48. Charlie
48
CHARLIE
Before I even have time to process what just happened, Bishi is shepherding us back down the corridor to the writers’ room.
I keep trying to catch Nell’s eye as we go, to gauge how my apology has landed, but she’s not looking at me – all her focus is on Bishi as she outlines what’s going on with this week’s show.
‘So, Tom Hiddleston was supposed to be hosting this week after he pulled out last week,’ Bishi explains as we head into the nook. ‘But, Nell, since your Kay DeBlue piece blew up over the weekend, everyone wanted to take advantage of the hype. So, Nate and I got in touch with Kay’s agent yesterday, and long story short – Kay has agreed to host this week!’
Bishi holds the door of the writers’ room open and ushers us inside. All the other writers are already sitting around the table. I haven’t seen them since my Max Ribiero disaster on Wednesday, and I don’t dare look any of them in the eye in case they start railing on me again.
‘But isn’t Tom Hiddleston going to be annoyed that he’s getting bumped?’ Nell asks as we both sit down.
‘Screw Hiddleston,’ barks Nate, standing at the whiteboard. ‘He sacked us off last week, so we’re sacking him off this week.’
‘What about my Loki sketch?’ Rich whines.
‘File it alongside “Builders Who Are Afraid of Bricks” as another iconic work of art that the general public will tragically be deprived of,’ Noah sighs.
Rich gives him the finger as Nate turns to Nell and smiles. ‘Nell, your Kay DeBlue thing got so big over the weekend that we felt we had to capitalise on it. So, she’ll be hosting this week – and when we spoke to her last night she explicitly said, “Will Nell be pitching sketch ideas?”’
Nell’s cheeks flush as Talia nudges her elbow, grinning. I’m finding it very hard to care about all this Tom Hiddleston/Kay DeBlue stuff. I just want two minutes alone with Nell.
‘So, what we thought we’d do’, Nate continues, ‘is give you today and tomorrow to write. Get three or four sketch ideas down on paper, and maybe write up a fully fleshed-out script for the idea you like best. And then on Wednesday, when Kay’s in the office, you can pitch them to her.’
‘Wow. That’d be . . . amazing.’ Nell shakes her head. She looks overwhelmed.
‘Great.’ Nate beams at her for a second longer and then turns to me as if he’d forgotten I’m here. ‘Oh – and you too, Charlie, of course! Same thing – take today and tomorrow to get your ideas in place.’
I nod.
‘Try not to oversleep on this one, mate,’ Rich mutters next to me. A few people laugh, and I feel my face get hot.
‘Hey, Richard.’ Nate jabs his Sharpie at him, mock-sternly. ‘Not cool.’
‘Ha. No worries,’ I mumble.
I glance at Nell and for a second our eyes meet. Then she looks away.
Bishi stands up and opens the door for us. ‘OK, interns – off you go. Feel free to work here in the office, or you can head home. Whatever you like.’
Nell and I follow her out. She and Bishi carry on discussing the Kay DeBlue interview as they head into the corridor. I grab my bag from under my desk and shut my computer down. I need to see Nell alone, just for a second. I’ve just spilled my guts to her, and I have literally no idea what she thinks. Does she still hate me? Has she forgiven me? Is she somewhere in between? I have to know.
I hurry down the corridor towards the IT department, but halfway there I get waylaid by one of the marketing interns who was at that drinks thing. He plies with me small talk, which I nod along to politely for a couple of minutes before making my excuses. As he walks off, I tear down the corridor, but when I turn the corner, Nell’s desk is empty.
Jarrod answers my question before I can even ask it. ‘You just missed her, mate. She’s gone home.’