5: Turning down Bjorn the Red

 *Tom*

 Honestly I feel so stupid right now, I had gotten caught up in the moment and felt a, for me at least, rare connection. So I pushed away the thought that she was too young, that I shouldn't ask out a woman I don't know, and I begged her to go on a date with me.

 She almost ran back to the trailer, telling me she was sorry but she couldn't, that she was not in London to date, but to focus on her studies. After she had changed back to her own clothes she disappeared so fast I hardly got to say goodbye.

 You are a fool Tom, of course she said no. I had been too fast, to direct apparently, but I mean who says I will ever see her again ? Her look told me everything, I might have forgotten about the age difference, but she didn't. 

 I shake my head and get ready for the last scene. It can't just be nothing, can it ? I mean… seeing her in the park, then her walking right on set… and that kiss, the thought sends my blood rushing through me… it had been something special, I am sure of it. But she's gone and I only know her first name. How am I going to find her ?

 Finishing up the last scene I go home. I try to tell myself to forget it, to forget her. That it was probably nothing, it would probably have been no more than a fling anyway. So maybe this is for the best.

 *Lumi*

 "Hi sis, how was your day ?" I ask as my dear sister comes through the door. I notice she looks flustered. "What happened Meri ?"

 "Nothing happened". I only have to look at her and she gives in. "Okay everything happened, the running man was a movie star… he kissed me and the car and she had hurt her ankle".

 Honestly for once I have no idea what she is talking about. "Uhh what ? Who kissed you ?"

 "I better tell from the beginning right ?" She sighs and sits down. "This has been one truly crazy day… you are not going to believe it… I can hardly believe it myself honestly".

 "Yeah you need to tell me everything". I sit up more, leaning on my pillow. What has my sweet and romantic sister been up to ? Who has she been kissing ? Meri doesn't go around kissing random men.

 She bites her lip. "I went to Hampton Heath first, to get some air and check it out. There is this… small athletic stadium and a man was running on the track".

 "Uhh was he handsome ? Sexy ?" Yeah I know, I am not good at just listening.

 "Shh, let me tell you.'' She gives me a stern mom-like look. "Honestly I couldn't see him much as he was wearing a cap. But there was something about him, it kind of drew my eyes to him constantly… in the end I had to force myself to walk away because it started to be embarrassing".

 I fold my legs. "And ? What happened then ?"

 "Well when I returned he was gone… and I thought that maybe I should have talked to him or something". She sighs.

 "What ? Is that it ? Is this your crazy, unbelievable story ? You saw a hottie and did nothing ?" No there has to be more.

 She rolls her eyes at me. "Of course it isn't it… I decided to go into town… look at the stores and the theatres, you know suck up the atmosphere. London is such an amazing city by the way, I love it already".

 "Story… tell the story". I urge her on.

 "Yeah yeah relax". She huffs. "I was thinking of him, my running man. And I kind of walked right onto a set of some tv show. I would have been knocked over if he hadn't caught me".

 She has this kind of dreamy look in her eyes. "He who ?"

 "The star of the show… who turned out to be my running man from the heath. I bumped into him again". She giggles softly.

 "Oh… for real ? What are the odds ? Damn this really is like some cheesy romance novel". I grin, my sister loves all things romantic.

 She blushes slightly. "Well everything went so fast. The director's assistant was yelling, but he stood up for me. The director came back and the actress had sprained her ankle… they asked me to stand in for her".

 I am blinking. "Wow, like for real… you walk in on a set and suddenly you are a movie star".

 "Well not a star at all, you can't see it's me. I was filmed from behind. And a bit from the side during the kiss I think". Now she is definitely blushing.

 "The kiss, what kiss ?" This is suddenly getting real interesting.

 She kind of hides her face in her hands. "Well the scene was me almost getting run over by a car. He pulled me away…. and then he kissed me".

 "Oh wow, so you were kissing a total stranger on camera. How did it feel ?" I lean forward. This is so exciting. 

 She sighs softly, and gets this dreamy look on her face. "It was… so amazing. And so embarrassing. I mean I totally forgot the camera and people watching. He was honestly the best kiss I ever had".

 "Really ? So guessing it wasn't some innocent movie kiss then ?" I look at her, seeing how her face turns beet red from the roots of her hair and all the way down her neck, before she hides it in her hands. "Oh…so there was tongue involved".

 "Kind of… a lot of… God I am such a whore". She mumbles from behind her hands.

 "Oh stop it. You kissed a hot guy, so what". I pull her hands away. "That doesn't make you a whore. For God's sake it was a kiss. He was hot and a great kisser, you got caught up in it. There is nothing wrong in that sis".

 She looks at me. "He… he asked me out… but I said no".

 "Why did you say no ? I mean the way you talk about him he seems to really have caught your attention and he is a great kisser… so why ?" I look at her, feeling somewhat confused.

 "I … well many reasons. I am here for 10 months, then we go home, so I feel starting something would be… dumb. And I was overwhelmed, scared of my own reaction. Also he is an actor and… well he is too old, at least in his thirties". She bites her lip. "It was right to say no, right ?"

 I shrug. "Well I can't really say. But who is this guy ? Someone famous ?" I must admit that I am more than a bit curious.

 "Honestly no idea… his name is Tom and he is definitely british. I didn't want to look dumb and ask". She says with a small smile.

 Hmm well that kind of leaves a lot of options. "I need more than that… half of british actors are named Tom… what does he look like ?"

 "Well he has a kind of scruffy beard and amazing curls, kind of a sandy-ginger colour. He is quite tall and slim and his cheekbones are to die for. Oh and his eyes, he…".

 "Has the most amazing blue eyes right ?" Oh shit she can't mean this. I grab my phone, scrolling the net and holding the phone up in her face. "Is this him ?"

 She looks at the screen, then nods. "Yeah except he wasn't wearing glasses, but yeah, no doubt that's him. Who is he ?"

 "Who is he ? Oh God my sister is an idiot. That's Tom Bennett, just about the sexiest man on the planet… you my dear said no to a date with Bjorn the Red, after he kissed you… why ? Please tell me why ?" I can't believe she did that.

 "Bjorn… like in those viking movies ? No, he didn't look like him at all". She looks confused. "Why ? But I don't know him… and he is… old right ?"

 "Oh believe me that's him… and old ?! Well he is 37… so yeah maybe somewhat older than you usually date… but it's fucking Tom Bennett, who cares about his age ?" I am shaking my head.

 She breathes out. "I fucked up right ? I should have said yes… damn I should have said yes".