THIS IS A SEQUEL. PLEASE READ MY STORY MAKE IT OR DIE TRYING BEFORE READING THIS ONE BECAUSE WELL YOU'LL BE CONFUSED.
In other news, thanks for joining me for this story. I hope we all go on a lovely journey together.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Big Time Rush or any of its characters.
5:45 AM. That's what the digital clock on the hallway wall displayed, but it seemed too busy for that to be the real hour. People were bustling about at the studio when Camille walked in. As she was on her way to the makeup room, a PA with a large stack of papers rushed by, nearly bumping into Camille.
"In a hurry, Michelle?" Camille asked, laughing.
"Sorry, Camille!" the PA squeaked over her shoulder, never stopping. Camille smiled and walked into the room marked "Hair/Makeup."
"Morning, Camille!" came a friendly and enthusiastic voice. A pretty girl with long red hair looked over her shoulder from where she was sitting in a makeup chair. It was Amelia Reed, or as most people knew her, Mia. She was Camille's costar. Mia's hair designer (hair dresser was a forbidden term in Hollywood) was working at curling the long red tresses that tumbled over Mia's shoulders, looking like something from a hair dye commercial—although the color, shocking as it was, was natural.
Camille grinned at Mia. In the one season that they'd worked together, they'd become fast friends. "Hey!" Camille greeted, giving Mia a quick hug before sitting in her own chair next to Mia's. Camille's own hair designer, Eric, immediately started spritzing Camille's brown locks with water. "How are you this morning?"
"Tired," Mia complained good-naturedly. She didn't look anything but gorgeous, however—excusing the fact that she had come to work in her PJs today. That was something that the cast, mainly made up of teens and young adults, had taken to doing. It seemed a lot of effort to get dressed for an early morning call time when you were just going to have your clothes picked out for you there.
"Me too," Camille agreed. "I can't believe it's only the third day of the season! Feels like we've been back for ages."
Their show was called Blue Creek. The main character was a high school girl named Ashley Cortell (played by Mia) who lives in a town named Blue Creek (get it?). It was a sitcom, advertised as a teen/young adult "dramedy." The show followed Ashley's adventures through high school, filled with cute boys, best friends, and vicious cheerleaders.
The vicious cheerleader—that was Camille's character. She played Harmony Bates, Ashley's classmate and worst enemy. She was everything that a cheerleader in a teen show could be—super popular, super rich, and super mean. And she was an absolute blast to play.
It was Wednesday, June 19. Their third day of the second season. Only a year ago, Camille had been this close to being forced to give up her dream of becoming an actress and moving back to her home state of Connecticut with her father. But, with expert advice from her fantastic best friend Jo Taylor, she'd managed to land this role. The show had aired for the first time in February of this year and the public had absolutely gone nuts over it. Critics had declared it "Friends, for the younger set" and "the next Glee." They had been immediately picked up for not only a second, but a third season as well. Camille had been so excited when she had gotten that news she'd run out onto her balcony at the Palm Woods and screamed it to everyone down at the pool.
Mia stifled a yawn. "I'm still super exhausted from hiatus," she commented, rolling her eyes. "Isn't hiatus supposed to be a break? I feel like I spent the whole time working!" she joked. This show definitely wasn't Mia's first job, like it was Camille's (well, first real job). She had been an actress since the age of five, appearing as a daughter on a soap opera Forever and a Day. That show had only gone on for a few seasons, but after that, Mia had been unstoppable—she appeared in several movies before she got a supporting role on the show Miles High, and when that had ended she'd been offered the role of Ashley in this show. She was unbelievably famous and successful—and only eighteen years old.
"I'm really excited to see your movie!" Camille said as Eric started straightening her curly hair. "It comes out fall of next year right?" The movie Mia had done over hiatus was a super awesome fantasy adventure based on a book that Camille had read and loved.
"Yep," Mia confirmed. "It's going to be great for sure! All of my costars were amazing, and the director is just an absolute doll. I adore her." Mia held still for a moment as her makeup artist applied mascara to the redhead's eyelashes. "How about you? Was your first movie-making experience everything you hoped?"
Camille giggled. "Definitely. It's set to come out summer of next year." Over the filming break, Camille had been in a movie that was tentatively titled Operation Meltdown, a teen spy movie. She wasn't a big part, just one of the secret agents, but she'd been in seven scenes and Camille's new agent thought that the role was going to wonders for her film career.
