Tangerine Kisses: A Novella

Chapter One - Ava

'Look the thing is hun we need to seal this deal before he leaves otherwise we're back to square one with no bloody lead actor.' Henry Vanderwood swears so loudly down the phone I am afraid that the three under-tens currently occupying my living room might hear. I shift my mobile under my other ear and turn away from the children to face the kettle.

'Henry,' I say, trying to sound as patient as possible, 'let me get this straight. You're trying to tell me that Sebastian Booth wants to be in my play?'

'Yes, hun.'

'What's the catch?' There is always a catch. Elite British actors do not just randomly decide to commit to perform in small subsidised theatres without there being a catch. Apart from that one-time Tom Hiddleston took the world by storm at the Donmar Warehouse, but that was Shakespeare and everyone knows that a good actor bends over backwards for Shakespeare. My play does not even come close. In fact none of my work does. Although my agent Margaret thinks I need to have a more positive outlook on my writing.

'He's flying out to LA tomorrow for some big movie premier,' Henry continues, 'so we need to say yes to this guy right now or lose him. Come on, Ava, isn't this guy you've been waiting for your entire life?'

I consider Henry's words. Sebastian Booth is currently an a-list British actor. He is young, good-looking, and he an excellent actor. I would be lying if I said having his name topping my play was not going to be good for publicity, and I know he would do a great job. But the problem? Sebastian Booth is also an ex-boyfriend. And not just any ex-boyfriend. He is The One. The one that broke my heart. Of course that was way back at university and he probably doesn't even remember me now.

I brush my fingers lightly over the first page of my play sitting on the table where I had been giving it a final read-through for any errors, because I am careful like that. It will be my debut as a playwriter since I branched out from novel writing last year. Even if Sebastian has read the play he won't know I was the one who wrote it because I use a pseudonym so we are talking a serious decision to be made here on my part. But once rehearsals start it will become obvious 2with me hanging around the theatre as the Assistant Artistic Director. What will he say when he realises? Will he even care?

'Those are my colouring pens! Give them back!' The sounds of an argument erupt behind me and I am forced to dive between two out of three squawking children.

'God, Ava, what is that racket?' Being a bachelor in his mid-thirties Henry finds children repulsive. 'Have you birthed children since I last saw you?'

'No, Henry,' I sigh at his words. 'I'm babysitting my sister's children whilst she and her husband go to the cinema.'

'How awful hun,' says Henry and I can tell he means it.

Once I know for certain the children are not going to tear each other apart I move back to the safety of the kitchen counter and finish making my cup of tea.

'So, this... Sebastian Booth,' I say slowly, 'did he make any indication as to why he wanted to be in the play?'

'Something about his agent thinking it would be a good idea for him to do something serious to show his strengths as an actor,' says Henry airily.

'Hmm.' I toy with the tea bag in my mug as I attempt to judge the right amount of time to leave it in. Despite being British I can never seem to get it right, it is either always too strong or too weak.

'It's a simple yes or no, Ava.'

'I haven't seen his audition.'

'He doesn't need to audition, Ava. He's Sebastian freaking Booth. He's been in three box office hits this year alone and countless more since he began acting.'