Chapter 1
Call Time
Ben woke up similar to most work days, alarm screaming and him angrily wishing he slept longer. He sat up turning his light on and powering up his phone. Working on movies was his dream, but early call times were far from dream-like.
His phone buzzed to life along with a few messages. One was from his Mother wishing him luck on his first day and Brandon. Brandon, Ben's friend and source of most of his production assistant gigs.
Atlanta was becoming the epicenter of film production, but you still had to climb the ladder. Brandon had called the afternoon before needing a hand on the movie he was on. Ben had been through this song and dance before but today was different.
He stood at the vanity of his tiny one bedroom apartment bathroom and brushed his teeth. Outside of normal fatigue he was nervous. The gig was for a big studio biopic. Ben had worked studio shoots before, a few being superhero movies, but this one had one thing the others didn't, her.
He drove to set in his grey 2015 Ford Escape. The road weaved through a sea of trees where the rising sun peeked through the canopy. His car was silent leave the gentle A/C and his GPS occasionally chiming in.
Ben lived in his mind and liked to be grounded in the moment, especially in the morning. He knew he would probably see her, but the chances of them interacting were slim. There was a certain comfort to this for him. Less chances to embarrass himself in front of his childhood crush.
Finally he arrived on set. He parked his car and took a moment to himself knowing the moment he stepped out, the day truly began. He sighed looking at himself in the rear view mirror and cracked a fake smile.
"It'll be great." He said, trying to calm his nerves.
It didn't take long for him to find Brandon. He was easy to spot as the only a black panther with endless enthusiasm. Brandon darted over and gave him a hug.
"Sup my dude!" Brandon said with a bright smile.
"Tired as fuck. You?" Ben mumbled as Brandon handed him a radio.
"I'm good. You ready for this shit?" He replied.
"What kinda shit am I doing?" Ben said fixing his radio with an earpiece.
"Escort!" Brandon said, smiling a little too big.
Ben paused looking up at him sarcastically.
"Not for PA rates." Ben smirked.
"You'll be bringing some talent to and from the set." Brandon said.
"Sounds simple enough." Ben said boredly.
"Trust me, you're gonna like it." Brandon grinned.
Brandon led Ben through the bustling studio lot towards the hair and make up trailer.
"Who is it? One of the day players?" Ben asked.
"Nope." Brandon fired back.
"Stand ins?" Ben asked again.
"Nope." Brandon replied.
"As long as it's not cellphone wrangling again." Ben said. Brandon stopped.
"Bitch, I wouldn't call you for phones." Brandon snarked before continuing.
"Fair enough. Who is it then?" Ben smiled as he asked.
"You'll see in a sec." Brandon says as he walked up the trailer steps and knocked on the door before peaking in.
"Kelly, we good?" He said to the make up girl.
"Yeah, come on in." She replied.
Brandon walked in and held the door open. Ben stepped inside. Kelly, a cute mouse with blue hair cleans up her make up kit.
"Kelly, this is Ben. He's on escort duty this week." Brandon said.
"Hi there!" Kelly said.
"Nice to meet you." Ben said, waving his hand.
"You've got your hands full with this one." Kelly smirked.
"I heard that!" A muted woman's voice called out from behind the dressing nook door.
"Relax girl, I'm just messing." Kelly laughed.
Ben and Brandon chuckled along. Ben tried to place the voice.
"You better get out here. Your chauffeur is here." Kelly playfully nagged.
Suddenly the nook door opened and Ben's face froze. His childhood crush Sally Acorn stepped into view looking angelic holding one shoe in her hand.
"Don't hate me, but I busted one of the straps." Sally said smiling.
"Grab the back up pair. I'll get Kylie to fix it while you're shooting. You remember Brandon?" Kelly replied.
Ben continued to stare like a deer in headlights as Brandon nudged him. Sally looked up grabbing the other shoes.
"Of course! Hey Brandon!" Sally said genuinely.
"Sally, a pleasure as always. This is Ben, the guy I told you about." He said, diverting attention to Ben.
"Hi Ben, I'm Sally." She extended her elegant hand.
Ben's mind fell on a single thought, "oh fuck."