At that moment, Elena Alverez walked in the room. Tall, svelte, and tan, with black hair in an adorable pixie cut, she was their show's creator and executive producer. "Good morning ladies," she greeted happily. "As soon as you're done here, head on into wardrobe to get changed and we'll be starting on the school hallway set by 6:45 for scene D."
"Gotcha, Elena," Mia smiled, while Camille nodded, unable to say anything as her makeup artist had just started doing up Camille's face. Elena left the room just as Lindsey Clements hurried in.
"Morning girls," she greeted, yawning hugely as she sat down in the third chair. "I thought I was going to be late for sure."
Lindsey was another actress. On the show she played Olivia, Ashley's kind of shy and nerdy BFF. In real life she was a party princess. Her career had started when she'd been discovered in a pageant at age 11. She'd been whisked off into the modeling world and had gotten into acting from there. This was her first billing show (meaning her name was in the opening credits), but she'd played a few recurring characters and had done a couple movies. She was well-known for her ability to party into the late night and still manage to work hard during the day.
Judging from her under-eye circles, the yawning, and the venti Starbucks coffee she was holding, that's just what she'd been doing the night before—partying. While her blonde hair was being brushed out by her hair designer, Lindsey confirmed this fact. "I was out way too late last night," she admitted, taking a sip of her coffee. "Why do I do this to myself?"
"Because the nightlife is what you love?" Mia offered. Lindsey considered that and nodded with a cheeky grin.
"Guess so," Lindsey giggled. "Camille, I just love that necklace, where'd you get it?"
Camille reached up to touch the Tiffany's heart pendant she was wearing. "My boyfriend gave it to me," she told Lindsey, a grin sneaking onto her face. "It's from Tiffany's."
Lindsey and Mia both awwwed appreciatively. "I swear, that boy spoils you," Mia tutted, but she said it with a smile. "He's adorable."
"Yeah," Camille agreed happily. "He's adorable." She sighed as she fingered the heart around her neck. "I miss him." Logan had been in New York since the previous Friday. The guys were doing the talk show circuit to promote their upcoming tour.
"Aww, Mia, now you reminded her," Lindsey complained.
"Sorry, Camille," Mia murmured.
Camille waved the apology off. "No, it's fine," she smiled. "It's all part of dating a pop star, isn't it?"
"Oh definitely," Lindsey agreed. "I should know—I've dated three!" The girls all giggled.
"Anyway, I'll survive," Camille continued. "He's getting back tonight. I can't wait to see him." Eric finished Camille's ponytail and tied a blue and white ribbon into it just as Susie, the makeup artist, gave her a final brush of powder.
"You're all ready, darling," Eric said with a sweet smile.
"Thanks Eric." Camille bounced out of her chair and gave a wave to Lindsey and Mia before leaving the room to get dressed.
~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~BTR~~~~~~~
"Hold, please," the guest director called out to the actors on set. Camille stretched her arms over her head and tried not to yawn. It was already eight thirty and they hadn't finished this five minute scene yet. Everyone was definitely struggling today—stumbling over lines, missing blocking, tripping over their own feet…
"All right, ladies, take it back from 'whatever,'" the director instructed. That was Camille's line. She smoothed her skirt and adjusted the tote bag on her shoulder as Mia, who had wandered a few feet away to talk to someone, moved back to her mark—standing in front of her open locker. Lindsey scurried back down the hallway set to make her entrance again. The extras all went back to their background conversations. "Action."
"Whatever," Camille sneered. "I just hope you know what you're getting into."
On cue, Mia slammed the locker shut and turned to face Camille. "I know perfectly well what I'm doing, Harmony," she said coolly. Out of the corner of her eye, Camille saw Lindsey come running down the hall as Olivia.
"Ashley! Ashley!" she was calling, slinging her backpack over one shoulder. Camille summoned up her classic Harmony smirk and turned to face Lindsey, whose face took on a scared expression when she noticed who was standing there. "Harmony!" Lindsey gulped. "W-what are you doing here?"
"Just having a little chat with Ashley about the student government race," Camille responded. "Apparently, she's decided to run for president."
"She's what?"
Camille shrugged and was about to say her next line when she heard a sound from above her, a split second before one of the light shades fell directly in the middle of the three girls little triangle they stood in. They all jumped back and Mia let out a small shriek.
A couple crew members came running out as Lindsey started laughing, almost hysterically. "Are you girls all right?" the director called.
"Fine, we're fine," Camille answered, grinning as Lindsey's laughter was contagious.
