“Action,” the director called.
Gabe pushed all thoughts of Dawn from his mind as he became Dale Stone, structural engineer. This time the scene went without a hitch.
“And cut. OK, once more for close ups, and then we’ll call it a night as the second team needs to work on setting up for tomorrow.”
Gabe leaned against the wall. His mind went back to Dawn again. Had she liked the flowers? Or had she thought it creepy? It made no difference to the fact that he wanted to see her again. He’d programmed her number into his phone before the careers fayre, just in case something cropped up last minute. As soon as he got off set and learned the lines for tomorrow, he’d give her a call. Just to hear her voice again if nothing else.
~*~
Dawn led the kids on the morning hike over the Derbyshire hillside. How they could be so cheerful on so little sleep was beyond her. She’d lost count of the number of times she and Liz had gotten up to them. Hopefully, tonight would be better, and they could all get some sleep.
“Miss Stannis? What’s so special about this dam?”
“They flooded a village when they made it, Jamie,” she replied. “During droughts you can see the remains of the houses and church. And the Dambusters, otherwise known as 633 Squadron, used this reservoir for practice runs during the war.”
Jamie looked at her in horror. “Seriously? They flooded a village? Why’d they do that?”
“Cos it was in the way, stupid,” Pippa said.
“Stupid isn’t a nice word,” Dawn chided gently. “But that’s a very good question, and we can find the answers at the exhibition when we get there.”
“How much further, miss?” Henry asked. “I’m hungry.”
“You’re always hungry,” Jamie retorted. “Are we gonna hafta walk back?”
Dawn let the atrocious grammar slide, just this once. “No, the coach will meet us there with your lunches. And it’s about another ten minutes.”
They arrived to find closed signs on the road leading to the dam.
“What?” the kids chorused.
“It’s not meant to be closed,” Dawn said. “I called last week and booked the tour. Let me go and ask.”
Henry grabbed her arm. “Look, miss, that’s Gabriel Tyler and a film crew. They must be making a movie or something.”
Dawn followed his finger. Her heart skipped a beat. Followed by several beats. Gabe stood there, shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows, the black outfit he was wearing suiting him perfectly. She swallowed hard. “You kids stay here. I’ll be right back.”
She slid past the fence and headed to the office. “Excuse me?”
The bloke behind the desk looked at her. “We’re closed.”
She pulled out the forms. “Dawn Stannis from Headley Cross Secondary. I rang last week and arranged a tour of the dam for this morning. Spoke to a Nigel Franks.”
The bloke checked the diary. “Hmmm, he shouldn’t have done that. The film crew has priority, I’m afraid. But I can fit you in on Friday.”
Dawn checked her schedule. They could do it on the way home instead of right now. “OK. Friday at two?”
“I’ll put that in now. Sorry about this.”
“No worries.”
She headed back over to the others. “I’ve rebooked the tour for Friday on the way home. Looks like a double booking, and of course, the film crew has priority.”
“Now what? The coach won’t be here for an hour and a half.” Jonathan frowned.
“We could always sit and watch the filming, sir,” Henry said. “I’m sure if you ask nicely, they’ll let us.”
Dawn shrugged. “Not like we can go anywhere else until the coach gets here.” She looked at Jonathan. “So, if Mr. Brooks doesn’t mind asking…?”
Jonathan nodded. “Then I will go and do that. Just wait here.”
Dawn turned as he headed off towards a man with a clipboard. Her attention wandered; she scanned the actors until she found the one she wanted. His brown hair fell across his forehead as he spoke passionately about something. The cameras moved around him, the sound boom hovering over his head, but he ignored them.
Jonathan came back across. “So long as you lot are quiet and don’t get in the way or bug the actors for photos and autographs, we can watch for a bit. Over on that wall.”
The kids scampered over to it and sat as quietly as the proverbial church mice.
Dawn grinned. “At least we now know how to keep them quiet.”
“Quiet on set. And action.”
Dawn watched as Gabe walked from the office on the dam heading straight over to the director arguing with another man.
“Cut. Gabriel, what’s wrong this time?”
