23. Chapter 23
Aura
Somehow I end up jammed in the backseat of Hayden’s car between Savannah and Delaney. In spite of my best efforts, Seth got shotgun. So it’s all the Sterling kids in this car. I’m playing the youngest sibling, the only adoptee in the fictional family.
“Who else is excited to be working with Lynn Westwood?” Savannah asks.
“I’m spinning out. What if she doesn’t like me? I’ll die,” Delaney says dramatically.
Seth twists around in his seat. “She’ll adore you. Everyone does.”
“You two worked together on Firehaven right?” I ask. “Anyone else worked together before?”
“Other than my brief appearance on the creek with you, nope,” Hayden says, slowing down to finally make the turn into the restaurant’s driveway. For the last ten minutes of the drive, I was sure we were utterly lost, GPS or not. The Riverbend Café is in the middle of nowhere.
Savannah squeals. “This place is so cute.”
It really is as Quint advertised. A converted old barn painted in a vibrant red that screams “tourist trap.” But he said the food was good, and judging by his cooking, he knows what he’s talking about in that department.
Savannah links her arm with mine as we’re getting out of the car, leaning into me. Not being overly touchy-feely, but also not wanting to tell my new costar to get off me, I just let my arm hang and hope she gets the hint.
“It would have been nice if Lynn and Diane had come with us, but on the other hand, it’ll be good for all us kids to get to know one another,” she says.
“You and I are going to be besties,” I’ve decided.
Delaney too, but we flew in together so we’ve already had some time to get to know one another better. ”
Why is it that the cast extrovert always makes an effort to befriend me? I guess the keep your distance vibes aren’t strong enough to deter them. It’s that politeness that’s been drilled into me since birth.
We have to wait ten minutes before they can get us settled into a large booth in the back corner.
I wasn’t expecting it to be this busy on a weekday, but it seems to work to our advantage.
Everyone is too absorbed talking and laughing amongst themselves to notice the celebrities who casually walked into their place.
Our server’s mouth pops open when she looks up from her notepad, and a wad of pink bubblegum falls out. “I’m so sorry,” she says, bending down to scoop up it up with a napkin. “I’ll wash my hands, don’t worry.”
She looks at each of us in turn. Maybe she thinks she’s hallucinating.
“Whoever you think we are, you’re probably right,” Hayden says with a wink. “But if you wouldn’t mind keeping it to yourself until we’re gone, we’d really appreciate it.”
“Of course. Of course.” She turns to me, and I internally cringe at the gleam in her eyes. “But can I say, Paisley Creek is my favorite show. I’m rewatching season three right now. You know that moment when you finally kiss Jay? Oh my god. I totally swooned.”
I smile and nod politely, hiding the pain that always comes up when I think of those moments with Brad’s character.
Except it’s not as sharp this time. All the hurt and betrayal is starting to fade.
I guess it helps that I’m finally working again.
When I really think about it, I think that’s the part that hurt the most. Not the cheating or the lost love, but the way he used his father’s influence to prevent me from getting a job.
Looking back on it, I’m not sure it ever was really love.
The way it crumbled to dust so quickly kind of makes me think it was never real to begin with.
“Now, what can I get you all to drink?” The question is directed at everyone, but her eyes remain fixed on me the entire time and she doesn’t make any notes. At this rate, we’re all going to end up with the wrong drinks.
“Cute. You’ve got a superfan, Aurelia,” Delaney says after the server walks away.
“Good to know there’s one left.”
“What are you talking about? There are still legions of fans out there,” Savannah says. “That show is iconic.”
It was iconic, but they didn’t see the hate mail, the death threats, the disgusting comments on my social media posts.
The nervous edge that always sits under my skin starts to spread, numbing my fingers first, and my breath gets shallow.
Oh no. I can’t lose it here and now. I glance around the busy restaurant, trying to find something, anything, to focus on before the panic swallows me up.
I startle when someone places a hand on mine, and when I look up, Savannah’s bright blue eyes are staring back at me in concern.
“Hey, you okay?”
I give a hurried nod, focusing on her eyes.
There’s a darker blue rim around the pupils, long, thick lashes, a line of black eyeliner winging up to make them resemble a cat’s.
She gives my hand a gentle squeeze, and it’s enough.
The focus, the touch, it pulls me back into myself as I draw deeper breaths, filling my lungs.
“I’m okay. Sorry.”
She frowns. “You don’t need to be sorry for anything, Aurelia. We’re going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few months. We’re your family now. You don’t have to hide or worry. We got your back, right?”
