Ha! She couldn’t help smiling at herself as she picked up the smoothie and took a long, cold sip. Her life really had changed beyond recognition! Once upon a time, she would have thought that the whole idea of vampires was totally weird and scary. But now . . .
Her thoughts were cut off by a sudden shout outside her trailer. Choking on her mouthful of smoothie, she set down the cup and ran to her window.
‘No, no, no!’ A woman’s voice roared through the air as Olivia lifted the curtain at her window. ‘Try harder!’
Olivia almost didn’t recognise Jackson with a scowl on his face, storming through the maze of production trucks and trailers. His hands were clenched into fists as he was followed by a short, squat, middle-aged woman. She shouted after him in an exaggerated “Cockney” voice.
‘It’s “a-rand the corner”, not “a-round the corner” . . . You utter, utter plonker!’
Olivia’s mouth dropped open. It was Jackson’s dialect coach, Ingrid . . . who seemed to be the meanest woman in the world!
Before she could think twice, she lunged for the door. Someone needed to stand up for Jackson and tell that woman that she’d gone over the edge! How could anyone think that treating an actor this way would get them to do their best work on set?
In her loose sweatpants and T-shirt, it was easy to move quickly. As soon as Olivia reached Ingrid, she opened her mouth to let loose – but Jackson gave her a light shake of the head, making the message clear: Don’t get in the middle of this.
Olivia stared at him. Didn’t he want to be defended?
Ingrid kept shouting: ‘Apples and pears! A Weaver’s Chair! The Top of Rome!’
Was she insulting him, or setting him really bizarre riddles? Olivia had no clue. But the cruel tone of Ingrid’s voice was clear.
‘Can’t you keep any of them straight, with all the bread you’re getting for this tosh? Use your loaf !’
I may not have any idea what she’s saying, Olivia thought, crossing her arms, but I know that I don’t like her.
Jackson didn’t argue back, though. He only smiled tightly. ‘I’ll work on it, Ingrid,’ he said. ‘I promise. I am taking this seriously. It’s just . . .’ His gaze fell briefly on Olivia. ‘. . . I’ve got a lot on me mind right now. But I am focused.’
The accent was much better there, Olivia thought, aware of the strange fluttering in her chest, when you’re speaking from the heart.
‘Huh.’ Ingrid snorted in obvious disbelief. ‘We’ll see about that tomorrow. Early. We’ll go over your script together before shooting resumes – so that you don’t sound like a total wally on-screen!’
Olivia gritted her teeth and waited for Ingrid to walk away before she walked over to Jackson. In a voice pitched too quietly for anyone else to hear, she asked, ‘Are you OK?’
‘Yah, I’m awight.’ Jackson shrugged, keeping a nasal Cockney twang in his voice. ‘I been yelled at afore, ye know? She’s just been yakking on all afternoon about it. It’s really narking me.’
‘Oh.’ Olivia’s eyes widened. ‘Is that why you looked so grumpy when I saw you in your trailer window just now?’
Grimacing, Jackson nodded. ‘I shouldn’ta got the ’ump like what I did, but . . .’ He dropped the Cockney accent. ‘Wait a minute. Why did you think I was grumpy? What were you worried about?’
‘Oh . . . nothing.’ Olivia smiled, feeling a weight drop off her shoulders.
He hadn’t been angry at her, or at Will. I should have known better. When had Jackson ever been unreasonable?
He was frowning now, though, as he looked down at her. ‘Are you sure?’ he said. ‘You look so relieved –’
‘I’m fine!’ Olivia said. Hastily, she changed the subject. ‘But how can you handle being yelled at so much?’
‘Oh, well.’ Jackson flashed the smile Olivia had seen on movie posters and in dozens of magazines. ‘It’s easier to take when you can barely understand what’s being yelled!’
‘I guess so.’ Olivia wrinkled her nose. ‘But still –’
‘It’s normal for the movie business.’ Jackson shrugged. ‘You get used to it after a while.’
‘Really?’ Olivia looked around the bustling maze of production trucks and trailers with fresh eyes. ‘Yuck.’ Instinctively, she took another step closer to Jackson. ‘I mean, I’ve read about movie set drama in magazines, but . . . it’s different to see and hear it for myself.’ She shook her head. ‘And I just don’t understand how anyone can accept that kind of meanness as normal. And what kind of person would be that mean in the first place?’
‘Honestly, there aren’t that many bad folks,’ Jackson said. ‘It’s just that everybody’s under so much pressure.’ He leaned closer to her, smiling reassuringly. ‘Don’t worry. The more you work, the more used to it you’ll get. You’ll develop a tough shell to protect yourself, just like the rest of us do.’
Olivia couldn’t stop her expression from twisting into uncertainty. But do I really want that? Do I really want to jump into a world where people are so crazy with stress and worry that they are this mean to each other?