“Hello.”
Annie looks like a deer caught in the headlights when she sees me. I guess I was standing here kind of close, but that’s because I was about to knock on the trailer door to see if she’s in there. I take a step back.
“I see Miriam finally got her dress back.”
Annie rolls her eyes. “I put her precious dress back on the hanger but I don’t know where my own clothes are so I had to steal this robe, which I’m sure will be yet another thing I get yelled at for.”
“Nah, I have a million accidentally stolen robes,” I say. “They don’t keep track of the robes, just the clothes that appear on camera.”
“Well, that’s good I guess, but I’d still like to know where my real clothes are. I found my bag in there where I’d left it, but not the clothes.”
“I’ll help you find them,” I say. Movement to the right catches my attention. I’m pretty sure it’s just some extras taking a walk, but paranoia always gets me on outdoor film sets. Paparazzi lurk everywhere, even occasionally managing to sneak into places where they aren’t allowed. “Come on,” I say, motioning for her to follow me three trailers down.
My name is on the door. It’s such a small thing but it means so much, as someone who had only once dreamed of being a movie star as a way to earn money. Now I have my own trailer. My life isn’t exactly the way I want it to be, but it’s not bad. My name is on the trailer door after all.
Annie hesitates when I open it.
“Am I allowed in there?”
“Why wouldn’t you be?” I ask.
She bites her lip. “I’m not allowed in the craft services tent. I’m not supposed to touch any of Andrea Block’s character stuff unless someone tells me to. I can’t leave a scene to go help someone who’s injured. I’m already in trouble all the time, so I don’t want to get yelled at for going into an actor’s trailer.”
“It’s my trailer so I can do what I want with it,” I say, giving her a smile as I hold open the door. “You’re my guest.”
She steps inside, the look of awe on her face reminding me of the first time I walked in a trailer myself. It’s really just a slightly fancier motorhome, but it’s still cool. This film’s budget isn’t even that great compared to other movies, but the trailer is still fit for a movie star. It’s filled with plush seating, a giant TV, snacks, and other amenities that help make it feel like home.
“Wow,” she says, wandering down the narrow hallway that leads to the small bedroom. Worry creeps up my spine at the sudden fear that I left a pair of boxers on the floor like the slob I am. But she turns around and walks back before going into the more private area of the trailer, so she doesn’t see anything embarrassing.
“Flowers?” she says, reaching out and touching the petals of the fresh bouquet on the dining table. She playfully narrows her eyes at me. “Does someone have a secret admirer?”
I snort out a laugh. “There are fresh flowers delivered every couple of days. I think the crew does it?”
“Wait, it you don’t specifically know where they come from?” she says, eyes wide. “Maybe it is a secret admirer. Or a creepy stalker.”
“That would explain why they come with a note that saysI’m watching you,” I joke.
This gets a smile from her. Her cheeks turn a light shade of pink and then she looks back at the flowers, leaning in to smell them.
“I’ll text the lead crew member,” I say, tearing my gaze from her to look at my phone. “I’ll make sure they find your clothes.”
“Thanks.” She sits at the small table, neatly clasping her hands in her lap. I notice she has really good posture, her shoulders straight and back, and I wonder if it’s because she’s a nurse. Are nurses known for having good posture?
“So how are you liking the gig so far?” I ask. I have to say something, have to keep up a boring conversation about boring things, or I’ll go back to thinking of that kiss we shared in the ballroom.
“It’s… unusual,” she says after a moment of thought. “I have no idea what I’m doing, and I kind of want to quit, but I never break a commitment if I can help it, so…” She shrugs. “I guess I’m here for the two months.”
“Why would you want to quit?” I ask, looking at the flowers, which are also beautiful, but in a different way.
She draws in a deep breath. “No offense, but acting sucks.”
I can’t help but laugh. “No offense taken.”
“I really hope one of my job applications comes through soon. I need to get my life back together.”
“What happened to your life to make it not be together?” I ask. I hope that string of word vomit makes sense. To be honest, being in the same room with this gorgeous woman does crazy things to me. And the memories of kissing her less than an hour ago is doing even more crazy things to me.
“Oh that’s a long, boring, pathetic story,” she says. “Trust me, a big movie star like you would be so bored by the details.”
