“I’m not hungry.”
Anya bites her lip, “Okay. I’ll let you get some rest.”
The elevator arrives. I step one foot inside before Anya says. “Oh wait!” She rummages in her bag and emerges with a small packet in her hand. “I keep them for emergencies.”
I take it from her warily. It’s an old packet of French biscuits, the ends crumpled and faded.
“Just in case.” The faint hint of pink on her freckled cheeks is like a soothing balm on my racing thoughts.
“Thanks.”
“It’ll all be okay, don’t worry.” The smile she shoots me is dazzling.
The elevator doors close between us.
It’s only later, when I collapse on the couch in my room and take a bite of a crumbling biscuit, that I take the paper out of my pocket.
Chapter 12
ANYA
The first day Danny and Callum are on set together is already a disaster. I’m a big believer in signs so as soon as the camera cards corrupt and they have to change the kit, we might as well all go home.
The tension is already high from the arrival of Callum, and Danny’s unprecedented freak out. I have already heard whispers of his Diva-ism, which had started to die down once Charles had left us alone for a few weeks. Danny was quiet when I took him home that first day. He didn’t say anything in the car and didn’t even say goodbye when we got to his hotel. The days following were much the same. I could cajole him out of his moods most of the time, but it was like trying to get a stone to bleed. Or laugh.
If he wants to be a child about it, he is more than welcome. He can treat me like a coat rack for all I care. So what if there was that…moment in his trailer before he agreed to stay. It almost felt like he changed his mind…because of me? I decide to just log that with all the other moments that have raised the hair on the back of my neck and caused a swoop in my belly, and just forget about it completely.
He hasn’t spoken to me today. I’ve kept it up as long as I could without saying anything, but unfortunately, this job relies on communication — even if it is one-sided.
I linger outside his trailer, psyching myself up to confront the moody bastard. The June sun is beating down on me and I curse myself for forgetting my sunscreen. I have maybe five minutes before I turn into a lobster.
Get over yourself,I think in Danny’s direction in his tin can, before huffing up the steps to his door. Before I can even reach the top step the door swings open, nearly knocking me out. Danny emerges, and he doesn’t even acknowledge my near death experience before he’s backing me down the stairs.
“There’s a delay on set.” I hurry after him as he strides towards makeup. “You don’t have to be in makeup for like twenty minutes.”
“We can just start early.” He doesn’t even look at me.
“I mean, if you want to un-corrupt the camera cards yourself, then sure? Otherwise I think we’re at the whims of the camera loader.”
Danny ignores me and stomps up the steps of the makeup truck, pulling the door open.
“Danny,” I reach for his arm but think better of it.
His large body blocks the doorway so I can’t make out the faces of the girls inside the truck but I hear their startled gasps. Danny ignores them and sits in his usual chair.
Sally steps up, wringing her hands and glancing at me for support. I throw my hands up in the universalI don’t know what the fuck is going onsign.
Sally glances at the call sheet taped to the wall and the big red cross covering it. À la the camera cards. “Danny, you aren’t supposed to be here for another twenty minutes.”
Danny glances around at the empty truck before settling into his chair. “I’m here now.”
Sally glances at me again. Chewing my lip, I glance at Danny. Yes, he is being a prick right now, but he won’t even look at me. Something is going on. So, I pick a side. “Is it okay if you do him now?”
Sally looks to the ceiling before throwing her hands up. “Fine.”
Danny doesn’t even acknowledge us, pulling out his phone. He’s probably just looking through his settings, the loser.
“I’ll uh,” I mutter, “I’ll go let production know.”
