Trevor watched the door slam after the intruder ran out, but not before he saw the tears running down her cheeks. Good, Trevor thought. Serves her right for trying to get a story to sell to the highest bidder. He was so tired of people showing up anywhere he was trying to get any scoop, that could make them a few bucks. Sure, he lived his life like he was going to die tomorrow, but that gave them no right to invade his privacy.

He shook his head with annoyance. The little snoop could have at least come up with a better excuse. Being here to film? Yeah right. Like they’d actually cast her to be in anything.

He looked at Cassie, at least, that’s what he thought her name was, the girl he’d met just an hour before. She was decent enough. She had huge tits and an even bigger ass. Her voice was annoying but he could overlook that for a few hours. It’s not like he’d be seeing her again anyway.

“Get dressed, Cassie,” he growled, tossing her shirt towards her.

“Why?” She caught it, but instead of putting it on she looked at him and grinned. “I doubt she’ll be coming back. You saw the way she left here, right? I’m pretty sure she’ll never step foot on this soundstage again,” she remarked, joyfully.

Cassie had a point, but it didn’t matter. He’d already lost his stiffy, and he didn’t see it coming back anytime soon. The more Cassie yakked the more his dick wanted to hide. Not to mention, he had shit to do now. He had to find that bitch and make sure she was off the set.

“Get dressed.”

After Trevor searched for about thirty minutes, without finding the intruder, he gave up. She was probably long gone by now anyway. If he were her, he would have high tailed it out of there, like his life depended on it. He laughed… her life did depend on it.

“Trevor,” he heard.

He turned to see Danny walking his way. He did his best to stifle his growl of annoyance. This kid was a piece of work. It was people like Danny that annoyed him the most. A complete “yes, man”. He’d asked Danny for the stupidest things just to see if the dumbass would actually go and get it. Trevor thought for a second with a smirk; he wondered if he asked for a glass of water with exactly, eight ice cubes, shaped like dicks if this kid would actually go and hunt it down for him. He tried to suppress his smile as he rolled his eyes. Yup, Danny would do it. He had zero respect for the kid. Danny was clearly riding on his father’s coattails. Which was kind of sad for his age. He was pretty sure he was only a few years younger than him.

“I didn’t know you were on set today?” Danny questioned looking at him sideways.

“There weren’t any scheduled scenes with me, but I talked to Matt yesterday and we decided I should still be on set.”

“Okay then,” Danny agreed, nodding. “I believe they are just finishing up the table read and will be starting soon. Is there anything I can get you?”

Trevor contemplated asking for the water with the dick ice in it. But, he decided against it, as his luck would have it before he took his first sip there would be rumors floating around that he was gay.

He shook his head. “No, Danny.” He moved past him. “I’m gonna go to my trailer. Tell your dad I’ll come to the set in about an hour.”

“Ten-four,” Danny agreed. “We should still be filming the first bar scene then. I know he wanted to get a few different angles that weren’t on the call sheet.”

“Whatever,” Trevor remarked, dismissing Danny. He looked around once more as the kid retreated back to the soundstage. There was no sign of her anywhere.

Good.

“Okay, I can do this,” Maggie whispered as she walked onto the set. This was going to be her big chance. Well, not her make it or break it moment. She wasn’t expecting to be “discovered” with her little scene. But, it was going to be her first time in a real movie. And damn it, that was a big deal.

“Hey, there you are,” Danny remarked when she made her way inside the designated soundstage. “We’re just about ready for ya.” He smiled brightly.

“Awesome.” Maggie’s face lit up. She really liked Danny, the energy that came off of him was contagious.

“Good to see you again, Maggie,” Matt, the director commented, as he made his way from behind a façade.

“Likewise.” She nodded.

“Okay guys and gals,” Matt started, looking at her. “Basically, in this scene, you’re the waitress taking the drink orders. They are going to give you a hard time, so when you say your lines make sure the way they are treating you affects you. You clearly hate your job. When you bring back the drinks, one of the guys is going to try to grab you, all you have to do is throw the drink in his face. Sound good?”

“Sure,” she agreed. Maggie couldn’t help the retort that came next. “Be a bitch, hate everyone, then throw a drink in someone’s face. I do that every day,” she joked. “This is gonna be a piece of cake.”

Matt and Danny both laughed at her response. “See Dad, told you, she was perfect for this.”

