STS Ch-16

It took a full day of flying for us to reach Nadi International Airport in Fiji, with a brief stop in Hawaii. I wish we could’ve relaxed there, maybe soaked in the sun or had a real meal that didn’t come in plastic wrap. But Hawaii wasn’t our final destination. From Nadi, we boarded a couple of noisy, cramped seaplanes for an hour-long flight to Nunayu Levu, the private island that Columbia Pictures had rented for the shooting of The Blue Lagoon.

“Fucking finally!” I groaned in relief, letting my backpack slide off my shoulder as I crashed onto the nearest bed. The mattress creaked under me, but it felt like heaven. “I’m never flying again for such a long distance. It felt like I journeyed the entire damn world.”

“Look who’s talking from his first-class seats,” Peter muttered from the adjacent bed, tossing his bag to the floor and flopping down like a ragdoll.

“Screw you, asshole,” I shot back, lazily flipping him off. I doubted he saw it, though; he was already face-down on his mattress, groaning into the pillow.

“If you two are gonna keep bickering like an old married couple, I’m asking them to change my room,” Ash announced as he strolled in. He leapt onto his own bed with theatrical flair, his arms flung wide like a stage actor playing to an invisible audience. “Wow. At least the mattresses they gave us are good.”

I rolled my eyes at their antics, a small grin tugging at the corners of my mouth. It was a weird situation. The island had no resort, no hotel, not even a proper building. Columbia had spent a good portion of the budget on erecting makeshift huts, tents, and other temporary facilities for the cast and crew, all of it hidden from the main filming areas. Naturally, individual rooms weren’t an option. Everyone had to share, including the main cast members.

When Randal told me about the sleeping arrangements, I had specifically asked to share a tent with Peter and Ash. Better to bunk with guys I’d known most of my life than some random stranger.

Of course, if Randal had it his way, he’d have me rooming with Julie, probably under the guise of “method acting” or some crap like that.

Not that I’d be entirely opposed to the idea. Julie was beautiful, no doubt. But it was the principle. If I wanted a girl, I’d get her on my own, not because someone shoved her into a tent with me. And honestly… while Julie was technically eighteen, she was still a teenager in every sense, emotionally, physically, mentally. A teenager, forced into doing this depraved film in the hopes of launching a career.

Sigh.

There’s no use thinking about the kind of movie I’ve signed on to. If anything, maybe it would be a blessing if this film just quietly flopped, just like Vic Ramos said it would. Then I could slip back into anonymity. No one would remember my name. No one would care.

Sigh.

But thanks to my future knowledge, I knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“You’re sighing a lot today,” Peter remarked, his voice muffled by the pillow. “Everything alright?”

I pushed myself up onto my elbows and glanced at both of them. 

“There’s one thing about the film I didn’t tell either of you,” I began, my voice slow and deliberate. My friends, although tired, looked alert now, tuned in by my tone more than my words.

“It has a lot of nudity and sex scenes.”

For a moment, the room was silent. I was waiting for them to burst our into laughter any moment, but I was more than a little confused when that didn’t happen.

“And?” Ash broke the silence, propping himself up on one elbow. “What’s the problem with that? We’re boys. People aren’t gonna come out on the streets and stone you for doing this movie. Tons of actors have gone naked on screen. Hell, if I got the chance to replace you right now, I’d take it in a heartbeat. Screw those fake sex scenes, I’d fuck a girl live on camera if they paid me the kind of money you’re getting.”

I blinked at him, unsure whether to laugh or be appalled. Before I could respond, I turned toward Peter, hoping for a more normal opinion.

He simply shrugged. “He’s not wrong. I’d do this film too if they offered it to me instead of you. Not the porno that Ash seems interested in doing, but I’m game for everything else.”

Huh. I wasn’t expecting that kind of reaction, especially not from Peter. Ash, sure, he was a pervert. But Peter?

I guess they weren’t as immature as I thought. Maybe I was the one being a little naive.

“Right now, forget all that,” Peter added from his bed, folding his arms behind his head. “Focus on what’s right in front of you. Enjoy this island, man.”

Maybe he had a point. I was second-guessing myself, but really, how many guys my age would kill for this role? Including the two lying beside me. For most people, this would be a dream gig: escaping school, spending time on a private tropical island, no parents breathing down your neck, being free and natural in paradise… and with a beautiful girl, no less.

“Noah?” a voice called out from outside the tent. The flap was pushed aside, and in stepped Randal Kleiser, the director. His face peeked in cautiously as his eyes scanned the room, settling on the three of us sprawled across our beds.

