by Lyn Gardner
“Right, Livy, are you ready to go?” asked Jon.
Olivia nodded, although she didn’t feel ready. She tried to think of Kasha’s face, but for some reason the only image that came into her mind was of him dressed as a girl when she’d helped him escape from the hotel where he was staying before his concert. That wasn’t romantic at all; it just made her want to giggle. She was very fond of Kasha, but the thought of kissing him made her feel quite embarrassed. She was just going to have to act her heart out to make people believe that she was in love with his Romeo. She heard Jon call, “OK,” as if from underwater. Then she realised that Kasha was in the room and was speaking with his back to her. He suddenly spun round and saw her. His eyes widened in wonder.
“But, soft! What light through yonder window breaks?
It is the east, and Juliet is the sun!”
Olivia leaned towards him. She suddenly thought of Kasha and Abbie alone in the middle of the fake forest at the after-show party and the rapturous look on their faces, and all at once she wasn’t Olivia Marvell, aged nearly fourteen, who was feeling a little sick and self-conscious, but she was Juliet having a secret meeting in the middle of the night with the boy who had just swept her off her feet and with whom she had just had her first kiss. All her anxiety melted away. She leaned yearningly over the balcony to be closer to her Romeo. The scene flew by like one of Cupid’s arrows. She and Kasha gazed at each other as if unable to tear their eyes away, and it felt as if the world had stopped turning and they were the only two people left in the entire universe.
Olivia spoke Juliet’s final lines:
“Goodnight, goodnight! Parting is such sweet sorrow
That I shall say goodnight till it be morrow.”
She withdrew behind the small curtain draped over the entrance to the balcony and waited for Kasha to speak his final lines. He did, and the end of the scene was followed by a smattering of applause. Olivia took a deep breath and began to climb down the ladder. She had reached the lower rungs when Kasha lifted her off the ladder and into a bear hug.
“Livy, you were fantastic!” he whispered in her ear. “When I saw you up there, I nearly forgot my lines I was so surprised. But it felt so right. Clever Jon. I’ve found my Juliet.”
Olivia shook her head. “The producers might not think that. I’d be a massive risk. I’ve no experience.”
“They’d have to be completely mad not to let Jon cast you,” said Kasha. “Come on, let’s face the monsters,” and he put his arm around her affectionately and led her round to where Jon and the others were sitting. Everyone was staring at Olivia intently and looking very solemn. It made Olivia think of a firing squad.
Kasha peered at their serious faces, and then he said breezily, “Hey, who died?”
Perhaps it was nerves, but Olivia snorted with laughter and Kasha got the giggles and soon the two of them were in each other’s arms, laughing helplessly. Their laughter was infectious and soon smiles had crept across even the sternest faces.
“Kids!” said Jon eventually. “Thank you to both of you. You too, Honey. As I hoped, it’s been really interesting. Livy, Tish will call a taxi to take you back to the Swan.”
“I’m going that way,” said Kasha. “I’ll drop Livy off.”
“Thanks for seeing me,” said Olivia shyly, and then Kasha pulled her by the hand and they ran out of the room. The last thing those behind the table heard was the sound of happy conspiratorial laughter as the door closed on Olivia and Kasha.
“I wonder if it’s possible to bottle that,” said the PR woman, Liz, with a smile.
Jon turned to the others, a gleam in his eye. “So was I right? Or was I right?”
“I have to admit, Jon, she was astonishing. But she’s so young and it would be such a risk to take. Artistically and financially,” said the man with the moustache.
“Yes, Howard, but the chemistry between them was extraordinary,” said the casting director.
“I did wonder how much of it was acting,” said Liz. “Afterwards they were like a couple of puppies together. Irresistible.”
Jon beamed widely.
“Be that as it may, she’s not a name,” said another man. “She will bring nothing to the box office. Whereas Cory Niven has a hundred thousand Twitter followers—”
“And a nasal drone like an aircraft making an emergency landing,” finished Jon brutally.
“Olivia was lovely. So vulnerable and yet so fierce,” said somebody else. “I’d buy her if you’re as keen as you seem, Jon.”
