Thankfully, Alex managed to concentrate for the rest of the afternoon. Amy’s snide comments disappeared, and everyone relaxed.
The way Alex acted in front of the cameras reminded me who the star of the show was. If Alex didn’t perform to the best of his abilities, then neither did Amy. She was his supporting actress, nothing more, and I wondered if she only had the part in the second and third films because she had worked so well with Alex in the first one. But I did wonder how things would be between them for the final, fourth film—Solarflare. When Alex and Amy had argued yesterday, I’d heard him tell her that he was surprised she had stuck around for this long. So why was she still here?
“Cut!” Rowan yelled at the end of the last scene for the day.
He was beaming. It seemed I wasn’t the only one who was glad to have the all-clear to leave.
“Time to go home.” He glanced at his watch and raised his eyebrows. “It’s only eleven-o-clock. See you all tomorrow folks.”
Alex raised his arms above his head, stretching and yawning before catching my eye. I hoped he hadn’t seen me staring at the naked skin that he had revealed just above his low-slung trousers. Seriously, I wasn’t helping my case for remaining just friends when I was constantly ogling his body.
He pushed himself from his chair and wandered toward me. When he reached me, he pulled me in for a hug. “I need to get all this muck off my face and get changed,” he said. “Just give me five minutes and then we’ll go. Come and grab me—I’ll be in my dressing room.” He kissed my forehead, just like earlier, and then left the studio.
Alex had only been out of the room for a few seconds when the hairs on the back of my neck stiffened. I instinctively knew that there was another set of eyes on me, and I didn’t need to guess who was staring daggers. I lifted my head and caught Amy staring at me. I held her gaze, willing her to look away first. She didn’t frighten me. I had Alex on my side. I congratulated myself when she tore her eyes away from me, and then cursed under my breath when she strode toward me.
She smirked. “He’s not around to protect you now, Bitch.”
I raised my brow. Did she really want to enter a war of words with who wore the Bitch Crown? She’d won it several years ago.
“Nothing to say?” she taunted, tilting her head to the side, questioning my silence. I had plenty to say, but didn’t think she’d appreciate any of it. I settled on a question of my own.
“Don’t you need to get going? Didn’t you moan all afternoon about you and Simon having a hot date tonight?”
Her eyes narrowed. “He’ll chew you up and spit you out, just as he always does.”
“Really?” I smirked.
“You think you’re so clever. But you will never be good enough for him. It’s all in the chase for Alex. He loves a challenge, someone who'll stand up to him. Some-one just like you. But once he’s had you, fucked you good and proper, he’ll drop you so fast you won’t know where you are.”
I grinned at her assessment of our relationship, and then chose to push things a little further. “I’m still here, aren’t I? According to your statement, I should already be dropped.” I raised both of my eyebrows at her, loving the shocked expression that covered her face. “Seems you don’t know him at all,” I added. “And I don’t think you ever did.”
I pushed past her and headed toward Alex’s dressing room. I almost wished I was Alex’s girlfriend. I enjoyed seeing the look in Amy’s eyes when she thought he had moved on and found someone else to love. I snorted at my thoughts. Love? I didn’t even know whether Alex was capable of love these days.
I pushed at Alex’s dressing room door, opening it wide as I strode into the room.
“You’ll never believe what I’ve just said to Amy,” I rushed out.
“Ella!” Alex exclaimed. “Fuck. Have you forgotten how to knock as well?”
I froze at what greeted me. I didn’t know whether it was from shock or embarrassment. I fiddled with the edge of my cardigan sleeves, knowing I should look away from his half naked form—but I just couldn’t bring myself to do so.
Alex stood facing me in his tight black trunks. I had previously admired his ass, but now I was admiring far much more. He grinned as he grabbed his jeans from a chair, and hopped on the spot as he stepped into them. Straightening up, he pulled the belt and slipped the buckle closed.
“I’m sorry,” I uttered. “I should have knocked.” He could have been naked. I lifted my hand and tried to hide my giggle.
“What?” He smiled, obviously enjoying my reaction.
“I should have knocked.”
“Ella, I’m more than fine with you just walking in. It’s others I’d prefer to knock, or even keep out completely.” He slipped his feet into his trainers. “Do you have a shower back at yours?” he asked as he reached for a black scrunched up piece of material.
“Yeah, I’ll need to crank the meter up with a few coins to get the hot water on though.”
