So there I was, hopping out of my beat-up old car that I hoped wouldn't make it back, and into my very own trailer. Fresh out of high school and fortunately the recipient of a small role already. Drama class had been my sole saviour, all those years in that boring little town, and now I had my chance to kick off the career I'd always dreamt of.
At least there was a half a connection laying around; our "director" (a bit glorified for a class of 20) knew a casting agent nearby who managed to book me into an indie project. Bad news: it was halfway across the country, but hell I probably would have trekked to the *country* of Georgia, never mind the state, if it meant getting out.
In truth, the trailer was shared, and I knew I'd end up on the couch since the other girl was the lead, but it was the high life to me! I'd done some research and it turned out that Hailey was only slightly older than me, at nineteen, but this was already her fourth or fifth part. I was a little nervous opening that door for the first time — was this some pretentious child star? How many times of drugs would be in there? I wasn't expecting apologetic.
"Hey, so, sorry about the whole 'one bed' situation. The couch is... okay... You know what, I should have asked," she began quickly, "do you wanna take the bed?"
"Oh no, no way, this is your thing. I'm just happy to be around," I automatically declined, maybe it was a sort of test.
"Nah, team effort right?" she gave a wink, "well lemme know if you change your mind, I know I hated this shit early on. Anyway we have to go stat."
I think she was just being nice, not trying to establish some sort of dominance, but I didn't think for long because with that, she grabbed my hand and off we went. It was here that I realised that my sleepy old drama class was in fact running at breakneck speed, and my day was largely spent standing around. Waiting for cameras, waiting for lighting, waiting for other actors. Waiting: somehow the most tiring activity of all.
I occupied much of my time studying Hailey; she was fair-skinned, petite and very blonde, with doe-like blue eyes. It was almost comical how adorable she was — a producer's wet dream I'm sure, and hence the leading role. But hey, she couldn't help that, and I really admired her for hopping into a darker project instead of whatever sitcom was lying around. It was especially impressive to see such a malevolent presence after our greeting earlier.
Despite vast stretches of inactivity, shooting went long into the night and by the time we stumbled back to our trailer (for the four hours until it all began again), we were ready to collapse. Standing over the thin couch was much more daunting now than it was for my earlier, bright-eyed self, and I guess Hailey noticed, because I felt her hand drag me along to the much nicer bed. Was she going to lead me everywhere?
With mutterings of "s'okay... no biggie...", she promptly pulled off her dress and slinked under the covers in her underwear. This seemed kinda close for someone I'd only met this morning, but I was still under her intimidating spell from set and she was asleep before I could answer. Sisterly bonding, I thought. However, I wasn't quite up to her level of sisterhood yet, so I opted for some pyjamas before taking the opposite side of the bed. Exhaustion quickly swallowed any further qualms.
There's nothing nicer than waking up all warm and cozy, bathed in sunlight and (almost, with a few hours sleep) refreshment. So nice you don't want to leave, so I hugged and nuzzled my soft... pillow? Perplexed, I opened my eyes to reveal that Hailey and I had ended up pressed snugly together overnight, a knot of limbs and hair. I thought I caught her eyes open too, and swallowed a pang of embarrassment, but it was only for a brief second so I reasoned it was just in my head. I delicately disentangled myself, much to her grumbling discontent, and tried to eek a few minutes out of the tiny shower.
"Good... morning?" I stammered out, as I left the bathroom to see her now definitely gazing in my direction.
"Hey, just waiting for my turn," she smiled while yawning, but for someone who was waiting she didn't look too eager to move her body, or her eyes. Evidently she sensed my reluctance to drop my towel and begin dressing, because she finally hopped up and strolled by, reminding me of her minimal sleepwear in the morning light.
"Don't be so shy, you've got a lovely body," she whispered, then with a smirk and a wink the bathroom door closed behind her.
I spent the rest of the day in a vague daze of self-consciousness, confusion and (as much as I tried to repress it) excitement. I was just a normal girl, normal body, normal face. My compliments usually peaked at "wholesome" (thanks Grandma). But what was up with Hailey? I guess she really was starved for a sister figure after all. Surely it wasn't anything more. She had been on sets for a while now and probably never got the chance for friends, that's all.
Anyway, I needed to stop obsessing and doubting — it felt really nice coming from the beautiful star, and I resolved to simply embrace our friendship. Hell, if it meant allowing her to be kind to me; how hard could that be?
"Jen, don't be ridiculous, it's boiling hot in here," Hailey was shaking her head at me pulling on my pyjamas. We had worked into the night again. I paused and remembered my pledge to sisterhood, deciding to join her and ditch the outerwear. Besides, it *was* really warm and it felt so blissfully cool in my bra and panties that I quickly forgot my inhibitions. God, this girl was really pushing me further on and off set.
Waking up the following morning felt even better than before; our open window had brought on a chill overnight, and I found myself cocooned in her arms and legs. I probably hadn't been this close to someone since I was a baby, but her soft, smooth skin was the most perfect blanket in the world. So warm and secure I could have nested there forever. In fact, over the next few nights our routine continued, until eventually we opted to just cuddle up before going to sleep.
My final night rolled around in no time, and an early finish had left us plenty of time to sneak around and grab a bottle of wine.
"To celebrate your acting virginity," Hailey giggled.
The couch had long since been relegated to laundry hamper, so we found ourselves lounging back on the bad, passing the bottle back and forth for intermittent sips.
"Wow, we're such classy ladies," Hailey said dryly before taking the bottle again.
"I know right? And to think I looked up to you."
