Breaking Character

by Lee Winter

  “Easy for Mom, who doesn’t need her reputation to be kept pure as driven snow.”

  “But it’s so unfair!”

  “Yes it’s unfair, but not to you.”

  She desperately tried to think of something to change Autumn’s mind. “Okay, how about it makes me sound like some victim?”

  “You sound sweet as ever. The rest is for Thornton’s people to deal with or not. Let it go.”

  Gritting her teeth, Summer ended the call. Damn it. Autumn was deliberately missing the point. Summer went online, downloaded a photo of a bull, opened Twitter, and copied a link to the HGZ bullying story. She wrote “Complete…” next to the bull picture, then posted it with a grim stab of satisfaction.

  Her phone lit up two seconds later. A text from her sister.

  DELETE!

  Summer chuckled and pocketed the device just as one of the writers’ assistants stuck his head around the corner. “Hey, thought you might be here. New scene today. Hot off the presses, Ms. Hayes.” He dropped a script in her lap. “Emphasis on hot.”

  Hot?

  She thanked him and flicked through it, searching for her name.

  CARTER TURNS HASTILY, HER STEAMING COFFEE SPILLING DOWN HUNT’S JACKET.

  HUNT (FURIOUS): You’re useless. I don’t know what Dr. Mendez sees in you.

  CARTER: At least he wants me… for my skills, of course. (FAUX INNOCENT LOOK)

  HUNT (SNEERING): Oh, I’m sure that’s why.

  Oh, hell no. Now they were going to imply her character had caught Mendez’s eye? Since when? And Hunt was going to be bitter about it, even though she’d dumped his ass hard? That made zero sense.

  But even that absurdity wasn’t the problem. Summer wasn’t stupid. She knew exactly why she’d been hired, and it wasn’t to sell some gritty hard-luck story like the other actors. Her type was cute and lovable, and people rooted for her on sight. Her stomach dropped at what this meant. Nasty Chief Hunt starts a vendetta against the sweetest character on the show? Poor Elizabeth. Her hate mail would double. Looked like the hair stylist was right. Someone was trying to make life a bitch for the show’s lead actress.

  Summer frowned. She wasn’t suicidal enough or powerful enough to suggest a rewrite. Cockroaches had more cachet than she did around here. Maybe she should just let it go. Not every battle was hers to fight. How many times had Autumn told her that?

  It didn’t make it right, though.

  A bold idea hit her. Oh wow. Well, that was one option. Did she dare? If she messed this up, she’d lose her job. If she got it right, she’d save Elizabeth from a terrible plot.

  What a decision.

  Her mother’s words floated through her head. Always do what’s right.

  Straightening, she made up her mind.

  Elizabeth was in a foul mood. They wanted her to participate in a public, verbal catfight over Mendez? With Hope’s sweetest resident? Because, of course, that’s exactly what a hospital’s chief of surgery would do.

  Slamming the script on the table in her trailer, she ran the lines in her head. They were so inane she’d already committed them to memory. Sadly.

  Elizabeth headed to the hallway set, fury powering her stride.

  Summer was already there, practicing with a stunt co-ordinator the best way to hurl coffee at someone’s chest.

  Elizabeth ground her teeth.

  Glancing over at her, Summer smiled in greeting, but Elizabeth was too angry to contemplate any form of response.

  “You need a rehearsal first?” the director called over. “Not your usual scene, is it?”

  No it damned well isn’t. It was character sabotage and the foul stench of the writing burned her nostrils. Elizabeth glared with such venom that Summer paled and Ravitz muttered, “Never mind then. Just get on your marks.”

  They took their places. Summer faced away from Elizabeth, ready to deliver a line off-screen before turning to the camera.

  “Speed…Rolling…Action!”

  Elizabeth approached down the hall as Summer gave her line. Spinning around, Summer smiled, her face lighting up at the sight of Chief Hunt—what was that about?—and her coffee flew from her cup.

  Elizabeth planted her feet, attempting to look surprised, and waited for the hit of cold, brown liquid. They’d add a steam effect later.

  It barely caught her sleeve.

  “Oh my God, Chief Hunt, I’m so sorry.” Summer offered a hangdog expression and wide eyes.

