Page 131 of Christmas off Script
‘Not anymore, it’s more annoying than anything else.’ He paused, as if deliberating whether or not to say something, then took a deep breath. ‘Ella, I—’ He broke off, glancing right.
Leo appeared by his side, a poinsettia plant in his hand, his gaze flicking to the flowers covering half of the small table. ‘I wanted to wish you luck and give you this,’ he said to Ella, passing her the plant.
‘Thank you.’ She placed it on the table next to Zach’s enormous bunch of flowers.
‘And also…’ He took something from a paper bag and handed it to her.
She gazed at a chocolate leg wrapped in cellophane.
‘I’ve got them for everyone.’ He gave one to Zach. ‘I hope you don’t think it’s in poor taste after what’s happened to you.’
Zach grinned. ‘I love it. Thanks, mate, you’re a good friend.’
Leo gave him a stiff smile in return, his cheeks darkening under the stage make-up.
The silence became uncomfortable.
‘The best,’ Ella blurted.
The two men’s eyes snapped to hers questioningly.
Now it washercheeks that heated. ‘Friend. The best friend.’
Zach smiled. ‘Absolutely.’ He turned to look at Leo, his gaze… challenging?
‘I also wanted to thank you for the card you gave me,’ Leo said to her. ‘It’s incredible.’
Ella’s blush intensified. She’d drawn a good luck card for Leo in the style of a superhero comic strip, but with him dressed as Prince Charming. In the panels he was vanquishing dragons, and each time he punched one, there was a sound effect reading ‘Poweth!’, or ‘Whameth!’
‘Oh, yeah, thanks for the card you made for me,’ Zach added. ‘I’m going to keep it.’
‘Good idea,’ Leo said drolly. ‘Might be worth something in the future.’
‘Exactly!’ Zach replied, Leo’s sarcastic tone seeming lost on him. ‘If Ella becomes a famous artist, I could make a mint!’
‘Ten minutes, everyone!’ Libby cried from behind the screen. ‘Let’s huddle up!’
Leo stepped away so Zach could wheel his chair out of Ella’s space and into the rest of the room. Ella followed him, her heart thumping in her throat as she saw the entire cast and crew gathering in the middle of the room. This was really happening, and there was no way she could exit stage left and never return.
‘Hey.’ Leo entwined his fingers with hers. ‘You’ve got this. You’re incredible.’
She pulled a face, wanting to vomit with nerves.
‘It’s true. We’re all just lumps of rock orbiting around you. You’re the star.’
‘I hope you’re talking about me!’ Arthur interrupted. ‘Oh, and Steve, of course.’
Ella blinked, still trying to get her head around the Tokyo street-style-inspired outfits the ugly sisters were wearing for their first scene. Steve looked like a middle-aged man who’d been dressed by Barbie during an acid trip, and Arthur looked like the result of an experiment to breed Hello Kitty with Dracula.
‘No, Dad,’ Leo said patiently. ‘Ella’s the star.’
‘Humph, well, I suppose the clue’s in the name of the show. And she is bally brilliant.’ Arthur turned to Ella and smiled. ‘I can’t believe you’ve been hiding backstage for all these years, my dear.’
She tried to smile back. ‘I kind of wish I was still there.’
‘But why? Talent like yours needs to be seen! And we’ve all got your back. If you go blank, just say the magic word and I’ll leap onstage to distract the audience.’
‘The magic word?’