She turns to the rest of the cast and they all nod.
I’m still hesitant. It’s too early to tell.
But this might be okay. “Call me Aura. That’s what my friends call me.
” Everyone except the one person who’s stuck around since before I was famous.
The one person who knows the real me. I should really give Abby another call tonight.
I’ve been avoiding it since the tack room incident, but it would be nice to talk to someone about all these jumbled-up feelings about Quint. I just don’t know what to do with him.
“Perfect. I’m Sav to anyone lucky enough to know me personally.”
She flicks her bouncy curls over her shoulder.
I admire her confidence, but it’s hard to tell if that’s just her own shell.
We’ve all got one here. I know she’s had to deal with her share of gross behavior as a plus-sized actress.
She’s fucking gorgeous, but ugly little men on the Internet love to say stupid shit about anyone over a size zero.
“Nice to meet you, Sav.”
Delaney shrugs. “I don’t really have a nickname. Everyone’s always called me by my full name. Except my dad.”
“Oh? Do tell,” Seth says, finally joining the conversation. His hands are steepled on the table as he leans in closer.
“That is something you will never find out.”
“Then why’d you have to go and tease us?”
Delaney smiles the cute little dimpled smile that’s landed her several girl-next-door roles. “A little mystery between friends is a good thing.”
Hayden shrugs. “I’m just Hayden.”
“Is that like just Ken? Because let me tell you, your hair is too dark for that, you’re going to need a bleach job.”
Our server walks back up to the table. I squint at her name tag. Martha. “What can I get for you? Now, you’re welcome to get whatever you want, but I’d recommend the steak sandwich if you’re asking.”
“That’s what Quint said too.”
Her eyes brighten. “Quint Holloway? That’s right, you all are filming at Hollow Hills, aren’t you?”
We nod. It’s not a secret. No use trying to hide it.
“You know Quint?” I ask.
“Of course. I live in Balsam Grove. Everyone knows the Holloways. Good folks.”
I try to avoid Sav’s curious gaze as we order our food, but I should have known there was no way I could avoid the questions.
She leans in propping her chin on her hands. “So, tell us about your cowboy. How did that happen? When did you come out here?”
I sigh, racking my brain for the easiest way to explain without revealing too much. “Things have been kind of rough lately, so after I got the role, I decided to lay low for a while.”
“Uh-huh.” Now it’s Seth staring at me. He’s curious, but not pushy, and there’s a kind look in his eyes. I want to trust that it’s genuine. I used to trust my instincts with people, but somewhere along the way I lost that.
“Belinda, my agent, suggested I come out here do some character study, you know? Really get a feel for the place and the people.”
“Seems like you sure did get a feel for the people.”
“Sav, keep it in your pants,” Delaney says.
“The first day I was out here I went to this cute little coffee shop in town. Oh, you’ve probably all been there to meet Maggie.”
Everyone nods.
“Right, so I was looking for the ranch because I knew that’s where we’d be filming, and Quint happened to be behind me in line.
He wanted to buy my drink and wouldn’t take no for an answer, and then he offered to take me to the ranch and we kind of hit it off, you know?
” It’s the sanitized version of the story Janine has been putting out to the press, but it’s true enough that it comes out easy.
“That’s so sweet,” Sav says with a sigh. “And I don’t want to be a downer, but don’t you ever worry that he’s just in it because, you know…”
“I’m famous? Of course.” I shrug. “But he’s not like that. He never even got that fanboy gleam in his eyes when we first met. Didn’t even let me buy his coffee.” Not to mention, it’s not real. But of course, they don’t know that.
“Love that for you.”
My shoulders relax as the attention shifts away from me and onto the script and our upcoming shooting schedules.
The sandwich is truly incredible. The meat is so tender it practically melts away in my mouth, and the sauce on it is top tier.
Everyone else must agree, because we’re well on our way to clearing off our plates when a group of women walks up to our table.
They’re zeroed in on Hayden, and I can spot the strain in his bright blue eyes hiding behind the charming smile.
That’s the difference between him and Quint.
Quint’s easy smile is natural, genuine. Hayden’s looks amazing on camera and if you didn’t look too close, you’d think it was real too.
But I know what it’s like when fans come up, wanting a piece of you just because of a character you’ve played.
They think they know you because they’ve seen you playing a role or read an article about you. But they don’t.
Sometimes I wonder if I even know who I am anymore. It’s lonely as fuck. Even sitting here with a group of what I hope will be new friends.
We’re like our own little islands.