  Christ, it was funny how horrified she looked. The worst of Elizabeth’s anger evaporated. “You’re useless.” She tried to inject some acidity into Hunt’s voice. Instead, in the face of that whipped-puppy look, Elizabeth’s lips…twitched. “I don’t know what Dr. Mendez sees in you.” Oh dear. Hunt almost sounded rueful. Has my character ever done rueful in her life? Unlikely.

  “At least he wants me,” Carter replied, relief thick in her tone. Then she looked aghast, eyes blowing wide open. “For my skills! Of course!”

  Amazing. Elizabeth stared in surprise. Summer was a natural comedienne. Her delivery was brilliant.

  “Oh, I’m sure that’s why.” And this time Hunt’s lips did curl up into a rare smile that counted as agreement. Like they were two friendly colleagues eye-rolling some unwanted male attention.

  Summer practically smirked.

  “CUT!”

  Everyone burst into laughter, and Summer gave a soft grin, relief shining in her eyes.

  Elizabeth’s shoulders relaxed. It was nice not being the butt of the joke for once. She glanced around.

  Ravitz’s face was one long, unimpressed scowl. “That’s not the intention of the scene, you two. Can we try it a different way?” He injected heavy-duty sarcasm and added, “As written, for example?”

  Take two involved another clean, white coat for Elizabeth and an even funnier take from Summer. Her eyes were somehow wider and even more apologetic.

  For the life of her, Elizabeth couldn’t dredge up any of Hunt’s usual attitude. The chief had apparently discovered her funny bone for the first time in her uptight existence.

  Takes three through to five weren’t much better, earning a stern rebuke from Ravitz to “up the bitchiness ASAP. You two hate each other.”

  That resulted in take six, where Summer seemed to be satirizing a scheming bitch from Dynasty, and it was side-splittingly hilarious. If they ran that parody take, it’d be a viral sensation for years.

  “CUT! Jesus H. Christ, Hayes, what the hell was THAT?” Ravitz’s entire body was practically vibrating with his frustration.

  Summer, blue eyes big and sad, rushed over to his chair. She knelt before him and said, “I’m so sorry Mr. Ravitz. I’m trying, but I just can’t seem to get Joey to be a bitch. I think she’s fighting me.”

  Elizabeth finally lost it, her hands falling to her knees as she doubled over and laughed until she wheezed. That set off the associate producers—which apparently was official permission—because it set off everyone else again. Except Bob Ravitz.

  He glared around the set. “We’ll go again. Sometime soon, if you don’t mind.”

  After take seven, Ravitz did something Elizabeth had never seen before. He gave up. Flicking his watch a surly glance, he snapped his fingers. “Alright,” he growled. “We can’t waste more time on this. We’ll make use of what we have.” He pointed to a lighting tech. “Set up the next scene.” Then he stalked over to edge of the set, beckoning Summer to him. “Ms. Hayes, ‘trying’ won’t fly around here. Get your inner bitch ready next time or find a new line of work.” His expression, however, seemed doubtful she could muster even the faintest bit of malice.

  “Yes, Mr. Ravitz,” she replied with a series of nods. “Definitely.”

  He strode back to his chair. “Ex-fuckin’-child stars,” he muttered, loud enough for the two of them to hear. “Far too much da
mned cute.”

  Elizabeth eyed Summer, wondering if she’d be offended or offer a shrug and a sheepish look. Instead, her eyes contained an odd, resolved look. There was no hint of embarrassment at screwing up.

  Oh! Elizabeth’s thoughts shot to all sorts of interesting places. So, Summer Hayes was a much better actress than anyone gave her credit for?

  How…risky. Certainly the only thing that had saved the young woman’s job was the fact that no one else had worked out she hadn’t been trying to get the scene right at all.

  Elizabeth stepped closer to Summer, bending her head to avoid any prying eyes. “Why?” she whispered.

  At first Summer looked startled, before her face became blank. All traces of amusement had vanished, and Elizabeth now doubted any of it had been real to start with.

  “That scene was shit as written,” Summer murmured. “And I don’t mean for me.” She gave Elizabeth a pointed look.

  “Yes. It was.” Elizabeth regarded her in astonishment. She did this for me?

  Summer’s expression was so warm it was almost unnerving.

