06 | les choses qu'on ne peut dire à personne  

Annie felt her phone buzz in the back pocket of her jeans. She ignored it at first, trying to listen to what the woman in front of her was saying. Tom was nearby, sitting in a leather chair in front of a mirror. 

"Annabelle, is it?"

"It's Annie." 

The woman peered over the rim of her glasses and looked at her. 

"Right. Well, you'll be following me around today," the woman said. She was tall and blonde and had blushed noticeably when Tom had entered the trailer with a grin. 

"Okay," Annie said. "And I'll be helping you with-"

"Running errands." The woman finished. "Yes, that's right."

Annie felt her phone buzz again. She stood straighter, ignoring it. The woman peered down at her, hazel coloured eyes narrowed. She was holding a blue clipboard and a pen. 

"Sorry," Annie apologised. 

"I'll see you in fifteen minutes," the woman said. "Ask for me at the desk." 

"Who should I ask for?" Annie asked. 

The woman paused. "Stephanie." Her fingers pinched at a piece of paper on her clipboard. She released the clip and freed the paper. She held it out. "Don't forget to bring this form with you. We need to get you clearance as we weren't expecting extras." 

Her voice was sharp, direct and Annie felt small in the woman's pointed gaze. Annie looked over at Tom. He was looking at her through the mirror, a small apologetic smile on his face. 

Annie nodded and looked away. "Right, yes. Thank you." 

The woman smiled stiffly. Her heels clacked against the linoleum floor as she exited the trailer. 

Annie sighed heavily as soon as the woman had left. She trudged over to the leather couch and fell onto it. 

"I don't think she likes me," Annie mumbled, folding over the paper in her hands. "But she likes you." 

Tom laughed. "You'll get used to her. She's like that with people she hasn't met before."

Annie raised an eyebrow. "Sure..."

The trailer door opened. A different woman entered. She was older and had cropped grey hair. 

"Good morning stranger!" She greeted, waving at Tom. 

"Mornin', Carol." 

"How's my favourite actor doing?" 

"Ah," Tom laughed. "Same old. You know me... Keeping busy." 

The woman, Carol, was carrying a large bag. Annie pushed herself further into the couch, hoping she could sink into it. 

"You know, Tommy," Carol began. She placed her bag on top of the bench where Tom sat. "I've had a lot of ideas about this next look for you. I think Fonzie is going to love it." 

"Yeah?"

Annie watched as Tom leaned back in his chair, hand resting under his chin. She saw his eyes swivel in her direction. He was smiling at her. 

"Oh, who's this?" Carol asked, opening up her bag. Her lips were upturned, curious. 

Annie looked up, startled. 

"Carol," Tom begun, "meet Annie." 

Annie stood up. She blinked as she outstretched her hand. "Nice to meet you," she said quietly. 

Carol shook her hand. "Pleasure, Annie! It's lovely to meet you." 

Annie nodded and tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "I should get going..." 

Carol smiled. "You're working on set today?"

"Yeah," she looked at Tom. "Tom kindly offered me a job."

Carol nodded. "That's interesting. What are you doing?" 

"I'm just running some errands with Stephanie." 

"Stephanie?" Carol exclaimed. "Goodness, you poor thing." 

Tom laughed quietly. "I'll walk you out," he offered, standing. "You don't need to hear this." 

Carol started rummaging through the contents of her bag. "Honestly, Tom. You set this poor young woman up with Stephanie? I can't believe how cruel you are. She's a tiger." 

"It wasn't my choice, I'm afraid," Tom conceded. "Come on, go easy."

"You best hope Stephanie will go easy on Annie here," Carol continued. "You know what she can be like."

Annie grinned. "What can she be like?" She asked, eager. 

Carol sighed heavily. "A whole lot of things. She's really not that bad, but she-"

"I'll be back, Carol." Tom said. Annie felt him standing behind her as he gently placed a hand on the small of her back. Her ears felt hot. Carol quietened. 