“Sorry,” he said, offering a sheepish smile. “Should’ve asked before barging in.”

“It’s fine, Randal,” I replied, sitting upright with a groan. “Was there something you needed?”

Randal nodded, his face shifting to a more serious expression. “Yes. As we discussed back in New York, you and Julie need to tan more. Tanning beds are okay, but they don’t quite match natural sunlight. And we’re going for authenticity.”

“Fine,” I muttered. “I’ll start tanning tomorrow.”

He hesitated, visibly uncomfortable, like someone about to deliver bad news. Then he firmed his voice. “No. You need to start now. We begin shooting in three days, and we don’t have time to spare. It’s still early in the day. Best to do it while the sun’s strong.”

“Ugh. Fine!” I groaned dramatically and dragged myself off the bed. “Guys, get up. If I’m doing this, I’m not suffering alone.”

“Hey! That’s not fair!” Peter threw a pillow at me, which I dodged with a lazy lean to the side.

“Actually…” Randal interrupted before things escalated. “That won’t be necessary. We’ve set up a secluded tanning area for you, completely private, so no one can see in.”

“Private?” Ash asked, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “You mean he has to tan… butt naked?”

“Obviously,” Randal replied in a matter-of-fact tone, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “We don’t want any visible tan lines on him. That’s why we’ve set up a secluded area, just for Noah and Julie.”

What the fuck?!

Peter turned to me, his grin smug and unrelenting. “You lucky son of a bitch,” he muttered, shaking his head in mock envy.

“Couldn’t you have set up separate tanning areas for us?” I asked Randal, trying not to sound as desperate as I felt. I knew how rumors started, especially in tight-knit workspaces like this. This might be a film set, but it was still a workplace.

“We need you two to bond,” Randal said, as if that explained everything. “And what better way to do so than with nothing between you but nature?”

He gave me a look, that kind of look.

“Maybe you two can discuss the film, rehearse some scenes… hell, have sex if you want, as long as it’s consensual.” He finished that thought with an exaggerated wink, like he was handing out relationship advice instead of directing a movie. “Be out in five minutes. A makeup artist will be there to lather on sunscreen. The last thing we need is sunburn. I’ll go inform Julie.”

He turned and exited the tent, leaving behind a silence thick with disbelief.

Ash immediately hurled his pillow at my face. This time, I didn’t dodge fast enough.

“I reiterate Peter’s words,” he said, laughing. “You are one lucky son of a bitch.”

“I won’t argue with that,” I said with a tired grin, already unbuttoning my shirt. There didn’t seem to be much point in staying dressed. I’d be spending the better part of the next four months practically naked in front of a whole crew anyway.

I stripped down, tossing my clothes in a pile, and pulled on a pair of ocean-blue swimming trunks.

Ash groaned theatrically. “Did you have to change right in front of me?”

“Get used to it, bro,” I replied, flashing him a grin. “You and pretty much everyone else on this island are gonna be seeing a lot more of me in the coming months.”

With that, I stepped outside, lifting a hand to shield my eyes from the midday sun hanging directly overhead. The light was blinding, harsh, and unforgiving, like the truth I was trying not to think about.

I took a slow look around, only to feel disappointed.

Aside from the cluster of tents for cast and crew, there was only one real structure: a wooden hut built for the film, meant to be the shelter where my character and Julie’s would live. The rest of the island was untouched wilderness. No roads, no trails, no signs of civilization. Just sand, sea, and dense vegetation. The art department was supposed to construct a tribal shrine later, but that wouldn’t come until much later. For now, they were prioritizing the scenes that could be shot with minimal set dressing.

“Noah! Come on over here,” Randal called out, waving from near the shoreline.

I jogged over, my bare feet kicking up hot sand. As I approached, I saw that the tanning area had been constructed with tall wooden panels forming three sides of a square. The fourth side was left open, facing the ocean, which was ideal for catching sunlight and offering some privacy.

Randal wasn’t alone.

Julie stood next to him, in a yellow sundress, looking uncomfortable and trying not to make eye contact with me. Beside her stood another woman I didn’t recognize, probably in her mid-to-late twenties. She was holding a tote bag full of supplies and wearing a Columbia crew T-shirt.

Makeup artist, I guessed.

The area was far enough from the main camp that it felt isolated. No one was going to “accidentally” wander in here.

At least… that’s what I hoped.

“You’ve already met Julie,” Randal said offhandedly, then motioned toward the other lady. “This is Laura. She will be responsible for making sure you know how to properly apply sunscreen. She will also tell you other things to keep in mind while tanning, so you don’t burn. I’ll leave you to it then.”

