We Meet Again

Chapter 5: Beneficial Surprises

I was extra upbeat this morning when I walked into the studio.

James had finally finished up work in Miami and had landed here early this morning. He said we could grab dinner together and that he would be staying for as long as possible, considering his flighty occupation.

We were preparing a shoot and I was attempting to make it to my dressing room in the large crowd, when I spotted a flash of auburn hair.

“Jen!” I hollered, motioning her over.

With a broad smile and glistening emerald eyes, she pranced over to me, giving me a tight squeeze.

“Hey, Sarah! You're... smiley today.” She said poking my cheeks where dimples would be.

I just smile more brightly at the comment, my heart clamoring with pure anxious joy.

“Well... James is in town!”

Once she registered what I had previously said, she squeals clenching my hands tightly.

“Honey, that's awesome! Is he coming to see you anytime soon?”

“He's coming over for dinner. Well, I believe we're going out... I don't know, really, all that matters is that he's here!” I say in an over-joyed tone.

“Exactly. If you're excited, I'm excited. So what's this I hear about Josh being on your ass last weekend for a ride or some other?”

“My smile falters at the mention of Josh, but I try to keep my spirits high. It's a more daunting task than I had first assumed.

“It was nothing, really. Just some stranger-bastard asking me for a ride.” I lie with the same smile plastering my face. I wear it more as a mask now; I'm sure it doesn't travel to my eyes, but I hope it isn't too noticeable.

“Ha! Yeah, some sexy stranger-bastard, that's what!” she laughs, poking me in the side. The crowd, I notice, is beginning to thin.

I grimace, with a humorous smile. “Ew, Jen, come on, don't be that way. I mean seriously.”

She raises her hands, palms-up, and says, “Hey. Just stating the facts. So, did you give the lucky bastard a ride?”

I distractedly glance up at the hallway before me noticing that there is almost no one inhabiting the area.

“Um... no,” I lie, taking long strides toward my door, “I didn't.”

“Oh. Bummer, Sarah. He was hot,” Jen says with shallow breaths from her having to keep up with my swift movements down the hallway.

I turn quickly toward her and say, “He's an ass, trust me. And- no- he isn't that hot, either.”

“Wha- okay, Sarah, are you blind or something? Seriously, get a grip-”

“Jen...!” I huff with disbelief at the conversation before me, “I have a boyfriend- who's kind of in town right now just to visit me. So, yes, I'm a little over the whole drooling-over-guys bit. Okay?”

“Okay. But you have to admit... he's hot, right?”

I just suppress a sickly smile from surfacing along with some choice words about Josh and say, “See you at lunch.”

I walk into my dressing room, shutting the door in her face as gently as possible, and move only forward, into the cluster of people with outfits and false eyelashes and smoking curling irons in hand, awaiting my presence.

~***~

“...And, CUT! Lunch break, everybody! You're expected back in ninety minutes!” Keller hollered, calling set to a break.