"I'm really nervous about this."
Topaz swallowed hard, adjusting her skirt for the sixteenth time that morning, and casting an apprehensive look across at the film set. It was the first day of filming, and Topaz had soon discovered that the crazy melee was little like the comforting chaos of a Jewel video shoot. Everyone seemed to know where they were going, and what they were doing, and Topaz had begun to feel very lost.
"What if I mess it up?" She demanded now. "Forget my lines or something?"
"We all forget lines here and there." Morgan told her comfortingly. "Even the Great One himself. Just relax, Rora. Take a deep breath and forget the cameras are there. You were fine when we were rehearsing through the script yesterday, and you've nothing to worry about. It'll be fine. And of course, if you do screw up, they can do the take again. It isn't like performing live."
"Which I've done more times than I can count." Topaz acknowledged. "Okay, when you put it like that, it doesn't seem so bad."
"See?" Morgan's eyes twinkled mischievously. "You'll be fine. Go on! They're waving at you!"
Topaz swallowed hard, obediently heading out onto the set. Travis was already there, and he cast her a cool, slightly distant smile as she took her place opposite him. This did nothing to soothe the singer's ruffled composure, and they had only been filming a matter of minutes when she messed up a line, causing the director to call "cut!" and a loud groan to go up from the surrounding crew.
"I'm sorry." Topaz's cheeks flushed red, and she cast Travis an apologetic look. "I didn't mean to..."
"Don't worry about it." Travis said with a shrug, though there was both impatience and irritation in his eyes. "We can retake. I wasn't happy with my hair in that shot, anyway - the camera was at totally the wrong angle."
He gestured at one of the camera operators, who returned his signal with one of his own, and carefully moved the camera slightly to the left. Topaz watched with some confusion.
"I didn't realise you could get them to do that." She murmured. Travis cast her a knowing smile.
"I'm Travis Banning. They do whatever I ask." He told her confidently. "After all, I'm the name selling this movie. They have to keep me happy, else their little picture will be a flop."
"Oh. I see." Topaz fell silent, retaking her starting position and waiting for the director to call 'action'. His arrogance and self-assurance startled her, but, mindful of all Morgan had said, she realised that the star really believed himself that important to the success of the film.
"And, knowing how many girls would happily fall at his feet, I expect he's right." She mused. "After all, the draw in this film is hardly going to be me. I can't even say my lines in the right order!"
"Aurora, are you with the rest of us?" One of the production assistants called out, and a ripple of laughter flitted around the assembled cast. Topaz started, looking sheepish, realising she had missed another cue.
"I'm sorry, I was concentrating so hard on remembering my line that I forgot to say it." She admitted.
"Well, third time lucky, my dear." Milton cast her a reassuring smile. "Take five, everybody - I have to make a call. And Aurora - don't be frightened! You're doing fine - everyone gets nervous the first time they shoot a scene."
"Particularly airheads who belong in the music industry." Topaz heard a murmur from behind her, and she turned, a frown crossing her face.
"That wasn't called for." She said quietly. "I'm trying my best."
"I dare say you are, my dear." The speaker, a tall, red haired actress named Marina Ricard cast her an infuriatingly condescending smile. "Only is it quite good enough?"
Topaz narrowed her eyes.
"We'll see, won't we." She hissed. "And I was under the impression that professionals didn't bitch behind the scenes."
"Well, then you've a lot to learn." Marina sent her a frosty look. "And besides, you're not exactly what I would call a professional, fudging your lines every few minutes. We're all fond of Milton and we like to see his work a success - don't blow it for him, huh?"
"Marina, shut your yap." Travis came up behind Topaz so quietly that he made her jump, putting a reassuring arm across her shoulders and sending the redhead a disapproving look. "Milton has faith in Aurora's acting skill and so do I. She's just nervous of the cameras, that's all. When she's done a few scenes, she'll be fine."
"Travis, are you sticking up for her?" Marina stared. Travis shrugged.
"I shouldn't have to stick up for anyone. We're all parts in Milton's project, after all." He said, casting Topaz a companionable smile. "Isn't that right, Aurora?"
"I suppose it is." Topaz nodded, inwardly confused by the star's sudden generosity. "I am sorry I've screwed up the scene twice, though. It's a little more daunting than I expected."
"Well, I'm not one who likes to say I told you so, but you've spent far too long listening to advice from a half-baked professional."
Travis sent a scornful look across the set to where Morgan was leaning up against one of the pillars, a dark look on her face as she surveyed the scene. "Morgan might be well thought of as an actress in some circles, but she's hopelessly unprofessional in other ways. You saw how disgracefully she reacted to me the other day - sadly she hasn't quite learnt professionalism yet. I think you'd do a lot better to use me as a role model - I can teach you far more than she can."
