She tried not to let any panic show on her face . . . a joke, a joke. It was so hard to just come up with one on demand. ‘Got one!’ she said. It wasn’t outrageous, just one that always made her chuckle. ‘Why don’t seagulls fly over the bay?’
She paused and waited for Philippe to respond.
He tapped his pencil on his pad, clearly thinking.
‘I don’t know. Why not?’
‘Because then, they’d be bagels.’
Olivia heard a little snort from behind the camera and saw that the cameraman had laughed at her joke. She stole a quick glance around and everyone watching seemed to be enjoying themselves. That must be good! she thought.
‘One last question, please,’ Philippe said, narrowing his eyes. She sensed he was going to ask a tough one to try to test her.
‘What is the best thing that has ever happened to you?’
Olivia didn’t hesitate. ‘My sister. Even though we’re really different from each other, she’s my best friend.’
‘Thank you very much –’ Philippe checked his notes – ‘Olivia.’
She stepped out from the glare of the lights and felt a rush of adrenaline, like she’d just landed a triple handspring. She definitely wanted to do that again, make people laugh and smile. Maybe she had a chance?
Camilla gave her a huge hug and she sat back down in her seat, in a happy daze. ‘I think Jackson is smiling at you,’ Camilla said.
Olivia snapped her head up to see Jackson was smiling at her.
Charlotte was sitting just behind her. ‘I think he’s smiling at me,’ she said.
But when he made a thumbs-up sign, Olivia knew he was telling her she’d done well.
Charlotte humphed and snapped at Katie to help fluff her hair again.
Olivia watched the next audition, daring to hope that she had done enough to get through to the read-through. When the screen tests were finally over, Philippe consulted his clipboard.
‘We have six candidates going through to the reading later this afternoon. If I read your name, please see Lillian, our second assistant director, for the scripts you will need to learn.’
The frizzy-haired woman held up a stack of folders.
Olivia took a deep breath and Camilla squeezed her hand.
‘Evie Dawson, Jane Noble, Rachel Bowden, Lauren Kaler –’ Each name was punctuated by a little squeal from the lucky girl and a thud in Olivia’s heart. There were only two names left. ‘Olivia Abbott and Charlotte Brown.’
Olivia clapped and Camilla did a little happy dance, but Charlotte tossed her hair. ‘Obviously, I made it through,’ she said and immediately started pushing through the crowd of disappointed girls that didn’t get called, to get her folder.
‘I just want to say,’ Jackson stood next to Philippe and addressed the unsuccessful hopefuls, ‘that you all did a fantastic job. I especially liked hearing about Harry the Hamster and how to plant sunflowers.’ The girls who’d given those answers beamed at the recognition. ‘And just because you didn’t get through doesn’t mean you should give up. If you want to be an actor, keep trying. That’s how I got to be where I am.’
He knows just what to say to make everyone feel better, Olivia thought, still buzzing with excitement that she’d been one of the lucky ones.
Olivia couldn’t deny it. Jackson was perfect boyfriend material.
Sophia refused to leave the craft service truck until they’d eaten their steak sandwiches, but Ivy was itching to get to Olivia.
I’ve got my proof, Ivy thought. Now I can say something before Olivia gets in too deep!
‘Will you admit it now?’ Ivy asked Sophia as they finally set off.
Sophia sighed. ‘It looks like you were right.’
‘Ha!’ Ivy said. ‘And now I’ve got to warn Olivia.’