Henry's girls

The first meeting

I drove down the highway, Red Hot Chilli Peppers pumping out of the stereo and the prospect of a much needed two month break stretching ahead of me. I planned to spend that time relaxing on the beach in a sleepy part of Southern California, away from the madness of LA, or the high octane pressure of London. I'd rented a small house on the beach for the duration as I needed some privacy from the fame which had led to my every move being watched and documented.

Eventually, I pulled down a small track, through a tiny town full of pretty houses, and out towards the glittering Pacific. My satnav was urging me onwards, past the dunes and towards a little group of bungalows, set almost on the beach itself. I checked my booking documents to see if I had the right place, before pulling into the driveway of the middle one. It was a picturesque place, painted soft blue and cream, with a verandah wrapped around the outside. I wondered vaguely who my neighbours would be. The place was almost eerily quiet.

I was meeting the agent at the property to collect the keys, but after checking the time, realised I was nearly an hour early, so I decided to take a walk around, then maybe find somewhere in the town to get a cold beer or two.

As I wandered round to the front, a voice called out "Hello, who're you looking for?" I followed the direction of the voice, to see a beautiful blonde laying on a sun lounger in front of the first beach house.

"Hello, I'm Henry," I said, "I'm renting the middle house, just waiting for the agent. You are...?"

"Doc, well, everyone calls me that. Welcome to San Vinco, hope you have a good time here. You here on vacation?"

I nodded. "An extended one. I'm here for the next two months. You?"

"We live here. Four of us share this house, three share the one the other side of yours. We'd have liked to have been next door to each other, but your rental had already been snapped up. Where are you from? You sound English."

"Yes, I'm originally from Jersey, an island between England and France, but I've lived in LA for around ten years on and off. Are you from around here?"

Doc nodded. "Born and bred. Janine, my roommate, she's originally from New York, Juliet's from Northern Cali, and Ali's a local. I'll let the girls in the other house introduce themselves. Grab a beer if you like, there's some in the fridge."

I took a beer gratefully and chugged it down, hardly able to believe my luck. Seven girls as neighbours was like a dream come true. Doc interrupted my musings. "You look very familiar. Have we met before?"

I shook my head. "No, but you might have seen me on screen. I'm an actor." I waited for the squeal and recognition. To my surprise, it didn't come.

"Oh, that's cool. You taking a break?"

"Yeah. I've got two months off till I start promoting my next movie. Thought I'd get some R and R. So...how come you all live together?" I was intrigued.

"Oh, we all met at college. We were a real tight knit group, so after graduation, we decided to carry on the fun we had in our sorority house, only we couldn't find a place big enough for us all in this area, so we came here instead."

"Do you all work?"

"Oh yes. I'm a doctor at the local hospital.."

"Hence Doc?" She nodded, smiling broadly.

"You're quick on the uptake. I like that."

We were interrupted by a tall, slender brunette in a bright pink bikini. She grabbed a beer out of the fridge and sat down on the sand. "Hey Doc, pretty boy, how's it going?"

"Janine, this is Henry, he's an actor. Henry, this is Janine." I shook her hand. "He's renting the middle house for the next two months."

"Cool. Tell you what Henry, shall I do a barbecue tonight when everyone's home. You can meet all the girls, and it'll save you having to cook?"

"That would be..amazing, thank you." I couldn't take my eyes off either of them. I wondered if they'd all look like models. It felt like I'd died and gone to heaven, with the glorious sun, glittering ocean and beautiful women just next door.

"It's ok, I love to cook. It's my hobby."

"She'll be forcing cakes down you," Doc chimed in, "hope you like to eat."