"So I get to the main airport at like 6pm. Then a taxi takes how long?"
"Like an hour maybe?"
"Cool, then I'll check into the hotel quickly and come find you?"
"Sounds like a plan" Bella replied. I had a bit of time off and was visiting family in Canada and she'd been filming there for months so we'd arranged to meet up. We'd met a few years ago when I played her mum in a movie and even though she was super young we'd got on well and we'd kept in touch, as a bit of a mentor type role - as well as her being brilliant.
The next day I'd found myself absolutely exhausted after travelling but sending a text and heading to a bar to meet up with Bella and her friends from filming.
"Hey!" She rushed over as soon as I walked through the door and threw her hands around my waist and squeezed.
"Hey small one! How you doing?"
"I'm feeling pretty good!" She tossed her pint my way. "We've got the weekend off so I'm letting my hair down" she smiled.
"We'll this is new and legal?" I half asked.
"Pretty much yeah" she smiled. "Come and meet people" she tugged my hand and we headed over to a table where there were a few others. She introduced me to her costume lady and a guy that did hair and then "this is Pedro" she stood behind him and winked my way. Bella had been very keen for me to meet him.
"Hey. Everyone need drinks?" I signalled to the table and people gave their orders.
"I'll have a beer but I'll come and give you a hand" Pedro stood and Bella sat back down with her friends.
"Thank you" I smiled over as we stood at the bar.
"No worries. So, I think we like worked next to each other last year" he smiled. "There was something at a studio, and I saw you most days on my way in"
"Oh yeah? Disney stuff?"
"That would be it" he nodded and I placed our order.
"Well, nice to actually meet you" I stuck out my hand and he shook it. "Sophia - But I'm Sophie, unless I'm in trouble or trying to sound exotic"
"Ha! Pedro. Nice to meet you." He over pronounced his name and I smiled. "It sounds kinda exotic all by itself" he winked and I tried to hide my blush.
"So how do you guys know each other?" Katie the costume lady asked about me and Bella as we sat back down with the drinks.
"She played my mum last year" Bella had great delight in announcing.
"Yes, but it was the Middle Ages and I would have had har at about 15, I must add"
"So you got mummy and a 'Daddy' keeping an eye on you in Canada then" Katie added.
"You playing her dad?" I asked to Pedro who was next to me at the table.
"In a way, I guess. Sadly I cannot protest that I'm not old enough" he frowned.
"Age is just a number" Bella smiled.
We spent the night drinking and telling stories, Katie and Oliver had pulled Bella off to dance and Pedro and I were left to get to know each other.
"She's been very excited for you to stop by"
"Yeah? I've been excited to come. It's always good to catch up and I do enjoy having a nose around a different set as well."
"She's managed to sneak you in?" He raised an eye brow.
"Yeah I had to promise that I would be super quiet and well behaved"
"That doesn't sound any fun" he winked, innuendo dripping from every word.
"Oh I'll make my fun" I smiled and downed the last of my drink. "You dancing?" I stood and held out my hand to him and he took it and followed me to join the others.
We all danced together, then Pedro found his way behind me, I did my best sexy dancing whilst Bella looked like all her Christmas's had come at once. She'd been keen for me to meet Pedro since she started filming with him "I just feel like you two would get on" she had said. I'd been single for a good while and so was up for being set up I guess. Pedro's hand gently rested on my hips as he snaked behind me. He leant forward and spoke close to my ear, his breath cool on my neck.
"You're not being so well behaved now" he chuckled. As he pulled me a little closer.
"No one's watching, I don't need to be good" I reached behind my head and ruffled his hair before I decided to be strong and step away. Bella grabbed my hand and we sat back down. And watched the boys dance a bit before they headed back too.
"Right, I'm far too tired to stay out much longer I'm afraid" I announced. Bella grabbed my hand and whined for me not to go yet. "I literally dumped my bag at the hotel straight from the airport and headed out here. Let me sleep!"
"Where you staying?" Pedro asked leaning back in his chair.
"Uumm small place just up the road a bit"
"It's where we stayed before they sorted apartments" Bella jumped in.
"Ok, yeah I know. It's nice there. Do you want me to make sure you get back safe?" he asked finishing his drink.
"No, don't worry at all. I'll be fine. I'll follow my phone and be back in minutes"
"Yes" Bella interrupted again "make sure she doesn't get lost for me! You should get to bed anyway, old man" she teased.
"She's not wrong though" he grumped and got his jacket. "You ready?" He stood and looked down at me - arm out for me to link with.
I stood and hugged Bella before linking with his arm and he walked us out. It was pretty chilly in the air and I sobered up quickly on our walk.
"How long you in town?" He asked our arms still linked.
"Just a week, I'm off to my uncle's to meet his new baby, and this was sort of on the way. How long have you got left filming?"
"A few months. We finish mid June I think. I kinda slow down shooting a little and have some back and forth to record some Mando shit in a month or so so it'll fly by"
"It's got to be strange, seeing an end after so long."
"I mean it's been a little on and off but yeah, nearly a year of the same people. I guess that's a perk of series shit. You make your little family and keep getting to hang out" he smiled at the thought.
"And then you're back home to, LA is it?" I asked.
"Yeah it is now. Was New York for like 20 years but I bit the bullet and moved a few years back. Where you based?"
"I flit between London and New York"
"You can do that? Passport wise?"
"Yeah I have the duel passport thing. Born in New York, can't you tell by the accent" I joked knowing full well my very British boarding school accent didn't even have a hint of NYC.
"Oh yeah, it's so obvious now you say" we slowed as we got to my hotel. "So this is you" he unhooked my arm and I felt cold.
"This is me, thank you for making sure I got back safe. I'll see you again soon?"
"I'm pretty sure I'm being made to drive you around tomorrow as 'the small one' as you call her, can't rent a car" we chuckled.
"Well that's very kind of you. Like, I can rent a car though if you want the peace" I offered.
"Nah, it's fine. I'm kinda looking forward to a road trip" he grinned "I'll see you in the morning" he waved and then stuck his hands in his pockets and walked off.