"Morgan has been sweet to me." Topaz cast a glance across to the dark haired girl, confusion marring her features. "I like her."
"Well, it's up to you." Travis shrugged, though Topaz was aware once more of that strange, irritated look in his eye. "If you want to let Milton and the film down..."
"Of course I don't." Topaz frowned. "I want to do my best."
"Well, Travis is right, you know." Marina, seeing which way things were going suddenly seemed disposed to be a lot more friendly. "Morgan is prone to silly outbursts of temper when she doesn't get her own way. Why, only a few months ago she was all over the tabloids for having launched a perfectly unprovoked attack on..."
"Enough of that, Marina." Travis held up his hand, sending her a warning look. "The point is, Morgan isn't the best person to go to if you want acting advice. Spend lunch with me, and I'll give you some clear pointers. That will please Milton."
Topaz bit her lip, casting Morgan one last look. Then she shrugged.
"All right." She agreed. "I'd appreciate your advice, Travis. Thank you."

  "What in hell was all that about?"
As the actors collected their belongings at the close of filming, Marina grabbed Travis by the arm, sending him a quizzical look. "Travis Banning, you've been one of my closest friends for as long as I can remember, and I've never heard you play all sweet and nice to some idiot newcomer who can't even string a line together!"
"Well, it would help if you'd have a little more faith in me than you seem to." Travis snapped, pulling his arm away. "Listen, Marina, Morgan and I are still hot press in the gossip columns. Noone seems ready to forget the little incident in the restaurant, and I intend to make sure that they do. Topaz is a high profile local celebrity, and she might be a fool, but she's the perfect target to stamp down any residual press about Morgan and that unfortunate engagement business. I've left that mess behind me, and Topaz is an attractive girl, if nothing else. I'll convince her she's in love with me, then the Los Angeles press will have another hot topic to write about. You know me by now - few girls resist the Banning charm for long. A couple of evenings out in public together, a few invites over to my place - the press will soon be writing us as showbusiness's hottest new item, and Morgan and her 'issues' will be history. With any luck they'll forget all about her altogether."
"I see."
Marina's green eyes narrowed thoughtfully. "And you think that this will get Morgan to drop her personal hate campaign against you? You did jilt the girl, Travis."
"I was under the impression that you never approved of my seeing her in the first place." Travis observed coldly. "Besides, jilting is too strong a word. She outlived her public usefulness, and now it's time for something new. According to DeMarco, Jewel are quite the rock heart throbs. It can't hurt me, surely, to be linked with her for a while? And it certainly won't hurt her reputation, so why would she complain? She'll be grateful for my attention, if she knows what's good for her."
"How long are you going to play this mister nice guy with her, though? I could've thrown up at lunch - it's so unlike you. You'll never keep it up!"
"I won't have to." Travis shrugged his shoulders carelessly. "Like I said, she's no brainiac. She's a rock singer, and they're all the same -all beauty, no intelligence. You saw how easily I manipulated her on set earlier today - she's not going to be any challenge. Once she's in love with me, she'll do whatever I ask. And filming won't last forever. It's not a long term prospect - just a bit of fun."
"Well, I wish I didn't have to spend time in her company." Marina shivered. "I hate people who think they can jump professions. It happens way too often these days."
"Well, Milton must have his whims." Travis shrugged. "We're all good enough to pull her along, Marina. The important thing for me is that this Jewel girl gives me some positive press in the Hollywood gossip columns. And if that means enduring her company for a while, and sweet talking her about her lack of talent, so be it. With any luck, it might even expose Morgan as the jealous, immature bitch that she is."
"Anything to help the great Travis Banning, huh?" Marina looked amused. "All right, I suppose you know what you're doing. And I've no love for Morgan O'Sullivan either - you know full well that she took the part in that horror flick right out from under my nose!"
"Sometimes even sleeping with the producer doesn't make it a sure thing that you will get the part, my dear." Travis sent her a knowing smile. "But Morgan should know better than to mess with me. This idiot Aurora is just what we need. Trust me."
"You usually know what you're doing." Marina sounded resigned. "All right, Travis, I'll trust you. But you better be right."
"I always am." Travis winked at her. "Come on. I must find DeMarco, and I'll have my driver drop you home."
As they moved away, neither one noticed a slim figure in the shadows, shaking with anger at all she had heard.
"You think you're so slick, Travis Banning." She muttered. "But don't count on it. I'm going to make Rora see what you're like if it's the last thing I do. You haven't learnt yet - don't underestimate Morgan O'Sullivan!"