The interview seemed to go on forever, but finally she was free. Olivia hurried to Jackson’s trailer. She paused outside, took a deep breath, and knocked. She was already practising her opening line.
Then her shoulders sagged as the silence stretched on. What good is an opening line if he doesn’t even answer the door?
Biting her lip, Olivia thought it through. Jackson often wore headphones when he was alone. He probably just hadn’t heard her. She couldn’t give up now!
Tentatively, she turned the handle of the trailer door. It opened a crack . . . and she let out her held breath.
The trailer was empty.
Of course. Jackson must be in the Hair and Make-up trailer, getting ready to shoot his last scene!
She was just turning to leave when she caught sight of something flickering inside the trailer. It was his laptop computer, flashing a warning – it needed to be plugged in to charge.
Olivia hesitated. She didn’t want to invade his privacy . . . but she knew how hard he’d been working on . . . something . . . lately. She didn’t want him to lose whatever it was, if the computer shut itself off.
I just won’t look at anything, she promised herself. She eased herself into the trailer, careful not to knock anything over with the massive hoop-skirt of her Victorian ballgown.
At the last moment, though, as she was leaning over to plug in the laptop, she couldn’t help herself – she caught a glimpse of the email Jackson had been in the middle of writing.
She jerked her eyes away quickly . . . but there had only been one line written so far, and it had already burned itself into her brain.
I just don’t know what to do about
. . . Me? Olivia silently wondered.
Her heartbeat was thundering in her ears as she backed hastily away from the computer.
Had Jackson been writing to someone about her? Was the reason he hadn’t said anything decisive . . . because he was nervous?
Olivia shook her head. She’d always seen Jackson as being so confident . . . but inside, what if he was just as unsure about her feelings as she was about his?
All this time, she’d been waiting for him to make a gesture . . . but now it felt like the time for Olivia to make a gesture for him.
By the time she reached the Hair and Make-up trailer, Olivia was light-headed with panic and possibility. Can I really do this?
She looked through the door and saw Jackson sitting with his back to her, familiar and perfect. No one else was there to overhear them. It was the perfect moment.
Olivia set one hand on her stomach, trying to settle the nerves fluttering there. I can do this . . . for him.
‘Hey,’ she said, speaking quickly. ‘Whatever I’m about to say, just please don’t try to stop me. I have to get this out, or I’ll burst!’
Even as she saw his shoulders stiffen with shock, her words tumbled out. ‘I love you. I do! And I’m sorry things are so difficult. I have to be totally honest and say I just don’t know if I’m going to be doing many more movies in the near future.’
She had to stop for a quick breath, almost panting in the tight corset. What on earth did Victorian ladies do when they got emotional? Ignoring the tightness in her waist, she carried on: ‘I’m pretty sure fourteen-year-olds aren’t meant to be this tired! I mean, I think you’re amazing for being able to do it, but . . . it’s just not for me. And I don’t want to be part of an “it” couple. I want to be a normal boy’s normal girlfriend!’
She sighed. ‘Obviously, I know that’s not going to happen. You’re way too famous! But . . .’ She paused, closing her eyes as she finished: ‘I really think we should give us another try . . . Do you?’
There was a long, terrifying silence. Finally, Olivia opened her eyes.
Jackson had turned around . . . Except, it wasn’t Jackson. It was Will.
‘Oh, stake me now!’ Olivia gasped.
Will frowned. ‘Huh?’
‘Nothing,’ Olivia replied, realising that she could not very well explain to him that she had blurted out something that her vampire twin sister did when she was mortified. Spots danced in front of her eyes. Was it possible to faint from sheer embarrassment? She looked down at the ridiculous prison of fabric that she was wearing and wondered, didn’t she see historical women in movies reach for paper fans at times of distress? Where was Olivia’s paper fan?
Then she burst out laughing, and put her face in her hands. This is the kind of thing that could only happen to me, she thought, shaking her head.