08 | le soleil est près de moi

Annie had wandered about the set, closely following Stephanie until they travelled together to Hollywood Boulevard, where a scene was being shot. One section of the street had been completely refurbished to imitate the late sixties.

"Your hair looks nice."

"Thanks."

Have you met the director?" Stephanie had asked. Her nails were a bright pink. They tapped on the steering wheel as she drove.

Annie had watched the movement, perplexed. "No, I haven't."

"Oh," Stephanie had sounded. "Tom hasn't introduced you two?"

Annie frowned. "I don't think it's really necessary. I am not a high-level figure on set, I'm just a worker."

"Sure." Stephanie had said, curt. "Because everyone who works on a set should know who they're working for."

Annie had frowned then turned her head to gaze out of the window. The journey had been short, the rest of the ride silent. Stephanie drove dilatory, perched high up in her sparkling silver Volkswagen Tiguan.

When they arrived, Annie had quickly jumped out of the car and heaved out a long sigh.

The sun was high, perched in the blue sky. It was hot. But the section of the strip startled her. Big signs were stuck above old-styled buildings. Palm trees spurted out of concrete on the sidewalks. The cars on the street had been replaced. They weren't sleek streamlined modern designs, but rather cars from the fifties and sixties - stationary.

There was a crowd of people hovering behind road barriers. Cameras flashed and there was a loud murmur of chatter.

Stephanie's heels clicked closer.

"It looks amazing doesn't it?" Stephanie said, hands on hips.

"Sure does," Annie replied, slightly dazed by the sight of Old Hollywood. If only her dad had been here.

"Right, well that's enough gawping. We've got work to do," Stephanie started. "Follow me."

Annie followed, watching as Stephanie's thin stiletto heels clacked against the road. As they walked, Stephanie reached into her large bag and pulled out a clipboard. She handed it to Annie.

"It's got your pass attached. Carry it with you at all times," she ordered, tone direct. "We're going to the refreshments trailer. There you'll make a coffee and then I'll direct you."

Annie nodded her head. She looked down at the clipboard - a small A4 laminated piece of card had her name printed and job description labelled. She wondered if it had an expiry date.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Annie held the coffee cup - a brown, bio-degradable takeaway version - as she walked back across the road of the set.

She wondered if Tom had seen this particular set yet, whether he would have a scene here. She wondered what he would look like, acting as he drove down the strip.

Annie's hand shook slightly.

Her chest felt like it was expanding rapidly, remembering the light touch of his fingertips grazing against her neck. The closeness of his touch, the closeness of his handsome face. She had felt a pulsing electricity in his eyes.

Annie's hand reached up and fingertips gently outlined her bottom lip. It was soft. Tom lips had looked soft too. She thought he was going to close the distance, but there was no way in that moment he was going to kiss her. She scrunched her eyes shut and shook her head, willing herself to stop thinking about it. It was only a moment. A moment when she had become light-headed with dizziness. She had probably imagined it; senses over-heightened due to the spin effect. Tom had only looked at her closer, an inspection, to see if she was alright.

Annie opened her eyes, mouth slightly parted. Where was she going again?

"Trailer four," she mumbled to herself. "Trailer four..."

But I wanted him to, she thought to herself. I wanted him to.

Her eyes widened.

"Trailer four," she repeated to herself and began to count the passing trailers. A distraction. Anything to not focus on his lingering touch.

Annie stopped. She looked at the white trailer in front of her. She still held the coffee in her hand, wondering if it had cooled slightly from the journey. She hopped up the steps and knocked twice on the door.

It jerked opened.

A woman was smiling down at her. She was incredibly beautiful. Arched eyebrows, petite nose with a heart-shaped face. Her blonde hair tumbled down over her shoulder.

Annie gaped up at her. It was Mary Lehman, the famous Hollywood actress.

"So, you have my coffee?"

"Uh," Annie fumbled. "Yes, yes I do." She held up her hand.

"Oh, please," the woman motioned with her hand. "Come inside!"

Annie hesitated. Stephanie had told her not to linger.

The woman glanced down at her. She was dressed in a black turtleneck and white leather skirt.

"Don't worry about Stephanie, she'll understand. It's hot out and I've got a bottle of cold water for you!"

Annie swallowed. "Thanks." She stepped up, tightening her grip on the clipboard. Inside, the trailer was tidy. There was a small kitchenette with a mini-bar fridge. A leather couch was pushed up against the very back and in the middle there was a white desk with two chairs on either side, a full-length mirror standing opposite it.

"You can just put that over here," Mary pointed to kitchenette bench. Annie walked over and gently placed the coffee on it.

