Chapter 7 Ripley
Ripley
This is not going to work. I sit beside Mom and the newly hired camera crew, watching Garrick utterly fail.
We’re in an old office set into the fake mountains at Glacier Peaks.
Before our arrival, storage boxes filled most of the floor, but they are now shoved to one side to make way for the camera and lights.
A series of square windows overlooking the empty park below serves as the background to our shot.
Garrick is supposed to be filling out the app with information about a dream girl he would like to date. It’s a series of questions meant to find you a true match.
All right – fail is a strong word, but he’s certainly not taking this seriously.
‘I already did this, didn’t I?’ Garrick leans in his chair, rocking back and forth on the back two legs. He’s wearing a Fairytale Gardens T-shirt and soft-blue jeans.
‘I think he should stand.’ I jump up and yank Garrick to standing. He’s a good six inches taller than me, and when he stares down at me through his thick eyelashes I have to look away. A weird thumping fills my ears. Maybe I need a doctor?
‘What’s wrong with sitting?’ Garrick asks.
‘I think standing looks better.’ Really, I’m just giving him one less prop to play with.
I step away quickly, returning to Mom’s side.
‘Ms Ripley, what do you think?’ head intern Brett says. I can’t get away from his incessant ass-kissing since he’s been trailing Mom for the last month.
When I glance over at Mom, she’s biting her cheek. Never a good sign. It means she’s stopping herself from saying something, and that only lasts so long.
‘I repeat my question: didn’t I already do this?’ Garrick skims down the screen. ‘Yes, I told you I like pina coladas and taking walks in the rain.’
‘You did,’ Mom says, rearranging her fitted blue blazer – power suit day. ‘But we need it on camera so the audience know what to expect when they download the app.’
The questionnaire he filled out a month ago was to get the contestants here. We couldn’t have coordinated all the release forms from their guardians within three days of when they were supposed to arrive, even if they aren’t coming from that far away.
‘Jul–’ Mom starts, but I cut her off.
‘Garrick, pretend you’re answering the questions to me.’ If I’ve learned anything about him the last few weeks, it’s that he’s better when he has a single person to focus on to keep him on track. ‘What is the top thing you’re looking for in your Beeloved?’
Garrick’s lips quirk up. I might only be getting to know him, but I’ve already guessed the answer will not be screen-worthy. I blow out hot air, gripping the tablet tighter while he takes way too long to respond.
He taps his chin. ‘I’d say someone who can keep up.’
‘Care to elaborate?’ I ignore the popping in my jaw when I grind my molars as Mom stares me down.
Part of getting intern credit means I actually have to participate in the show.
Mom seemed pleased at the idea of me taking an interest in her company, but that doesn’t mean she’s ready to loosen her control over everything.
‘I’m never great at sitting still. So, my Beeloved …’ He draws out the word. I close my eyes, shaking my head. He continues, ‘… needs to be able to go with the flow. Something I’m sure you’re good at, right, Ripley?’
I level him with a glare. ‘Let’s keep all the answers open for whatever contestant might win your heart.’ I pull up the next question. I feel Brett chomping at the bit beside me, ready to step in, but I keep going. ‘How would your best friend describe you?’
‘Trouble.’ He doesn’t even hesitate.
‘If you could time travel, where would you go and why?’ I continue to the next question.
‘Wait!’ Garrick holds up his hand. ‘No follow-up comment on the last answer?’
I smile sweetly. ‘No, sounds about right. So, time travel?’
‘Anywhere?’ he asks. When I nod, I notice the slightest dip in his smile – the barest hint at something deeper than his on-stage persona. ‘Five years ago. Summer.’
‘Why is that?’ Mom asks. I knew she wouldn’t let me run it for long.
He stumbles on his words, and that deeper something looks painful on his usually handsome, carefree face.
‘Please be detailed,’ Brett adds.
‘What’s your weirdest talent?’ I pipe up.
I don’t know why he chose summer five years ago, but it’s clear he doesn’t want to say.
I didn’t want to do this show for many reasons and baring my vulnerability on a public stage was one of them.
If Garrick has secrets he wants to keep, I won’t be the one to yank them out.
The beaming smile is back, and he gives me the slightest nod. A tiny bit of annoyance dislodges in my chest, a warmth replacing it.
Melika and Nathan arrive at the tail end of it all, their footsteps up the old stairs just outside the door forcing us to stop and restart for noise issues.
Brett is asking a few final questions they can pepper in throughout the show when needed.
I kept Garrick on track, and I feel myself standing straighter at the feat.
Another item to cross off the to-do list for the day gives me a sense of control.
Nathan is wearing a holiday FTG sweater screen-printed with the castle replica decked out in holiday cheer. I have no idea where he got this, but I’m unsurprised he already found the gift shop. ‘You have to admit –’ Nathan nudges me – ‘Garrick is kind of cute.’
‘Even I’m into him, and he’s not usually my cup of tea,’ Melika adds. We are both wearing matching ‘Beeloved Crew’ T-shirts. They have a mix of the FTG and Beeloved logos on them. It’s hot under the filming lights, but the rest of the place is freezing with an upcoming storm.
I suppose I can see Garrick’s appeal as I watch the single dimple appear on his right cheek. He does have that charming something that other girls are into. All I see is red flashing danger signs.
It’s the ones who make you feel special that trick your brain into thinking everything is perfect – and that only burns you in the end. If I had a dollar for every time Mom went on and on about how this husband was the one … Well, I’d have three dollars, but still, I learned.
‘As long as he does his job and my mom is happy, that’s all I care about.
’ After I convinced Mom to hire Garrick, she had to bring it to the investor.
