Cherreads

Chapter 303 - The shoot continues...

AN: C'mon guys lacking powerstones. 

Words: 3.3k.

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[Morning] [On the way to Supergirl set]

Rachel was driving, and Alex was sitting in the passenger seat. He was calling Chloe.

Rachel glanced briefly toward the screen as it rang once.

Then Chloe answered. Her face appeared on the screen.

She was wrapped in a soft white bathrobe, her damp hair hanging loosely over one shoulder from a recent shower. The morning light from her apartment windows gave her skin a warm glow, and for a second, Alex forgot about the schedules waiting for him at the studio. Out of all the girls, she had this unique aura around her that made him a bit too mesmerized every time.

Chloe noticed the way he was looking at her and smiled slowly. "Good morning to you too," she said, amused. "You're staring."

Alex leaned back in the passenger seat with a faint grin. "I'm appreciating the view. There's a difference."

Rachel sighed softly from the driver's seat. "It's seven in the morning."

"And yet somehow she still looks unfairly good," Alex replied casually.

Chloe laughed under her breath as she walked toward the dining table and sat down with a coffee mug in her hands. "And you look like you've already been awake for twelve hours. You're sleeping well, right?"

"I got like four hours of sleep last night... Working on a Star Wars script."

"Work or not, that is really unhealthy."

Rachel nodded once in agreement while keeping her eyes on the road. "I've told him that several times."

Alex ignored both of them. "How are you this morning?"

Chloe smiled as she thought for a moment before saying, "Relaxed for once. There are no alarms, paperwork, and homicide cases. Honestly, I forgot what Sundays were supposed to feel like."

"That sounds nice," Alex said. "You should enjoy it while it lasts."

"Oh?" Chloe narrowed her eyes slightly with playful suspicion. "That sounds like you're about to ruin my peaceful morning."

Alex smiled a little at that before finally getting to the point. "Actually… I wanted to ask you something."

Chloe took a sip of coffee. "Okay..." She nodded.

"My parents are coming over tonight," he said. "I'm introducing everyone properly, and…" He paused briefly before looking at her again through the screen. "I want you there too."

Chloe blinked once, clearly surprised by how direct he was.

"Wait," she said slowly. "You mean everybody everybody?"

Alex nodded. "Yeah."

She leaned back slightly in the chair, processing that for a second. "Alex… you plan to explain this?" she asked carefully. "You know…"

A smirk tugged at the corner of Alex's mouth before he answered without hesitation. "Yes. I plan to tell them the truth about our unique relationship situation. What's the point in hiding?"

Chloe stared at him for a second longer before her expression shifted into amusement. "You mean the harem?" Then she quickly pointed out with a little giggle. "Max's word, not mine. I've no idea how to explain our situation. I've been avoiding Trixie's questions for a while now."

Rachel actually laughed quietly at that while Alex nodded immediately.

"Yep," he replied. "The harem."

Chloe shook her head slowly. "That still sounds insane when someone says it out loud."

"It sounds worse when Max says it," Rachel added.

"That's because Max says everything like she's starting a bar fight," Chloe replied.

"And maybe we can talk to Trixie together? I mean, if you're okay with it," He said.

"I'd love it if we could talk to Trixie together," Chloe said with a nod.

Alex asked, "So… think you can make it today?"

Chloe exhaled quietly and rested her chin lightly against her hand. "I would, but Dan's working overtime all week, so…"

Alex answered instantly. "Yeah. Bring Trixie. Everyone misses her here, including Nacho."

Chloe paused at that.

For a moment, she just sat there thinking while absentmindedly tracing the rim of her mug with her finger. Then she looked back up at him.

"Honestly," she admitted, "she'd probably love to go there more than Disneyland."

Rachel gave a small nod. "She definitely would."

Chloe smiled faintly before finally sighing in surrender. "Alright. We'll come."

Alex's expression softened immediately. "Great. Just give Rachel a call when you're ready. She'll take care of everything."

"Of course she will," Chloe said dryly while glancing toward Rachel through the screen.

Rachel kept her eyes on the road. "I already started arranging security and transportation before he even called you."

Chloe laughed quietly. "That's both impressive and slightly terrifying."

"I get that a lot," Rachel replied.

Chloe shook her head with a smile before looking back at Alex again. "So, you're heading to the shoot now?"

"Yeah," Alex said. "We've got the Midvale scenes today. A lot of setup work, practical effects, school scenes, and probably at least one technical disaster before lunch."