Annie felt her chest heave, like it was expanding rapidly with air. Tom opened the door, and guided her outside. 

"I'll be in this trailer for an hour or two," he explained. He removed his hand. 

Annie turned around and looked at her feet. "So, while I'm being skinned alive by Stephanie..."

Tom laughed. "She's not that bad. I promise." 

Annie smiled. In the sun, Tom was tanned. His hair caught the light, blonde filtering through the strands.  

"I'll see you later then?" She asked, glancing up at him. 

He was looking into the distance. "Yeah, definitely." 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

The errands Stephanie had talked about was coffee runs. Tom had been truthful. 

Annie had been making coffee all morning for almost everyone who turned up on the film set. She hadn't been able to check her phone. The director had insisted to everyone that mobile phones were not allowed on set. Stephanie had watched her like a hawk. She was on the back of her heels, making sure she didn't talk to anyone, slip, or spill anything. 

It was mid-afternoon when Annie was given a break. 

She was outside, watching from a distance the filming of a scene. She had bought a sandwich from the small cafe outside of the building and munched on it hungrily. She was aware that she stunk of coffee grounds, the tangy smell distinctive. 

She heard the director yell cut. Annie wandered closer. Looking to her left, she saw Stephanie in the near distance, talking to another man, sitting in a black foldable chair. He was dark headed and dressed in an orange jumper and beige pants. 

Annie squinted. On the back of his chair read his name in print. 

"Oh my god," Annie muttered. 

The man was Stephen Adams, a famous actor. She took a bite out of her sandwich, chewing intently. Sally would love this, she thought. 

There was another foldable chair next to Stephen Adams. Annie moved closer, taking another bite. It read, Tom Price. 

Annie tensed. 

"What the fuck," she muttered. She blinked. She had to have read that wrong. "Tom Price?" Annie wanted to call Sally immediately. Her fingers were itching for her phone. Tom Price was the famous Hollywood actor, the heartthrob, the man who has starred in a countless number of films. The man who had driven her home yesterday. 

"Whatcha doing?" 

Annie zipped around, fast on her toes. 

Tom stared down at her, grinning. 

Annie swallowed. He wore an unbuttoned yellow Hawaiian shirt and a white t-shirt tucked into his denim jeans. His hair had been parted and styled. 

She blinked. She could see it now. His teeth were white. Face too handsome to have a regular nine to five job. No wonder he had been so mesmerising. She had grown up watching him in the theatres, seen him plastered onto magazine covers, sporting different hairstyles with beautiful woman on his arm. 

"You're..." she started.

"I'm?" Tom urged her on, grinning. His hands were in the back pockets of his jeans. "What do you think?" He stepped back, looking down at his shoes. "Do you think it suits me?"

"Price?" Annie blurted out. "You're Tom Price?"

Tom's eyes widened. 

Annie gaped. "Jesus Christ..."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Figured it'd take you a few days to mull it over."

She frowned. "A few days? How long were you planning on not telling me?" Annie stepped backwards. Tom looked to the ground. Her heart pounded in her chest. 

He started to laugh. "Honestly, I thought you knew." He brought his hands up. "I didn't think it mattered."

Annie bit her lip. He was right. It didn't matter. He was a person too. She looked at him then, head to toe. He was toned. She stared at the veins on his arms, grazed her eyes over the broadness of his shoulders. She watched him swallow, how his throat bobbed when he did.

"Are you checking me out?" 

"What?" Annie exclaimed. She focused her eyes back onto his. "No, I'm just-"

"Admiring the costume?" He asked, tone playful.

"Carol did a good job with your hair." 

"Sure." 

"I'm being serious!"

He laughed. "Come on, I'd better take you over to Stephanie." 

Annie turned her head. Behind her, Stephanie was waving. 

Tom stepped beside her. "How's it been?" He slung an arm across her shoulder. It was so casual, but Annie felt light-headed. His touch had sent a ripple down her spine. She crossed her arms against her chest and looked down at her feet to focus on her steps. 

