Sugar Secrets…& Flirting

by Mel Sparke

  Only Tasha had hung around, asking Joe if she could scrounge a lift from him.

  “So, come on - you’ve hardly told me anything about her! Give me the gossip on my brand new Aunt Cyndi!” Tasha suddenly announced, slapping her magazine shut.

  “Well, like I said,” Joe shrugged, heading down a sliproad, “she’s, er… nice enough.”

  “Oh, Joe - I’m sure you can do better than that!” probed Tasha. “My mum’s already told me that Cyndi looks like Dolly Parton’s younger sister. And my dad thinks Nick’s lost his marbles!”

  “What about Ollie?” asked Joe. To him, it sounded as if Tasha might already have a pretty good idea of what was going on at the café, but he reckoned he might as well err on the safe side before he opened his mouth and put his foot in it.

  “Ollie just says it’s gone a bit peculiar. He says Cyndi is putting lace and doilies and flowers everywhere, and Nick’s so doe-eyed he’s letting her do exactly what she wants.”

  “That’s about the size of it,” Joe shrugged. “You won’t recognise the place when you come home next time!”

  “I bet all those fluffy feminine touches are going down a bomb with the granny brigade!” Tasha joked.

  “Yep!” Joe grinned. “They love it - and the corny country music that’s on the jukebox now!”

  “I’m dying to see the expressions on the other customers’ faces! What about all the workmen that come in? And everyone from school?” Tasha pointed out. “The End isn’t exactly going to be a cool hang-out now!”

  “Tell me about it! There’s this bunch of bikers that turn up now and then and, the other day, they parked outside the End, walked up to the door, took one look at the lacy curtains in the window - and got straight back on their motorbikes!”

  Natasha began to giggle and Joe couldn’t help joining in. But for Joe, it wasn’t just to do with the remark he’d just made: it was also to do with relief. He’d been dreading the thought of being stuck in Tasha’s company for the hour he’d reckoned it would take to drive to the location. He’d had so little to do with her over the years, and had so little in common with her, that he’d imagined aching silences between them that only the car radio could fill.

  Instead, they were chatting easily and even having a laugh into the bargain. Who would have thought it…?

  “Oh, look, we’re here already! That’s the hotel we’re shooting at!” Natasha pointed out as they passed a clump of trees and an ornate Victorian building came into view.

  Joe indicated, turned into the long, gravelled drive and drove slowly up it.

  “By the way, I don’t mean to be bitchy about my Uncle Nick getting married - I’m really happy for him,” Tasha said. “Good luck to them. I can’t believe it, but I’m a bit jealous!”

  “Jealous?” frowned Joe.

  “yeah, jealous of people being madly in love. I wouldn’t mind some of that for a change!”

  Joe didn’t reply - he was too busy dealing with a sudden pang of longing for Meg. He couldn’t wait to see her later tonight; he was planning to drive to her house just as soon as he’d dropped off his bag at home and had a chance to fill his mum in on what was going on.

  “Of course, you’re one of the lucky people, aren’t you, Joe?” smiled Natasha. “You’ve been going out with what’s-er-name - Meg? - for ages now…”

  “Yeah, but I don’t know why,” Joe tried to say casually, although he could feel that a happy/shy/stupid look had come over his face at the mention of his relationship.

  “What are you on about?”

  “It’s just… well… Meg is just really something,” he shrugged, struggling to find the right words. “And sometimes… sometimes I just can’t figure out why someone like her wants to go out with someone like me.”

  “What do you mean, ‘someone like you’?” asked Natasha.

  Joe pulled the handbrake on as they arrived outside the hotel’s main entrance and said nothing. He found it hard to put his own insecurity into words. Even if Meg had made him feel a hundred times more secure about life, he still found it hard not to think of his negative points when it came to talking about himself.

  Sensing his embarrassment, Natasha steamed right in. “Can I tell you something, Joe?” she said as she shoved her magazine in her bag.

  Joe shrugged again.

  “I always thought you were one of the sweetest boys at school,” she smiled. “Most of the other guys were real idiots - really rude and loud and obnoxious. But you - well, I knew you were shy and everything - but you seemed so gentle and nice. No wonder Meg loves you!”

