Chapter 8
I walked towards the camera, singing. People around us stopped to watch, their chatter distracting me. Lights were set up under cover, and I was dressed in a winter jacket, the wool of a scarf warm against my skin. Gavin had a camera on a tripod, and his assistant held a portable fan to my face.
“Ok, try again, but don’t flinch with the fan,” he instructed.
I gritted my teeth together. “It’s winter, Gavin. She’s been blowing cold air onto my face for the last hour. It’s hard not to flinch.”
“Is it needed?” Lilith asked. “You want her to smile, then give her something to smile at.” She glanced at the growing crowd. “You!” She pointed at a guy. “Have you ever wanted to be in a music video?”
He blinked. “Uhh…sure.”
“Great!” She grabbed his arm and pulled him next to Gavin and the camera. “Walk towards Quinn. You don’t have to do anything else. Just walk.” She turned to me. “When he’s walked past, glance over your shoulder once, and smile as you continue walking.”
We did another take, and I did as Lilith asked. She and Gavin looked at the footage.
“I love when she gets all bossy,” Mia murmured, and laughter burst from me.
A couple of drops hit my cheek. “Uh-oh,” I held out my hand, glancing up. “There’s the rain.”
The rain had held off for the morning but didn’t look like it would much longer.
“Umbrellas!” Gavin called out, and someone shoved an umbrella into my hand. I held it above my head as more drops fell from the sky.
He and Lilith talked in low voices. “Ok, next shot!” she shouted.
My guitar was brought to me.
“Um, Lil, how am I supposed to play the guitar while holding an umbrella?” I asked.
“You’re not,” Gavin said.
“Nope. Hell no!” I pointed to the person holding my case. “I am not playing this in the rain. Bring me that.” I glared at Gavin. “You’re a sound tech, you should know better.”
With my guitar safely away I sighed. We’d been at this all morning, and I was getting tired. “Maybe we can stop for food?” I directed my question at Lilith. “I’m a little hungry. ”
“Agreed. I could do with some coffee,” Lilith said.
The sky opened up, and rain bucketed down, drumming against my umbrella. Gavin’s assistant held an umbrella over him.
“Maybe we should do some filming in the studio.” Mia suggested, standing with me. “I don’t think anyone wants to work in this. We’ve only gotten half of the shots we have planned.
“Let’s finish this off tomorrow,” Lilith suggested to Gavin. “It’s too cold to be filming in the rain.”
“Okay, let’s pack it up!” Gavin instructed everyone around us.
“Um, do you need me tomorrow, too?” the guy Lilith had pulled into the video asked.
“Nah, you’re all good.” Lilith said. “Can you talk to Yvonne over there, though? We’ll need you to sign a couple of forms.”
He followed the direction she was pointing. Thunder rumbled overhead. Lilith joined Mia and me under my umbrella.
“That’s the shot!” Gavin said and lifted the camera to us. A photographer took photos for Mia to add to our social media.
“I thought we were finished for the day,” I muttered.
“Humour me,” Gavin grinned. “This is a good shot. Sing your chorus.”
“Do you want us splashing in puddles and singing at the top of our voices, too?” Mia asked.
“Oh! Or tap dancing!” I chimed in.
Despite her role in directing us for the day and trying to be serious, Lilith gave us a wide grin. She left the cover of my umbrella and threw her arms open wide, spinning around .
“Oh my god, Lil!” Mia laughed.
“Fuck it!” I handed the umbrella to Mia and stepped into the rain. It was freezing and drenched me in seconds. I danced, grabbing Lilith. We laughed as we spun around. Mia joined in, the umbrella discarded on the ground.
Gavin recorded us, and more photos were taken. Most of the onlookers dispersed. Joy bubbled up from deep inside me. Those who remained were taking photos. My hair was plastered to my head, my clothes stuck to me, but I was overcome with jubilation. I’d spent months hiding in my apartment, and in that moment everything in my world fit.
“Okay, you girls should probably get some dry clothes,” Gavin recommended. “We can’t have you sick for the shoot tomorrow.”
The crew finished packing up. My apartment was nearby, so I led Lilith and Mia back home. We walked into the building and got strange looks from other tenants.
“I’ll come back with a towel,” I promised the concierge.
“Don’t worry about it, Quinn; I’ll get a mop. Did you get caught in this?” the concierge replied.
Mia laughed. “Nah, we danced in it.”
Back in my apartment, I threw towels at them.
“I’m going to have first shower. Please don’t sit on my furniture. I won’t be long.”
I showered quickly and let them clean up. Switching the TV on, I sat down when the news came on.
“Breaking news. Another body has been found. This one a woman in her twenties, in her own car in Brighton. Her body drained of blood.”
Lilith walked from the bathroom, dressed in dry clothes, her eyes on the TV, her expression unreadable .
“What is wrong with people?” I muttered. “Some sicko’s been watching too many movies.”
“There are definitely monsters this world could do without,” she muttered.