Page 24 of Everybody Needs a Hero

Tess picked up the drink. “You and Bryce could always come to the studio lot this afternoon,” she said. “Although you will want umbrellas. The director is exercising his artistic license as leverage to make a change to a scene. Outside in the rain.”

Ashley lifted her eyebrows. “What’s that all about?”

“The reunion of the two main characters scene was moved up,” Tess explained. “It was going to be shot later, but with the rain, he wants to make it more dramatic.” She shook her head. “I’m not sure how romantic it is to passionately kiss in the middle of the street during a thunderstorm, but he’s the boss.”

“Interesting,” Ashley said, liking the sound of seeing her mom work. “We’ll come by.”

Watchingthe wipers race back and forth on the windshield of her Pathfinder, Drew sighed. Like everyone else, she was sick of the pounding rain. Three days of steady downpour and gray skies not only did havoc on the city but made driving dangerous—from the weather as much as from road rage. Drivers were frustrated, including her. It amazed Drew how easily a person got accustomed to bright and sunny seventy-five-degree weather every day.Especially in March, she thought, growling as she noticed bright-red taillights turning on along Highway 1 ahead of her.We should all be thinking about spring flowers, not a monsoon—damn global warming.

Slowing considerably with the traffic, Drew tried to be patient, but doing so wasn’t easy. Today she particularly wanted to get to the set early to talk to the director about his plan for the day. They needed to speak before wasting time setting up shots they might not use if she got her way. He wouldn’t like her butting in on his creativity, but she wasn’t on board with his suggested changes to her script. What he proposed deviated from the novel too much. It was as simple as that. The characters, as she wrote them, would never run through the rain to share a passionate kiss. The nurse was especially reserved.This isn’t some Nicolas Sparks novel,she thought, blowing out a frustrated breath. Although she wrote a love story that drove parts of the plot, at no point would they act so spontaneously.Or so romantically.She sighed.Because let’s face it, I’m lousy in that department. I sure proved that point.

Ever since the sushi dinner with Tess, Drew replayed the entire evening repeatedly in her mind. In the middle of the night, when she stared at the ceiling unable to sleep, she couldn’t help but wonder where things would have gone if the restaurant’s owner hadn’t come in right when he did. The instant before the interruption, she and Tess held hands and confessed their attraction to each other.And then, as soon as someone could see us, I panicked,she thought.And I had no reason to.Even though Los Angeles, especially West Hollywood, where they were, was very open to women loving each other, Drew still felt embarrassed to be caught. So much so she refused to return to the topic again that night and for the next three days. Although she hated to admit it, she avoided Tess as much as possible. Occasionally, their eyes would meet across a set before filming started. The actress’s look would be questioning and then hurt when Drew didn’t do anything but turn away.Like a coward.

Crawling along on the highway, Drew realized she would be too late getting to the set to stop the director. At the rate the cars were moving, and with no idea what was wrong, the drive could take her anywhere from minutes to hours to arrive. With no other options, she would have to get the director on the phone and plead her case while she sat there waiting for things to move. Asking her vehicle’s nav system to dial his number, she listened to the ringing.He can see it’s me and doesn’t want to debate the change again, she thought as the call rolled over to voicemail. After leaving a short, and very terse message for him, Drew tried to figure out what to do next. Traffic wasn’t cooperating, and if things didn’t change soon, the scene could well be shot by the time she made it to the lot.

I need someone to advocate on my behalf, she thought biting her lip, because there was only one person who could help her. Tess. Her heart rate doubled at the idea of talking to her.But what else can I do?Having the nav system call Tess, Drew held her breath. There was always the chance the actress would ignore the call too.I haven’t been treating her very nice so why should she help me?

“Drew?” Tess asked as soon as the call connected. “What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

Swallowing hard, Drew had to force her voice to stay casual. Hearing Tess over her car’s speaker made her stomach tighten with anxiety but also excitement. “I’m stuck in traffic,” Drew answered. “So, I need a favor. I know you don’t have any reason to—”

“Anything,” Tess interrupted. “For you.”