“Seriously? You have a meter for hot water?”
I nodded. “Poor student, remember? I also have one for electric. It’s a shit when I’m in the middle of cooking something and the cooker cuts out and the lights go off.” I shook my head at the memory of many a ruined meal due to my lack of change for the meters.
“Unbelievable,” Alex said as he shook the black material.
“Why didn’t you hang that up?” I said realising that it was his t-shirt. “You’ll look a real scruff.”
He winked. “It’s how my fans like me. Honestly, Ella, I have more important things to concern myself with these days. Clothes are not top of my list of priorities.”
I understood. Part of his appeal was the shabby way he looked. Most women wanted to straighten him out, and many would probably pay to iron his clothes for him.
“I scrub up alright when I have to, don’t I? I always make an effort at the premiers.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, flippantly. “You look okay, I suppose.”
“So go on then,” he said, pulling the t-shirt over his head. “What did you say to Amy?”
“Well, I told her that we’d slept together.”
Alex laughed. “I bet her face was a picture.”
“She did seem a bit shocked,” I admitted, loving seeing him laugh so freely.
“What did she say that made you make such a libellous statement?” He leaned back against the mirrored counter.
I shook my head, unsure whether I should tell him of her venomous words.
“Come on, Ella. You have to tell me.”
“Well . . . she said that once you’d slept with me, you’d want nothing more to do with me.”
“Fuck, she really doesn’t know me at all.” He shook his head.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said what I did, but I couldn’t help myself. She was winding me up.”
“And when exactly are we meant to have slept together? I only met you yesterday.”
I shrugged. “She never asked me that.”
“Oh, Ella. You crack me up.” He pushed himself away from the counter. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulders as if it was the most natural thing in the world for him to do, and I leaned into him, enjoying his attention.
Our walk to the car-park was quick and silent. He unexpectedly darted ahead as we approached his car, and opened the door for me. I wondered what he was trying to prove. Did he think that this one gesture made him a gentleman in my eyes? I began to chuckle at my thoughts.
“Now what are you finding so amusing?” he asked as he slid into the driver’s seat.
“You,” I answered honestly. “Opening the car door for me. What’s next?”
“Food!” Alex answered, decisively. “I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. I hope you’ve got some decent take out menus at your house. I need pizza, or Chinese.”
“I’ve got menus,” I said, doubting whether I’d be able to eat anything. My stomach was churning with butterflies; in fact, I was convinced they were having a party in there.
The car sprung to life. “One thing you need to know about me, Ella,” he said.
“What’s that?” I asked as I was forced back into my seat by the acceleration of the car.
“I never fuck on an empty stomach.”
I grabbed the side of the slippery, leather seat, and tried not to whimper at his comment. Every so often, the sensible, helpful Ella disappeared, and the ridiculousness of the current situation gave way to the screaming fangirl. She leapt about excitedly within me, and I concentrated on trying to remain calm. I was so relieved I had torn his poster down last night. At least I didn’t have to contend with the sarcastic comments and innuendos that he would have produced if it had still been blue-tacked to my wall.
Considering that I’d planned to use the car journey to talk, I found myself stuck for what to talk about. I kept my vision fixed outside of the car, suddenly ultra-aware of the small space we were both sitting in. How many times had I dreamt about being in his car with him? How many times had I dreamt about instigating some hot car sex. I glanced at the central console between us and weighed up the reality of crawling across it and onto his lap. It’d be more difficult than it was in my dream. And the roof of the car was low. I didn’t think there’d be room for me to straddle him, not unless I wanted to bang my head every time he thrust.
I curled my hands together in my lap and pushed the thoughts away. What was I thinking? I’d promised to help him, to be his friend, not jump on him when we were alone.
“I know you live in Camden somewhere,” Alex said as we slowed for a red traffic light. “I’m just not sure which bit exactly. You’ll have to direct me.”
“Okay.” I risked a look at him whilst we waited for the traffic light to change. He tapped his fingers on the steering wheel, quietly humming an unfamiliar tune.
“How do you know where I live? I never told you.” I said, realising that he’d never once asked for my address.
A grin pulled across his face. “I asked for the information sheet on you that the college provided.”
“The what?”
“The information sheet. Everyone who comes to work on the film must provide one. It lists loads of information about you. Sort of a security measure, I suppose. A bit like a CV—a resume, but more personal.”
