The Blackwell Lessons (10 page)

29

‘Okay, so how do you like your hair?’ asks the hair stylist, twirling my chair around in front of the mirror.

‘Oh!’ I turn my phone over on my lap so she can’t see Marc’s last message. Then I look up at the mirror. My eyes widen. ‘Wow. It looks really amazing. Thanks.’ I cross and uncross my legs, hoping my blushing neck isn’t too obvious.

The stylist has added about twenty hair pieces so my hair goes all the way to my feet in one long plait. She’s plaited my real hair in too, but left it kind of loose and natural – although she’s added some shiny stuff to stop it frizzing up. And she’s woven silver threads through the whole style to give me a princessy look.

‘Makeup next,’ says the hair stylist. ‘I’ll send Casey over.’

I glance down at my phone and text:

Can’t message any more. Having makeup done. Can’t wait to get home. xx

I did warn you about Pandora’s box …

Just as our hair, makeup and costumes are in order, Nadia arrives.

She checks her watch and frowns.

‘No Sigourney yet?’

‘Haven’t seen her,’ says Ruby.

‘For fuck’s sake. I
told
her. On time today. We’re shooting on location.’ She points at a man with a clipboard and earpiece. ‘Daryl. Call her, okay? She has five minutes to get here. If she doesn’t, she’s off the movie. I’ll get a replacement. I don’t care.’

Leo and Ruby exchange glances.

‘Okay!’ Nadia claps her hands. ‘Everybody ready? My word, you all look so beautiful. I am so lucky to work with such good-looking people! My sister is a stockbroker and she works with all these ugly people in suits all day. I don’t know HOW she does it.’

The first shoot takes place right outside the Tower of London. Ravens peck the lawn nearby and flags fly around us.

As the camera people are setting up, a tall, ill-looking girl stalks across the lawn.

I guess, judging by her height and skinniness, that she’s Sigourney. But she doesn’t look much like her photos.

‘You started without me?’ she calls. ‘
Thanks
a lot.’

‘Sophia,’ Leo whispers. ‘Meet Sigourney. My ever-so-easygoing ex.’

I let out a snigger, and Sigourney glares at me.

She’s beautiful in a way. But a little pointy looking, with sharp cheekbones and a long, angular nose. Her brown hair is pulled back tight in a bun and she wears big black sunglasses. There are a few spots on her white cheeks and her skin looks tired. Like she could use some healthy food and a good night’s sleep.

Sigourney doesn’t greet any of us, but she sidles up to Nadia and whispers in her ear.

Nadia nods, not looking at Sigourney, then calls the camera people over. They all huddle in a corner, talking in hushed voices.

‘What’s this all about?’ says Ruby, fluffing out her fairy skirt.

‘Sigourney making drama,’ says Leo. ‘Just like always.’

‘She should be fucking apologising to us for being late, ’scuse my language,’ says Baz. He’s wearing chain mail, a metal helmet and a huge sword.

‘What’s going on Nadia?’ he calls out. ‘This costume weighs a ton. I’m fucking boiling, ’scuse my language. Oh fuck it – you ladies are going to have to get used to my language. Otherwise I’ll be apologising every other second. Anyway. We can’t sit around all day waiting for Miss Supermodel to get her act together.’

Nadia strides over. ‘Okay, listen. Sigourney is feeling a little nervous. So we’re going to be kind to her.’

Nadia waves Sigourney over. ‘Come and meet the cast, Sigourney. Leo you know already of course.’

Sigourney tiptoes towards us, head bent, eyes shy and nervous.

‘How’s it going Sigourney?’ says Leo, hand on the hilt of his sword.

Sigourney throws him a timid, fawn-like smile. ‘Oh you know. A bit anxious. My first time on a movie.’

‘How’s the husband?’

Sigourney’s eyes drop to the grass. ‘The divorce came through last month. He finally did it. Oh well. His loss.’

‘Plenty more fish in the sea,’ says Leo.

‘Exactly. And I have this whole movie project to keep me busy. Which is great. Except I have
no
idea what’s going on right now. Which scene are we filming?’