  And with that, Tasha pecked him on the cheek, swung herself out of the car and was gone with a cheery wave.

  Joe waved back, stunned at this revelation. In the last twenty-four hours he’d been fussed over and had more compliments from beautiful females than he knew what to do with…

  CHAPTER 16

  PAT’S BIG BREAK

  “Lordy - what is that ol’ lady doin’ exactly?” asked Cyndi, stopping as she passed by the window booth to peer out of the lace-edged pane of glass at the scene unfolding on the other side of the street.

  Anna, on her way back to the kitchen - where Ollie was busy tidying after the lunchtime rush - stopped and stared over at the huddle of people and vans outside the launderette. When she caught sight of Mad Vera, she smiled. She had a real soft spot for the old dear.

  “Whatever it is, I don’t think that bloke knows how to handle it!” she grinned, watching Vera holding up her skirt a little and doing something that was vaguely like tapdancing, while an embarrassed guy in a baseball cap watched.

  “That’s Jon,” Vikki explained. “He’s the director. Not that we’ve ever been introduced or anything. Us extras are too lowly for that!”

  Before Cyndi and Anna had joined them, Vikki, Maya, Sonja and Andy had been lounging in the window booth, enjoying their ringside seat to the filming opposite. Vikki’s stint as an extra was over, while Cat was to be recycled as another background character, with the help of the make-up and wardrobe crew.

  Not that they’d caught sight of their friend yet. Or the star of the show himself.

  “Who’s that talking to Vera now?” asked Anna as a young, good-looking lad with a clipboard gently manoeuvred her away from the director.

  “That’s Daniel - the production assistant,” said Vikki. “He’s the person we know best on the set. He’s cool.”

  “Mmm, cute too!” said Sonja appreciatively.

  “So what’s happening with this actor bloke?” Maya asked with a smile. “Hasn’t Cat managed to make him the person she knows best yet?”

  “Not for the want of trying!” grinned Vikki. “She’s been flirting her little heart out, but I don’t know if it’s got her very far!”

  “But you’re both going to the wrap party tomorrow night, aren’t you?” Maya pointed out. “Maybe that’s when all Cat’s efforts will pay off!”

  “Yeah - that’s what she’s hoping for,” nodded Vikki.

  “Wow, I wish I was going. I’d love to go to a party with glamorous TV people!” Sonja sighed.

  “Me too - even though no one, even that cute production assistant lad, looks very glamorous from here,” joked Maya. “So Vik, you can’t do a bit of flirting yourself and wangle us in, can you?”

  Vikki shook her head. “Only cast and crew, I’m afraid!” she shrugged. “I think we’re the only extras going - thanks to Cat! She hasn’t been restricting her flirting to Ben Fitzpatrick, you know - Daniel’s been getting her attention pretty full-on too.”

  “Hey, look - is that Ben Fitzpatrick there? Getting out of that car?” asked Andy, squinting out of the window.

  “Yep,” nodded Vikki. “That’s him!”

  “Bit small, isn’t he?” Sonja remarked.

  “A lot of famous people are small, though, aren’t they?” mused Maya, her eyes locked on the antics going on across the road. “I mean, Tom Cruise is supposed to be quite short, isn’t he?”

  “It
’s all to do with proportions,” Vikki told them. “You can never tell how tall or short anyone really is just by seeing them on screen.”

  “Check out all those fans goin’ crazy!” laughed Cyndi, leaning her taloned hands on the table.

  It was true. As soon as Ben Fitzpatrick got out of the car and made his way to the set, a gaggle of girls went mad - calling out to him from behind the metal barriers and holding out their arms towards him.

  A security guard was standing close by them, making sure that no one got too overexcited or tried to make a vault for it.

  “Aw, look,” Cyndi continued. “One of ‘em’s got a bunch of roses - an’ she’s tryin’ to get his attention!”

  They all focused on the girl, who looked like she was about to topple over the barrier, she was leaning so far over. Not that Ben Fitzpatrick was taking any notice.

