Page 26 of Cinematic Destinies
“Vanilla. But I always get different toppings, so don’t write me off as boring.”
Georgia smiled. “I never would. Mine is lemon or lime sorbet. In our world ‘sorbet’ is code for an actress who doesn’t eat, but it’s not that at all. I grew up with a lot of citrus trees, and I just like how refreshing it is on a hot day.”
“There’s so much pressure on women in our industry. Men just don’t endure the same scrutiny. It’s terribly unfair and makes me quite cross. It’s like every decision a woman makes, even a flavor of ice cream, is subject to judgment.”
“Thanks for saying that. Most guys don’t get it at all. They don’t even notice the double standards.”
“I have quite a few friends who are actresses,” Roo said. “And of course, my mum. We’ve always been close, and I’ve seen firsthand what she’s had to deal with over the years. It’s total rubbish. As a man I feel a responsibility to be aware of these things and try to improve conditions.”
“You’re a very sensitive, compassionate person,” she remarked.
He smiled. “That’s kind of you.”
They were quiet for a moment before Georgia said, “Uh, it’s your turn.”
“Strangest thing you do when you’re alone.”
“I play guitar in my underwear.”
“Excuse me?” he said, his eyes wide.
“I hang out at home nude or in my underwear, and sometimes I pick up my guitar and work on new music. Weird, right?”
“Uh, that may be the sexiest thing I ever heard. I’m blushing at the thought of it.”
Georgia giggled. “What about you?”
“I make canned soup, cream of tomato or cream of celery, load it into a large bowl with a fistful of crackers, and watch documentaries on television. Could be about anything. Chernobyl. The Hindenburg. Creatures of the Amazon. Bird-watching. Whatever.”
“Canned soup?” she said in a mocking tone.
“Funny how you got hung up on that. Thought I might be able to slip that past you with the bird-watching.”
She laughed.
“Oddly, it relaxes me. What else can I say in my defense?”
“There’s no need. I think it’s sort of charming,” she said.
“You do?”
“Oh yeah. You’re surprising. I love that.”
“Well, I like lots of other weird stuff. Canned sardines. Haggis. Liver and onions. Infomercials. Mops that can reach the ceiling. That’s connected to my love of infomercials. Happy to go on if you find it endearing.”
She laughed again. “You had me so distracted I didn’t even realize. Look, we’re just about at the top.”
“Oh, wow,” he said as they took the last few steps and reached the peak. “This is incredible.”
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said.
They fell silent, quietly looking around, taking in the view from every angle. Eventually Roo said, “You must be thirsty,” and he handed her a water bottle.
“Thank you,” she replied, and they both took a good drink. She pulled her phone out of her pocket and said, “We should take a selfie and try to capture the view.”
“Please, allow me. Long arms,” he said, taking the phone. “Being a tall, geeky, gangly thing in school is finally paying off.”
She laughed and they took several photos. Then Georgia took the phone to take a few shots of the scenery. She insisted on taking a few of Roo as well. He held his arms up in a champion’s pose. He then took a slew of pictures of Georgia, capturing her from every angle.
