[Excerpt] The Stand-In: my life as an understudy

Stand-In, Stage Left

"Ella!" a voice called, the tightly denim-wrapped body it belonged to hurrying towards me. Lindy's face fell as she got closer and saw me around the giant canvas in my arms. "Oh, it's you..."

And that was how most of the world greeted me. Full of disappointment as though they'd been expecting Narnia and only found the back of an old cupboard full of musty coats. I couldn't blame them, personally. I'd been looking for Narnia all my life, too.

"I'm looking for Ella."

That was another thing people often said to me, in much the same manner as they were affronted I even existed. But I was used to it. That was my life and, when it came to people like Lindy, I didn't much care how little they thought of me, both in what they thought about me and the amount of time they actually spent remembering I existed.

"I don't know where she is," I answered, rearranging the canvas so I didn't drop it. Damn thing was big and awkward if not particularly heavy. "I thought you had last lesson with her?"

Lindy flicked her plait over her shoulder as though she were heavily flirting with someone. I did a quick scan of the hallways, but it could have been any of the guys pushing through the throng of students. Certainly none of them seemed to be flirting back and I hid a smirk.

"Well we need to get to the committee meeting, or all her plans with be for nothing," Lindy sighed, like it must have been my fault for locking my fair princess of a sister up in the tower. I had no idea what said plans were and I was happy to keep it that way. "We're going to be late!" Lindy stamped her foot.

I nodded, not really sure what Lindy expected me to do about it. Ella ran on Ella time and not even an adoring crowd waiting on her was going to make her run to anyone else's schedule. "Okay. Sure. Well you two have fun with that."

I made to move past her as I hefted the canvas, but Lindy stepped in front of me with a bored expression. "Can't you, like, call her or something?"

I mentally rolled my eyes and managed not to drop the canvas on her head. "You'll have better luck getting through to her, I'm sure."

Lindy looked around like she was about to do something really dirty – like, you know, talk to me some more – and I huffed, deciding to save her the bother.

"I'm sure you're fast approaching your quota for being seen with a nobody for the day, so why don't you run along and I'll see if I can find Ella?" I asked, making myself sound chipper and helpful like the good secretary I was.

Lindy gave me a grimace I expected was supposed to pass for a smile on that face and flounced away, her skirt bobbing dangerously close to flashing her arse. I hurriedly looked away before it became a train wreck I wouldn't be able to look away from.

I hoisted the canvas back up and pulled my phone out of my pocket with my other hand, hoping I could keep hold of everything. Just as I was sure I had a handle on everything, my bag slid off my shoulder and almost took my phone with it.

"There you are!" someone else called and I looked over, feeling rather frazzled. But the paint-splattered face that matched that familiar voice made me smile. And this time when they got closer, they didn't pout like I'd ruined Christmas. "I've been looking everywhere for you. I told you I'd help with that!" Rica chastised.

She shook her head at me with an exasperated sigh and grabbed the other end of the canvas before I dropped it as well. I gave my best friend a thankful smile and reached down for my bag. As I hoisted it on my shoulder, I hit Ella's number.

"What's up?" Rica asked, already amused by my predicament.

"The harpy is required by her minion, I just have to–"