"That sounds optimistic."

"I'm trying to grow as a person."

Rachel glanced at him briefly. "That lasted almost six seconds."

She smiled at him for a second longer before her expression softened slightly. Then the doorbell rang. "That must be Dan, dropping off Trixie. Alright..." She stood up. "Go make your movie, Mr. Wilson."

Alex held her gaze through the screen. "See you tonight."

"See you tonight," Chloe replied softly.

The call ended a few seconds later.

Rachel continued driving through the city while Alex stared quietly out the window for a moment, the faintest smile still lingering on his face.

She noticed it immediately.

Alex then asked, "They know about our unusual situation, don't they?"

"Yes," She nodded,

"How did they take it?"

"They're happy as long as you're happy, doing okay, and not mistreating anyone."

Alex looked at her. "I can live with that."

...

[Supergirl set- 2]

The Midvale set was already alive with movement.

Crew members rolled equipment between trailers while assistant directors checked schedules against clipboards and background actors wandered through costume fittings with cups of coffee in their hands. Compared to the cold grandeur of Krypton from the previous day, today's set felt grounded and human.

The Midvale Orphanage stood near the center of the backlot. It looked warm and lived-in, with faded brick walls, white-framed windows, and a slightly worn front porch that sold the feeling of a place held together more by kindness than money. 

Alex, as usual, bought a small town just like he did back then with Mr. & Mrs. Smith, for this movie. And by now, everyone has gotten used to it. Across the street, the department responsible for bringing Alex's vision to life had built sections of Midvale itself. They had to tear down certain buildings and rebuild new ones just to add that small-town vibe.

Alex stepped onto the set with a coffee in one hand while Rachel walked beside him, holding the updated shooting schedule.

"First half of the day is the orphanage sequence," she said while glancing at the pages. "Then the Midvale street scenes after lunch. Henry's already in the wardrobe."

Alex nodded once as his eyes moved across the setup. "Any issues?"

"Nothing serious yet," Rachel replied. "One lighting rig overheated earlier, but they replaced it."

"So we're due for a different disaster today."

Rachel looked at him flatly. "Please don't manifest one."

He smirked faintly before continuing toward the orphanage set.

Inside, the atmosphere shifted immediately. The orphanage interior had soft yellow lighting, old wooden floors, and enough detail to make it feel authentic. Family drawings covered sections of the walls while shelves held worn books and donated toys. 

Alexis sat near the staircase in costume, reviewing the updated pages while a makeup artist adjusted a few strands of hair around her face. She looked more relaxed today compared to yesterday's nerves.

A few feet away, Henry Cavill stood in Clark Kent's wardrobe. Plain jacket, dark jeans, glasses. Nothing flashy.

At this point, Henry was not too well-known. He missed too many good roles earlier, thanks to his agency. And when Alex's team contacted him, his agent refused, saying that Henry had another movie signed up. Alex was surprised for the first time because that agent was the first person to say no to him. But he gets what he wants. So, he contacted Henry directly, and they worked out a deal... Also, got that agent fired. It turns out, the movie wasn't even ready for pre-production and won't be in production for at least five to six months. 

It was basically a career sabotage... Classic Hollywood.

Alex approached them both.

"Morning," he said.

Henry looked up first and smiled slightly. "Morning. Heard we're emotionally traumatizing Kara today."

Alexis laughed softly while lowering the script. "Apparently, discovering your baby cousin is now older counts as character development."

Alex nodded once. "Pretty much."

He spent the next few minutes walking them through the emotional rhythm of the scene. Kara arrives expecting the child she was supposed to protect to still be a baby. Instead, she finds a grown man already living a full life on Earth. Clark understood what happened after they talked. Kara realizes her pod was delayed for decades. 

"It's not just shock," Alex explained calmly while standing between them. "It's grief mixed with relief. She finally found family again and was happy to see her cousin doing well, but she still remembers witnessing Krypton's destruction and it has left a scar in her mind."

Alexis listened carefully while Henry leaned against the railing nearby, focused on every note.

"And Clark," Alex continued while looking toward Henry, "he's trying to stay calm because he couldn't even imagine how overwhelming this was for her to watch her planet die. Then there's also guilt there because he got the life she never had. Clark got a family the moment he arrived on Earth and doesn't remember anything about Krypton other than what he found in the Fortress of Solitude. So, in his mind, Clark also wants Kara to feel the warmth of a family here on Earth. So, the best thing he could do to create her cover identity is to put her up for adoption or foster care."

