Just Friends (12 page)

June 20
th

I
’ve just arrived into my hotel suite in Philadelphia. My transport here alone made me feel like a rock star. Ms. Andrews insisted that I called her Jasmine from now on since we’ll be working together on a daily basis. Jasmine and Stanley arranged for us to travel first class from London to here. Everything was so glamorous and luxurious. My seat moved backwards and forwards and I had my own TV and my own little fridge beside me. I honestly felt like royalty, I must have taken a thousand photos throughout the flight. My favourite photo was the one the flight assistant took of Jasmine, Stanley and I, holding champagne glasses. I sent the photo to Mum once we landed so she knew we were doing well. I had to leave two days before Madeline’s eighth birthday. I hate having to miss it. I wrote her a letter during the flight since it would be eight hours before we landed. I thought she’d appreciate it more coming from the USA. Also, if I sent a text it could be deleted or forgotten within a day. Letters can be kept and reread over time, as long as they’re not burnt.

Madeline,

Happy birthday Sis. I
’
m so sorry I can
’
t be there to celebrate with you. You won
’
t be disappointed when you
’
re joining me on the red carpet and meeting all the hot male celebs! I can
’
t believe you
’
re 8 now, you
’
re making me feel old! I didn
’
t buy you a present at home because you already have everything you little spoilt thing! So I
’
m going to get you something over here and post it back to you soon. I know Mum and Dad can be frustrating but be patient with them, chick. It won
’
t be long until you
’
re heading out here to visit me! Once you
’
ve finished the next couple of weeks of school, we
’
ll arrange for you all to come visit. Take care Madeline, look after Ethan for me please. I know he will be missing me (even though he won
’
t admit it.) I
’
m sure he
’
ll visit you at some point and wish you Happy Birthday.

All my love, August.

June 21
st

I
haven’t been introduced to anyone yet. I was told to settle into my accommodation last night, and I would be introduced to everyone today. My hotel suite is like something you would see out of movie! I have two floors! Downstairs I have a kitchen and living room. Upstairs I have my bedroom. Everything is so beautiful and modern. There’s a window in my bedroom, but I’m too small to reach it. So I don’t have much of a view, but that doesn’t bother me. My favourite piece of furniture is the chair hanging from a wire on the ceiling. It’s almost like a floating birds nest. I have to hop into it since I’m quite small, but once you’re inside you feel like an astronaut. It’s perfect for taking naps in or watching TV. It still isn’t home, so I’ve fetched a couple of family photo frames from home and also Ethan’s clock. There isn’t a clock upstairs or beside my bed so it’s helpful that I fetched it. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are brought to my room by butlers, so I don’t have to cook! For breakfast they fetch up various cereals and fruits for me to choose from. While I’m having breakfast they leave you a little card to tick for your choice of lunch and dinner. Half of the things on the card don’t make much sense. It just needs to say
pizza
or
spaghetti
. Not
leek and watercress, served with caviar and spinach.
I made that up, but the menu is very similar to that. This must be costing whoever pays for all this a fortune to provide if I will be staying here for two months. I’m extremely anxious to meet everyone. I hope they like me. This won’t be fun if no one likes me or we don’t get along. I’m determined to make the right impression with everyone though.

At around 11:30am, Jasmine was at my door to escort me down to meet everyone.

“Nervous?” She asked.

“A little,” I replied, tying up my hair.

“Don’t be. They’ll love you.”

We took the stairs down so it gave me time to compose myself and prepare myself for meeting everyone. We stopped at a lounge door.

“How many people are in there?” I asked.

She winced. “Thirty maybe forty people. Today we’re introducing everyone, and talking about schedules, how we plan on making the movie. We start reading through the script tomorrow.”

I nodded. “Ok… ready when you are.”

She grinned and opened the door to the lounge. When it said lounge I was expecting a big sitting room and everyone to be stood or squeezing onto a sofa. This was like a giant ballroom with a load of desks joined together to make a giant square. Everyone was sat down, chatting. As soon as I entered silence fell over the room and all eyes turned to me. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. It was far more startling and overwhelming than I expected. And there were nearly twice the amount of people Jasmine said there was. I was guided to a chair and sat down between Stanley and a young girl.

“Hello. How are we?” Stanley asked.

“Very well thank you, yourself?” I replied.

“A little stressed but that’s very normal for a first gathering. We’re just waiting on one of the producers to join us and then we will begin.”

I nodded and allowed to him to read the paperwork in front of him.

“Hi,” the girl whispered beside me. “I’m Eleanor.”