Maggie couldn’t help but beam. She really liked Danny. Not only did he make her feel better, but he genuinely seemed like a good person. Maybe, after this, they could be friends. Lord knew she needed friends. She hadn’t made a single one since moving to California.

Regrettably, she hadn’t needed a roommate, which was a good thing and a bad thing. When Maggie’s Grandmother passed, she had left her a nice inheritance to “follow her dreams”. Maggie was shocked when it was announced, but wasn’t all that surprised. Her Grandmother had been the only one that ever believed in her.

Maybe Danny could end up being my first friend here, she thought briefly.

“Come on, Maggie,” Danny said, touching her elbow. “I’ll show you to your first mark.”

Everything was going so well. They’d been able to film the scene a couple of times and the crew was able to film some great action takes. If you’d ask Maggie she’d excitingly tell anyone the best part was being able to toss the drink into the guy’s face. Do you know how many times women have dreamed of doing just that? It was a dream come true.

They were just about to shoot the scene again but at an “over the shoulder” frame when she heard it: “What the fuck is she doing here?” Her whole body jerked in panic. She turned to follow the noise only to see Trevor McCain stomping onto the set. She could feel the color drain from her face as her stomach bottomed out to the floor.

Oh, crap!

“What’s going on?” Matt asked, looking at Trevor. Annoyance was written all over Matt’s face. Good. Maybe he’d kick Trevor off the set before all hell broke loose. Yeah, and maybe if I bent over pigs would fly out of my ass.

“That bitch…” Trevor pointed right at her. “Needs to be escorted off the set right now!”

“I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding,” Danny said trying to calm Trevor down.

“Misunderstanding my ass.” Trevor walked right in front of Maggie, towering over her. “She snuck into one of my private rooms and tried to snap a picture of me in a … compromising position.”

“What?” Maggie shook her head. “That’s not what happened.”

Trevor glared. “Yes, it is,” he said. “She waited outside the door for her moment and pounced when the timing was right.”

“That’s not true!” she yelled. Could today get any worse?

“Really?” he snapped. “Do you deny being in my private room?”

“N-n-no,” Maggie stuttered. When she saw the triumphant smile on his face she quickly added, “I was lost and somehow got turned around. I only opened the door hoping it was the right place for me to go.”

“Yeah right.” He rolled his eyes. “Try a more believable lie.” He looked her up and down. “I must say I’m pretty surprised you are actually here for a part though.”

She could feel the embarrassment of his earlier words come back. “I really-“

“Who the fuck cast her?” he cut her off, turning to the director.

“Trevor,” Matt said, somewhat close to the tone of voice you would use to calm an out of control animal. “I’m sure we can get this worked out.”

“No. I want to know.” He looked back at her. “Why in the hell would anyone cast a fat, ugly bitch, as a waitress in a bar? The waitress needs to be hot, not…” He pointed his finger at her looking up and down. “…that.”

Screw this!

She already knew the chances of them keeping her on set were slim to none. And right now, she did not give a flying fuck. This was her last straw. Before she knew it, she felt all the rage from negative remarks from her friends and family, all of the rejections she’d gotten, the casting directors’ that picked her apart. And all the horrible, uncalled for things him, and that blonde bimbo said.

And now, in front of everyone, she was once again being cast off as the ugly, no good, loser. Something snapped inside of her.

Not this time! Not. Fucking. This. Time. She narrowed her eyes. Okay universe, you wanna play? she thought. I’ll play.

She clenched the glass in her hand as she walked behind Trevor. “Excuse me?” she said, disgust dripping from her words.

“Quiet, little girl, the grownups are talking.”

“Really?” she spat before looking around. “I hope to God you don’t count yourself as a grownup, in this?”

Trevor turned toward her about to say something when she stopped him. “I don’t’ know why everyone is so fascinated with you. Yeah sure, you’ve got a hot body, but the way you treat people is repulsive. You act like a spoiled two-year-old that was just told he needed to take a Goddamn nap.”

His lips thinned as his eyes pierced into her.

“And, another thing!” she continued. “If you are going to screw someone and you don’t want to get caught lock the fucking door, you moron. If you’re so concerned…” She used air quotes. “…about someone coming in to snap a picture of your little willy to sell it to the tabloids, you’d think you’d lock the fuckin’ door.” She started breathing harder as the weight of everything crashed into her.