With Alexis's teenage look, she can pull it off with a bit of makeup.

Henry nodded slowly. "Got it."

Once rehearsals ended, cameras rolled quickly.

The first scene focused on Kara getting out of her pod. Clark found her almost instantly after her pod's landing. They talked for a moment...

Alexis delivered her dialogue a bit too smoothly.

Henry already had experience at this point, so his dialogue delivery was almost perfect. He carried the confidence without overpowering the scene, which was exactly what Alex wanted. 

The first take ran smoothly until a background extra accidentally knocked over a stack of books during the emotional reveal.

"Cut."

The tension broke instantly as the room relaxed.

Alex rubbed his forehead while the extra apologized repeatedly.

"It's alright," Alex said with a small laugh. "Krypton's destruction yesterday was easier than this bookshelf, apparently." 

Even Henry chuckled quietly at that while Alexis tried not to laugh beside him.

"Let's do another take. Alexis, I need a bit more emotion in your eyes. Imagine something sad, then let that emotion flow through you and deliver your dialogues," Alex said.

Alexis nodded, "Yeah. Okay."

The second take landed much better.

This time, Alexis let the realization hit gradually after Clark introduced himself. Her expression shifted slowly from confusion to disbelief as she studied him more closely. The moment she understood that Kal-El had grown up without her carried exactly the emotional weight Alex wanted.

After the scene ended, Alex watched the playback carefully beside the monitor.

Rachel stood nearby with folded arms. "That worked," she said quietly.

Alex nodded once. "Yeah. It feels real."

The rest of the morning moved efficiently.

They filmed smaller flashback moments showing Clark helping Kara adjust to Earth. Walking her through Midvale. Bringing her clothes. Helping establish her new identity. Teaching her how to blend in while quietly warning her about using her powers recklessly.

One short sequence showed Clark standing beside Kara on a rooftop overlooking Midvale at sunset while explaining why he hides who he is. Another showed Kara silently watching him disappear into the distance after hearing distant cries for help, realizing for the first time that he had already been using his powers to help the people of this world.

By early afternoon, the crew transitioned outside for the Midvale street scenes.

Artificial autumn leaves were scattered across the sidewalks while storefronts were adjusted for continuity. Extras moved through town dressed like ordinary residents while camera cranes tracked overhead movement across the street.

Alex moved constantly between setups, monitors, lighting checks, and actor direction without slowing down once. Even after barely sleeping, his focus never seemed to fade once filming started.

After lunch break, they shot Kara's teenage life in school while coping with her traumas. She gets nightmares and sometimes wakes up screaming.

Greg Kinnear as Jeremiah and Julianna Margulies as Eliza Danvers, her adoptive parents, were helping her get through her nightmares and loving her like real parents without knowing her real identity and what she had been through.

The shoot continued...

Inside the recreated Midvale High School hallway, students moved between lockers while crew members adjusted lighting overhead. The noise of casual conversations filled the set as background actors walked through rehearsed motions again and again.

Alex stood beside the monitor station with Rachel nearby while Alexis prepared for the next scene.

This sequence took place after one of Kara's nightmares. Her classmates carried on with ordinary teenage problems while she sat there trying to process the destruction of an entire planet that nobody around her even knew existed.

The camera rolled slowly across the classroom while Alexis sat near the window in silence. Her notebook remained untouched as distant sounds faded into the background. Outside the glass, sunlight poured across Midvale, warm and peaceful in a way that almost felt cruel compared to the memories still haunting her.

The teacher spoke somewhere in the distance, but Kara barely heard any of it.

Alex watched carefully from behind the monitor.

"Don't play the sadness too hard," he reminded her before the take. "You're trying to hide it. Kara doesn't want attention. She wants to survive the day."

Alexis nodded and adjusted immediately.

The second take captured it perfectly.

She looked tired without overacting it. Her eyes drifted toward the window whenever someone mentioned family or home, and every small reaction carried the weight of someone trying not to fall apart in public.

After the scene ended, Alex nodded once in approval.

"That's it," he said simply.

A little later, they moved into the Danvers house set.