‘If you turned up on time you’d know,’ Baz growls.

Sigourney gives a light, girlish laugh.

‘It’s not funny,’ says Baz. ‘You’re not on your magazine set now. We’re on location. If we have to shoot another day here it’ll cost the film company millions. So set your fucking alarm tomorrow.’

Sigourney’s lips go tight. ‘I’ll do my own makeup,’ she tells Nadia. ‘Where’s the dressing room?’

‘That marquee over there.’ Nadia points.

‘
Marquee
?’ Sigourney’s lips part, as if to complain. But then she clearly thinks better of it. ‘I’ll get changed then.’

‘Be quick,’ says Nadia. ‘We’ve waited long enough for you.’

Sigourney’s face turns thunderous. ‘I explained all that already.’

She stalks off.

30

We manage to shoot a few scenes without Sigourney.

When she reappears in costume with her hair and makeup done, I have to admit she looks stunning. Makeup does a lot for her.

To my surprise, she comes right up to me. ‘Hey,’ she says, smoothing her hair. ‘That dress – it was supposed to be mine wasn’t it?’

‘Um … I think they had it in mind for your character,’ I say. ‘But we decided it worked well for my character too.’

‘And you weren’t here yesterday,’ says Baz. ‘If you had been, you might have had some say in what you were going to wear.’

‘Swap with me?’ Sigourney asks, giving me a catlike smile.

‘Well I suppose I could—’

‘For Christ’s sake don’t swap with her,’ Baz barks. ‘She needs to learn a lesson. She can’t just turn up late and get exactly what she wants.’ He turns his dark eyes on Sigourney. ‘Sweetheart. It’s bad enough you’re late. Don’t go making any more trouble. You’ve got a pretty dress on. And you haven’t been fired yet. Count your fucking blessings, ’scuse my language, and let’s get filming.’

‘How dare you talk to me like that,’ Sigourney fires back.

‘How dare
you
keep us all waiting and then demand the dress off the leading lady?’

‘Baz, it’s fine,’ I say.

‘Leading lady?’ Sigourney puts her hands on her skinny hips. ‘What are you
talking
about.
I’m
the leading lady.’

Baz laughs. ‘Oh no you’re fucking not. Sophia is the leading lady. Leo is the leading man. It’s going to be their faces on the posters and us in the background. Check your contract.’

‘This is unbelievable.’ Sigourney marches towards Nadia, and soon we hear raised voices.

‘My ex-girlfriend causing trouble yet again,’ says Leo, putting his arm around my shoulder. ‘Don’t sweat it, princess. Baz is right. You shouldn’t give her your dress.’

‘Don’t
you
start calling me princess, now.’

‘Can’t help it,’ Leo grins. ‘Like Baz said, you shouldn’t have got cross about it. Now I
have
to call you it. So you, princess, have just got yourself a set nickname.’

‘Great. Thanks a lot.’

‘I think “princess” is better suited to Sigourney,’ Ruby whispers. ‘She’s a spoiled princess and no mistake.’

‘You’re right there,’ says Baz. ‘That one is going to be trouble. I guarantee it.’

‘I could have told you that before we even started filming,’ says Leo.

31

In the end, Nadia manages to calm Sigourney down. We’re not sure how. But there’s no more talk about swapping dresses.

The filming goes okay.

It starts to rain at one point, and Sigourney refuses to shoot her scene until it stops. But we mainly stay on schedule, only overrunning by an hour or so.

As we head back to the marquee to change, I feel Sigourney link arms with me.

‘Hey,’ she says, giving me another catlike smile.

‘Hi,’ I say, feeling a little uncomfortable. Something about the way Sigourney takes my arm is possessive rather than friendly.

‘So you got your dress in the end.’

‘Look, I’m really sorry about that.’

‘It’s okay. Everything was a fucking mess today anyway. My hair didn’t turn out right. They didn’t have the makeup I usually use. I look terrible.’

‘No you don’t,’ I say truthfully. ‘You look great.’

Sigourney’s big smile reappears. ‘Thank you. Hey listen – how are things with you and Marc?’

