Dream a Little Dream (14 page)

Jonathan doesn’t come along to formally welcome me to the team as there’s been some problem with a director on a show being made in Turkey (he shouted obscenities at one of the couples relocating for some unknown reason and they are now refusing to film with him), so instead he sends me in alone.

Real Brett is already sat at the eight-seater table when I walk in, so I have a sticky moment deciding where I want to
sit – anywhere opposite will mean I have to look at him (and I can’t trust myself not to ogle his beautiful face or frown at it), next to him means I won’t have to see him but we might have some fleeting bodily contact (and I certainly can’t predict what crazy reaction would come out if our knees brushed under the table). By a quick elimination process I whittle the chair options down to two – both on corners, but one where Real Brett would be looking more at me and the other where I’d be looking more at him. It’s a tough decision to make when trying to think through every possibility.

I’m hurried along by Damian.

‘In we go,’ he says in a slightly irritated tone before whizzing round and sitting directly opposite Real Brett.

I decide to go for the spot where I’m looking towards Real Brett, but he’s facing elsewhere – I don’t think I’d handle having his eyes on me during this whole meeting, and at least this way I can busy myself in my notepad if necessary.

‘Hi folks,’ Louisa pouts, sauntering in carrying her iPad and iPhone, permanently looking as though she’s about to take the perfect selfie.

‘Nice to have you here with us, Sarah,’ she says with an insincere smile as she sits in the spot I dismissed, right in Real Brett’s eyeline.

‘Thanks,’ I mutter, surprised that she’s not being overly welcoming, especially as we’ve never been on bad terms.

‘Almost feels as though Jonathan’s sneaking his spies in to check up on us,’ she laughs – although it’s not a real laugh, it’s faked so that she could get the comment out without looking like a bitch.

‘Spy?’ repeats Real Brett, raising his eyebrows. ‘Really?’

‘To get you up to speed, Sarah,’ says Damian, completely ignoring the prickly mood that’s been created by Poutmouth Louisa. ‘We’re currently working on ideas that aren’t just your bog standard “Moving to Benidorm” type shows – they’re a bit dated and we want to find something a little more current to get the younger audiences back – whether that’s through rethinking shows and ideas we already have or coming up with entirely new concepts. Ideally we’d like to target Channel 4 or MTV, but ITV2 or ITVBe could also work depending on what we come up with. Reality shows have changed dramatically over the last few years and we need to keep up and ultimately overtake.’

I nod to show that I’m listening, adding in a thoughtful frown for good measure. One thing I know a lot about is reality TV … in fact, if I were on
Mastermind
it would be my specialist subject.

‘So, have you got any ideas you want to throw out there?’ asks Louisa, her beady eyes looking at me expectantly.

‘Erm …’

‘Got anything in that shiny new notebook of yours?’ she asks with a not-so-innocent shrug.

‘This?’ I stammer, flipping the beautiful pad in the air with a face that suggests it’s actually a pile of dog crap. So far the only thing I’ve managed to write in it is my name and the date – nothing that’s going to take the television word by storm and capture the imagination of millions.

‘On her first day in the room?’ Real Brett asks Louisa with a chortle. ‘Give her a chance.’

I’m taken aback by the whole thing, so my eyes just flick between the pair.

‘Joking, obviously,’ Louisa shrugs, looking slightly embarrassed as she picks up her iPad and covers her face with it.

‘All in your own time,’ frowns Damian, bemused. ‘Plus, for your own sanity, while you’re in this room anything goes. No idea is too small or too big – you never know what could grow from a silly thought.’

‘Nothing stifles your creative flow quicker than a questioning mind,’ nods Real Brett while looking at Louisa.

‘Right …’ I nod, wondering whether I’m going to regret asking for the promotion in the first place.

‘Just get brainstorming and flag up anything you think could really work. Now that we’re all on the same page, let’s reconvene next Monday morning and see where we’re all at,’ says Damian, while raising his shoulders as if what he’s suggesting is a breeze and not something that’s going to keep me up for the next six nights worrying.

And just like that, my first meeting in Development is over and I’m sat back at my desk whittling down the canapé options for our works Christmas do.