Gabe glanced over at the wall and broke into a huge smile as he saw Dawn there. He raised a hand in greeting then turned back to the director. “Last time we did this scene, I had a clipboard. And for continuity purposes, I need it now.”
“Did you?” The director checked the playback for a moment and then agreed. “OK. Props, give the man a blue clipboard.”
Gabe gave the man a fixed stare. “It was red, and you know that.”
The director laughed. “Do you want my job?”
Gabe grinned and tucked the clipboard under his arm. “Want mine?” He headed back over to the office.
“Ready to go again? And action.” It took another three takes before the director was happy. “OK. Fifteen minutes while we set up the next shot. Stand ins for blocking, please.”
Dawn held her breath as Gabe sauntered over towards them. The kids behind her nudged each other and squealed.
“Please can we ask for his autograph and a photo?” several of them asked.
Gabe stopped right in front of her. “Hi there, Miss Stannis. How are you?”
“I’m OK. You?” For an instant she wondered why he was being so formal, then figured it was because she was in a school capacity in front of the kids.
“Working hard. What are you doing here?”
“Field trip. We should be on a tour of the dam, but they double booked us with you. These are my colleagues, Mr. Brooks, Mr. Evans, and Miss Freeman.”
Gabe’s smile took them all in. “Hi.”
Henry’s hand shot up. “Can I ask Mr. Tyler a question?”
Dawn looked at him. “Henry…”
“It’s not can I have his autograph or a photo cos Mr. Brooks said not to ask that.”
“I’m not sure if he has enough time.” Dawn looked at Gabe.
“Sure I do.”
“What’s the movie about?”
Gabe launched into a brief explanation of the disaster movie he was filming.
“Doesn’t it get boring doing the same scene over and over again?” Peter asked.
“Sometimes, but it’s important to get even the tiniest detail right, so that the people watching believe what they are seeing is real.”
“Is that why you insisted on the clipboard?” Henry asked.
Gabe grinned. “Yep. You should do an Internet search for movie bloopers. You’ll find all sorts of things there, from missing driving mirrors to camera men being in shot.” The set bell went. “Tell you what. Why don’t we do a quick photo? One of those selfies.”
The kids all gathered around him, and Dawn handed over her phone. “I’ll put it on the school website if that’s all right.”
His smile almost floored her. “That would be great.” He angled the phone making sure he had all of the kids in it then took the picture.”
“Should have one of the staff, too, Miss Stannis.” Henry held out his hand. “Want me to take it?”
Dawn shook her head, not sure she trusted one of her students with her personal phone. “We’ll manage.” Then she retracted her words as Gabe slid an arm around her waist. Warmth shot through her taking her by surprise. But she shelved the reaction. This was just normal for him taking photos with fans. That’s all it was. Nothing more. So she needn’t read anymore into it than that.
The other teachers crowded in the shot, and Gabe took the photo. Then he gave Dawn back her phone. “Better go.”
Dawn leaned against the wall as he headed off. Forty kids gathered around her wanting to see the pictures. She showed them. “I’ll email them to the school for the website in a bit.”
She put her phone away and wrapped her arms round herself. Why had she reacted that way to a simple arm around the waist? It was as if he’d lit the blue touch paper. Every single part of her had come alive at that moment. Did she like him; was that it?
She watched him cross the set and take up his position again. He’d slipped back into character seemingly effortlessly.
A chill wind blew despite the sun peeking through the rolling grey clouds. It wasn’t meant to rain, not that the weather forecast meant anything. The shot the director was explaining seemed simple enough. Leave the office, mount the horse, and gallop away to the west.
Just like a highwayman.
She shook her head at herself. She was wasted teaching geography. She should take a leaf out of Liam’s book and teach English. She loved poetry. Especially poems that told a story.
“Action.”
Both actors ran from the office, mounted the horses, and galloped off in different directions.
“Cut.”
Gabe laughed as he pulled the horse around. “Other right, Philip.”
“And take two.”
This time, both men vaulted straight over the horses to the kids’ delight.
“Take three.”
Gabe ran from the office and mounted perfectly. He spurred his horse gently, galloping towards the end of the dam. A loud crash echoed from the other end of the set. Gabe’s horse reared. Somehow Gabe managed to stay on, but then the horse reared again throwing him to the ground.
