Page 64 of Best Served Hot
‘Then you better pray we can wake him,’ the nurse said shakily. ‘Or this entire city could be in cinders by the end of the day.’
Everyone paused at the enormity of the statement. They all looked at the unconscious man.
‘Cut there,’ Nicole said.
Alex could hear a complex combination of relief and aggravation in her tone. This was the best they were going to be able to do with this dog turd of a final scene.
Alex kept her eyes on her iPad. The writer was lurking about the set today. If she looked up and caught his gaze, she was going to start pissing herself laughing. They’d had some unhinged cliff-hangers on this show, but this took the biscuit and every cake in the bakery.
‘Right, I think we can call that a wrap on season eight,’ Nicole announced to the studio with a smile.
The whole place erupted. They were all bone weary from the season and thrilled to call time. Dr Manus (aka Kendall Evans) looked particularly happy to have it over. It amazed Alex how much energy went into creating even utter rubbish. But it was show business, baby. The most important thing in the world to everyone here. Even when it sucked a big one.
Alex was glad to leave. Since she’d never been this close to the production before, she’d been able to ignore just how piss-poor this show was. It was the kind of thing that could wear your soul out if you cared about quality. And Alex had, once upon a time.
Then life had brought her here, and she believed she’d landed on her feet despite her mistakes. But what the hell was it all about when this was the end product? It wouldn’t mean anything to anyone. It was something to point your eyeballs at. And maybe not even that if most of the audience were staring at their phones whileFoundationsplayed in the background.
‘OK, everyone, great job!’ Nicole said to the cast and crew, clapping.
Everyone joined in her round of applause.
‘Same to you,’ called Kendall.
The clapping jumped up in enthusiasm. Nicole was a hit with the cast and crew. Alex wasn’t surprised. Outside of her skill, Nicole was easy to fall in love with. They were clearly all nearly as smitten as Alex herself.
‘You’re coming to the wrap party, right?’ Max Main (the sex-ridden Dr Sharpe) asked hopefully.
‘Oh, I don’t know,’ Nicole said unenthusiastically.
Alex had no big desire to go, either.
‘NO, NO, NO!’ Max cried dramatically. ‘Don’t even think of trying to get out of this! You’re coming!’
There were a lot of people joining in now, demanding Nicole attend. It would have taken a heart of stone to refuse a mob insisting on your company, which Nicole did not have. ‘OK, well, I’ll see if I can drop by.’
A cheer went up. Alex hoped Nicole had a good time. She still wasn’t going. But as the studio emptied and equipment was broken down and the set struck, Nicole leaned in.
‘I can’t believe I have to go to that bloody party,’ she grumbled quietly. ‘I hoped I wouldn’t have to share oxygen with that bastard again.’
‘You could just not turn up,’ Alex suggested. ‘They can’t track you down and make you socialise.’
‘I’ve said I would now. Everyone was making such a bloody fuss. And I don’t like to renege,’ Nicole said.
‘Do you want some company?’ Alex asked despite herself.
Nicole shook her head. ‘I would never ask that.’
‘I know. I’m offering.’
‘But you don’t want to go, do you?’
‘Not even slightly,’ Alex admitted. ‘But if you’re going, and you’d like the backup, I’ll be there.’
Nicole took a deep breath. ‘I’d love to be noble and refuse your offer, but honestly, I think I’d feel a lot better with you there.’
Nicole needed her, which made Alex feel like it wasn’t any imposition. Though she’d always wanted to say yes to anything Nicole asked, now that they had confessed how they felt to each other, she would probably follow her into the seventh circle of hell. Which this party could well be.
‘Great. Then we’ll go,’ she said. ‘Together.’