Seeing as our last few attempts at winning our title back have been appalling, we decide to forego the pub quiz night in favour of a pizza and film feast at ours instead. Mostly to give us all a break from being beaten by the dancing queens, but, obviously, this is also a little ruse to get the team together somewhere quieter so that certain topics (Carly being up the duff with our best mate’s bubba) can be discussed without having to worry about eavesdroppers. Not that anyone there would be interested, but the group’s reactions have the potential to be rather high-pitched and emotional.

Unsurprisingly, everyone was pretty chuffed to be meeting up away from the pub for a change.

Josh is first through the door for once, wanting to spend some alone time with Carly before the others arrive – they slink off to her bedroom until the flat buzzer rings twenty minutes later to tell us that Dan, Lexie and Natalia are standing on the doorstep.

You’d think it would be weird having Dan here with Lexie, seeing as it’s the flat we once lived in together, but they’ve been over dozens of times in the past two years (thanks to my inability to ask the others over without including them), so they clearly don’t mind. Living with Carly has meant lots of other memories have been created here … and not just of me weeping with heartbreak over Dan and his rejection.

The only time it did get a little strange was when Dan once helped himself to an orange squash during a visit, proving that he knew where everything was and that he still felt very much at home here.

I rearranged the kitchen cupboards when he’d left. He hasn’t been able to help himself since.

The buzzer goes off to let us know the pizzas have arrived as soon as Alastair steps into the lounge.

‘Well, how’s that for timing,’ he nods, looking happy that he doesn’t have to wait to eat. I don’t know what it is about Wednesday nights in particular, but the whole gang turn into hungry vultures – unable to function in a non-distracted manner until their tummies are full. We love our food.

‘While we’re all here, I have a little something to share,’ says Carly, bringing in the boxes of pizza from the delivery guy and standing, holding them to ransom, in the doorway to the room.

Josh gasps, knowing what she’s about to blurt, the others just looking bemused that their hot pizzas are at risk of getting cold.

‘I’m pregnant and Josh is the dad,’ she almost shouts, before whispering desperately to Josh, ‘I’m sorry. There’s no way I could’ve enjoyed these without getting that out first.’

Even though I knew the moment was coming, I must admit that even I’m a little shocked with the delivery – walking into a room of hungry adults, wafting deliciously smelling pizza in their faces and then dropping an almighty bombshell is a little untraditional.

Being able to watch their individual reactions, though, is quite beautiful.

‘Wait … Carly’s the girl you’ve got pregnant?’ asks
Alastair, getting up from the sofa that he’s only just parked his butt on, the news making him spring to his feet.

‘Seems so,’ Josh smiles sheepishly with his hands in his pockets.

‘Mate,’ Alastair nods. ‘I’ve been thinking you got a right wrong’un in trouble. This is epic.’ He strides over to Josh and gives him a proper man hug, complete with overly enthusiastic patting on the back. ‘You cheeky little fuckers.’

‘I knew it! What did I tell you?’ squeals Lexie to Dan.

‘You guessed they’d had a cheeky snog at our engagement party – you didn’t guess this,’ smiles Dan, going over and joining the bromance between the boys before going to Carly, taking the pizzas from her, putting them on the coffee table and turning back with his arms wide open for a cheesy Dan hug.

Natalia’s reaction is priceless. She’s full on ugly-girl wailing on the sofa – to the point where Carly actually goes over to her to see if she’s okay.

‘This is amazing,’ she sobs, laughing, wiping her dainty fingers across her soggy cheeks. ‘I just really wasn’t expecting it.’

‘Neither were we,’ grins Josh from across the room.

‘It’s so beautiful. You’re growing a little miracle,’ she laughs, placing her hand on Carly’s stomach.

‘Crazy,’ Carly beams back, placing her hand over Natalia’s and looking up at Josh.

I watch as the pair lock eyes and exchange a tender moment.

The sight brings tears to my eyes.

‘Where are you going to live? Will you move into one
place?’ Natalia asks with sudden panic, cutting in on the touching moment being shared.

Trust Natalia to think practically about the whole thing – I hadn’t even thought about the idea of them living together, but they’re a couple who are clearly in love and they’re about to have a baby – it makes sense.

Although I’ve no idea where that would that leave me and our flat. I hope it won’t mean I have to move too, though I guess that’s what Gumtree’s for. I can find another flatmate … I’m sure. I just have to hope they’re not into anything weird – like veganism or trainspotting.

