Starshine

by Melody Winter

  “Of course I can.”

  “No, you can’t. Not unless you’re prepared for all the photographers.”

  “Well they’ll be at yours as well.” I reminded him.

  “Yeah, but if you come back with me, we’ll be together.”

  “Isn’t that what you wanted to avoid? Us being seen together.”

  “It’s too late. Now that you’ve been spotted with me, it’ll be all over the gossip columns, and the damned twitter network.”

  I held in a grin, realising that I had spent many an evening silently reading through sightings of him when he was out and about in the city. I chose not to share that information with him.

  Alex frowned at my reaction, but I couldn’t take this seriously. It was all too surreal.

  “I’d hate to leave you to deal with them all by yourself. But I seriously need to go home, have a shower, and change into some new clothes. You’ll have to stay with me tonight. I insist.”

  I raised my brow. “You sure this isn’t just a plan to get me back to your lair, and do all those wicked things to me?”

  “Please, I’m serious. Look, I tell you what. We’ll drive past yours tonight when we leave here. If there’s no-one there, fine. I’ll drop you off. But I very much doubt that will be the case.”

  My heart sank at the thought of returning home and Alex leaving me.

  “If you want, if no-one’s there, you can just grab a few things, necessities. I’ll wait for you in the car and then we can go back to mine. I think we need to finish what we started last night.”

  “Okay. That sounds like a good plan.”

  “Come on,” he said, twisting around to climb out of the car. He linked his fingers through mine as we walked to the studio buildings. “Let’s see what Rowan and Amy have to say about our late arrival. I have the same clothes on as last night, and look like I’ve not slept a wink.” He stroked the stubble on his face that had grown even more overnight.

  “What about me?”

  “Ravishing,” he confirmed, leaning in to kiss my cheek. “And your ass looks fucking fabulous in those tight jeans.”

  As if to prove a point his hand slipped into my back pocket as he guided me through the building.

  “Here we go,” he said as he pushed the doors open to the studio.

  Every person in the room turned to look at Alex as he opened the doors. Most of them immediately looked away, others blatantly stared. I instinctively shifted behind him, but his hand moved from its resting place in my jeans pocket to around my waist. He pulled me toward him, ensuring I couldn’t hide.

  “Morning!” He greeted the inquisitive gazes of people still staring our way.

  I scanned the room for one set of eyes only. It seemed that Alex had done the same.

  “Amy,” he said. “I see you’re here on time for once. Simon not up for it this morning?”

  She tore her gaze away from him before whispering to Rowan.

  “Rowan,” Alex said, heading toward him, taking me with him.

  I wondered if Alex drew strength from my proximity. Since we’d left the studio yesterday, he had constantly touched me; his hand holding mine, his arm around my shoulders or my waist. I liked it, but it wasn’t something I was used to. Alex didn’t seem to have any problems with it though.

  “I’d like to finish early today if that’s possible,” he said.

  Rowan raised his eyebrows. “I think we’d all like that, Alex. None of us want to work late. You know it’s a tight schedule, forced on us by your departure on Wednesday.”

  Amy sniggered, and I fought the urge so slap her. I had no idea where my violent streak was coming from, I was usually so placid. I was as bad as Alex, or perhaps he was just bringing that side of my character out. Or maybe it was because I hated her for what she had done to him.

  Alex, meanwhile, nodded at Rowan’s statement.

  “I know the schedule, and I also know that if there was any way I could cancel my trip, I would.”

  Amy sneered. “It may have helped if you’d got here on time this morning.”

  “Yeah, well, we were busy.” Alex’s words implied so much more than what had happened.

  “It’s disgusting,” Amy hissed. “You’ve only just met each other.”

  “I have no idea what you are insinuating.”

  Amy gradually turned an angry shade of red. It swept up her neck before growing over her cheeks and then her forehead.

  “Well it’s pretty obvious what you two have been up to,” she said, directing her sarcasm at Alex. “You haven’t even bothered to hide it by changing into clean clothes!”

  I couldn’t help but chuckle at Amy’s observations. Even though we hadn’t done anything last night, it certainly looked like we had.

  “And why are you laughing?” she asked as she stamped her foot on the floor.

  “Me?” I feigned a look of surprise, trying not to laugh even louder at her building tantrum.

  “Yes, you.”

  “I don’t know. Perhaps it’s the look on your face and the beetroot colour of your skin. Oh yes, and the glowing green of your eyes.”

  Alex burst out laughing before lightly kissing the side of my head. He turned to Rowan, completely ignoring Amy.

  “Right then Rowan,” Alex said. “Let’s get started. Where do you want me?”

  The day went slowly yet again, and I continued to question if the career I had chosen was the right one for me. Most of the time Rowan had to deal with Amy’s diva-like behaviour, or her moans about Alex going off-script—he liked to improvise. Rowan’s role was more than that of a director. He was like a teacher trying to control unruly children and ensure they all had their say. Teaching was not a profession I’d ever fancied.

  Alex was in every scene, and I didn’t get any time to sit and talk to him during the short breaks that he insisted on. But I knew he was working flat out so that we could get away on time tonight.

