"So folks, we are going to serve dinner now, and then we'll start the awards when we get to dessert. I know you are all excited, and we are excited to have you." The announcement came as Jet took her seat.
She hadn't been to one of these before, and she wasn't sure if coming alone was the way to go, but then who the hell was she going to bring. She could have brought her good for nothing ex-boyfriend, but he hadn't really helped with writing the script or anything. What was her other option though? The current slightly flaky woman she was dating. Surely that would have been a disaster. So, instead, she sat here at the table alone. At least it made more room, she thought as she adjusted the straps on her dark red dress a little. It was futile endeavor because she was taped into this thing in a bunch of places, so it wasn't really going anywhere. It was the same with the small touches she kept giving to her dark brown hair, which was fastened into a bun with so many pins it was going to take her half an hour just to let it down later.
She forced herself to calm down just as her director and his wife sat down next to her and she smiled at them. Charlie was clearly excited. Before they even started filming, he had told her this was going to be the one. He had fallen in love with her script early, and she appreciated his passion. That's why she had even said okay. It wasn't her favorite script of all she had written, but she loved the lead character. It was portrayed beautifully by Leslie who showed up with her co-star Thanh. He was a beautiful man and the sparks had flown between them even before filming had started. Their chemistry had brought the story to life, and had brought them here as a nominees in several categories.
"I just know we are going to win. Your story and their acting will put us over the top of the others. You've really made my career Jet; I know it." Charlie grinned as he sat nervously sipping at his wine.
"I don't know that depends on if we are competing in any categories." A dark haired man in his thirties strolled up to the table, followed by a giant of a man with a short-shaved beard. They were both handsome, but the taller man caught her attention. Jet's mind immediately shifted into her other world of imagining. She had never written about a man as tall as he was, but damn if she wasn't going to in the future. He smiled at them all and they all stood. Jet rushed to stand up, trying to make herself stop staring at the taller man.
"Hi, I'm Link and this is my friend Rhett." Hellos followed all around and Rhett turned to Jet last, extending his hand. She felt a blush creep into her cheeks.
"Rhett, hope you don't mind if I steal the seat next to you." He smiled at her and his green eyes lit up a little. Jet extended her hand and he clasped it softly with a shake. His hand seemed to dwarf hers. She felt the heat of his grasp and a flush slid across her chest.
"Jet, and of course not. I'm here alone, so it's all yours." She almost kicked herself. 'I'm here alone?' Why the hell would she say that?
"That is a shame, but I guess it means I'll be lucky enough to talk to you." He sat down with a smile and she followed. The addition of the last two people made them closer together and Jet could only think it was because of just how large Rhett was.
"So, which film is yours?" Charlie asked, boisterous in his anxiousness.
"We did a super short film called Breaking Bad. Honestly, I didn't think it was going anywhere, but boom it did." Rhett spoke and Jet watched his mouth with his short beard. She couldn't help but wonder if it was soft, or just a little bit prickly. She started to wonder if it would leave marks on the soft skin of her neck if he buried his lips and tongue along her skin. Rhett glanced over at her and she was suddenly very happy people couldn't read minds.
"What did you do?" Link posed the question to Charlie.
"We did Sex and the Awakened Woman. It's..." Charlie was clearly excited to talk about it as the wait staff arrived with plates, sitting them down in front of them.
"Oh, I loved that one. Link made me watch all the entries this year, but I ended up watching that one three times. It was really unique and visceral. You filmed it in black and white, which made it even more epic." Rhett spoke with passion.
"Black and white was the only thing that fit with the script." Charlie was fully engaged now that Rhett was complimenting him.
"Great choice man. I'll tell you though, the dialogue was amazing. I mean to see a female lead speaking of exactly what she wanted and the results like that. It was epic. I left that with a new appreciation of sexuality." Rhett seemed genuinely blown away by the film.
"It's true. He talked about your movie for a solid week." Link bolstered his friend.
"Well, I can't take credit for any of the dialogue or its delivery. Leslie and Thanh sold the film." Charlie gestured to the two actors.
"I can't believe I didn't recognize you guys. I feel so embarrassed, but you look different in color." He laughed and the deep timber of his voice resonated through his chest. Jet seemed to feel it flow through her body. She was definitely going to write about this tonight. The magnetism of this large man was killing her, and her writing was always so good when she was sparked like this. Part of her didn't want to even stay for the awards, but just go home and start getting the ideas out of her head. Rhett would fit perfectly as a male lead character and she couldn't wait to write him.
The table kept talking, but all Jet heard was that deep timber in his voice as she watched his hands move as he devoured his meal. She ate her own, but her eyes drifted to him more and more.
"And, of course, I can't leave out Jet. I mean none of this would be possible without her. She wrote the script. I picked it up from her and I couldn't get it out of my head." At Charlie's words, Rhett looked up at her.
"You wrote the script huh?" He smiled at her.
"Yes, yes I did." She was almost bashful as she spoke.
"Funny, you seem so soft spoken, but your script. I mean you were so in touch with sexuality and so assertive of what the woman wanted. It blew me away." He had a mischievous grin on his face as he spoke and she smiled back coyly. There was something in his eyes that made her wonder if he wasn't thinking along the same lines that she was.
The conversation continued at the table, and Jet couldn't help but notice that she caught Rhett's eyes more than once. Granted, it meant that she was being caught looking, but then again, maybe he was looking at her too. She was quiet though, taking in the whole scene and the way this man interacted with everyone. He was a character she had to build now. She had to flesh out every piece of his soul and make him real. The story started to develop in her brain even as they finished dinner and moved to dessert. Soon enough, the plates were being taken and the lights were dimming down further.