‘We haven’t properly talked about that yet. We have a few ideas but we’re in no rush to do anything straight away,’ says Josh, walking to Carly’s side and rubbing the tops of her shoulders.

‘It’s still early days – you never know what could happen,’ says Carly, pulling her lips together.

‘Everything’s okay though, yeah?’ asks Dan, sounding concerned.

‘We’ll just be relieved when we get to the twelve-week mark and things are a bit safer,’ Josh shrugs, leaning forward and kissing the top of Carly’s head.

‘I can’t wait to have a scan. It still doesn’t feel real at the moment,’ she laughs.

‘Know how you feel. It’s quite a lot to take in,’ puffs Alastair with a grin, draping his arm around my neck and pulling me in for a hug.

Carly and Josh might’ve felt as though becoming a couple in our group might’ve made things awkward – but the pair were so close anyway that their affectionate mannerisms with each other aren’t completely new and surprising. In fact, it’s
rather gorgeously natural and has the whole group grinning wildly with a bizarre sense of what feels to me like pride.

‘Oh my God – you’re going to be pregnant at the wedding!’ gasps Lexie, her head whipping round as she works out the months in her head. ‘What about your bridesmaid’s dress?’

Everyone tenses up, as though we’ve entered a spontaneous game of Musical Statues – I’m sure Alastair has even stopped breathing by my side. Silence falls on the room as Lexie’s words make their way into my ears. Wedding. Carly. Bridesmaid. Dress.

Ohhh … I see.

I’m guessing Natalia is too.

Eurgh!

Of course Dan and Lexie would include the girls in their wedding party – I knew the boys were both ushers (Dan’s brother is best man), so the girls getting involved too shouldn’t be so surprising, should it?

They just should’ve told me.

‘I’m sure we can get it altered or change the style,’ Lexie mutters, going red as she looks down at her hands.

It occurs to me that she might have been feeling guilty about the whole thing (or at least a little uncomfortable) – and that’s part of the reason why she gave me a present the other week, to soften the blow of this moment.

Well, it was a nice notebook – even if I’m still yet to write in it properly.

Bless her for trying.

With his arm still around me, Alastair’s hand gently grips my shoulder and gives it a little squeeze.

‘I’m sure you’ll be able to sort something out,’ I say with
a shrug and one of my best ever everything-is-fine grins, hoping to lift the air of suspense in the room.

‘Pizza anyone?’ asks Alastair, helping me out by moving towards our waiting dinner. He flips open the boxes and starts to offer them round the group.

Nothing breaks tension like food. Especially pizza.

‘Anyone want a drink?’ I quickly ask.

‘Wine, please,’ asks Natalia, still quietly sobbing on the sofa, although now looking even more worried.

‘You need one,’ Josh laughs. ‘Beer, please.’

‘Me too,’ says Dan.

‘Three,’ says Alastair, picking up a slice of pepperoni pizza and cramming it into his mouth and turning to me with a wink.

‘And I’m guessing wine for you Lexie, but something soft for you, Carly,’ I say, turning to leave.

‘I’ll come help,’ she says, following me into the kitchen.

‘I’m so sorry,’ Carly whimpers as soon as we’re out of earshot – which isn’t easy as our flat is particularly tiny – although I prefer to refer to it as cosy.

‘It’s not something you can say no to, darling. Unless you’re a total bitch – which you’re not.’

‘But I should’ve told you.’

‘Well … a heads up would’ve been nice,’ I wink.

‘She asked when I’d just done a test – my mind was all over the shop. I agreed and then haven’t thought about it again since.’

‘Hardly surprising with so much going on.’

‘I’m sorry.’

‘Don’t be,’ I say, giving her a hug. ‘By the way – great announcement.’

Carly buries her head in her hands and laughs. ‘What am I like?’

‘Fuck!’ Natalia mutters, scurrying into the room as though she is literally carrying her tail between her legs. ‘Shit, shit, shit.’

Without saying anything else she buries herself into my arms and gives me a hug – it’s her way of apologizing for being a total Judas.

I give her a squeeze back to let her know I understand.

‘And you!’ she says, turning to Carly with a sob. ‘Come here.’ She grabs hold of Carly by the wrist and pulls her into us, so that we’re all huddled together.