Saying that, Randal walked back to the main film set.

“So…” I began awkwardly. “Where shall we begin?”

“Let’s go in,” Laura said in an Australian accent before removing a spray bottle from the bag she was carrying. “Both of you get naked. I’ll rub this sunscreen on your entire body, front and back, so you don’t burn.”

I eyed Julie nervously. This was a very blatant attempt by Randal to get me close to Julie. He had made no effort to hide his intentions at this point.

After a brief hesitation, when Julie didn’t remove her sundress, I decided to start the show and lowered my trunks, leaving me in my birthday suit.

Laura whistled loudly, but my gaze was locked on Julie, who looked a little uncomfortable seeing me like that.

“You don’t have to do this here,” I offered her a genuine smile. “I won’t be offended if you go somewhere else to get a tan.”

My words seemed to hit a nerve, because Julie huffed and then took off her sundress in one swift motion. She wasn’t wearing anything underneath, probably for the same reason as I. She must have come prepared for this.

This was the first time I was seeing her completely naked, and I was barely able to look elsewhere. Her breasts were firm and upright. Her slender waist and round buttcheeks were enticing me to do unspeakable things to her. Then there was her red bush that covered her lower lips completely, showing her to be a natural redhead. Very reluctantly, I looked up at her face, only to realize her gaze was fixed on my junk.

She seemed to realize that I had caught her staring because just then Julie looked me in the eye. Neither of us spoke anything for a few moments until the older woman broke the silence.

“We’ll have to shave your pussy,” Laura stated before Julie gasped.

“Laura!” Julie made a horrified face. “You can’t say that in front of him.”

Laura laughed before stepping closer to her. “Of course I can. He’s already seen you like this. He’ll just wonder tomorrow why you’re suddenly bald down there all of a sudden. Forget it for now.”

Then, without further explanation, Laura started spraying the cream on Julie’s body everywhere, all the while explaining how much cream to use. When I say everywhere, I mean everywhere.

Oof. What wouldn’t I do to be in Laura’s place?

“Your turn now, Noah,” she announced before walking over to me and starting the same process.

I was half-tempted to tell her to let me do some areas myself, but I had seen how professional she was with Julie, so I didn’t interrupt her work, even when she was rubbing my dick and balls.

Did I get an erection? Yes. Was it awkward? Fuck yes. I blame my younger body for this. As my older self, I probably could’ve controlled it, but not with teenage hormones pumping through my veins. Thankfully, neither Laura nor Julie commented on it.

Girls definitely have it easier when it comes to hiding their arousal.

“There, all done,” Laura announced a few minutes later. As soon as she stepped away, I put both my hands on my crotch.

“Now you can lie down on that towel.” Laura pointed to the only pair of towels placed side by side. “Every half hour, you have to turn over to get an even tan. Once you’re done with both sides, you’ll need to reapply sunscreen.”

She pulled a stopwatch from her bag and set it beside the towels, along with the big bottle of sunscreen we had just used.

“I think you both know by now how to apply sunscreen. Help each other if you need to for hard-to-reach areas, and remember, turn every thirty minutes or you’ll end up with a nasty burn.”

“We got it. Just go already,” I muttered, trying and failing to conceal my arousal with my hands. I hated being a teenager. Unfortunately, my hands weren’t exactly helpful in the matter because my dick was definitely much bigger than them.

Finally, Laura left the enclosed space, leaving Julie and me alone. Not knowing what to say to her, I decided to just do what I was supposed to. I lay down on my front, hoping to relax a bit after the long journey, and more importantly, hide my erection.

Julie followed suit, settling on her towel just inches away from mine. She could have moved a little further away, but she didn’t. If I stretched my arm out wide, I could easily touch her anywhere I wanted. Not that I would, of course, but the thought wasn’t helping me relax.

“The weather is nice here. Don’t you think?” I said, trying to start a conversation.

She shrugged and mumbled, “I guess.”

And then… silence. We didn’t really know each other that well yet, aside from the fact that we were going to the same town for college. And now, here we were, in the middle of a tropical island, fully nude, and surrounded by awkwardness.

“Want to run lines with me?” Julie asked unexpectedly. “It’s going to get really boring if we don’t do anything. They want us to do this until sundown, for three whole days.”

She had a point. “Sure. But not right now. I’m exhausted after all that travel. I need to sleep.”

Julie yawned suddenly.

“Looks like you do too,” I said with a smirk. “Let’s get some shut-eye. The stopwatch will wake us when it’s time to turn.”

“Okay.”