“What sort of information did mine have on it?” I never provided a sheet of information. I felt exposed at having my personal details printed for everyone to look at. For some reason, it worried me. I had no idea what he, or anyone else knew.
“Height, hair colour, eye colour, dress size, leg length, bra size—”
“What? Tell me you’re joking?” I gasped. He had to be winding me up.
“You’re a 34C,” he said confidently.
“Now, I know you’re lying.” He’d got that wrong.
“34D then,” he quickly added.
He was still wrong.
“Well, maybe I made that bit up, but the part about your favourite sexual position was left blank. Do you not have one?”
“Alex. Behave!” I warned him.
“It would have made a very interesting read if those questions had been on it,” he said. “But it was pretty standard stuff. Name, age, address.”
“You said you didn’t know where I lived.”
“I know the address—I just have no idea where it is in Camden. I should have. I used to live there a few years ago.”
“Really?”
“Uh-huh. But I don’t pay attention to street names. You could live just around the corner from where I lived for all I know.”
“Might be the same house. How freaky would that be?”
“Very,” he replied. “Now, you need to direct me from here.”
Looking out the window, I quickly identified where we were. This was the main street that the bus came down, so all I had to do was follow the route the bus took.
“Take a right at the next traffic lights,” I said. “And then head straight along that road until the end.”
He followed my directions as we weaved through the night-time traffic.
It was only when we pulled up outside the house that I realised the time.
“It’s late,” I said, pointing at the digital display.
“Shit!” Alex said. “I didn’t realise it was that late. It’s too late for us to talk. We’ve got an early start tomorrow.”
I sighed.
“I have a feeling it’s going to be like this all week, you know,” Alex said. “Amy will make sure of it.”
“It was you who made us late today,” I reminded him.
He stared out of the front windscreen. “Yes, I know. I’m sorry. I was worried about what you were going to say.”
I reached across the console for his hand. “Did you really think I was going to tell you to piss off?”
He nodded before turning to look at me.
It was hard to tell his exact expression as the only light was from the dimmed street-lamp above us. His hand tightened around mine.
“I don’t know what it is about you, Ella. And I know we’ve only just met, but . . . shit.” He pulled his other hand through his hair. “There’s something, I don’t know what, but there’s something between us.”
“A great big dirty console,” I said, grinning as my mind wandered back to my earlier thoughts.
Alex grinned. “You’re like a breath of fresh air for me. I know that’s a cliché, but it’s honestly how I feel. I can’t believe we only met yesterday.”
I shifted in my seat to face him. “It’s because I won’t put up with your bull-shit. I’ll call you out on it whenever you need the reminder. You’re not a famous film star to me, you’re just Alex. Someone who needs a friend who they can rely on.”
“Just a friend?” he asked, leaning closer.
I paused before answering. I was struggling to think straight. What I had said was what our relationship should be. After these four weeks of filming I’d never see him again. I didn’t want to be a passing quick fling for him. But this was Alex Denton we were talking about. Would it be so bad if I let him push me into a relationship, however brief?
“I think we need to see where things take us,” I said. “I’m not making any promises other than friendship at the moment. I don’t know you.”
His lips tightened. “I think I understand. You don’t trust me, do you? Can’t say I blame you. But do me a favour when you get in.” He nodded at the house. “Do some research on me. See if you can find any evidence that I’ve had relationships with women purely for the sake of it. I know you’ll probably not believe me, but I’ve not slept with anyone since I split with Amy.”
My mouth fell open. Of all the things I’d expected him to say, this was not one of them.
He lifted his finger and placed it under my chin before pushing my bottom jaw upward and closing my mouth. “You do that again, and I’ll kiss you,” he said. “Now get out of here. I need my beauty sleep!”
I snapped from my reverie. “Too right you do.” I unclipped the seat-belt and opened the door.
Alex leaned over my vacated seat. “I’ll pick you up in the morning if I can find my way out of this maze and back again tomorrow. Eight-o-clock sound okay?”
“Yes, sure.” It was better than my normal journey that started at seven-o-clock at the bus-stop.
“Sleep tight then, Ella. No bad dreams tonight.” He winked before pulling the door shut, revving the engine, and speeding off.
I was left on the pavement in another trance-like state.
Bad dreams? Who said anything about bad dreams?