"I'm Mary," the actress said, holding out her hand.

"Annie," she offered and shook Mary's hand. "I love your films."

"Yes, I've heard about you," Mary continued, red lips upturned. "And thank you! But I've heard that my co-star got you this little job."

Annie felt her ears grow hot. "Oh, news travels fast here."

Mary laughed. It was bubbly and sounded exactly like it did on film. Annie crossed her arms gingerly against her chest.

"It certainly does. It's a small set."

Annie watched her lift up the cup of coffee, bringing it to her lips.

"Did you make this?" Mary asked.

Annie nodded.

Mary smiled. "It smells delicious."

"Thank you," Annie said, voice small. She was aware of the time ticking. Stephanie didn't like her mingling.

"I'm curious," Mary asked, voice low, resting the cup back on the bench. "How do you and Tom know each other?"

"Oh," Annie sounded. She paused. "By chance really."

Mary's left eyebrow arched upwards. She leant forwards. "Do explain, I'm very interested."

Annie blinked. "Well, uh," she fumbled, uncrossing her arms. "I drive an old car of my fathers, a Porsche, and I'm on a road trip of sorts."

Mary let out a small laugh. "Goodness! This sounds like a Tom story already!"

Annie halted. A nervous feeling settled in her gut as she rubbed her left arm.

"Do go on," Mary waved her hand. "Ignore me, I am just surprised that's all. We were all young once and beautiful."

Annie feigned a smile. "My car broke down at the beach and it just happened that Tom was there. He recommended a good mechanics to go to."

"And then he offered you a job?" Mary asked. "Just like that?" She snapped her fingers.

Annie nodded. "Yes. I needed a job to help pay for repairs."

"What an interesting story. Thank you for telling me, Annie." Mary hummed as she tapped the bench. "But I am still curious, are you his personal assistant?"

Annie's eyes widened. "No, I'm not. Not at all."

"So you just work with Stephanie?"

"Yes." Annie rubbed her arm again.

"But you also work closely with Tom?"

"Uh," Annie sounded, "I don't think so? We talk, that's all."

Marry hummed again. She flicked her hair off of her shoulder. "That's very interesting."

Annie tensed. Her grip tightened on the clipboard. "Why?"

Mary looked at her, bright blue eyes staring directly at hers. Annie blinked. "If you don't mind me asking, I mean..." Annie added, voice small.

The actress smiled again, teeth incredibly straight and coloured a dazzling white. "You're curious, aren't you? I'll tell you, come closer first." She motioned with her finger.

Annie stepped forwards.

"You're a young thing," Mary started, eyes darting over Annie's face. Annie swallowed, crossing her arms against her chest. "I used to be young too. So did Tom."

"Oh," Annie sounded. She stood up straighter. "You starred in Song of Innocence with Tom? I remember that film."

"Yes," Mary replied, voice sweet. "My second film. I've known Tom since, but I admit, we have drifted apart through the years."

Annie shifted.

"Through the decades, I mean," Mary added, laughing. "A long time. But, I've always seen our friendship as a constant rock."

Annie forced a smile. "That's nice," she offered meekly, the word decades ringing around in her skull.

"It is," Mary replied. "So that's why I find it so interesting that he hasn't told me about you yet." She turned around and opened the bar fridge. "I must admit again, that I haven't always been a good friend when our relationship was more than just platonic," Mary continued. She shut the fridge. "But again, that was decades ago now." She placed a plastic water bottle on the bench.

Annie stood frozen. She could hear the ticking of a clock in her head in the form of Stephanie's heels. She reached out and took the water bottle. It was wet, condensation slipping onto her skin. She glanced at Mary's full, red lips.

"I don't know why I'm telling you all this," Mary laughed. "I suppose because now, you're Tom's new friend. Or a new thing. Perhaps you could tell him you spoke to me?"

"Sure," Annie offered.

"Good girl," Mary said with an elegant smile. Annie felt her stomach tense. She watched Mary brush her slender fingers through her hair.

"I do have a small warning for you though, Miss Chester."

Annie shifted in her stance. "I'm sorry, I really must be going, Mary. Stephanie will be annoyed if I am late."

Mary waved her hand. "Just don't be disappointed if he loses interest in you. It happens to everyone new he knows, sooner rather than later."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Annie tumbled out of Mary's trailer, chest heaving. The clipboard was firmly held in her grip, knuckles turning white from the pressure. In her other hand, the icy coolness of the water bottle was turning it numb.

Her mother's words echoed around her head. Men only want one thing.