"Yeah, not bad. It's just been coffee runs, I don't mind," Annie started. "It's cool seeing everyone in costume. They're all excited." 

Tom hummed as they walked together. Annie looked to her right. She saw his hand, open and relaxed, hovering over her shoulder. Her face heated, noticing how close it was. 

"What about you? What's your day been like so far?" She asked, quietly. She looked straight ahead. 

"Ah, not too busy. Filmed a scene or two. Going to film another one in ten minutes, I think." 

"You like it?" 

"What?"

Annie looked up at him. "Acting?"

Tom stared down at her. His eyes had softened. "Sure, I like it." 

"Why?"

He laughed. "How about I tell you later?" He pulled himself away. "After you've finished here with Stephanie."

Annie paused. Stephanie was standing nearby with her hands on her hips. Her angular face was slightly scrunched with a deep frown. 

"Oh, yeah," she mumbled. "Not a problem." 

"I'll come check up on you," Tom offered, placing his hands into the back pockets of his jeans. 

"No, its okay," Annie said. She rubbed the back of her neck. She could still feel his touch. It was warm. "I'll come find you." 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Tom was driving one handed, his other hand rested on his thigh as his fingers tapped to the music on the radio. Annie was smiling, watching him. He had put his newsboy cap back on and had changed into his regular attire. The windows were down. 

It was early evening when Tom had wrapped. Stephanie hadn't spoken a word to her after Tom had walked her over. Annie had felt her face flush. She was dismissed early and had found Tom's trailer and had waited inside. 

"You know," Annie began. "I think my friend will freak out if I tell her about you." 

"Yeah?" Tom looked over. "Is that why you were waiting at the end of the street this morning?" 

"Yep." 

"Want me to drop you there?"

Annie nodded. "If you would be so kind." 

He laughed. "I understand."

Annie relaxed into the seat. She felt at ease. Having figured out who he was, she felt calmer around him, as if his cool persona was rubbing onto her. She wondered what her mother would think if she saw her now, sitting in Tom's car - a man who was older. An actor. She smiled to herself, watching as the Los Angeles streets passed her. It almost was beginning to feel like a dream with all this sunshine and blue skies. 

She hadn't noticed when Tom had turned up the street on the way to Sally's. He had memorised it. It felt normal - even if he had been crowned the world's sexiest man twice. 

Annie bit her lip, watching as he drove. He acted casual. Assure of himself. Perhaps that was what made him attractive. 

"You're staring again," he said, a lazy drawl to his tone. 

Annie blinked. She noticed he was staring at her through the corner of his eyes, smiling. 

"So are you, I believe." She responded, grinning. She brought her legs up and hugged her knees. She had kicked off her shoes long ago. 

Tom watched her. "Making yourself comfortable?" 

"It's a nice car."

"Glad you like it."

He was driving the car that he had drove this morning. It hadn't been used on the set. 

"How many do you have?" She asked. 

"Cars?"

"Yeah."

"Hm," he sounded, tone low. "Six? This one isn't mine."

"Cool," she added. "I liked the one yesterday too." 

He laughed. "Really? I hadn't driven her in a while. After seeing your car, I felt I had too." 

Annie smiled. Tom steered left. The car slowed to a halt. The engine rumbled. 

"This is you," he stated, peering over the steering wheel to look at the street sign. 

"Thanks," Annie responded. She grabbed her bag and shoes and hopped out of the car. She shut the door and walked over to the drivers side, stepping onto the curb. 

"I'll see you tomorrow morning?" She asked as she slung her bag over her shoulder. Tom smiled. 

"7am. Out the door," he responded. He tapped the side of the door with his hand, "And in the car."

Annie smiled. "Got it." 

_______________________

a/n

Another chapter up and posted! What do you think? I know its a bit brief, I promise there will be more in the next chapter! I've been trying to find the time to write, I've just been so busy lately haha but thats life!

Let me know what you think!