  The scenes shot today were the lead up to the massive fall out that the characters had. I found it quite disturbing that Alex and Amy were heading to arguments on screen when they hated each other so much in real life. Although I doubted that either of them would have to act very much during the filming of them.

  I was also looking forward to the scene that was planned for next week. Alex’s true acting ability would be seriously called for, as would Amy’s. It involved a very intense love scene, and was the major talking point of the film. The series of four books had been a huge hit for the author, Clarissa Williams, and the whole franchise had been named after the third book, Starshine, seeing as it was the most popular of the whole series. Starworld was the first book, Sunspark the second, Starshine the third, and then Solarflare tying the series together. I’d never read the books until I found out that Alex was cast as the lead male, Ryan. And then my obsession with him led into an obsession with the books and now the film. I still had to pinch myself about being here, and being with Alex.

  The scenes leading up to the sex scene were ones where Alex had to play the part of an angry man, upset with the way his lover, Evelyn, had supposedly been messing around with his best friend. I had a strange feeling that for the beginning parts of the scene there would be very little acting, but he would need to calm down and eventually turn from angry and bitter, from snarling, shouting and physically restraining her, into a tender and passionate lover. Even though he’d be acting, I was sure that part of his true character would shine through. I giggled, momentarily lingering on the thought that maybe I’d already know what type of lover he was by then. We had three more evenings to get through before then, plenty of time for things to happen.

  Rowan didn’t speak to me about the directions he was giving. Normally chatty and open about his thought process, he kept quiet, and I was left to just watch him as he filmed. The openness he’d shown me, and the chats about why he was filming scenes certain ways was missing, and any glance my way was brief. Was he annoyed with me for letting Alex into my life after his warnings, o
r was it more? I hadn’t missed the way that he and Amy were starting to side with each other against Alex. It was nothing major, but when I thought back to things that had happened since I’d arrived, I realised that Rowan and Amy were quite friendly with each other. I frowned, wondering whether she was sleeping with him. He had made excuses for her behaviour today, blaming Alex on several occasions for things that were quite clearly not his fault.

  I snapped out of my wild musing as Alex approached. He drew level with my chair and leaned over me, trapping me in my seat as he planted a huge kiss on my lips.

  “I hope Rowan keeps you busy every day if that’s how you’re going to greet me,” I whispered as his lips left mine.

  He raised his eyebrows and positioned himself on the floor in front of me. “No tongue though, Ella. I thought it best with all these busy bodies around.” He stretched his long legs out on the floor and crossed them at the ankles. “Plenty of time for that later.”

  I shook my head, chuckling. “So, Mr Denton, just so I know. When you take me back to yours tonight, do you live in a flat or a house?”

  “House.”

  “A big house?”

  “Yep. I rattle around it quite a lot. It’ll be nice to have someone there with me.” He sighed as he glanced across the room to Amy. “I miss having the noise and chaos of someone living with me. It just reminds me of how lonely I am.”

  “Surely, you don’t miss Amy?”

  “God no, I don’t miss her. Well, not in that way. It’s just the presence of someone else being there with me. I’ve thought of getting a dog, but I’m never at home long enough to look after it.”

  I understood what he meant. Living by yourself was a lonely way to exist, but it also meant you could be selfish and not worry about upsetting the person you were living with. In my case, it meant playing music at an indecent volume and dancing wilding around my flat.

  I frowned at Amy who was, deep in conversation with Rowan.

  “What’s going on between those two?” I asked, inclining my head across the studio at them.

  Alex scowled. “I’ve no idea.”

  “I don’t trust them.”

  “Ella, Amy may be a complete cow, but she’s not exactly bright. And Rowan, well he just agrees with everything she says to keep her happy. As you’ve already witnessed, a pissed off Amy is like dealing with a child having a tantrum.”

  “I suppose so.”

  I glanced again in their direction. Rowan was nodding in agreement at whatever Amy had said. Alex may trust them, but I certainly didn’t.

  “How long until you’re finished?” I asked, turning my attention back to him.

  “Not long.” He reached for my leg and rubbed my calf through my jeans. “Why, you eager to leave?”

  “Yes,” I responded instantly. “I mean, I’m tired, I’m hungry. And I’ve had enough of being in here.”

  Alex pulled his legs to his chest and then sprang to his feet.

  “Welcome to my world, Ella. It’s like this every day. What is it they say? There’s no rest for the wicked?” He leaned over me for another quick kiss. “Let me get back to it, and then we’ll head off. You think you can cope with me for another night?”

  “Definitely.”

  Tonight couldn’t come soon enough for me.

  As soon as Rowan called out that the days filming was over, Alex ran over to me.

  “I’m not getting changed. Fuck them all. Let’s go.” He grabbed my hand, and pulled me behind him as we ran across the studio, down the corridor and out into the bright sunshine.

  “You’re crazy, Alex!” I said as I slipped into the passenger seat.

  “I know. But crazy in a very good way. Now, let’s go and see what’s happening at your house, shall we?” He turned his key in the ignition and the car roared to life.

  “I still think you’re over-reacting.” I recalled his worries from this morning. But I was sure that there wouldn’t be any photographers outside my house.