Warm lighting filled the kitchen while Greg Kinnear and Julianna Margulies sat at the table waiting for Alexis to reset emotionally before filming resumed. Compared to Krypton's cold metallic world, the Danvers home felt intentionally safe. Soft colors, family photos, and a few old pieces of furniture created the exact atmosphere Alex wanted.

A home Kara never expected to have again.

The scene started quietly.

Kara woke from another nightmare, breathing hard from another nightmare. The camera followed her downstairs, where Eliza Danvers sat waiting in the kitchen after hearing the noise.

Julianna played the moment gently. She never pushed for answers. She simply made tea and waited.

Alexis sat across from her at the table, visibly trying to hold herself together.

"You don't have to tell me what's hurting you," Eliza said softly during the scene. "But you don't have to carry it alone either."

The line landed harder than expected.

Alexis looked down immediately afterward, her breathing uneven before she quietly leaned forward and wrapped her arms around Eliza without saying a word.

The room went completely silent during the take.

Julianna held her naturally, one hand brushing slowly through Kara's hair while the girl silently cried against her shoulder.

Alex stared at the monitor without speaking until the scene ended.

Then he quietly said, "Cut."

Finally, Julianna looked toward Alexis with a warm smile and gently squeezed her shoulder. "That was beautiful," she said softly.

Alexis wiped beneath her eyes quickly, laughing a little from embarrassment. "Okay… that one got me."

Greg chuckled nearby while Alex walked over.

Alex said, "Good work."

...

At one point during filming, Henry adjusted his glasses between takes and looked toward Alexis with a grin.

"You know," he said casually, "you're handling this better than I expected for your first movie."

Alexis looked genuinely surprised. "That sounds like an insult wrapped in encouragement."

Henry laughed. "No, it's a compliment. Most people panic after the first emotional scene."

"She did destroy a planet yesterday," Rachel added from nearby without looking up from the schedule in her hands.

Alexis pointed toward her immediately. "Exactly. That boosted my confidence."

Even Alex laughed quietly at that before checking the monitor again.

The final shot of the day happened just before five.

Kara stood alone on the rooftop overlooking Midvale while the sunset spread across the town below her. The wind moved gently through her hair as she watched Clark fly across the distant sky after hearing someone calling for help far away.

For the first time, Kara smiled faintly.

Not because the pain was gone.

But because she finally understood what Clark had found on Earth.

Hope.

Her eyes went toward the alley where a couple of goons were trying to rob a middle-aged woman. 

"Cut," Alex said softly once the scene ended.

Rachel walked over with the updated production sheet while Alex kept watching playback on the monitor one last time.

"We covered more than expected today," she said.

Alex nodded. "Yeah. We're in good shape."

Tomorrow will be a break for Alexis to rest and recover her energy. Two days of shooting with professional actors can be tiring for a newcomer, even with good training. Alex planned this and made sure to include enough breaks between shooting days.

...

[Around 5:30]

Castle arrived near the set entrance wearing casual clothes and carrying two coffees in his hands. Martha followed beside him with sunglasses resting on top of her head, despite the sun already going down.

Castle spotted Alexis almost immediately and raised one of the coffee cups dramatically.

"For the last daughter of Krypton," he announced.

Alexis laughed tiredly as she walked over and accepted the cup. "You make it sound like I survived war."

"You survived your first two days in Hollywood," Castle corrected. "Same thing."

Castle glanced toward Alex, standing near the monitors. "So," he said casually, "did she pass the terrifying director test?"

Alex looked over at them and slipped his hands into his pockets before answering. "She did more than pass," he said honestly. "She listens, adjusts quickly, and doesn't panic under pressure. That already puts her ahead of a lot of actors."

Alexis blinked once, clearly not expecting praise that direct.

Castle immediately pointed toward Alex. "I want that written down somewhere officially."

Alex smirked faintly. "Don't push your luck." Then he pointed a finger at Alexis. "And you don't let all these praises get to your head."

They all laughed quietly.

"Get some rest tomorrow," Alex continued. "Seriously. No studying scripts all night. I want you to be perfectly rested for your action scenes."

Alexis raised one hand innocently. "I make no promises."

"That's exactly the problem," Rachel muttered nearby.

Castle wrapped an arm lightly around Alexis's shoulders as they started walking back toward the exit.

Before leaving, Alexis looked back one more time toward Alex.

"See you the day after tomorrow," she said.

Alex nodded once. "See you then, Supergirl."

A grin spread across her face instantly before she disappeared toward the parking area with Castle and Martha beside her.

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