Mia shook her head as she smiled sadly. "Noooo!" she cried out softly, half-heartedly shaking a fist at the grid above them, filled with lights. "The scene was finally going well! Why has the set turned against us?!"
That did it. Camille started laughing too, as well as several extras behind them. The crew guys chuckled as well.
"Guys, go ahead and take ten," the director sighed. "They'll fix the light and then maybe we can finally get this scene finished."
They didn't need any more of an invitation. Mia and Lindsey went off towards craft services, probably to get more coffee. Camille was about to join them but someone called her name from behind. Someone who sounded very familiar…
She spun around and…yes! "Logan!" Camille exclaimed, running into his arms and nearly knocking him over. He didn't fall though, and twirled Camille around a few times before setting her back on her feet and giving her a sweet kiss.
"Miss me?" he asked as he pulled away, his nose touching hers.
Camille laughed. "Of course I missed you!" she squealed. "I thought you weren't getting back until tonight!"
"Surprise!" Logan laughed with her. "Our interview with People magazine was supposed to be this morning, but Gustavo changed it to last night—without telling us, by the way—so we got to fly back early this morning instead."
"Well, thank goodness for Gustavo's plan changing." Camille smiled. Someone coughed and Camille was reminded of where she was. Looking around, she saw some of the extras giggling and whispering, while the crew and other actors smiled and shook their heads. Camille blushed a bit, but smiled it off. She took Logan's hand and tugged him along. "C'mon. Let's get some coffee from crafty. I'm dead this morning."
At crafty, they met up with Mia and Lindsey, who were both being handed their own Styrofoam cups. "Well, what is this?" Mia asked, raising an eyebrow as she tentatively took a sip. "Logan, good to see you! Wasn't expecting you today."
"Great to see you too Mia, Lindsey," Logan greeted, sliding his arm over Camille's shoulder. "I came to surprise my girl here."
"Can I get you anything Camille?" Henry, the craft services guy who was still unpacking some of the food, asked.
"Yeah, two coffees," Camille requested. Henry poured two more cups and handed them to Camille. She immediately took a sip of hers, wincing as it burned her tongue and handing the other cup to Logan.
"Gross, Camille," Lindsey commented, shaking her head. "I still don't know how you drink your coffee black." Lindsey dumped a third spoonful of sugar into her cup and stirred before taking a sip.
Camille shrugged. "My dad got me in the habit, I guess. Logan drinks his black too."
"I do," Logan agreed, taking a sip as well. "But that's mainly because Carlos uses all of the sugar." Camille giggled. "So what's on your agenda for the day?"
"Well, we've got to get this dumb scene finished," Mia said, rolling her eyes. "It is such a Wednesday."
"It's only Wednesday?" Lindsey groaned. "Ugh."
"After we finish this scene, I'm not in the next one. That one's supposed to be done before lunch, and then after lunch I've got a rehearsal for the big cheer number that we're filming tomorrow."
Lindsey nodded. "Oh my gosh, Logan it's so funny. See, the episode is about the student council elections and Ashley and Harmony go up against each other for president, and so Harmony performs with the entire cheer squad at the school pep rally and all that. It's great, I watched the rehearsal yesterday."
"Sounds exciting," Logan commented. "I've got nothing to do all day, you don't mind if I hang out, do you?"
"You know you're always welcome here," Camille told him, standing up on her tiptoes and brushing her lips across his quickly.
"Girls," a PA called from down the hall. "We're ready for you to come back."
Mia sighed as Lindsey knocked back another gulp of coffee. "Well, back to the mines," Mia commented with a smile. "Can we all promise not to mess up again?"
"Agreed!" Lindsey and Camille said at the same time as they all walked back toward the set, Camille and Logan hand in hand. As they got back to their marks and Logan was sitting in Camille's fancy chair, ready to watch, Mia turned to Camille.
"Oh yeah, Camille, you didn't forget about the party on Saturday, right?" Mia said. "My place at ten. It's gonna be great, Lindsey's getting a friend of hers to DJ, and everyone is going to be there."
"Absolutely!" Camille smiled. It was Mia's nineteenth birthday party that weekend. "The boys are super excited that you invited them too."
"Of course!" Mia laughed. "I love those guys. I'm so glad that you introduced us! Oh, and Jo Taylor, she is totally awesome."
Camille started to say something, but was cut off by the clapboard being snapped in front of her face. She gave a startled shriek and then joined in at the slight laughter at her own expense. She grinned at Logan before returning her attention to her work.