“Yes, but can we sell her, that’s the real question,” said Howard Franks insistently.
“I’ve been doing some research,” said Liz, who had opened her laptop. “I think we could. If we can’t get somebody really hot like Abbie Cardew then—”
“Abbie Cardew! That’s who we need. Why can’t we get Abbie Cardew?” said Howard Franks petulantly.
Jon sighed. “Because Abbie Cardew is about to be Joan of Arc in a movie that starts shooting in three weeks. She’s out of action for four months. We’ve been through this before. If Abbie had been available, we’d have seen her, no question. But she’s not, and there’s no point hankering after what we can’t have. And in any case, I’m prepared to bet that Abbie would have been hard-pressed to match Olivia today.” He turned to the PR woman. “Liz, what you were you saying about Livy?”
“Well, I’ve done some research. Olivia Marvell may not be a household name, but she’s really interesting. She grew up in a travelling circus and has an amazing family. Her gran’s the legendary Alicia Swan who runs the Swan stage school. Her mum was Toni Swan, probably the greatest Juliet ever, who died tragically young. That’s a story in itself. Daughter steps into her dead mother’s shoes. The media would be queuing up for that one, even the red tops.
“Her dad is Jack Marvell, otherwise known as the Great Marvello, and he’s a famous high-wire walker who has done some extraordinary stunts. And Olivia’s no slouch in that department herself. Apparently she’s also a hugely talented tightrope-walker and trapeze artist who has already attracted some press attention in the past for some of her escapades. I reckon if she played Juliet, I’d be fighting the media off, not begging them to give us column inches.”
“A tightrope-walker?” said Howard Franks, frowning. “How bizarre. You don’t expect to find Shakespeare and classical acting blossoming in the sawdust ring of a circus.”
Everyone ignored him.
“You’ve got to admit,” said Jon, “not only was Livy good, but it’s the first time we’ve seen real chemistry between Kasha and one of the Juliets.”
Everyone nodded and Liz looked thoughtful.
“So, are we ready to make a decision?” asked Jon impatiently.
“I’ll go for her,” said a couple of voices. But Howard Franks, who seemed to carry some authority, said, “Let’s see her again in a few days, just in case somebody else comes up.”
Jon buried his head in his hands. “Just remember, rehearsals are supposed to begin very soon, and for my money Livy is as good as it gets.”
“But it’s not your money, is it, Jon?” said Howard Franks, gathering his papers and getting ready to leave. “It’s mine.”
Chapter Seven
Aeysha wandered along the corridor at the Swan. She felt a bit lonely. She had just eaten lunch with Kylie and Connor, but it wasn’t the same as being with her closest friends, and they were all busy. Olivia was still at her audition. Tom was helping Pablo with a lunchtime high-wire class, and Georgia and Katie were so taken up with the prospect of their next audition for “Project X” that Aeysha had felt as if she was playing gooseberry. Huff had told them they were trying out for a movie about an ordinary British family that was mostly to be improvised by the cast, and the two girls were really excited about it. They were spending a lot of time together, and Aeysha noticed that not only did they look more and more alike – they had even started doing their hair in the same way – but they even behaved like sisters. They had
little in-jokes that made Aeysha feel excluded.
She and Georgia had been so close for the last couple of years, and now things were changing fast. In her heart she knew that the relationship with Katie was a good thing for Georgia, who had been heartbroken when Aeysha announced that she would be leaving the Swan in the summer, but Aeysha still found it difficult when Georgia and Katie talked about the future and made plans for classes that they would take together when she wouldn’t be at the Swan any more.
Aeysha was really looking forward to going to her new school and the chance to study a wider range of subjects than the Swan could provide, but it didn’t make leaving her old school and friends any less hard. She hoped it was true what she had told Georgia at the after-premiere party – that the two of them would remain friends long into the future. But it wouldn’t ever be the same as being at the Swan together. She was beginning to wonder if she had been overhasty in deciding to leave the Swan.