  Elizabeth headed back to her trailer to wait for her next scene, thoughts in chaos. Ravitz might be an asshole, but he had a point. When it came to Summer Hayes, there was way too much damned cute.

  Chapter 5

  Summer slung her battered vintage canvas bag over one shoulder, trying to focus on what lay ahead. After a hard day’s shooting, mentally running through her to-do list helped calm her down.

  Gym for an hour, followed by a glass of that evil, cleansing wheatgrass thing Chloe wanted her to try. Great for the skin, apparently. Summer’s weekend would be hectic, laying down some voice work for the six-episode Teen Spy Camp animated series, plus spin class, and a facial with a friend of her mother’s she could never say no to. Then, sign some photos for Autumn for a big fan giveaway…and… Elizabeth stared at me like I was fascinating.

  Summer stopped walking. She’d taken a huge risk today. People got fired for less than what she’d done. Yes, technically, she’d said every word in the script, but she’d also ignored the intent. The hardest thing had been pushing aside her ego and allowing important people to think she sucked as an actress. That made her itch. She could have hauled out her inner bitch in the blink of an eye if she’d believed in the writing. But that scene was toxic.

  Besides, this wasn’t just a terrible direction to take Hunt. Summer’s own character was smart and capable and shouldn’t be trying to flirt her way through her residency program with her handsome boss. How was that a good message?

  Even so, she’d been lucky today. Lucky that Ravitz, like so many other people she’d worked with, made assumptions based on her looks. For once it was useful. Somehow she’d pulled it off and no one was any the wiser.

  Okay, almost no one.

  She’d assumed that Elizabeth would be the first to think her useless. The look on her face, though, when she’d asked why… Her curiosity felt as powerful as a touch.

  Why had Summer done it? How could she have answered truthfully?

  Because I respect you too much to allow you to face more fan hatred.

  Because Hunt being mocked as a caricature is grossly unfair.

  Because I want you to be great. Like you were in London, when you changed my life.

  Autumn would kill her if she ever got wind of this. Ignoring direction because you disagreed with the writing was the height of stupidity.

  Resuming walking, Summer wondered if Elizabeth thought Summer was a fool for putting her job on the line for her. Some might see it as a sign of weakness—possibly to be exploited. But the way Elizabeth had looked at Summer hadn’t been mocking or dismissive. She’d seemed taken aback. Grateful.

  That felt…wow.

  Glancing up at the green Exit sign ahead, Summer quickened her pace. Unwinding with pajamas and Netflix slid to the top of her list.

  Elizabeth entered the corridor and offered a small nod. Her glossy, dark brown hair was out of its severe bun and flowed softly around her shoulders. Her graceful stride lacked the almost military, clipped walk she used on the show. And her face, usually all angles and derision, was gentler without the lighting designed to emphasize her “character.” Code for age and imperfections. Which was insulting all round. Since when was thirty-seven old? And if Elizabeth had any physical flaws, they weren’t apparent to Summer.

  She sighed at herself. It was embarrassing how much space her brain allocated to the diverting topic of Elizabeth Thornton.

  “Summer.” Elizabeth murmured.

  Summer. Okay, she’d do a little dance later because Elizabeth had never used her first name before. “Heading home?” Summer asked, as they fell into step. Agh. Stupid question.

  Elizabeth gave her a faint smile. “What gave it away?”

  Laughing, Summer mimed shooting herself in the temple. “Yeah. Sorry.”

  “I’ve been meaning to offer to pay for your tea. Sorry I keep forgetting. It can’t be cheap getting it shipped over from England so regularly.”

  “It’s fine. I do a quid pro quo with some friends who have a Tootsie Roll addiction. It’s not that much in the end.”

  “I see. Well, thank you. Finola claims the tea has been improving my legendary bad mood somewhat.” She gave Summer a self-deprecating smile. “Although I’m sure our colleagues would claim they can’t tell the difference.”

  “Our colleagues should stop confusing you with your character.” Summer grinned. “And speaking of Hunt, I’m sorry about what they’re doing to her. I liked who she was.”

  “Mm.” Elizabeth stopped at the door and waved a pass at the security panel. Its light flashed green as the door unlocked. “I gathered that with your little stunt today. You turned a scene that was beneath us into something almost…fun.” An amused smile darted across her lips as she held the door open for Summer. “I appreciate you saving Chief Hunt’s honor.”

