A small break

After several more scenes, Ayumi and Liam finally take a break. Ayumi walks to the side of the stage, sitting down on a nearby chair. She's exhausted from the intense rehearsal, and her heart is still pounding from all the touching.

She glances over at Greg, who is chatting with the director. He sees her looking and smiles sheepishly. She would rather practice a scene with him. At least she wouldn't be the only person on stage with her bare torso all for everyone to see.

Suddenly she feels something cold on her neck. She turns around and sees Liam holding a can of Coke. He smiles at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"I got this from a vending machine," he says. "I can show you where it is, if you'd like." "Um, sure," Ayumi replies, realizing she feels thirsty. "That would be great."

Liam leads her away, his hand resting lightly on her back. As they walk, Ayumi can feel the stares of the other actors on her naked skin. She tries to keep her composure, but the thought of being exposed to the rest of the cast fills her with dread. When she's playing Ariel, she learned to ignore those and focus on performance. But as Ayumi, she still struggles with all the exposure.

She knows that she needs to get used to it, but the constant stares and whispers from the other actors make her feel uncomfortable. She tries to brush it off, focusing on the task at hand.

As they walk to the vending machine, Ayumi sees it's in front of the building. Can she actually go out like this? She looks around nervously, scanning the area for any signs of life.

Liam notices her tension and smiles. "Don't worry, Ayumi. There's nobody here. We'll be safe."

Ayumi nods, her heart pounding in her chest. "I hope so," she replies, her voice shaking.