She walked quickly towards Stephanie, who was standing on the side of the set's road, waiting.

"We're wrapping, so I'll drop you back at the main set. Where were you?" Stephanie asked, tone curt. "You're five minutes late."

"Sorry," Annie heaved out. "I got lost."

Stephanie leered down at her. "We'll work on that."

At the main set, Annie waited outside of Tom's trailer. Her head was sore. The water bottle in her hand was now warm. She hadn't opened it.

He'll hurt you, her mother's voice said. Just don't be disappointed, Mary's said. But she couldn't stop hearing the word decades.

Annie shut her eyes, leaning back until her head rested against the trailer. There was a slight breeze. It fanned across her cheeks. Her mind was spinning. She had seen a few of Tom's movies. Seen his face splashed across countless magazines and across the internet. Seen how he has aged and matured on screen. His looks timeless. Ageless. How old was he now?

Annie bit on a fingernail. Was all this normal?

Just don't be disappointed.

"Hello, stranger."

Annie opened her eyes and squinted in the sun. Tom was walking toward her, one hand in the front of his jeans pockets, the other swinging a set of keys. He was already changed.

"Hi," she greeted, pushing herself off of the trailer. "How was your day?"

"Good. Very productive," he answered, voice melodic. "Yours?"

"Busy."

"Mm," he sounded. "You been waiting there long?"

She shook her head. "Stephanie dropped me back here ten minutes ago."

"Ah, perfect. Should we head?" He motioned with his head behind him.

"Yeah, lets. The sun is killing me."

They walked together to the parking lot. Annie was silent, watching her steps, listening intently to the sounds of both their heels against the hot concrete. Tom lead her to a black Tesla.

"Been downgraded back to this baby," he joked. "My babysitting duties are over."

Annie smiled. "It's very fresh."

He opened the door for her. "Miss."

She ducked her head and hopped inside. The seat was plush. Soft. There was a large amount of leg room.

"Thank you," she said as Tom shut the door. He jumped around to the other side. The door opened, letting in a whoosh of distant sounds of horns blaring. As it shut, the noise was cancelled. It was quiet, the engine almost silent.

"What do you think?" Tom asked as he reversed out of the parking spot. "Pretty plush, huh?"

"Very plush," Annie replied, voice quiet. "It's different. Very quiet."

He laughed. "We're used to a bit of noise, aren't we? Those old engines."

Annie's lips quirked upwards into a small smile. "I suppose we are."

Just don't be disappointed.

She frowned and turned her head. They exited the carpark, entering onto a main road. Annie crossed her hands over her lap, focusing on the passing block buildings to distract her. It soothed her, lulling her into a spell of drowsiness. Tom was silent, but she could feel his eyes on her.

"Annie, are you alright?" He asked. His tone was soft, voice hushed.

"Hm?" She sounded.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah," she turned to look at him. "I'm alright." His eyes looked into hers. He looked concerned. "Just a bit tired after today."

She looked down at his hands. One rested on his thigh, fingers out-stretched. She felt a warm sensation linger on her neck.

"Is the car putting you to sleep?"

Annie rubbed her eye. "A little. It's very comfortable."

"You're welcome to doze," Tom said, "I understand. It's long, busy days."

Annie smiled. "Thanks, I'll stay awake though. Don't want to fall asleep only to wake up in the middle of a crash."

Tom laughed. He looked at her. "You think I'll crash the car?"

She shrugged. "I don't think you will," she explained. "It's just a little fear of mine."

He raised his eyebrows. "I'd call that a big fear."

"Whatever," she mumbled, her lips upturned in a lazy smile. He returned it with a crooked smile of his own. The famous smile. Her eyes lingered on his face as he turned his attention back to the road.

"I'm making a quick detour," Tom said. "I thought you might want to check in on that beauty of yours at the garage."

Annie sat up straighter. "I'd love to, I'd been meaning to ask."

They pulled up alongside the mechanics ten minutes later. Tom parked the car and fixed his grey newsboy cap onto his head. Annie watched. He turned to look at her.

"Always have to be careful," he smiled. "You never see the cameras at first."

"Wha-" Annie started, shocked.

"Here, put this on." He handed her a large black fedora hat. "It'll help."

She exited the car, hat on her head. It was slightly too big. She followed Tom up the short driveway to the garage, watching her steps. Tom fell in line with her, placing a hand on the small of her back.

He bent his head, leaning down to her ear. "Hear that?" He said quietly.

"What?" Annie asked, her neck feeling hot. His breath tingled against her ear.

"That," he said.

There was a short, fast shutter sound. It clicked away.