I turned and holy moly there she was. Eleanor Walden. The hottest most stunning gorgeous actress to ever grace this planet. Her eyelashes were so big and flattering. And her beautiful brown hair was tied up in a messy bun, but it still looked perfect. She wasn’t even wearing make up and she looked like a Goddess. I stared into her captivating brown eyes for a concerning amount of time before replying.

“Hi,” I replied with a grin. “August…I mean I’m August.”

She grabbed me and gave me a warm hug. “It’s nice to meet you, we’re going to be best friends you and I.”

It was so tempting to smell her hair, so tempting. But I need to act cool and normal around these people. Not like a fan. I wanted to continue our conversation, but Stanley stood up and began an announcement. He signalled with his hand for me to join him. I hopped up out of my chair and awkwardly analysed everyone. Stanley is about a foot taller than me so I must have looked really small beside him. I bet they could barely see me from behind the table.

“This is August,” he said, placing his hands on my shoulders.

“Say hello, August.” He whispered.

“Hello,” I said with a smile.

“She is my star, Ladies and Gentleman. We love her lots. You can sit back down now, August.”

I smirked and returned to my seat.

Stanley explained how everything would run. It didn’t make much sense to me, so I’m incapable of repeating whatever he explained. It was all to do with sets and takes. It was mainly a meeting for the technical people and for everyone to meet. But I can’t believe I met Eleanor Walden! I mean we’re going to be spending so much time together on and off set! And she likes me! How cool is that? It only seems like yesterday I was reading an article about her in my performing arts class at college. It’s weird how much your life can change.

June 22
nd

M
y first read through. Far less people were in the lounge today. Maybe ten or fifteen, Stanley, Jasmine and some producers, Eleanor and I, and a teacher from the university/college we’re attending. Today we’re running through the start of the movie, moving in and meeting my roommate, attending a couple of lectures. Those kinds of things. Basically we’re running up until I witness the murder. Eleanor is very professional for such a young age. She’s only one or two years older than me, well, she’s sixteen months older than me. I thought I’d pretend like I didn’t know, but of course I do. But she’s such a good actress. I know I will learn a lot from her. I feel like maybe she should have been the lead role instead of me. But Stanley wanted a star, and here I am, wondering how on Earth I got here.

After we finished reading through I was given endless compliments. It started from Eleanor, but after she began I was bombarded with them from the producers. “You were marvellous.” All I did was read the script? This still feels like a dream I’m due to snap out of any minute. I suppose this will take time to get used to.

June 25
th

I
’ve been given the day off. Rehearsals have been going very well, and today they’re focusing on the bad guys stunts and speaking roles. I only have to do one major stunt and they said that could be taken care of on set because it’s simple and doesn’t need to be rehearsed. Eleanor has had to return to New York for a week, too. To discuss another film with her agent. Stanley seemed a bit annoyed that she had to leave, but he said it wouldn’t have any effect on our progress. I’m going to miss her. I’ll miss the little giggles we have. She’ll be back next week though, so I don’t have to wait too long for her return. I would tell you more about reading through the script, but it’s nothing exciting. The only thing I can say is instead of running through the script in one go we have now cut it into chunks. We’ll repeat a scene two or three times, until we feel it is perfect. Sometimes we may repeat it six or seven times, it all depends on if we approve of it or not. I’m proud of myself though. I’ve kept up with everything and anyone without struggling or complaining.

I decided today would be a good time to shop for Madeline’s late birthday present. According to the production team, whoever they are, I need to be escorted by a member of security whenever I want to leave. So I’ll be shopping for my sister’s eighth birthday present with my own personal bodyguard. I found it rather amusing. My bodyguard is a tall, dark and fairly handsome man, I’d say in his forties with short hair. He is called Wayne.

“I’ve taken care of a lot of celebrities, most are very rude. But may I say you’re one of the politest I’ve ever worked with, Miss Bishop.” Wayne said as he opened the car door for me.

I smiled, “Thank you, I would ask you to call me August, but Miss Bishop sounds too damn sophisticated.”

Wayne chuckled and shut the door behind me. Madeline text me as Wayne and I were driving. She’d sent me a photo of her and Ethan pulling funny faces. It put a huge smile on my face. Shortly after I received that photo, I received another. A photo of Ethan asleep on our sofa. I miss him, more than anyone else I’m afraid to say. It’s probably because I’m used to seeing him all day, every day. Shortly after that message my Mum sent me a photo of Madeline asleep on top of Ethan, she must have cuddled up to him, bless her.

“I’m looking for a present for my sisters eighth birthday Wayne. What would you recommend?”

Wayne hummed and sulked in deep thought. “I’ve got a friend not far from here who has an excellent jewellery store. Necklaces and bracelets, those kind of things.” As soon as he mentioned bracelets I thought I could get Madeline one to sit alongside the friendship bracelet she had made with Ethan.