Page 13 of (Not So) Famous in Paradise

“Hey, girl,” Stella squeals then looks around me. “Hey, cuz!”

“Hiya, Sparky.” Zach sends his cousin a jerk of his chin. “When did you get back?”

“Couple days ago. I’m going to finish the rest of the semester online so I can help Georgia.” Stella turns back to me. “When are we getting started?”

I glance around her to where my director, Ike, and the rest of the crew are set up on the snow-covered front yard. We’re on such a tight budget that there’s only a five-man film crew. Besides Ike, there’s Nick on camera, Amber on makeup, and Gracyn the mic girl, plus Teri who does all the writing—because reality TV isn’t actually that real. It’s all scripted.

“Whoa, check out those eyebrows,” Zach says at the same time Ike gives me a mittened thumbs-up. He raises his very bushy eyebrow—there’s only one, stretching from one temple to the other.

“Right?” I grin at Zach. “Eugene Levy’s got nothing on Ike.”

We both suck in our lips to keep from laughing. Despite the lack of eyebrow maintenance, Ike is a great guy, not above stepping in wherever he’s needed. With such a small crew, everyone is doing multiple jobs, so he’s been helping Nick and Gracyn set up all the equipment.

“Looks like the crew is ready to go,” I say to Stella.

“Cool.” Stella pulls her shoulders in tight, but the more she tries to contain her excitement, the more she looks ready to explode.

From the depths of my magic purse, I pull out a phone and pass it to her through the window. “This is what you’ll use for pics and video. Social media sites are all set up, along with apps for designing posts. Download whatever face-tuning and touch-up apps you want. Make me look good! Do what you do best and post the content directly onto my account.”

Stella immediately begins scrolling through the phone, setting things up.

“We’re doing a lot of outside shots this morning,” I continue while she nods. “Make sure you get lots of good angles so we can do before and after posts. You’ll want to mark the shots you take so you can be sure to retake them after the reno.”

“Got it,” Stella says absently, still scrolling, and I hope she does, because the before and after shots are everything.

“Georgia!” a voice calls, and I turn to see Amber, the purple-haired production assistant, charging toward me, carrying a toolbox. “Time to work some magic.” She glances at Stella. “Are you the assistant? I need your help.”

Stella darts a wary look my way, and I shrug, as confused as she is, before climbing out of the warm car to face the cold and Amber.

She leads me to the trailer where we can take food breaks during the day. Through the small windows, I see Teri pacing inside, clutching a pen close to her face and clicking it.

I assume Amber and I are going inside where it’s warm, but instead she orders me to sit on a barstool outside the trailer. Then she opens the toolbox to reveal every kind of makeup and applicator ever made.

“Wow. That’s a lot of makeup,” I mumble.

If Amber hears me, she doesn’t give any sign. She’s too busy examining my face, trying to figure out how to fix it, I guess. My eyes wander to Zach, who’s leaning against his Bronco, watching with a super annoying smirk.

I stick my tongue out at him. Before I see his response, Amber grabs my chin and turns my head to face her again.

“I’d rather do this inside.” She narrows her eyes, moves close, then steps back. “But the lighting is terrible in there. I need to get the right shade.”

Meanwhile, I have to pretend I’m not growing more insecure about my looks by the second.

Finally, she’s done eyeing me. She pulls four different tubes from the box and hands them to Stella. Then she chooses a variety of sponges and brushes.

“You need all that for my face?” I’m joking, but I already know the answer. I’ve been on stage before. I know what bright lights do to my pasty skin and freckles.

Amber answers by sponging my cheeks and nose with what I can only assume is some kind of contouring foundation. “It’s overcast today, so we won’t need as much out here. Once we’re ready to shoot inside, we’ll go a little heavier so you’re not washed out under the lights.”

“Not too heavy, please. I don’t want fans to expect me to look made-up all the time,” I say through pursed lips as Amber moves my head side to side, rubbing everything in.

In real life, I wear lipstick and that’s it. And I don’t know what it is about being made up, but suddenly everything feels real and pretend at the same time. My breath quickens as my nerves come alive. Maybe it’s because I have to hold so still that my whole body wants to twitch, and the next few minutes are the longest of my life.

Finally, Amber steps back and assesses her work. “That will do for now.”

She gives Ike a thumbs up, and Nick, in the slow, fluid movement of a lanky basketball player, shoulders the camera and points it toward me. I look in Zach’s direction, and he gives me a smile and a nod.

For whatever reason, his nod holds enough confidence to slow the pounding in my chest. The air is still biting cold, but the only thing I shiver from is excitement. This is really happening. I’ve got my own show.

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