Will the Real Abi Sanders Please Stand Up? (12 page)

“What does that loud sigh mean?” Liv asks. “You don’t think Rich will want to come.”

Ooops, I really should concentrate more.

“Sorry. No. I was thinking about something else. Yes, I’m sure he will. Mention it to Matt.”

“Okay. And if I say that Tilly’s coming to the party, he’s bound to say yes.”

I wish she’d give up on this idea, because it just isn’t gonna happen. Not that Tilly even knows about the party.

“No. We don’t know that she’ll be coming.”

“Have you asked her yet?”

It’s not like we sit and talk all the time. “N-not yet. The time hasn’t been right. You know how she is. I can’t just go up to her and ask. I did mention the party to some of the others, but they’re not sure. It all depends on how behind schedule we are. There have been a few problems.”

“Don’t worry. I know you’ll get them there if you can.”

“Sure. And even if Tilly can’t make it, hopefully Jon might. I’ll ask him later. If he says yes then you’ll be able to meet him for longer than a few seconds. I’ve been teaching him some fighting moves.” I can’t help the corners of my mouth turning up into a slight smile.

We’ve hardly had chance to talk about Jon, because our calls have been short or Matt’s been with us. I don’t want him to know. I’m not sure why. Actually, I am. It’s because Matt will say something about Jon being Tilly’s boyfriend, and that I should stay clear of him. It’s easy for him to say that, because he doesn’t understand the whole situation. And if I try to tell him, he’ll just mock me.

“Teaching him fighting skills, huh? Just be careful. Remember he’s still with Tilly. You know, I can’t believe that you’d even think about stealing someone’s boyfriend. That is so not you.” If I could see her, I just know she’d be shaking her head.

“I’m not. I just like him. That’s all. A lot. She can be so awful to him. He’s a cool guy. You’ll see.”

“I repeat. Just be careful. I don’t like your chances if Tilly finds out you’re after him. Anyway, he might say yes to the party and bring her.”

That thought had crossed my mind, but I ignored it. As I did with the thought that I can’t just invite him without her.

“I will. Don’t worry,” I say, not sure whether I’m trying to convince her or myself.

“After you first told me about him, I googled him and then I remembered,” Liv says. “He played Harry in
Lani Goes West
. Hot to look at, but a crap actor. Do you remember? We kept mocking his accent, a mixture of
The Sopranos
meets
Deadwood
.” Liv giggles.

Oh yes, I’d forgotten. Now I feel really mean. We did make fun of him, but I’m sure he wasn’t as bad as Liv remembers, and it’s hard for someone from the UK to do an American accent—at least, that’s what Jon told me. I’ll take another look at the movie when I get home.

“I expect he was told to speak like that by the director,” I say with an edge to my voice. “And if the director was like Zac, Jon wouldn’t have had a say in it.”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you. I was just being dumb. Is he in your movie too?” Liv asks.

“No, he’s between jobs at the moment. Although he’s going back to L.A. soon for the audition.”

“As long as it’s not for a cowboy, he should be okay.” She giggles, then it goes muffled like she’s put her hand over her mouth to stop herself in case it upsets me. Which it doesn’t.

“I know what you’re doing. And I’m not upset by you laughing. I was just being supersensitive before. Ignore me.”

“Okay, if you insist. Look, I better go. I’ve got to go home in a minute because Mom’s book club is meeting at our house this afternoon, and she wants a hand with preparing the food. But, before I do, what are you wearing to the party and what time will you be at my place? We’ll have to allow a couple of hours to set everything up.”

Why did she have to bring that up now? She’s going to kill me when I tell her.

“I might have to meet you at your aunt’s house. We’re filming, and I’m not sure what time I can get away because we’re so far behind. Zac’s said we have to be prepared to work late.”

“You’re kidding?” Her voice drops, and I feel terrible, letting her down like this.

“I’ll try my hardest to get to your house first. But if not, I’ll see you at your aunt’s. I’ll text you and let you know how it’s going. Sorry, but I’ll get there as soon as I can and hopefully bring some guests, promise.”

…

“Remember the set-up,” Zac calls.

He’s standing behind the camera, ready to shoot the scene where Wairere rescues Hui from his burning motorcycle. We’ve rehearsed it lots of times, and I’ve worked with Danny to make sure it’s right. The one thing he told me was to stay calm and remember to breathe.