"Shit," Annie muttered. "That's an invasion of privacy."

Tom chuckled as he lifted his head. "And I've dragged you into it, I'm sorry."

"Hey Tom!" A man's voice boomed across the short concrete drive. "What're you doing here?"

Annie looked up. It was Bill, the tall, plump mechanic. He was wiping his hand on a dirty cloth.

"And you've brought company!"

"Sure have!" Tom replied, removing his hand from Annie. He walked forwards, hand outstretched. Bill leant forwards and shook it. "It's been a while, my friend."

"Don't need anything fixin'?"

"Afraid not," Tom answered. "We're here to check up on the old beauty."

"Ah," Bill sounded. He looked at Annie, eyes narrowed. "The old Porsche? Sure, nice to see you again, Annie."

"Nice to see you," Annie responded with a smile. "How's it going?"

Bill scratched under his chin. "Yeah, not too bad. Not too bad. Fixing her up is requiring some effort, I'll tell you that."

Annie frowned.

"Oh," Bill chuckled. "Don't be too worried. It's just parts that's all."

"Which ones?" Tom asked, resting his hands in his back pockets.

"We're looking for a new radiator, which shouldn't be too hard," Bill explained. "But also looking at rewiring a few things, but not a complete engine change."

"That's good," Annie said. "When will it will be ready?"

"Give me another week for sure," Bill answered.

"Cool," Annie replied. "Thank you, Bill."

"My pleasure."

"I promise next time, I'll have something for you," Tom joked. "Some of mine are a bit overdue."

Bill tapped Tom on the back. "Just don't run anything into the ground this time, yeah?"

"Sure," Tom laughed.

"Especially the bikes."

Annie looked up at Tom. "Bikes?"

"Yeah," Bill answered. "The guy has a lot of motorcycles. It's a collection and a half."

Annie laughed. "That's insane."

"Sure is."

Tom shook Bill's hand again. "We better get going before these people hound you at work," Tom said, pointing to behind him where the cameras were hidden.

"I'm used to it with you, Tom. It's no problem," Bill laughed. "I'll catch you next week."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Annie entered the house through the downstairs guest door. She dumped her bag on the floor and changed out of her clothes and into a dress. Afterwards, she immediately collapsed onto the bed. Tom was to pick her up again tomorrow - the same time. His eyes had gleamed, gaze intense. She had found it hard to say goodbye.

She shut her eyes, enjoying the softness beneath her and the coolness of the sheets.

"Annie!" Sally called out.

She groaned. She grabbed a pillow and stuffed it over her head.

"Annie!"

Footsteps barrelled down the wooden staircase. The bedroom door opened, swinging on its hinges.

"Annie!" Sally exclaimed. "Look at this!"

Sally bounced onto the bed. "Seriously, oh my god! Look at this!"

Annie removed the pillow. "What?" She looked up. "What is it?"

"This!"

Sally shoved her phone into her face. Her friend was beaming, eyes wild.

"Can you believe it?"

"Huh," Annie sounded. She rubbed her eyes. "I can't see, give me the phone."

Sally handed it to her. Annie blinked, bolting upright.

"Oh my god," she muttered.

"I know!" Sally exclaimed. "I can't fucking believe it either!"

On the screen was the paparazzi shots of Tom at the garage.

"Oh my god," Annie repeated. She scrolled down the page. She stopped suddenly, finger hovering over the screen. Her stomach dropped.

There she was. Black fedora stuck onto her head, Tom's hand on her back guiding towards the entrance, smiling down at her.

"He was in the fucking area! Tom fucking Price!" Sally yelled. "My area!"

Annie was speechless. She scrolled further. Her cheeks grew hot. There was a photo of when he leant down to her ear, shoulder pressing against her body, arm around her waist. It looked so intimate.

"No idea who the chick is, but jeez," Sally continued. "She's fucking lucky."

Annie scrolled again, cheeks aflame. They were standing near each other as they chatted to Bill and Tom continuously was glancing at her, smiling.

"I didn't think he lived near the city! This is crazy!"

Annie's stomach started to twist. She felt her hand shake. She scrolled up until she found the headline. Could this be love? Tom Price escorts mysterious woman to his favourite mechanics.

"This is crazy," Annie repeated, dumbfounded.

_______________________________________

a/n

Another chapter posted! Bit of a long one, but hey, the inspiration is flowing.

What do you think? How do you think Annie feels after Mary's unwanted chat (and the paparazzi shots!) Do you think Annie will ever tell Sally?

Going to be spicing it up in the next few chapters! Still a lot to come.