“Maggie,” Danny spoke, trying to cut in.

“And, just because you’re a star, does not give you the right to tear people down. You think it makes you look cool to tell everyone I don’t “fit” the role? Does it make your over inflated ego feel better to tear me down?” She took a step closer to him. “Well, fuck you! Fuck you and the no good piece of shit horse you rode in on. You’re pathetic!” She turned to walk away but instead looked over her shoulder at him. “I hope that bitch gave you chlamydia!”

Maggie felt triumphant as she heard the gasps and giggles from all around her. She walked over to grab her tray and get back into position when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

“Ma’am?”

Maggie looked over her shoulder and saw a security officer. “Don’t bother,” she snapped. She put the tray down, knowing what was coming next.

She took a deep breath and held her head up high. She looked down at the glass still in her hand and smiled to herself. Screw it! She was getting kicked off the set anyway, might as well make it worth her while. She walked back to Trevor who was standing there still staring at her. His lips thin with anger, his jaw tense, but strangely enough his eyes held something else. Something she wasn’t quite sure of.

She took a deep breath before she started, “You’re a piece of shit, and I hope you’re able to find a way to sleep at night when you realize how ugly you really are.” She threw the drink in his face then walked towards the exit. This was going to be her moment to shine. No takebacks now, universe. You threw down the gauntlet and I picked it up and made it my bitch.

“Maggie, wait!” Danny hollered, running after her. She had just closed the stage door when he caught up with her.

“Maggie, hold on, please,” he begged.

“Why?” she asked turning to face him. “I’m already being escorted off the set. Why in the world do you want me to hold on?”

“Just stop walking for a second.” He grabbed onto her hand. “Don’t leave, we can work this out. I’m really sorry.”

She looked at him like he had lost his mind. Obviously, he was not in the same room as she was five minutes ago. “What are you sorry about?”

“It’s just…” He looked at her. “I’m sorry that all happened.”

“Don’t worry about it,” she said, shrugging. “There’ll be other roles.”

“It’s still yours,” he pleaded. “Just give us a few minutes to get everything sorted out. I wasn’t lying when I said you were talented. We both saw it, me and my dad. When you’re in the business you get an eye for it. You’ve got the potential to make it big, Mags, just give me a second to get this all straightened out.”

Mags. She felt pain in her heart. The only one who ever called her Mags was her grandmother.

She looked at the security officer and then back at him. “If you still want me here, why is he escorting me out?”

“He’s not,” Danny replied. “Whenever there is a problem on set security is here to defuse it.”

“It’s true, Ma’am,” the officer said. “Name’s Rick. I just wanted to get you off the soundstage before anything else happened. Those insurance reports are a bitch to write up.”

Insurance Reports? Oh yeah. Those were the reports that your name was put on, if you caused trouble, or if you accidentally took a piece of your wardrobe or a prop home. If you were on the report too many times, studios and directors wouldn’t want to work with you; you were labeled a liability.

“Just give me a few minutes,” Danny pleaded.

“Why are you being so nice to me? I just threw a drink in the face of the star of this film?” she asked. Really, what in the world was going on today? Was she in some weird twilight zone?

“’Cause he deserved it,” Rick mumbled.

“He’s right,” Danny smirked. “The only thing that would have been better is if you’d decked him.”

“Then there would have definitely been an incident to write on the report,” Rick grumbled. “It would have been awesome to see, but I really don’t fancy doing any of the work that goes with it.”

Maggie tried not to laugh. Despite the situation, she found herself in, it did feel good to let all of that out. She turned back to Danny. “I get he’s a dick and deserved it, but why are you being so nice to me? It’s not like I’m the star or anything.”

Danny grinned. “Like I told you, I can see your talent. And I was hoping maybe…” He looked nervous for a second. “Maybe we could be friends?”

It was as if the gravity of the situation was wiped away. Friends. “Yeah.” Her face lit up. “I’d like that.”

“Alright, great,” he said. “Rick, take her to the Greenroom. Relax there for a little bit. I’ll get everything worked out and come get you so we can finish your scene.”

She couldn’t help the happiness she felt as she watched Danny run back into the building.

“Come on, Maggie,” Rick said. “Is it alright if I call you Maggie?”

“Yes, of course, it is,” she remarked.

She looked over her shoulder one more time.

Friends.