  “I didn’t do it for Hunt,” Summer said without thinking as she stepped outside.

  “No? Why—”

  Hell! Summer’s feet met empty air as she remembered, too late, the two steep steps between the building and the ground. She fell.

  Elizabeth’s hand flashed out, grabbing her wrist, jerking her upright, her other arm wrapping around Summer’s waist, preventing a face-plant onto concrete.

  Summer twisted awkwardly to regain her footing and wound up looking straight up into Elizabeth’s face. Her exasperated expression said this was about the klutzy idiocy she’d expect.

  “Shit!” Summer squirmed away from those soft hands. “Forgot about the steps.” She gave an awkward laugh. “Obviously. You may have noticed I’m a little clumsy.”

  “Once or twice,” Elizabeth drawled. “Can you at least attempt to drive home safely?”

  “Will do my best.” Warmth flooded Summer. It almost sounded like Elizabeth cared whether she lived or died. That had to count for something. Her brain snorted at that merry delusion. But Summer couldn’t wipe away the grin splitting her cheeks as she pulled out of the studio lot and headed for home.

  A pointed jab to her ribs woke Summer. She yawned and batted Chloe away. She wasn’t in the mood for wake-up prodding, given it was a Saturday. The gloss of her roomie being back home had worn off already.

  “Come on, Smiley, you’ll want to see this!”

  “Mmph?” Summer peeled her eyes open. “It’s way too early for enthusiasm.”

  Chloe shoved a phone screen in her face. “You’re the star of HGZ.”

  What? She sat up. Since when does Hollywood Gossip Zone touch me?

  “And these pics are everywhere,” Chloe said.

  Summer squinted at the screen, which showed a grainy photo of herself, held in the arms of…oh shit…Elizabeth. Well not held-held. But it sure looked that way in this frozen moment. Elizabeth’s smirk looked almost affectionate rather
than exasperated. Summer’s face, tilted toward the camera, seemed surprised, trusting and…ugh…into it. “Oh my God.”

  “Ex-actly.” Chloe eyed her.

  “Who took this?”

  “Does it matter? Obviously some gutter-trawler with a long lens can see the studio’s exit from the street. Now, focus. What’s the sitch between you two? I thought you exploded blood all over her or something? Now she likes you? Gotta say, hon, flings with your co-stars are a baaaad idea. Even when they’re as gorgeous as her—I mean, if you like that whole beautiful, ice-bitch thing.” She frowned. “Hey, does this mean Thornton’s a lesbian? Or another Hollywood bi? Wait, she has some hot boyfriend, doesn’t she?” She glared at Summer. “Jesus, girl, are you the other woman? You?”

  “Ungh.” Summer felt sick. “Of course I’m not the other anything! You know how clumsy I am. I fell, she grabbed me, that’s it. Look at my feet…they’re pointing in different directions!” Dismay rose in her chest. “Crap. I’m so dead. Elizabeth’s going to kill me for fake-outing her as my…um…”

  “Lover?” Chloe’s eyebrows did a suggestive little jig.

  So. Dead. The fans who detested Elizabeth would seize on this. They’d paint her as some closeted, predatory lesbian.

  The thought of Elizabeth furious with her was suffocating. They’d only just gotten to the point of having a conversation that lasted longer than a sentence or two.

  Summer’s phone rang, so she pushed Chloe’s cell away and rolled over to reach hers.

  “Oh, great. It’s Autumn,” she muttered. “Hey, Sis. … No. … No…definitely no. Are you kidding me? As if she’d ever want to… We were leaving work and I fell and she saved my ass from an ER visit. … Oh thank you. I’m so glad my balance issues are a source of amusement.”

  She listened to her sister’s commentary for a moment, cutting in when Autumn took a breath. “Are you issuing a statement? Because it’s both of us affected this time. Can we say something like ‘Elizabeth Thornton has impressive reflexes given she caught me when I tripped at the studio. Sorry to disappoint the gossip hounds but I’m just a klutz’?” She listened to Autumn tweaking her quote into something less idiotic, and then said, “Yep, that’s great. Put that one out. Thanks. Bye.”