As the towncar pulled up, Tess jumped out of the backseat, ignored the pouring rain and made a beeline for the movie director who was walking with the lead cameraman. Holding umbrellas, they were pacing the blocked off street, undoubtedly working through the details of the dramatic scene planned for the morning.The scene that Drew hates, she thought.And asked me to at least delay until she arrived or maybe quash altogether.Not that Tess had any honest opinion about the part either way. She could see both sides of the argument. Drew was right that the scene wasn’t in the novel and might be a bit over the top for the character Tess played, but that was the movie business. If the director wanted her to run down the street in the rain to kiss her costar, then that’s what Tess would typically do.But not this time. Not if it matters so much to her.

“Well, hey there, Tess,” the movie director said as she approached. “Are you crazy? Why don’t you have an umbrella? You’re getting soaked.”

He moved to hand her his, but Tess waved him off. “Thank you, but I’m fine,” she said. “Hair and makeup will dry me off in a minute. I need to talk to you about the morning’s scene.” She squared her shoulder because contradicting the director wasn’t commonly done, but she was about to try it. “I’m not sure how I feel about it and suggest we don’t do it.”

The director rolled his eyes. “Don’t you start in on me about it too,” he said. “I see Drew’s been calling my cell all morning, and I don’t need to listen to her voicemails to know what they say.” He shook his head. “But I’m not cutting the scene. Tess, you shouldn’t want me to.”

Grinning, the cameraman nodded. “He’s right,” he said, obviously excited about the shot. “When I’m done capturing the moment, the action will be the most powerful scene in the movie.”

Frowning, Tess crossed her arms. Having worked with the cameraman before, Tess knew he was magical with using the light and shot great angles. For the most part she considered him a friend. Still, in her opinion, his boast went a bit far. “More powerful than when my character saves the ten-year-old boy who comes into the ER dying after a car crash?” When the cameraman didn’t answer, she smiled to lighten her statement. “Okay, to be fair, for some test audiences, the romantic scenes will be the highlights.” She returned her look to the director. “But the kiss isn’t even in the book.”

“Well, it should have been,” the director growled. “The book might have a love story, but it’s not exactly filled with a fiery passion.” Tess wasn’t sure what to say. What he said was true. Drew’s novel was tender and straightforward in how the two characters fell in love but felt perhaps too timid at times. A thought occurred to her.Kind of like Drew herself, Tess reasoned.Shy. But does that mean there isn’t a fiery passion inside her too?

Regardless, she couldn’t let the scene happen without talking to Drew. “I’m sorry, but I think we need to stay true to the book.”

The director shook his head but didn’t answer while they stared at each other. After a beat, the cameraman shifted his feet, clearly uncomfortable at the standoff. “So, what’s the plan?” he mumbled. “Is the scene’s in or is it out?”

“Start blocking the scene,” the director said, looking at Tess. “But keep the cameras inside until I talk to Drew.” He narrowed his eyes. “Unless you’re willing to? Maybe convince her the scene really will bring tears to the audience’s eyes. It could win you an Oscar.”

20

With a drive that should have taken thirty minutes but ended up being sixty, Drew felt filled with anxiety when she finally arrived. Having to park further away than she wanted because they had blocked the street for the shot, she could not get out of the Pathfinder fast enough. No word from Tess had her worried the worst had happened already, and the scene was in the can. Still, as she popped up her umbrella and went around the corner to see where the craziness was supposed to happen, no one was there. Not as if everyone left because cables were running to a generator, and the ever-resilient craft service table crew were set up under a popup canopy. Marks on the asphalt let her know they had done some prep, but there was no one getting ready to shoot a scene.Has Tess been that convincing after all?she wondered, hoping it was true and the whole ridiculous thing was canceled.

“Drew,” she suddenly heard behind her and, turning to look, saw Tess coming toward her. Although she held a blue and white umbrella over her head, her hair was wet.

So are her clothes,Drew thought with a frown as she walked to meet Tess. “What happened? You look like you were standing in the rain.”

Tess laughed. “That’s because I was,” she said. “While I pled your case.” She sobered. “Which is what I want to talk to you about.”

Drew raised her eyebrows. “Really?” she asked. “Why? It looks like it was called off.”

“Not exactly,” Tess said. “Come with me to my trailer?” When Drew hesitated, unsure what to think about the woman’s words or her invite, Tess shook her head. “We will only talk about the film.”

Feeling her shoulders relax, Drew nodded. “Okay,” she said. “But you’re making me curious. Why am I talking to you about the situation? And not the director?”

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