“Ready,” I shout.

“Action.”

Adrenaline courses through my veins as I run in the direction of Hui, who’s trapped under the bike. When I get to within a couple feet of him, I leap in the air and kick out with my leg, pushing the bike away so it’s on the ground next to him. The heat from the flames is intense, even though I’m covered in a protective gel, and my clothes are flame resistant, and it’s hard to breathe. I push these thoughts to the back of my mind and grab hold of Hui’s arms and drag him away to safety.

“Cut,” Zac hollers. “Good job.”

I become aware of the sound of everyone applauding. I glance up and see them all looking in my direction. I can’t help smiling.

“Awesome,” Vince says. “I couldn’t have done it better myself.”

I feel myself blush but don’t care. To get that sort of praise from him is ridiculous, seeing as he’s been a stunt double for years.

“Thanks,” I reply, feeling about ten feet tall.

“You should think about making a career of it. You’re a natural.”

Only a few weeks ago I had no idea what to do with my life, and now it’s like everything is falling into place. Doing the movie has given me a goal for my future. It’s something I’m doing on my own without Mom and Dad or Liv and Matt interfering. Even if they do it with the best of intentions, it’s good to know that I might be able to make it on my own.

“Thanks. That would be so cool.”

Chapter Thirteen

“No. I won’t.”

Tilly sounds really angry; I wonder who she’s going after this time. I didn’t realize she knew about my hideaway in the woods. I often come here to get away from everything or to do some stretching between shooting. Maybe Jon mentioned it because I told him.

So, should I stay here behind the tree and listen, or go back? The trouble is that they might hear me if I move and think I’m spying on them. Which I am now, even if it is unintentional.

“You will do as I say, my girl, or you know the consequences.”

What the…? No one in their right mind talks to Tilly like that.

“
Whatever
. Look Mom, you don’t rule my life. Not anymore.”

“Ohhhhhh,” I say out loud, then quickly slam my hand over my mouth to stop them from hearing me. It’s her mom. I’ve read in the magazines that she’s the driving force behind Tilly’s career and has been since Tilly was five.

“Do you want the media to find out about your latest exploits, like I made sure they did the last time?” her mom snaps. “If you don’t, then you won’t question my decisions. They are for your own good.”

Nooooo. She’s one of
those
moms. The kind who sell their kids out to the media. It’s just wrong. Moms should protect you, not spill everything to the newspapers. How can she live with herself after doing something like that to her daughter? There’s no way my mom would do anything like that to me. Ever.

“For the good of your pocket, you mean,” Tilly growls.

“Watch your mouth. You will sign the contracts, and that’s the end of it.”

Man, I’m glad she’s not my mother. How come Tilly lets her call the shots? She’s over eighteen, plus with her money and lifestyle she can do whatever she wants. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe her mom has got something on her. Something that could wreck her career. But it can’t be that. No mom, even Tilly’s, would use something against their own daughter. Maybe, deep down, it’s because Tilly wants to please her mom like I want to please mine—most of the time. Although, in Tilly’s case, it doesn’t sound like it’ll ever happen.

“Mom, three movies in a year is crazy. Not to mention all the publicity they get me to do. I need some time off.”

“You’ll have plenty of time off when the next bright young thing arrives on the scene. In the meantime, you work and work
hard.
If you need anything from my physician contacts to help keep you on top, you know I can arrange it.”

Physician contacts? Does she mean drugs? I don’t care how famous Tilly is. It’s not right. Anyway, I can’t stay and listen to this. I’m heading back. I turn and put one foot in front of the other as lightly as possible so they can’t hear me.

After a few minutes, I see Vince heading in my direction. Another person who knows my secret place, which clearly isn’t secret at all. I just thought it was because I’ve never seen anyone there before.

“Hey, Vince, don’t go that way,” I say, pointing toward the woods.

“Why not?”

“Tilly’s there, having a shouting match with her mom.”

“Ah, I was wondering when the infamous Renee would turn up.” He grimaces.

“You know her then?”

“Everyone knows her. She makes periodic visits to the set, when globe-trotting allows, creates as much stink as possible, then disappears.” He shrugs. “I guess we’ll all suffer once Renee goes, because Tilly’s not going to be happy.”