  “Maya,” Anna began, “isn’t that—”

  “Sunny? Yes, it certainly is…” Maya sighed, staring at the unfamiliar distraught and desperate expression on her sister’s face.

  For once, Maya almost felt sorry for her.

  Cat slid a finger gingerly under her wig and tried to reach the itch without dislodging it. She’d never realised how scratchy and annoying these things could be and, with the summer sun blazing down, her head was overheating uncomfortably too.

  Just as her nail finally hit the spot, she froze - there in front of her was Ben Fitzpatrick, flopping down on the make-up chair. For a second he looked straight through her, then sudden recognition sparked that trademark, warm smile of his.

  “Hey, Pat!” he called out to her.

  “Cat!” she corrected him.

  “Right! Sorry, Cat,” he repeated, slapping himself on the forehead. “Anyway, Cat - have you seen Dawn? She’s supposed to be here.”

  “She’s just gone for a break, I think,” Cat replied, practically breathless with excitement at this chance encounter - really by chance, this time. “I don’t think she was expecting you so soon…”

  Ben frowned, his dark eyebrows knitting in irritation.

  He even looks gorgeous like that, Cat thought.

  “What a bore!” Ben sighed. “I only need powdering down. I want to get back on set asap - there’s a tricky bit I need to go through again before we shoot.”

  Cat gasped, then held her breath. Was fate was smiling down on her? It was like Cinderella all over again when Cat - who’d helped the lead actress learn her lines - had taken her place in the college panto when the actress got sick. Only this was far more exciting than any college panto. Here was one of Britain’s hottest young actors, with no make-up artist around to help him out. And what was Cat training to be (until she got her own big break in showbiz)? A make-up artist - to stars just like Ben.

  “Well, I can do that!”

  The words were out of her mouth before she’d even realised she was going to say them. Almost gulping at her own daring, Cat put out a slightly shaking hand to the powder puff she’d seen Dawn using so often over the last few days. Hastily draping a protective gown round Ben’s shoulders, she deftly patted the pad over Ben’s chiselled (and, as far as she could see, completely non-shiny) features. Then, completely unable to stop herself, Cat gently smoothed her fingertips over Ben’s eyebrows and around the edges of his lips.

  Ben opened one eye. “Problem?”

  “No, not at all. Just getting rid of the excess…” Cat hastily invented. Sliding one hand either side of his head, she untucked the gown from around his neck - suddenly even more aware of just how deliciously close she was to the man of her dreams. “All finished,” she sighed regretfully.

  Ben stood up at once and took a quick peek in the mirror. “Thanks, Pat. You’re a darling. See you later.”

  Leaning towards Cat, Ben brushed his lips against her cheek - and then was gone. Cat stood transfixed to the spot, barely able to believe what had just happened. Ben Fitpatrick had kissed her. Kissed her! Forget that he’d called her Pat again. “See you later,” he’d said. Her flirting plan was finally paying off.

  Who says celebs aren’t interested in ordinary people, Maya Joshi? Cat mused gleefully, replaying the last few seconds over and over in her head. Had he really had to stretch up to reach her cheek? Surely not. He was just trying to get closer, without being too obvious. Maybe he’ll change his mind about the run-through and come back. Or, maybe he’ll decide he wants me to help him on set, too. Any minute, I might hear the sound of footsteps behind me, and then I’ll hear—

  “Cat!”

  The sound of her name broke Cat’s reverie, and she whirled round, heart thumping wildly. “Yes, Ben?”

  But instead of locking eyes with the lovely Ben Fitzpatrick, Cat found herself face to face with Daniel, his features taut with stress, his knuckles white with tension where they clutched the edges of his ever-present clipboard.

  “Cat, you know you said that you and your friends hang out at that little café across the road?” he bleated.

  “Yes,” she replied, trying to hide her disappointment.

  “Well, are any of them in there today? It’s just that Jon wants some older teenagers in the shot and I thought maybe - if they were up for it - they could help out?”

  “Yeah, I could go and see who’s there, I suppose,” Cat shrugged half-heartedly.

  “Great!” Daniel smiled with relief. “Those girls that have been hanging about are too young and I don’t want to hold up the schedule by having to cast some new extras.”

