‘WhatsApp pic?’ Sara’s supersleuth skills kicking in.
‘It’s a beach shot. He’s from Arizona.’
‘Hmm, I hate it when they use landscapes and babies,’ she said, disappointed.
‘You’ll just have to trust me that he was HOT.’
‘I trust you. I might have to book myself in,’ Kat said, dreamily. ‘Sounds like an absolute treat.’
‘A hot man in the sauna. Was that your birthday wish?’
‘It wasn’t, but I could change it.’
‘What was it, then?’ Sara asked, leaning in.
‘She can’t tell us, or it won’t come true!’ I interjected, in horror.
‘Ah, I’m not superstitious. And anyway, I wished an impossible wish. To find a man as wonderful and kind, and funny, and thoughtful as my beautiful friends.’
‘No chance,’ I said. ‘Only friends offer that kind of winning combination.’
Sara nodded. ‘Sisters before misters, hoes before bros.’
‘Mates before dates, forever, amiright?’ Kat cheered.
‘One hundred per cent,’ I said, handing out the shots.
‘Cheers Kat! To your thirties!’ Sara said, holding up her glass.
‘Your best decade yet,’ I clinked.
‘Happy Birthday to me,’ Kat echoed, with a full heart and a happy smile. ‘Love you girls so much.’
Three
Monday 29thJuly
I woke up to the aggressive honk of my 6 a.m. alarm and threw my running gear straight on. It was always best to get up, dressed and outside before my brain had time to talk me out of it.
‘Morning, Abi!’ Ned called, as I ran down the stairs.
‘Morning!’ I shouted, over my shoulder, setting my watch as I went – 5k, 35 minutes; my first challenge of the day. I put my headphones in, cranked up the dance music, and set off. Padding along the streets towards Highbury Fields, running to the beat, no time to think; the steady thud of my feet hitting the ground, melodic and meditational. Keeping on, keeping on. Today was the start of a new adventure and I wanted to kick it off right. A new job, a new industry, and hopefully some new friends. I got back to the flat, had a shower and a green tea, and shimmied on a black, silk jumpsuit – chic, casual and comfortable. My work uniform. Every new job was like another first day at school. My make-up was topped up, and my brushes were washed and soft. I felt ready to take on the world as I lugged all my gear outside and waited for an Uber. I always treated myself on day one to make sure I arrived on time and my kit got there in one piece. It was too expensive to risk dragging it across town on the tube, and it would be hell getting from Islington to Stratford at this time in the morning.
‘Abigail Mason.’ I spoke clearly into the metal box that asked for my name, as an invisible eye watched me. The door buzzed open, and it was a relief to step out of the sun and into the air con. I wheeled my case ahead of me, along the smooth, concrete corridor, the smell of coffee filling the space as I spied theMoonmenset for the very first time. An enormous green screen, six cameras in various shapes and sizes, and groups of people milling about, eating toast and granola pots, and drinking out of paper cups.
A girl with pink hair and oversized glasses stopped me before I could walk through and introduce myself.
‘ID?’ she called, holding out her hand.
‘Morning!’ I said, with a sunny smile, unzipping my bag and handing her a plastic wallet. This wasn’t my first rodeo.
‘Morning. Thanks, doll,’ she said, scanning my passport with difficulty, her purple talons getting in the way. ‘Look straight ahead, please; don’t smile. And now up here.’ She clicked her fingers and there was a flash and a whirr, and the printer spat out my security pass.
‘That’s you done,’ she said with a wink. ‘Welcome to the crew. I’m Tanya – I’ll be seeing you in and out of the building each day.’
The pass was shiny, silver plastic with an LATV logo front and centre. The only thing ruining it was my befuddled expression, as Tanya had caught me unawares. Still, I was officially in and just putting the lanyard around my neck sent a shiver down my spine. I was someone who ‘worked in film’ now, a member of the showbiz community, if you don’t mind.
‘You’re in Room 2. Just around the set to the right.’ Tanya popped a piece of gum in her mouth and went back to her phone.
