembered the place they spoke of. India had mentioned it in one of her letter's. The Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park. She made her way there without knowing her way, following the directions for passers-by that she had stopped to ask. She almost decided to walk away once she found it. Behind a line there was a marquee, and camera's and people with headsets milling around. She approached and only as she got closer did she notice the insane crowd standing only a few feet away. Girls, some young and some old, standing together trying to catch a gimpse of their idol. All of them were excited and in high spirits, shouting and screaming. Nervously, Seren made her way towards the throng. But they were relentless. Nobody was moving, nobody was budging from their place. Some were hostile, some were simply unaware of anything else around them. She knew if she stayed there much longer she would never get to see him. She moved away from the crowd and wondered if she was as crazy as them. Doing what she was about to do. As she moved away, they moved forward becoming more fervered, more excited. Arms began to reach into the air, the screams became louder. And there he was, walking out from under the marquee and towards the Alice in Wonderland monument. She knew he would never hear her. Never see her. And suddenly she felt like one of those girls in the crowd. Just a faceless person wanting a glimpse of him. She didn't understand why she felt the way she did. She just knew she had to see him.

Stepping away from the crowd she made her way towards the film set. Her heart racing and palms sweating, she was already talking herself out of it as her legs walked forward. She'd never been so bold. Never taken the initiative like this. As expected, someone from the set approached her.

"I'm sorry you can't be here." The woman said, clip board in hand and head set clamped against her red flushed face. "There's filming in process."

Seren took a deep breath. "I know, I'm here to see someone." She said, her voice shaking.

The woman rolled her eyes. "You can go and stand with the other fans for now. But maybe Robert will come out later to see you."

This only frustrated Seren more. Is this what the woman saw? Is this what people in the city thought of the people around them?

"No, you don't understand. I was invited here personally."

The woman eyed Seren. She looked at her clipboard and bit her bottom lip.

"What's your name?" She asked suspiciously.

"Seren Phoenix."

If the woman told her to go, she would know he'd never meant it. She would know everything she needed to know. And she wasn't sure if it would crush her, or make no impact on her at all. Everything seemed to stop at the sound of her name.

The woman's face turned from stern to recognition. She smiled apologetically and let her guard down.

"Oh! Oh right..." She said, ushering Seren past the line. " Yeah, sure. Sorry. It's just you can't be too careful!"

Seren thought her heart would sing. With every step she took, her head felt lighter and dizzier. The statue came into sight, and so did he.

"Robert is filming right now, but you can wait in here." The woman said pointing towards the marquee. "Help yourself to a drink."

And with that, she left. Seren stood, not knowing where to look, as Rob stared at her. He would have smiled, but his scene didn't call for it and he remained a complete professional until the director called cut. At the sound of that one word his face shifted into an enviable smile. He jumped down from the monument, sharing a joke with the little girl he'd been acting with before making his way towards her.

"You came." He said, the british tones in his voice making Seren shudder. He sounded relieved.

"Of course." Was all Seren could say, as the memory of his face became a part of her present as he stood before her.

"You have no idea..." He began, before catching himself. "I've got ten minutes while they set the next scene up, you want a coffee?"

Seren nodded and let him pour her one from the refreshments table. People stared at them, but not in an extraordinary way. Nobody was rude. And sheltered from the eyes of the fans and the paparazzi, they sat quietly and Seren sipped her coffee.

"I didn't know if you'd come." He said nervously.

"I wasn't sure either, but here I am." Seren confessed.

He smiled wryly. "I didn't get a chance to say much on Saturday night. But being with you in that elevator...Those couple of hours were the most fun I've had in a long time."

Surrounded by people around them, it felt different. Seren felt it, and Rob did too as he tried to whisper without lowering his voice too much.

"Yeah, me too." She replied.

Then he looked down, and she realised he was shy. And suddenly she felt shy too. And still questioned herself about going there.

"Do you have anything to do today?" He asked sincerely, taking a sandwich from the table and washing it down with a diet coke. He offered one to Seren, but she declined. She was too overwhelmed to eat.

"I should probably start looking for an agent, or something. India said I should try acting classes, but not sure how you can teach that, really."

Rob thought about it for a moment. "There's plenty who can teach it. I'm just not sure how many can learn."

It occurred to Seren that he was joking, and she saw a little glint of mischeivousness in his eye she hadn't seen before. He seemed to be relaxing, and in return she relaxed too. But not enough that she could ignore the screams behind the curtain of the marquee.

"How do you ever get used to that?" She asked, wondering if he would dodge the question.

"You don't. Not really." He mused. "But it just becomes white noise. They're good people. As individuals, but when they get together they seem to just go insane. I can't remember ever going that crazy over someone. I'm not sure that's a curse or a blessing."

Seren tried to remember admiring someone the way those girls admired him. She couldn't recall anyone except her Dad.

"I understand them." She said, trying to remember how it felt to look up at her Dad in awe of everything he said. "They think you're the guy you are in the movies."

And there was a bitterness in her voice as she remembered the day she realised her Dad had never been the guy in the movies, but always just a normal guy. Who made mistakes. She shut the thought from her mind, as she always did whenever it came to the front.

"I'd only disappoint them." Rob said, as if he had heard what she was thinking.

"I'll have to watch one of your movies sometime. See what all the fuss is about." Seren replied, feeling brave enough to take one of the sandwiches.

They sat and ate, talking some, but it was too quick. There was barely enough time for them to move beyond small talk before Rob was being called back on set.

"If you've got nothing else to do, why don't you stick around?" He asked, his eyes burning into her so deeply she began to feel hot under her shirt.

He wished he'd never asked. He wished he'd never given her the choice. He didn't want her to leave.

"I'd love to." She said. And they both smiled.