Like me, they also saw the strength in having a built-in fan base from Garrick’s knight persona.
Since the hiccups with losing the star, and the article stating Beeloved was on a downward trajectory, things seem to be taking a smoother course.
So, as long as we don’t totally screw up this reality show, the investment for the app should be a guarantee.
‘Well, dears,’ Nathan says, patting Melika and me on the cheek. ‘I’m headed to FTG’s hair and make-up department to further bolster my already impressive list of skills under the tutelage of a man named Pierre. I’ll see my best gals later and we can ride a roller coaster. Sound good, Rip?’
I use my shoulder to push him toward the door. ‘Byeeeee.’
Melika goes with Yvette, who is helping coordinate the locations we’ll use for the dates. ‘This is going to be so helpful for my future shop set-ups,’ Melika whispers giddily as she walks away. At least someone is having fun.
‘Will you take Garrick around with the team and get some B-roll?’ Mom asks as they remove Garrick’s microphone.
‘Do I have to? I have some homework I wanted to work on.’
Mom huffs. ‘Juliet, this is what interning looks like. I can’t mark off that you’ve done your job if you don’t help.’
Holding in my groan, I nod. ‘Garrick, let’s go.’
Garrick leaps over the cables on the floor and slides toward me on the wood. This cramped room was getting musty; it will be nice to breathe in some fresh air.
‘Just the person I wanted to get some more face time with.’ He flashes me a grin.
This time I don’t bother suppressing my groan.
We walk around the park and ensure everything we need for Friday is set up.
That’s when the girls arrive. At that stage, we’ll do our interviews and prep for the first date, which is on Saturday.
Most of the show will be filmed when FTG is closed during the day, but we want a little bit with the park open, so it looks like there’s some interest in this place.
‘Garrick,’ the producer says when we get outside. It’s sunny, and if you were looking out a window, you might mistake it for being warm – it’s not, however, and I slip on my mittens hoping to stave off the frostbite. ‘Why don’t you walk us through the layout of Fairytale Gardens, for the audience.’
There are six of us out here. Garrick, myself, the producer, Garrick’s aunt Maria, who’s in charge of HR, a camera person and Brett.
Not one to miss out on showboating, Garrick slips on his million-dollar charm as the camera starts rolling and begins rattling off a script with ease.
‘Now, if it’s young kids you’ve got, or you simply like to take things a bit slower, Pixie Forest is your main hub.
It’s got all the best fairy-themed rides – Mushroom Spin being a general crowd-pleaser.
But, if you’re like me and seek a bit of a thrill –’ Garrick winks at the camera, but since I’m right behind it, it feels directed at me – ‘I’d highly suggest you give Ogre Escape a go.
While still located in this land, it might scare the little ones, or set them up as a lifelong roller-coaster lover like myself. But discretion is advised.’
‘You couldn’t ask for a better star,’ Maria whispers to me.
‘That’s exactly what I was hoping for.’ I breathe easier the more people who agree with my choice of Garrick. If it goes great, Mom can take the credit, but if it fails, I’m on the hook for bad casting.
‘He’s never one to shy away from the spotlight.
But …’ Maria glances over at Garrick, who is scaling the side of the train for a photo.
‘He might seem like he’s handling it all without a care in the world, but this family has been through a lot the last few years.
A charming smile and quick jokes don’t always tell the whole story. Be gentle on him, will you?’
‘It’s not really up to me,’ I say, but add when she still looks melancholy, ‘I’ll do my best.’
We head out of Pixie Forest and show off a few market booths in the Village Center, sampling delicious caramel popcorn and spicy hot chocolate on our way. Then it’s off to Carpathia.
‘I do my best work at Knight School.’ Garrick waves his hands dramatically at the wooden stage behind him.
On either side, it has those life-size display pictures with the faces cut out that you can put yours into, to make it look like you’re a knight jousting.
‘You won’t find anyone in all the lands more adept at sword fighting.
’ He doesn’t wink, but I feel like his eye twitches out of habit.
We wander through the backstage passageway and past the horse stables back to Glacier Peaks. I glance at my watch, wondering how much longer this will take. I didn’t realize I was signing up for a guided tour this afternoon.
‘Am I not entertaining enough for you, Ripley?’ Garrick pops up beside me, nearly making me drop my tablet.
I clutch it against my chest, taking a step away. ‘It doesn’t matter if I’m entertained. It’s the audience that counts.’
He frowns, overly exaggerating it with a shake of his head. ‘Ripley, if there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that I will not rest until everyone leaves satisfied.’
I level him with an uninterested stare. ‘I guess you’ll be really tired these next few weeks.’
He counters, ‘If there’s another thing you should know about me, it’s that I never back down from a challenge.’ He walks away with the last word.
We capture key places in Glacier Peaks, like the ice cream parlor and the log flume ride, White Out. Then it’s just the Perilous Sea that’s left.
I’ve mostly tuned out Garrick by repeating my to-do list in my head. A calming trait I’m developing as I learn to stop biting my nails. But I dial back into his voice when he starts to talk about the pirate ride.
‘Fairytale Gardens isn’t known for scary rides, but if you pay close attention on Pirate Adventure, you might just get a few chills.’
I might not care about behind-the-scenes at FTG, but I know Melika and Nathan do. And since I’m the best friend ever, I’m going to surprise them with a little treat.
Once we stop filming, I grab Garrick and pull him to the side.
‘Here to admit you were wrong about my lack of entertainment skills?’ Garrick asks.
Oh, geez, this boy is going to be the death of me. ‘Nope. But I do have another question. Do you believe in ghosts?’