Thanks for the reviews on the first chapter much appreciate it, just want to mention it's my own version on Love Actually with A2A twist not copied from the film, some characters have changed, I've also changed to scribblechacha for beta reading this latest chapter.

Love at Christmas - What you see is what you get

Chapter 2

"Right camera one on stand-by, Pete have camera two ready in five minutes, we're scheduled to be filming around at least four scenes this morning and four scenes this afternoon." One of the younger producers on the film called out from the far background. The filming location appeared to be less budgeted and unchallenged. Chris seemed to be feeling quite petrified, as he awaited his cue, as he looked across the other side of the room, another stand in actress anticipated being called to stand in on one of the scenes.

She shyly walked over to meet him, clutching a book in her left hand. "Hi my name is Sharon Granger, you must be Chris, I've read about your previous walk on parts, very impressive, might I say." She reached her available hand out for him to shake.

"Nice to meet you too Sharon, you don't mind if I call you Shaz, it's just that I don't remember names too well and I can be inclined to forget everytime." Chris generously asked; he was grateful that at least he wasn't alone on this set considering that the two cameramen on the other side of the room appeared to be too forgetful and foolish to cotton that they'd kept him waiting anxiously in the wings for just over 30 minutes.

"My friends basically call me Shaz too just to shorten my name, which I prefer" she admitted. Her hand at that time brushed against an untouched elevated camera while she continually chatted with Chris. She began to enjoy their topical conversation and felt grateful he was willing to listen to her, also she couldn't help thinking he looked remarkably cute and handsome in that blue denim jacket he was currently wearing.

"So are you here for the background extra or body double?" Chris looked curious to know, he soon regretted asking, as his shyness was becoming pretty obvious to see.

"Body double, I auditioned for a cameo role but they told me I'd be better to fill in for the lead actress when she's not required to stand in on some of the from behind scenes. I've had acting roles before but they were more for Doctors and The Bill." Shaz answered, taking a second to heave a sigh, all she wondered was why she was even telling this young attractive man about her career when nothing ever seemed to turn into proper acting roles.

"I dabble with both, looking at me from the back my friend Ray said I could easily be mistaken for any male soap actor." Chris thoughtfully remembered his best friend, telling him those exact words in which I assumed that Ray was winding him up especially as he'd said he should definitely audition for Coronation Street as the new barman behind the bar in the Rovers Return.

"Really, oh see I thought you'd be a lookalike for Eddie Cahill from CSI New York." Shaz jokingly suggested, pleased she and Chris shared plenty of things in common.

xxxx

The press for numerous weeks had continuously predicted Derek Litton's so-called singing comeback would turn out to be the biggest flops of the decade. A few months earlier he'd already decided to pursue a solo career and assumed Christmas would be the targeted and best time in the year to release his comeback single - an updated cover version of East 17's Stay Another Day. He knew not all music fans would probably like it.

"Derek, surely you should have chosen a different song, a new mainstream one." His manager Geoffrey tried to change his music artist's mind.

"Geoffrey relax will yer, you starting to make me feel nervous you daft man, sit down..." Derek tried his best to settle his manager's nervous tension. Geoff and Derek were due to be interviewed on Absolute Radio to promote the single and give a few fans of Derek's a chance of meeting him in person.

"Quite cosy in this sofa isn't it? Reminds me of one I had in my old house with the ex. Had sex on it too, but after I had a sore arse afterward" Derek added as he started bouncing up and down as boredom of being kept waiting began to show.

The young radio producer, who was holding a clipboard, swiftly came in the studio to introduce himself.

"Now Derek, we chosen three of your biggest fans, at this moment right now they're waiting for you, which is in the canteen along the corridor and through the door on its your right; they've asked whether they could ask you a minimum of three questions each, like who was your musical inspiration, who inspired you to become a musician?"

"I'd like to say that Bowie inspired me, the man of bloody musical genius." Derek muttered, moving his hands to gesture.

"Unquestionably I think every artist in the charts today like Robbie Williams would give the same answer as you've just given now." The producer foretold knowingly.

"Nah, I would assume they'd be encouraged by the likes of Chesney Hawkes." Derek revealed as he thought otherwise, a surprised reaction emerged on the faces of his manager and the producer.

xxxx

"Hey handsome, why do you look so sad? Don't tell me is it because of the run up to Christmas?" One of the barmaids behind the counter inside of the Golden Lion pub noticed Ray hadn't touched his pint, not even dared to look at it either, she sympathized with him no matter what he must be troubled by.

"Maybe." Ray shyly admitted, he looked thoughtful and contemplative as he met the younger woman's eyes. "You don't want to hear my sob story, besides get enough of them on the X Factor." He seemed hesitant, unsure whether or not this attractive barmaid would even want to listen to his story on how his professional career had gone downhill.

"You shouldn't be feeling grouchy nor grumpy, Christmas is the time to be spending with the people who respect you and who think highly of you, don't let that get you down whatever it is you feel bothered by."

"Cheers gorgeous." Ray gratefully expressed his thanks, cheekily winking as she went to collect finished pint glasses from the tables. "Might do something I wouldn't have thought of doing, some backpacking across Europe; ask my friend Chris if he wants to come along, make sure both of us head to the trendy bars in France and get bloody plastered." Ray felt much assured and calmer, maybe this last minute plan may not be such a bad idea.

xxxx

"Thanks for tuning into Absolute Radio, my guest is regarded as one of the best musicians of the 1980's, famed for his wild antics in the band Marching Storm; unfortunately the band went their separate ways in 1989, this accomplished musician has decided to go solo and nowadays he's been working on a new studio album and a new song, a cover version of the East 17 classic Stay Another Day, Derek Litton welcome to the studio." The enthusiastic DJ announced.

"Thanks, it's great to be here." Derek replied, swivelling around on the chair, he perched in, he began to make raspberry noises on his headphones as the DJ continued to chat, notably all eyes were focused on the guest rather than the DJ.

"So Derek just a few minutes ago, you met three of your biggest ever fans, was it a great experience getting to meet them and have you had photos taken with them? ..."

"Yeah they were fantastic, dedicated, loyal and downright nuts too." Derek laughed as he answered.

"Right, anyway we've had listeners emailing in their questions for you and we were wondering if you won't mind answering as many as you can." The DJ nervously changed the subject, he'd noted that Derek appeared to be quite bored and searching for something to entertain him.

"Ok, no problem."

"Right, question in from Debbie in Newcastle, Derek which current actor from television or film would you like to play you in a TV biopic or movie based on your life? Might I add Debbie this is a fantastic question." The DJ read out from a printed sheet full of hundreds of questions.

"Graham from Coronation Street, he'd be an interesting choice I reckon." Derek confidently replied, smiling.

The radio interview wasn't going as according to plan, the London DJ was soon enough being pressurized to rush the remainder of this interview, his producers seemingly worried the audience ratings would be plummeting. "Okay next question is from Gordon in Dublin, ah Derek question is 'marry, shag or push off a cliff', which celebrities would you say?"

"Easy, I'd marry Kat from EastEnders, shag one of the Desperate Housewives, imagine their faces and push an X Factor judge off a cliff, that programme is quite feasibly dreadful, always spoiling the charts at Christmas " Derek answered the question but became unaware he could have maybe turned the air cold blue with his mini rant. His views on modern day entertainment were not presumably up-to-date.

The DJ snapped out of his shocked reaction, he expressed thanks to Derek for answering the questions.

Everyone in the room looked gobsmacked, he turned to his manager to check on how he done "So Geoff how do you think I did?" Geoff had covered his hands over his head.

End of Chapter

All reviews are welcome