Next, we have to lie down on the floor in some crazy circular configuration with cameras above us. Itry to move over to innocent,actually angelic, blue-eyed Mickie, but the assistant pulls me back to lie next to Jett, the troublemaker.What’s with this?
“You just look so cute together; it’s a vibe,” the assistant says, hovering over us and blending my raven hair with Jett’s crazy black and blue puffs.It’s just the hair,Itell myself, and ignore that my mother is slyly snapping photos on her phone and looking at me like she might know something Idon’t.
After the interview, Mum's taken off to some record label meeting with dad and Iget a text telling me Leah is waiting downstairs. As I’m leaving, Igive Mickie a big hug and sparks fly through my chest.What do Icall this? FriendChem?Ihaven’t felt like someone understands me like this in a long time. One week as friends, and she’s already offering me dream roles she has zero authority to offer, and Ilove her for that.
“I’ve really needed a friend like you,” Iadmit.
“Aw, Maddy! Me too! Can Itake you under my wing, lil bestie?”
“Yes!” Ihug her again, feeling like I've won the friend lottery. “I’m on set all day tomorrow. Can we meet for lunch, maybe Wednesday?”
“Of course! I’ll make reservations!” She blows kisses as she runs off to catch the lift.
I still have to grab my wardrobe bag, and as Iwander over to the dressing room, Iwonder if Ishould hug Jett goodbye, too. He’s obnoxious, yeah, but an adorable obnoxious, Iguess. Iround a corner, suddenly feeling as if someone stomped on my toes and kneed me in the solar plexus. Physical discomfort at the sight of Jett like this?Why?Why would this scene possibly surprise me, let alone upset me?
Jett hastwoof the hottest up-and-coming musicians in our crew of twenty-five pinned seductively against an abandoned hallway wall. Well, Imean,practicallypinned. He’s got soulful singer Xaden and pop powerhouse Jenna with their backs against the wall, where Jett has both hands firmly planted above their heads. He leans into them with this hungry look in his glossy green eyes.Starving.His puffy bottom lip firmly stuck between his teeth, the lethal gaze he gives them igniting a strange fire in my stomach. Iroll my eyes at Xaden and Jenna, at the strange sensations in my body, atmyself. But especially at Jett, as Iturn and storm off towards the elevator alone.
Chapter 4
Maddy
I’m twenty now, and despite being totally amped up today, I’m happy to be home. Home, being the onlypitch blackEnglish manor-style home this side of Beverly Hills. Our house is so massive, and our family is so close that all three of us kids, my siblings four and five years older than me, still live here despite not having to. Ithrow myself on the enormous black leather couch that wraps around our living room, which is all red walls, high ceilings, and gold records. I’m practically vibrating out of my skin when my dad appears.
“What’s with you, Baby? Did you find some amphetamines in the medicine cabinet?” My dad tosses a bottle of water in my direction. Iscream.
“Dad, what the fuck is that?”
Clicking across the white and grey marbled floor is something old and slow, twice the size of a throw pillow, and rather green.
“It’s a fucking turtle, what do you think? It’s older than you, give it some respect!”
“It’s toenail just got stuck on the rug! I’m not going to respect that. Ugh!” Ituck my feet up under myself. “Why, Dad?!”
“Well, Ineeded someone to take care of while you were gone!”
“I’m an adult, Dad! Idon’t need my nappies changed, hopefully neither does that turtle!”
“Why are you so keyed up, Baby? You need this?” Awhite pill flips through the air, and Icatch it in a tight grasp.
I squint at it. “Xanax?”
My dad sweeps his shaggy, dyed black hair out of his face and settles into his recliner. His hazel eyes crinkle at the corners, same exact shade as mine, and ours always hold the same mischief. “What? You need two?”
I tuck the pill in my sweatpants pocket, just in case. I’d been gone for two months in Georgia filming a movie where Iplayed Sandra Bullock’s daughter, and Iknew they’d missed me. Ihad cried when my agent called and offered me the part, yeah, because Iwas happy, sure, my first movie!
But the tears were mainly … tears of relief?
My show had just been cancelled, and my all-American, early 2000s, Paul Walker meets Jensen Ackles looking boyfriend had broken up with me. If you're asking why I'd allowed myself to date before winning an Emmy, well, Iwas nominated for one and Ithought that was good enough. But God, was Iwrong. Tate ripped my heart outandIhave no shiny gold trophy to show for it. Iwas the most depressed I’d been in my life and getting the call was the first time I’d felt hopeful in weeks, so, of course, I’d accepted the gig immediately.
“Baby!Hello?”
“I’m just worked up because Mickie’s novel is released today! You know, the one that’s going to be a huge hit made into an epic HBO Max show, and I’m going to be the star? I’ll positively blow UP, Dad! You know I’d be the perfect evil princess!”
“You’ve already blown up, Sandra Bullock’s daughter! Are you kidding me?! I’m so proud. You don’t have an evil bloody bone in your body, Matilda. That’s what makes you a great fucking actress!”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“I mean, except for that time you nearly gouged that girl’s eyes out in grade nine.”