  “OK - I’ll go over to the End and see who I can round up,” Cat told Daniel flatly.

  “Just anyone in their late teens - and normal!” Daniel called after her as she walked off. “They’ve just got to hang about outside the launderette and chat!”

  “Whatever,” muttered Cat, feeling a little down after her earlier elation. For once in her life, the last thing she felt like right now was being watched by all her friends…

  “Hey, Vikki - come here quick!” called Sonja urgently as Vikki made her way back from the loos.

  “Yeah - some woman from the shoot is crossing the road and it looks like she’s coming here!” Andy joined in.

  “What does she look like?” asked Vikki, hurrying back to the window seat.

  “In her thirties, mousy-brown bob, bit housewifey…” Sonja called out as Vikki slid back into the banquette.

  “I don’t know…” frowned Vikki, failing to recognise the description. “Must be a new extra…”

  “That’s no new extra!” said Maya as the housewifey women suddenly gave the girls a wave. “That’s Cat!”

  “What? Where?” asked Andy, leaning forward for a better look.

  “My God!” gasped Sonja, only now recognising her cousin as she walked up to the café door.

  “When are the next Oscars?” Andy suddenly quipped.

  “Why?” asked Vikki.

  “‘Cause the make-up and wardrobe people on this programme deserve an award for transforming Cat into that…” he grinned broadly.

  “Daniel, this is my cousin Sonja,” said Cat, doing the introductions, “and these are my friends Maya, Andy and Ollie.”

  “Hi!” A much more relaxed Daniel grinned at everyone in turn. “Thanks for helping out! If you four could just stand around here—” he pointed to a spot on the pavement in between the launderette and the newsagent next door “—for the next shot. Just chat among yourselves, pretend we’re not here. It’s just a very quick exterior shoot - all the main scenes are set inside the launderette, so it shouldn’t take too long.”

  “No problem! Take your time!” laughed Ollie. “I’m supposed to be working, so I’m in no hurry to get back!”

  “So, Daniel, do we need to get anything done to us?” asked Andy shyly, running a hand through his black hair. “I mean, do we need to get make-up on or get changed into other clothes or something?”

  “Nah,” Daniel replied, giving them all a quick once-over. “We won’t see you close up. And the clothes you’re wearing are fine.
Well, maybe not that!”

  Strangely, Daniel seemed to be pointing at Ollie’s groin. Ollie looked down - as everyone else was doing - and burst out laughing. “Didn’t you know? Pinnies are in!” he quipped, tugging off his work apron and scrunching it into a ball.

  “Here, give me that,” said Cat, holding her hand out. “I’ll give it to Rhona in the wardrobe department - you can get it back from her when you finish.”

  “Uh, OK, guys, looks like I’m wanted elsewhere,” Daniel announced, staring over at a technician who was trying to get his attention. “I’ll be back before we shoot. Just relax, OK?”

  “Very cute!” Maya muttered to Cat as they watched Daniel hurry off.

  “Definitely!” agreed Andy.

  “Ah now, Maya saw him first!” joked Sonja, wagging a finger at Andy, who grinned but didn’t take his eyes off Daniel’s retreating figure.

  “Yeah, I guess he is cute,” Cat shrugged, “but he’s nowhere near as gorgeous as Ben Fitzpatrick!”

  “How’s it going with him anyway, Cat?” asked Ollie, sneaking a peek inside the launderette, where Ben was being positioned by the director, under a bank of bright spotlights.

  “You’ll never guess—” Cat began, then stopped herself. No, I’m keeping this to myself, for the moment, she decided. She scratched under her hot wig again, dislodging it slightly. “I’m taking the subtle flirting approach with him at the moment,” she improvised.

  “Subtle? You?” snorted Sonja.

  Her cousin gave her a withering look. “Yes, subtle,” Cat repeated. “Just hanging around, giving him meaningful looks, talking to him when I can… that sort of stuff. We’ve got a connection, you know. And, of course, tomorrow night’s the wrap party…”

  “Cat, if you’re looking for another excuse to talk to him, you could do me a favour at the same time,” said Maya suddenly.

  “Huh?” frowned Cat, narrowing her eyes.