Dawn’s heart leapt into her mouth. Unexpected worry gripped her from the inside out. Was he hurt? Was that meant to happen? She pushed away from the wall. Why wasn’t he getting up?
5
“Cut.”
Gabe lay on the hard ground staring up at the grey sky. He pushed himself to his feet and dusted himself down as the paramedics and director reached him. “I’m fine. I’m not hurt.”
The kids cheered and clapped from the other side of the set. He looked over and saw the worried look on Dawn’s face. He bowed and winked before turning to the director. “I promise, I’m fine.”
“You get checked over anyway. If you get injured it’ll hold up production and cost the studio thousands.”
“Fine.” He sat down and let the medics check him while the director chewed him out. Anyone would think he’d done it on purpose. Which he hadn’t. But arguing was pointless.
Once he’d been given the clean bill of health, he knew he’d get, the director looked at the others.
“OK, take five, everyone, and we’ll go again.”
Gabe made his way over to Dawn. “I’m fine,” he told her. “Really. Don’t look so worried.”
“Thought you were hurt.”
“I used to be a stunt man, so I know how to fall. I like to do my own stunts where I can.”
“Was that fall in the script?”
He shook his head. “No, hence the paramedics. I would have fallen onto a mat had it been scripted.”
One of the kids put up a hand. “But we never see mats in the movies.”
“It’s called careful editing and numerous takes from different angles.” Gabe looked at Dawn. “Were you serious about never having seen any of my work?”
She nodded, her cheeks darkening.
“Then I shall have to rectify that. Starting tonight. Would you like to have dinner with me and watch
Persuasion
?” He ignored all the giggles and nudges from the kids instead watching Dawn intently.
“I can’t…I’m working. I’m sorry.”
“Can’t he have dinner with us instead, miss?”
Dawn looked at the other members of staff.
The taller of the two men, Mr. Brooks, agreed. “Sure.”
Dawn smiled. “We’re staying at the Wyvern Activity Centre.”
“I know it.” He’d driven past it several times on his way to the set. “I’ll be done here by six.”
“Then we’ll see you later. We eat at half-six tonight.”
“Mr. Tyler.” The director yelled through the megaphone. “When you’ve quite finished…”
“Better go. Looking forward to it.” He headed back across the set.
Why was his heart pounding like a drum merely at the thought of spending time with her?
It wasn’t as if they’d be alone, so hardly a first date.
Is that was he wanted?
A date. With Dawn.
Did he have time for a relationship?
With her? Did he want a relationship with her?
To each question came one resounding answer.
Yes.
“Are you all right?” Philip asked.
“Yeah, I’m fine. Sorry, I was miles away, thinking.” Gabe grinned. “How about we mount the horses backwards this time? Make the kids laugh.”
Philip chuckled. “Sure. Is there something going on between you and that teacher?”
“No. We only met last week at some school event. Why?”
“She can’t keep her eyes off you. Actually thought she was going to run over here and pick you up when you fell off the horse.”
“Really?” Gabe eased his shoulders as they walked back to the office. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“Uh, huh, course you haven’t. You’ve got a fan.”
“That’d be forty kids. She says she hasn’t seen any of my work. Not sure if she’s joshing or not.”
At the cry of action, Gabe and Philip ran to the horses and as one mounted them backwards. Screams of delight came from the watching kids and crew.
The director wasn’t impressed. “Oh, very funny. Pair of comedians, the both of you. Once more please, and let’s get it right.”
Gabe grinned. “You’re welcome.” He jumped off the horse and went back to his starting position. This time the take went without a hitch. The director called lunch, and Gabe glanced over at Dawn hoping he could maybe eat with them. But she was shepherding the kids over to a coach in the car park.
Still he had tonight to look forward to. Assuming they finished on time. If they didn’t, he’d just have to call her and—
He’d meant to do that the previous evening, but ended up with a night shoot. And as for dinner? He’d intended it to just be him and her. Not him, her, three other adults, and forty star struck teenagers. But for now, he’d take whatever he could get.
Only for now. He wanted more.
A grip ran over to him. “Mike asked me to give you this. Updated diary for today.”