Aeysha peered through the glass door of one of the dance studios and saw Eel and Emmy sitting on the floor together, writing something on a piece of paper. She popped her head round the door. “Can I come in?” she asked.
The two girls nodded. They both adored Aeysha.
“You can help us,” said Eel.
“What are you doing?”
“We’re making a list of suitable wives for Dad,” said Eel solemnly.
Aeysha had to stop herself from bursting out laughing. “Does Jack know about this list?” she asked.
Eel shook her head.
“Don’t you think you should tell him?”
Eel shook her head again.
“Did you tell Livy about this?”
“Yes,” said Eel gloomily. “She thought it was a terrible idea.”
“Livy may be right,” said Aeysha.
“But he’s lonely, Aeysha,” said Eel passionately. “Livy said it herself. He’s all on his own. He needs somebody special. Livy can’t bear the idea of somebody replacing Mum. But I barely remember her, and anyway lots of people love more than one person.”
“That’s true,” said Emmy very seriously. “People are not like swans. Swans mate for life. But Sisi Holman’s mum has had three husbands!”
“So who’s on this list?” asked Aeysha curiously.
“It’s very short,” said Eel despondently. “All the really nice people are already taken.” She handed Aeysha the piece of paper.
“Pippa Middleton!” This time Aeysha couldn’t stop herself laughing.
“What’s so funny?” asked Eel indignantly. “I read that she’s very athletic and Dad would like that. I thought maybe he could teach her the high-wire.”
“Jessica Ennis!”
“Same thinking,” said Emmy, “and very pretty.”
“Darcey Bussell! But, Eel, Emmy, you don’t actually know any of these people, and I think some of them are already married,” said Aeysha, scanning the list of female celebrities.
“I know,” said Eel gloomily. “But the list of people we do know is even shorter.” She handed it to Aeysha.
“Cassie Usher. Lovely, I agree, but she’s just got engaged.”
Eel put a thick blue line through the name.
“Katie’s mum, Lily. Lovely too, but don’t you think that she and Jack would have got together by now, given that they’ve had plenty of opportunity?” Aeysha looked at the list again. “Chloe Bonar? I didn’t think you and Livy liked her very much.”
“We don’t. She’s very vain. Always primping her hair. But she likes Dad; she was forever making eyes at him during rehearsals for Peter Pan. Mind you, he didn’t seem to notice, and anyway I think she might have wicked-stepmother tendencies so maybe I’d better cross her off the list to be on the safe side.”
“Probably a wise course of action,” said Aeysha, her mouth twitching again. “You and Livy don’t want to risk being abandoned in a forest miles from anywhere like Hansel and Gretel.”
“Yes, you do have to consider the stepmother side of things very carefully,” said Eel thoughtfully. “I asked Mrs Gibbs in Reception because she’s always so nice to me, but she said that while she was enormously flattered and very fond of Dad, she was very happily married to Mr Gibbs, who would have something to say if she mentioned divorce. So you see, the whole thing is quite hopeless.”
“Well, maybe you should just wait and see if Cupid strikes,” said Aeysha.
“I think we’re going to have to give Cupid a nudge,” said Eel, “because he’s being very lazy.”
In the car park near the rehearsal rooms Kasha steered Olivia towards a bright-red Mini parked in one of the bays.
“Meet Celestine. My pride and joy,” he said. “I was even able to buy her out of my own earnings, which felt amazing.”
“Are you rich, Kasha?” asked Olivia.
“Not millionaire rich. But I’m very lucky. I’m certainly earning more money than I ever imagined, and a great deal more money than most people ever see.”
“You should tell that to your brother, Hamo,” said Olivia. “I bet the money your gran invested in your education at the Swan has got a greater return than any of his business ventures.”
“I’m steering clear of Hamo at the moment after what happened between him and Abbie’s cousin at the party. It was lucky it didn’t turn into a fully fledged fight. Then it would have been all over the papers.”
Kasha unlocked the car and had just got in when Olivia noticed something tucked underneath the windscreen wiper. She reached over, thinking it was probably an advertisement, and had started to read it when Kasha shouted, “No!” But it was too late. Olivia had already seen the angry words written in red capitals: “STAY AWAY. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED FOR THE LAST TIME.”