I feel sorry for Tilly. It can’t be easy for her to have a mom like that. No wonder she acts like she does sometimes. It’s not like she has a good role model.

Yikes, I’m sounding like Mom. Then again, that proves my point.

“Well, it must be hard for her. Moms aren’t supposed to be like that.”

“Oh, Abi. You’re so sweet.” He ruffles my hair, and I pull away. Unnecessarily messed-up hair doesn’t go down too well with Mel. “Not everyone has a regular mom like yours.”

“How do you know what my mom’s like?”

“Because I hear you on the phone with her, and I’ve seen you together when she’s picked you up from the set instead of Matt. We all have. Don’t knock it. I bet Tilly would kill to have a mom like yours.”

She would? Really? But if she had my mom, she wouldn’t have been in the movies. She’d have had a normal life instead, and Tilly doesn’t do normal. Why would she want to when she is worshipped wherever she goes?

Then again, maybe Vince has got a point. I don’t know how I’d have coped without Mom being with me when things got tough. I’m not saying she isn’t annoying sometimes, because there are times when she tries to tell me what to do and she seems to forget that I’m actually an adult. But I can talk to her about stuff and know that she’ll support me. Not like Tilly’s mom. According to the tabloids—and based off what I heard this afternoon—her agenda is all about the dollar, and if it means screwing over her daughter, well, then so what.

“Maybe.” I see Tilly walking near a row of motorcycles, looking strangely withdrawn, the usual Tilly sparkle uncharacteristically subdued. I gesture in her direction. “I’m going to see if she’s okay.” I leave Vince and run over to her.

“Hi,” I say.

“What do you want?” Tilly narrows her eyes and glares at me.

“I. I. h-h-heard you with your mom. And-and wondered if you were okay.” Now that the words are out, they make me sound really lame.

She flinches, just a little, when I mention her mom. “Of course I’m okay. What’s it to you?”

“N-n-nothing. I thought you might want to talk about it.”

“Well, you thought wrong.” Tilly storms off.

As I watch her retreat, it hits me, the reason why she’s mean all the time. It’s a defense mechanism. She’s in pain and doesn’t want anyone to find out. So she keeps people at a distance, being nasty to them so they don’t even try to get close to her. It doesn’t stop what she says to me from hurting, though. And it’s still not right.

…

By the time Zac’s finally happy with today’s shoot, I realize it’s way too late for me to go to Liv’s house before the party. I texted a while ago to tell her we were way behind, and the response was terse, to say the least.

But it’s not like I didn’t warn her.

Anyway, I need to get home ASAP to shower and change. If I hurry I’ll just make the nine-fifteen bus. I’d ask Matt to pick me up, but can’t because I asked him to go early to the party since I couldn’t. And I can’t call Mom because she’s busy tonight. Maybe I should get a cab, except it will cost about fifty dollars. I’m going to borrow Mom’s car once I make it home to get to Liv’s aunt’s place. Liv said we can sleep over in their guestroom.

“Hey, Abi. You coming?” Jon’s voice startles me. I didn’t know he was on set, so unlike me not to notice him.

“Where?”

“The Tavern. Everyone’s going. I figure they need it after today. Zac certainly got his money’s worth out of you all.”

“Sorry, going to a party,” I say, wanting to scream in frustration. How unlucky can a girl be? Typical that they’re going out tonight of all nights. The Tavern is an amazing place, not that I’ve ever been there before. Way out of my league, but if I were with everyone from here, it would be okay.

“Go later. Parties never warm up ’til the early hours.” He gives one his knee-wobbling smiles, and my stomach goes all fluttery. I can’t believe he really wants me to go with them. It’s so tempting, and he’s right about parties taking a while to get going.

I could just go for a little while and then head for the party. Hopefully, Liv will understand. It would just be so nice to spend some time with Jon. Anyway, he might want for me to go with them now, but once Tilly’s around, he’ll be with her and he won’t be able to talk to me. So I probably won’t even be that late.

“I’d love to, but I’m not sure. Even if I could go, I don’t have anything to wear, I can hardly go like this.” I glance down at my dress, which I love, but it’s so not club gear.

“Borrow something else from wardrobe. Ask Fran.”

He’s making this so hard for me.

“It takes forever to get my make-up off. You’ll be long gone by the time I’m ready.”