The smell of chlorine is thick in the air, despite the towering rigs and bodies surrounding the pool.
Out of the corner of my eye, I can see a car being lowered into the water.
“Okay, Jackson, we’re going to take you down with Tom, our diver. He’ll give you the O2 until we call action and then you know what to do.”
I nod my head. We’ve spent countless hours on dry land, going through the motions. My character’s car hydroplanes off a bridge and plummets into a raging river, leaving me fighting with the stunt double who’s trying to kill me.
I’ve done underwater, I’ve done fight scenes, I’ve done rigs, but I’ve never done it all at the same time.
We’ve spent the last two days in meetings and rehearsals and safety briefings, but now I’m ready to get in the water.
“Let’s do this,” I say, practically rubbing my hands together with glee.
“Great, let’s get set up.” Sam claps me on the shoulder as we disperse.
I gesture to Eric who’s lingering by the door. “Are you ready?” he asks excitedly.
I grin. “You bet it. Can I see my phone real quick?”
He hands it over and I smile as Rosie’s face shows on the screen. It’s still the selfie she sent me of her with her ice cream and I haven’t changed it since.
I pull up her messages.
ME
Hey pretty girl, I’m just heading underwater so won’t be able to message for a couple hours. Be good x
I keep the phone clenched in my hand until I’m called over and hand it back to Eric. I don’t power it off, so I hope Rosie has the sense not to send anything risque and Eric has the sense to not look at it if she does.
Shaun the 1st AD calls everyone to attention, giving yet another safety briefing. I pay attention the same way I do with the flight attendants on a plane. My heart starts pounding in my chest and I glance at the water.
I slowly lower myself into the pool, my jeans clinging to my lower legs and my shoes filling up with water. Stuart and I slowly swim towards the car rig. Tim hands me the O2 tank, I take a breath and then I go under.
“That’s a wrap, guys,”Shaun calls to a smattering of applause hours later.
Thank fuck. I need to get out of this water and out of these clothes.
I climb out, shoving my hair out of my eyes. I’m exhausted, and I’ve needed to piss for about two hours now.
A costume assistant hands me a robe and I thank her as I head towards Eric.
He looks pale and his hair is mussed, as if he’s run his hands through it often. “What is it?”
Eric hands me my phone with shaking fingers. “I think something’s happened.”
I scroll through the first page, thousands of notifications popping up on the screen. I can barely scan any of them. “What’s happened?” I bark.
“Uh, I uh, I googled it.”
“Googled what?” I ask sharply, as I slide up until I get to Rosie’s name.
“You,” Eric says weakly as I read Rosie’s message.
Rosie
Call me when you can x
“Did Rosie call?” I say, glaring at Eric, dialing her number and holding the phone to my ear.