“It’s some kind of a joke, isn’t it?” said Olivia uncertainly as she got in the car next to Kasha. But she saw from his sombre face that he didn’t think so. “Have you had them before?”
Kasha nodded. “The tyres have been slashed too.”
“Who’s it from, and what do they mean?” asked Olivia.
“I am pretty certain it’s from Tyler. He’s deeply unpleasant. Abbie says he’s been stirring things up between Hamo and her dad. Spoiling for a fight. He was in big trouble when he was a teenager. Abbie’s dad, Pete, took him into the family business to try and keep him on the straight and narrow. Now Tyler thinks he can call the shots. Thinks it’s all a question of family loyalty and that Abbie and I should stop being friends.”
Olivia swallowed. She knew that Kasha and Abbie’s relationship had moved beyond friendship. “You should go to the police, Kasha. You’re being threatened.”
“Easier said than done, Livy. Neither Abbie nor I can risk anything like this getting into the media. Particularly Abbie, at this stage of her career. She’d become tabloid fodder and wouldn’t be taken seriously as an actress. Casting people might think she comes with trouble attached. Her dad understands that, but Hamo and Tyler are far more hot-headed and they’ve got this silly old-fashioned idea that some kind of family honour is at stake and neither of them should be the one to back down. It makes it really difficult for Abbie and me to be friends.”
Olivia felt awful because she knew more than she was letting on. “It must be really dreadful for you both.”
“It is,” said Kasha bitterly. “We can barely risk seeing each other. And she’ll be off soon to make Joan of Arc so we won’t see each other for months. I can’t bear it, Livy!”
Kasha looked as if he might cry. Olivia put an arm around him. She knew she couldn’t pretend any more. “Are you going out together, Kasha?”
He stared at her. “Is it so obvious?”
Olivia nodded. “It’s pretty obvious from the way you talk that you’re crazy about her. But if you want the truth, I spotted the two of you together in the forest at the party.”
Kasha put his head in his hands. “Oh, no. We thought we were being so discreet. But if you saw us, maybe other people did as well. If Tyler realises that Abbie and I are more
than old school friends, things could turn really nasty.”
“I don’t think you need worry. I’m pretty certain I’m the only one who saw anything. I was just exploring when I stumbled across you both, and I didn’t see anyone else. But I don’t understand, Kasha. You and Abbie are both seventeen. You’re practically grown-ups. Surely you can do what you like? This isn’t seventeenth-century Verona.”
“I know. But we both come from very tight families. It’s hard to go against them. Hamo even holds Tyler responsible for my dad’s heart attack, and Tyler is just the kind of guy who does anything he can to stir trouble. He’s even refusing to show Hamo the company accounts, which is driving Hamo mad.
“But I think there’s more. Abbie says he resents my success. Says I’m just a spoiled little pretty boy who has had it all handed to me on a plate. Apparently, he was in a band once. He even got a record deal, but it all went pear-shaped for him and he’s never really got over it. Then he got into trouble with the police.”
Olivia raised her eyebrows. “He sounds really nasty, Kasha. Do you know what you’re doing?”
Kasha shrugged. “Abbie and I are just hoping that if we keep our heads down, it’ll all blow over. If only she could have been Juliet, then we would have had the perfect reason to see each other every day. But I know that if Hamo thought I was seeing Abbie, he’d feel I was letting the family down. And Tyler is clearly unhinged. He must be spying on me. Abbie and I met up last night at a little restaurant in Soho because I can’t risk her coming to my flat. We just talked. Didn’t even dare hold hands. It’s mad.”
“Oh, Kasha, this is horrible,” Olivia cried. “If I can help in any way, you know I will.”
Kasha leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. “Livy, you’re such a good friend to me. I always know I can rely on you.” He turned on the engine. “You never know, maybe Abbie and I will elope to Scotland and get married secretly like Romeo and Juliet.”
“That might not be one of your better ideas, Kasha,” said Olivia lightly. “If I remember correctly, it all ends rather badly for those two.”