"Hiiii, Jo!"
"Hey, guys!" Jo grinned as her family popped up on the screen, all trying to crowd into the frame.
"First day of filming next week, for your first good, serious role. Do you feel prepared?" her father asked.
"As prepared as I can be," Jo said, keeping her smile plastered to her face even though annoyance bubbled up. She didn't want to start arguing with her dad again right now, not when she was supposed to be happy. He wasn't aware of just how hard it was to find roles, and always wished she wouldn't 'settle' for the kind of roles she had been playing thus far in her career.
"You finally get to go start the movie?" Amy said. She was currently visiting home from college and had brought her girlfriend Lorie with her.
"Well, we get a chance to settle in a bit, then it's hectic for the next few weeks. Well, even more than it's already been. You know what I mean." It had already been rather hectic- preproduction for a whole film was a lot different from preproduction for a commercial or even a TV show. Maybe because it was a period film. A lot of preproduction had been meeting with costume design. Jo had known that clothes back in the day had layers, but to actually wear all those layers... holy crap. Costume design went the extra mile with authenticity, beginning with the chemise and stockings, moving to the corset, dress, and then any shawls, coats, bonnets or hats all matched into outfits for certain scenes. Then the gloves, shoes, and various other accessories that they had to learn how to use. Jo remembered one of the costume design team members teaching Friedrich how to wind up an old watch, pop open the back, and reset the time. Eve had recommended that Jo and Meghan learn how to hold, open, and shut fans for the party scenes.
"I love the costumes," Margret sighed, "I saw those pictures you posted after they announced the cast list. That sky blue looked so nice, you know the dress I'm talking about?"
"Yeah."
"I saw the pictures too! I can't believe you'll be acting with Theodore Laurence!" Amy said. As a teen, he had been one of her celebrity crushes. "And I can't believe you got a picture with him!"
"Yeah, he's nice. Mostly everyone is really nice that I've met so far." Jo hoped it would stay that way. "He's starting to talk about maybe making some YouTube videos, talking about the book and stuff. You know, getting his audience interested."
"I'm sure they're already interested, I mean, have you seen his obsessive following?"
"You'll post some pictures, right? And keep us updated?" Margret asked, trying valiantly to keep her little son from running wild. "I know you'll be busy but I want to hear from you."
"Of course," Jo promised. "How's Beth, I don't see her."
"She wanted to talk to you honey, but she's just so exhausted. We'll call again sometime when you aren't busy, she would love to talk to you." Her mother looked exhausted too, Jo thought, with a pang of guilt. Her family insisted she didn't need to move back home when Beth's health issues reared their ugly head. They insisted, especially Beth, that she should focus on following her dream.
"Okay. Tell her I love her."
"We will."
"Are you finished packing? What all are you taking?" Margret asked.
"Well, I think I'm finished. I'm taking nearly everything I moved here with. It's not like I ever completely moved into this apartment, some of my stuff is still in the attic at home."
"You have sunscreen, right?" Amy reminded her.
"Yes, I do. I'm not trying to get burnt."
"And lipstick?"
"What for? I have chapstick right here if that's what you mean."
"No, I mean lipstick. I wouldn't mind having Theodore Laurence as a brother-in-law, you know..."
"Amy..." Jo tipped over her phone as her sister giggled. "Nothing of the sort is going to happen, I'm going to do my job and film this movie without... doing anything stupid."
Jo had never really liked sleeping in hotels, the tight sheets and unfamiliar air making it hard to fall asleep. But she would be living here in this hotel room during filming. It wouldn't be so hard to get used to. It was nicer than the accommodations she was used to being in during shooting. That is, when the jobs in the past had even lasted long enough to warrant having 'accommodations'... Although the book took place in Massachusetts, most of the filming was going to take place in Canada. So... maybe she should start making herself at home? Unpacking maybe?
She didn't end up unpacking and instead paced until it was time to fall asleep. The next morning, she woke up to her alarm blaring. This morning was going to be spent photographing pictures for promotional posters. Jo threw on some leggings and a tank top then looked outside at the frosted grass and grabbed a jacket as well.
The first person she saw when she entered was Eve, who grinned and waved her over. "Josephine! Early, love to see it. Claire is going to get you started with hair and makeup ASAP, as one of the main characters you're in most of the posters." Jo let herself be steered over to a chair where a woman with frizzy hair immediately took her bun down and began braiding her hair back into a style that fit the time period of the movie.
"Good morning Jo," a younger woman with freckles and long brown hair sat down in the chair next to Jo's.
"Morning, Jen." Jenny was going to be playing Lizzie Alcott, one of Louisa's younger sisters. She was very friendly and easy to become comfortable around.
"So, how do you like the hotel?" Jenny asked.
Jo shrugged. May piped up from across the room where she was taking off her purse and fluffing her curls up in the mirror. "Well, I think it's... fine. Subpar if I'm being honest, but that's not where a lot of the budget is going."
"Oh. I thought it was pretty, I like their curtains."
May sighed. "You're sweet, Jen."
"Heyyy," Theo pushed the door open with his hip, brandishing a drink holder. "Who's in the mood for a little pick me up?"
"Oh, me!" Claire raised her hand. Theo kept his foot by the door, holding it open for Friedrich, who helped to carry in the rest of the drinks.
"I've got black coffee and cappuccino, take your pick," Theo said. "Also, a mocha cookie crumble frappuccino for Miss May." He offered it to her with a mock bow.
May smiled for the first time that morning. "How did I ever consume this much sugar on a regular basis?"
"I don't know, but I vividly remember you having this exact drink nearly every morning during The Love Letter."
Friedrich sat down near Jo. "They are old friends, yes?"
"I think so," she said. She hadn't actually seen the movie Theo and May were talking about, or many others with either of them in it. She had somehow missed the boat on teen dramas and romcoms, preferring other genres like mystery, horror, and action.
"So, are you a... black coffee person?"
"Not really. Is it alright if I have one of these?" Jo asked, pointing to a cappuccino.
"Ach, I guessed wrong," Friedrich said in mock disappointment. "And of course, we brought them for everyone."
Jo took a sip, trying to think of something else to say. Meghan had wandered over and everyone else was talking in a circle. Even Claire was momentarily distracted and pulled into the conversation. Jo still didn't feel like she was one of them. "I- um, how long do you think you'll keep growing it out? Your beard I mean." Was that a weird question? Was it weird to ask a guy about his beard? Small talk was so difficult.
"A little longer maybe. Do you think it looks nice? I'm considering keeping it around after the movie."
"I think it looks nice," Jo said.
"Thank you," he said. They held eye contact for a little too long and Jo looked down, taking another sip of her drink and burning her tongue.
"We need to do that again. It wasn't good enough."
"We need more movement of the hips- come on, focus! Nobody on this set is going on break until you can get it right. do you hear me? Now I want you to look up, you know the expression 'through your eyelashes'? Give us provocative. And don't look so uncomfortable."
Jo woke up from a weird dream that she couldn't remember much of. She felt too warm and her mouth was dry. The lights on set... she thought. Wait. that's ridiculous. I'm in bed.
She wasn't on set. She lay in a quiet hotel room. And after getting a drink directly from the bathroom faucet, she stumbled back to bed.