My stomach turns icy. What is she playing at, asking a question like that? It’s none of her business how Marc and I are. Is she trying to piss me off? Or is she just too stupid to realise how tactless that question is?

‘Great thanks,’ I reply, a little frostily.

‘Is he picking you up today?’

I frown. ‘Why are you asking—’

‘I know how he can be,’ says Sigourney, dropping her voice. ‘So if you ever need anyone to talk to, just let me know.’

Before I can reply, she drops my arm and strides into the marquee.

By the time I’ve changed, removed my makeup and hung up my costume, it’s gone six o’clock.

I’m still annoyed about Sigourney, but I’m distracting myself by thinking of Marc’s surprise. I just have no idea what it could be. But I can’t wait to find out.

Marc’s black Aston Martin waits in the car park, and my heart lifts when I see it. But then it drops again. Because Sigourney is by the car, tossing her hair and laughing.

The car window is open.

Behind the temporary fences, paparazzi snap, snap, snap away.

I feel anger boiling in my stomach.

Marc
knows
what the press are like. They’ll add this picture to some old Marc and Sigourney shot, and I’ll have to see them splashed all over the papers tomorrow.

He shouldn’t be talking to her. Letting her drape herself over his car. Doesn’t he know what it looks like?

I walk faster than usual as I head to the car, my lips set into a line.

As I get closer, I hear Sigourney say, ‘They were great times though, weren’t they? I always think about you. Do you ever think about me?’

I don’t want to hear any more.

I march up to the car. ‘Thanks for picking me up Marc. Sorry – we overran.’ I glance at Sigourney. ‘Will you excuse us?’

I jump into the passenger seat and plant a long kiss on Marc’s lips. Then I sit back. ‘Shall we go then?’

Marc raises a ‘really?’ eyebrow at me.

‘What?’ I say. ‘Can’t I say hello?’

‘Any time you like,’ says Marc, with an amused smile.

I turn to Sigourney. ‘Careful the car doesn’t run you over.’

Sigourney stares at me blankly for a moment. Then she collapses into laughter. ‘Oh! Of course, you’ve only just got married haven’t you? Honeymoon phase. Silly me.’ She stands back, her eyes fixing on Marc’s. ‘Later okay?’ she says with a wave. ‘Don’t forget me.’

As she walks away, I wind up the passenger window.

‘Bad day?’ Marc asks. ‘Or just jealous?’

‘Why did you let her talk to you?’ I fume. ‘There’ll be pictures all over the papers tomorrow. Have you no respect for me at all?’

‘I have nothing but respect for you.’

‘Then why let her drape herself over your car like that?’

‘I can’t tell a woman how to stand.’

‘But you can tell her to get lost.’

‘I did. The problem with Sigourney is she doesn’t take no for an answer.’

‘So you told her to get lost?’

‘In so many words. I certainly wasn’t indulging her ridiculous conversation. It was very one-sided. If you were listening.’

‘I was listening,’ I mumble.

‘Did you hear me talking?’

‘No,’ I admit.

‘I didn’t even look at her. She’ll get bored eventually. Trust me. I know the type.’ He starts the car.

‘Oh you know the type do you?’ I say. ‘Tell me – exactly how many types do you know?’

‘Sophia, I’m not going to pander to your jealousy.’ Marc puts the car into reverse. ‘You knew about my past when you married me. It’s not something I’m proud of. But it won’t go away either. Girls will come out of the woodwork. They always have and they probably always will. You have to learn to ignore them.’

I shake my head, feeling tears coming. ‘I suppose I just thought … when we were married …’

Marc slides a hand over mine. ‘That the past would be erased? A clean slate?’

‘Something like that.’

‘Life doesn’t usually work like that.’

I let out a long sigh. ‘So. What’s this surprise then?’

‘It’s waiting back at the townhouse.’

As Marc edges the car out of the parking spot, we see Nadia striding towards us, waving.

Marc frowns. ‘Did you forget something?’

‘Not that I know of.’

‘Then what does Nadia want?’

‘I’m not sure.’

I wind down the window.