  “Well, let’s hope you’re right.”

  As we neared the security gates Alex’s face set into a stony stare.

  “Fuck. I don’t believe it.”

  I followed his gaze toward the gates. Waiting just outside, held back successfully by three security men, were a group of photographers.

  “Now do you believe me?” Alex turned to me, his expression one of exasperation.

  “Good job my windows are tinted, but put that baseball cap on. They’ll struggle even more to get a good photo if you wear it.”

  I rummaged on the floor, picking up the discarded cap before placing it on my head.

  “Just look down. Don’t, whatever you do, look up. Cover your face with your hands if you want. It may help.”

  I nodded. He was used to dealing with this sort of attention; I wasn’t, and therefore followed his instructions.

  The security men at the gate recognised Alex’s car, as did the photographers, who surged forward.

  “Fucking idiots,” Alex mumbled as they ran toward the car. “If I so much as run over one of their toes, they’ll sue me. I’d like to run the whole fucking lot of them over—repeatedly!”

  I sniggered nervously as I covered my face with my hands and focused on my feet.

  “Can you imagine the headlines if I did run them over?” Alex said.

  There were several bangs on the car and plenty of shouts from outside as he drove us through their mass.

  “Deadly Denton, or Deranged Denton Kills.” He chuckled. “Perhaps they’ll think of something that’ll referred to my killer looks as well as my killer driving.”

  I grinned, but kept my eyes glued to the floor. Bright flashes lit the car from every angle.

  “Move!” Alex shouted, making me jump with the volume of his demand. I caught him waving his hand furiously at someone outside the car before he continued shouting. “I won’t be responsible if I knock you over!” He revved the engine, and gradually inched his way through the photographers, shaking his head at their insistence to get a photo.

  “Un-fucking-believable.”

  As we eventually drove free from them, he accelerated away quickly.

  I cautiously looked up from the floor before turning to Alex.

  “You should believe me now,” he said. There was no sign of smugness in his voice, just an underlying level of concern.

  “But . . . but how did they know I was here? Where did they get that information from? I mean, I don’t understand how they knew I’d be at the studio.”

  Alex pursed his lips, sucking in a long breath. “I think Amy told them.”

  “What?”

  “It’s how she operates, Ella. The man in the cafe this morning was the man that she sold her story to when we split up. That’s why I was so angry. I’m sorry. I should have perhaps mentioned it earlier. I have a strange feeling that she still has his number and he has hers. Who do you think he’ll have called after he spotted us this morning?”

  “But why would she do that? What does she think she’ll gain from all this?”

  “Maybe she thinks you’ll turn away from me if all this gets to you.”

  My hand reached across toward him, purposely resting on his thigh as I reassured him. “Well she’s wrong. I’m not going anywhere.”

  “I may hold you to that,” he said. “I’m not the easiest person to be around at times.”

  “I think I’ve already worked that out. And, as I’m sure you’ll have noticed, I’m not running for the hills just yet.”

  “There’s still time.” His lips twitched as he spoke. “But, first things first. Before we check out what’s happening back at yours, we need to get to a pharmacy for some condoms.”

  I held in a giggle at his straight-forwardness.

  “Not willing to take a chance that the ones back at yours are in date then?” I asked.

  He kept his focus on the road, concentrating on driving.

  “I’m just very practical. Also, your photo will be all over the papers tomor
row. It’s possible that it’s out there already. You need to pop in and get some before you get recognised. Can you imagine the fuss if the person behind the counter knew exactly what you were going to be doing with the condoms?”

  I sniggered. “I sincerely hope that the person behind the counter does know what I’d be buying condoms for. They shouldn’t be working there if they don’t know what they’re used for.”

  “I’m serious. It’s a nightmare trying to buy things like that when you’re famous. Once you’re recognised for going out with me, it’ll become a nightmare for you as well. You’ll not be able to go into a pharmacy—they’ll all know that it’s you and me who'll be using the condoms!”

  My laughter faded as I understood how troubled he was by this.

  “Do things really get that bad?” I asked, all signs of my joking disappeared.

  “Not always. It usually gets unbearable near the release of the films. The media’s interest just goes into overdrive.” He slowed the car as we headed down a quiet street. “I know there’s a pharmacy down here somewhere. Hopefully, it’ll be empty.”

  I looked out of the window, not recognising this part of London at all. “Where are we?” I asked, peering even closer at the houses we passed.

  “On the outskirts of Maida Vale. Not too far from where I live.”

  I nodded, watching the white painted, grand houses rise into the sky.

  “It’s very posh,” I said, seeing the tree lined street ahead, and the smattering of very expensive cars parked outside. “Don’t people have garages round here?” I asked, not understanding why people would have such large houses and expensive cars with no-where to put them.

  “You’d think they would, wouldn’t you? Maybe they prefer to have extra party space.” He tutted. “I can’t believe how easily you change the subject, Ella. Here I am talking about our evening of making love, and you’re talking about garages.” He shook his head, chuckling.

  “Our evening of making love?” I questioned. “You were talking about buying condoms.”

  “Well, I don’t intend on wearing them as a fashion accessory. What else did you think we were going to do with them?”