The Director's Cut by Js Taylor (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

strokes my hair and kisses me one last lingering time before straightening up.

“I love you,” he whispers. And before I have the chance to respond, he’s gone.

A few hours later, the alarm blares, and I stagger sleep-drunk around the room. I manage to clumsily stab on the light, shower, and make it back to my own room for a change of clothes.

Whoa. This is early.

The clock says it’s barely 6am. I’m not a late sleeper, but even for me this is early. Sounds like the rumours of James being a slave driver might just be true.

I make it down outside the hotel where the bus is waiting, and to my delight, see that Lorna and Callum are already here. Though Natalie is nowhere to be seen.

Lorna is distinctly hung-over. And the lines around Callum’s eyes suggest that the early start doesn’t agree with him either. So we sit in virtual silence as the bus ferries us to the location.

We disembark into a huge Spanish style square lined with historic buildings, which has been cordoned off to the public.

And once I see the location, I start to feel excited rather than sleepy.

I can’t believe they’ve done all this in only one day.

It looks like a real film location.

Three huge trailers have been stationed inside, presumably for the needs of the cast and crew. And the whole square is milling with countless people. Camera men are rolling their equipment into position, and set handlers are busying themselves.

As promised, there’s a breakfast area set up, and the smell of fresh coffee wafts over the square. A line of crew members are being served breakfast from a large catering van.

“Coffee,” says Callum in relief, nodding towards the van. “Now,” he adds with feeling. Lorna and I follow behind as he makes a beeline for the van.

Just the smell of coffee seems to have transformed Callum, and he’s already brightened considerably.

As we wait in line, I’m once again struck by his humility. Several crew offer Callum the chance to go in front, but he declines with a disarming smile.

“How are my two favourite actresses this morning?” asks Callum with his usual degree of exaggerated charm.

“Good,” I reply. “Where’s Will this morning?”

“He opted for a workout, since he doesn’t really need to be on set,” says Callum. “Late night?” he adds, catching a glimpse of Lorna’s pained expression.

“Uggh,” says Lorna, moving her hand to clutch her head. “Hung-over.”

I shoot her a dark look, and she rolls her eyes.

“What?” she protests. “I’m out in a new town. Give me a break.”

Callum grins wider.

The hangover, at least, seems to have cleared Lorna’s star-struck fascination with him. She’s treating like any other ordinary guy.

“Can you get me some water?” she begs as Callum approaches the head of the queue.

“Of course.” Callum inclines his head in a stiff nod. “Anything for you gorgeous women. Isabella?”

“Um. Just a croissant, thanks.”

“No coffee?” Callum sounds shocked.

“Ok. Sure.” It’s occurring to me I do probably need one. “Latte, thanks.”

Callum steps ahead of us to take a selection of drinks and pastries from the van.

“Hey listen,” I say to Lorna, “I’m sorry, about disapproving of you and Ben. It’s not that I don’t think a guy would like you. You do know that, right?”

“Don’t worry about it,” she says. “I’m sorry for saying that. I know that’s not what you were implying. I was just being dramatic.”

She gives an adorable little smile. “You’re probably right to be disapproving,” she admits. “But just give me space to make my own mistakes, ok?”

“Ok.” I smile at her.

Lorna clutches her head again.

“Anyway,” she says, “I’m not sure I can spend too much time with Ben in Barcelona. I feel like shit. This drinking and working thing. It’s not good.”

Callum turns to us. He has gathered up an armful of coffees, drinks and pastries.

“Come on,” he says, “let’s sit on that fountain.” He nods with his head towards a large fountain in the centre of the plaza.

“It’s probably the only time we’ll sit down today,” adds Callum.

“Seriously?” Lorna looks even greener as we make towards the fountain.

“Oh yes,” says Callum. “Filming is a long day. You can wrap at nine, ten, midnight. It depends on whether the director gets what he wants.”

Memories are coming back of Berkeley as a director who pushes actors to the brink.

“And James will probably work us late?” I ask.

Callum nods. “From what I’ve heard,” he says. “And I’ve never started quite this early. It will be interesting to see if Natalie can stick to the schedule.”

We seat ourselves on the fountain, and Lorna is looking distinctly nauseous.

“Here,” says Callum. “I got you a Coke. World’s best hangover cure.”

“Thanks,” says Lorna, taking the bottle and opening it with a hiss. She takes a deep chug. “Huh,” she says, “that’s good.”

She stares up at the morning sky, as if hoping her head pain will magically dispel.

“I think this will be the first and last time you end up hung-over on set,” says Callum. “Take it from me, it’s a long day.”

I gaze out over to where the crew are setting up.

James explained that he’d brought the least possible staff. But it still looks like a lot of people to me.

I can make out James in the thick of it, pointing out where camera men should set up and directing other crew members to their stations.

Hello baby.

I find myself staring in awe at him as he tirelessly directs crew members who are still blinking away sleep.

It’s all I can do to sit here and drink coffee. I don’t know how he has the energy.

“Wardrobe, hair and make-up,” he bellows suddenly, his voice echoing around the large square. “Cast into wardrobe please!”

Lorna looks at us in confusion. “Does that include me?”

“There’s a list,” says Callum. “It’s pasted up by the big trailer. Come on,” he adds, clutching his giant sized coffee.

Chapter 16

We make it to the list to see that Lorna is scheduled as a fellow diner in a cafe scene.

“You’re due over there,” says