Chapter Four
I was jolted out of my sleep by someone jumping up and down on my bed, hollering something about a “first day” and “getting ready”. I groaned, covering my head with a pillow, until the realization of where I was hit me. I sat up straight, almost smacking into a grinning and excited Joe who was standing over me. He laughed, winked, and jumped off my bed, bouncing back into their room just as Kevin and Nick entered to wake up the other two girls. I shot them a jokingly warning look. “Behave,”
They started laughing, but didn’t say anything.
There was a mad-scramble for the two bathrooms that we had to split between six people, each of us somehow managing to get a shower in. Getting ready was another story. We let the guys go first because we thought they would be fastest. Yet, an hour and a half later I was tugging Joe out of the way of the mirror so I could brush my teeth. “Your hair looks fine, princess! Now let me in too!”
Kevin chuckled from his spot on the couch, the next room over. He was already done, and Mel and Bre were sharing the girls’ bathroom while I fought Joe and Nick for the guys’ one. Nick, finished neatening his mess of curls, left, leaving me with my arms wrapped around Joe’s waist, trying to pull him out of the way. I paused, realizing how close I was, and fought back the blush. He reached for the hair straightener again and I protested. He had been using that thing for almost an hour now!
“Fine. Fine! I’m done!” Joe pouted, slipping out of the room. “Mommy! Ashy’s being mean to me!”
Melissa blinked at the whine directed at her as she sat down on the couch next to Kevin, also done. He turned to her with a slight smirk. “I’m assuming we’ve taken over the roles of parents in the absence of any actual adults,”
“Goody,” she grinned, rolling her eyes as Joe plopped down in between them, looking for all the world like a small child who had his favorite toy taken away. Mel patted him on the head with a patronizing look just as Nick and Bre entered the room from opposite doors. Bre was still brushing her hair, bobby pins stuck in her mouth as she walked.
Ten minutes later, everyone was ready. We left the hotel rooms and headed outside. Only then did I realize how early it was. The sun was just barely rising, yet we were all full of energy as the car arrived to drive us to the studio. The guys had a quick photoshoot, and then the filming would start immediately, since they were on a limited time frame. Bre, Mel, and I were along for the ride, to watch all the proceedings and hang out with the guys on breaks. We weren’t complaining at all, eager at the prospect of seeing behind-the-scenes Hollywood, and just getting time to spend with Joe, Kevin, and Nick.
Twenty minutes later, the six of us stepped out of the car, staring around us in excitement. We turned in time to see a girl around our age hurry over, clipboard in hand. Her wavy hair shined a brilliant red in the now-risen sun as she gave us a friendly smile. “Hi!” she beamed, extending her hand to shake with all of us. “I’m Ren. Ready to head for the set?” We all nodded, and she led us to the large door marked with a big ‘three’. We couldn’t help but gape at the set when we arrived. It was huge. I think even the boys were a bit surprised.
“Ren dear!” came a loud voice. “Are these my subjects?”
Our group looked up to see a man walking over with a warm smile on his face, a pair of gl*CENSORED* balanced haphazardly on his head.
“Yes, Dad.”
We turned back to her in shock. She was the director’s daughter? Indeed, once he stepped up next to her, we could see the resemblance clearly.
“Well then, let’s get this show on the road!”
As the guys headed off to makeup, we hung back with Ren. The three of us girls really didn’t know much about Nathan Thomson, only that he was a wildly successful and extremely sought-after director who was a tad eccentric but still genius. That much we had gotten from Nick on the car ride to the set.
“So, Ren,” I finally spoke up, not wanting to deal with any awkward silences. She seemed friendly enough. “This must be a really cool job,”
She smiled, brushing a strand of hair out of her eyes. “It’s more of a temporary thing, but yeah, it’s pretty amazing. I’m actually kinda hoping to make in the music business myself.”
Bre’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s awesome! Do you sing or play?”
“Both.”
“Wow, you’re definitely going to have to perform for us sometime,” Mel smiled. Ren blushed slightly, laughing as the four of us started up a light, fun conversation as the guys started the shoot. They were looking really good in fitted outfits that were just perfect for them. Add in a bit of wind via a fan, and those promised to be some amazing pictures.
The shoot only took about an hour, and in between the different odd jobs Ren had to run, we got to know her a bit. Then the guys rushed over, energized up from the lively photographer. Kevin grabbed Mel in a big bear hug. Nick pecked Bre on the cheek cutely. Joe walked over to me, leaning on my shoulder jauntily, a silly grin on his face. Ren laughed at our antics, looking just a little bit nervous. I looked at her, and moved my eyes in the direction at the guys with a curious look on my face. She turned slightly pink and nodded.
Ah, she was a fan. That explained a lot. Even someone used to dealing with celebrities daily could still be flustered by close proximity to these Jonas boys. I liked her even better for it.
Ren glanced up from our laughing group and a somewhat forced smile made its way across her face. “Oh, here comes my father and Scott,”
Before we could ask who Scott was, Mr. Thomson approached with a much younger man, probably in his mid-twenties. He was introduced as the assistant director, wrapping his arm around Ren as he joked about the good times on set. Ren clearly wasn’t having it, the look on her face not one of happiness.
Joe exchanged a glance with his brothers, already not liking this Scott fellow. There was something a little off with him, and he could actually see Kevin bristle slightly as the assistant director eyed Mel up and down, and then Bre. Nick’s fist tightened ever so slightly, but neither of them were about to do anything. We weren’t unreasonable guys out for a fight, but it was still a bit suspicious that Scott was being so grabby. Ren shrugged off his arm and headed off with the excuse of checking in on the tech crew’s progress. Only when Scott started talking intently with Ashley did I feel like hitting him. And boy, did I feel like hitting him. Kevin placed a hand on my shoulder warningly.
Even though Ash and I weren’t even dating officially, I still felt the jealousy wash over me. I wasn’t liking how this guy was looking at her. Shaking it off, I focused on the filming we had ahead of us this week. Now was not the time to get distracted.
But sometimes, distraction comes whether you want it or not.
