Free The Hollywood Mission by Deborah Abela Page A

boyfriend know what happens when you’re kissed?’ Toby rubbed his cheek and looked towards Linden.
    â€˜He’s not my boyfriend,’ Max replied.
    â€˜Ah, Max?’
    It was her dad. She’d been in America for only a day and she’d already managed to prove to him that she was an oafish, useless, muddle-headed, dim-witted idiot. As Max lifted her long skirt and dragged herself over to her father, she felt the crew’s scowls circling her like a pack of hungry vultures.
    â€˜Maybe you and your friends should have a break and get something to eat from the canteen.’ Her dad suggested with a gentle smile.
    The woman with the clipboard screamed, ‘Ten minute break till we fix the window.’
    The three young actors made their way outside as Toby and Linden talked about the window stunt.
    â€˜That was pretty impressive,’ Linden said. ‘I thought you’d be cactus after a fall like that.’
    â€˜I do judo. You learn how to fall without hurting yourself.’
    As the two new friends talked about stunts and favourite films, Max slumped along behind them, while from out of the darkened wings, a blackened figure stared at her. He watched Max’s every move as a small cough escaped from his broad, wheezy chest.

Although she was nervous, Max surprised herself and most of the crew by finishing the rest of the day’s shoot without breaking anything — or anyone.
    â€˜Where are we going now?’ Toby asked excitedly.
    â€˜I’m going home with my dad, while you can —’
    â€˜Good work, kids.’ Max’s dad walked up to them. ‘Toby, you right for a lift?’
    Before he could answer, Max butted in. ‘He was on his way to meet his parents.’
    Linden thought he saw Toby’s smile slip.
    â€˜We’ll see you for the shoot in three days then, eh!’ said Max’s dad.
    They said goodbye to Toby and walked to the car, where they sank exhausted into the leather seats.
    â€˜This film business is hard work,’ Linden sighed as the driver manoeuvred the car onto the busy LA streets.
    â€˜Linden, Max, I have a surprise for you.’
    â€˜A surprise?’ Max sat forward.
    â€˜How about a ski trip to Aspen?’
    â€˜I’m in,’ Linden offered.
    â€˜But your work …’ Max began.
    â€˜That can wait. My little girl’s visiting.’ Max’s dad handed her a brochure of a snow-coveredchalet-style hotel. ‘This is where we’ll be staying. You used to love skiing when you were little.’

    Back in her bedroom, Max and Linden flopped onto the bed just as Toby did another appearing act. ‘This is the best trip I’ve ever been on. I never knew hanging out with you could be so much fun, Max.’ He saw the ski brochure. ‘Are we going skiing?’
    That was it. Toby had been getting on Max’s nerves ever since he first arrived in LA but now she’d had enough. ‘I think you’ve forgotten, this is my family reunion and my life, and even though you’ve found yourself in the middle of it, it has nothing to do with you.’
    â€˜Oh, Max.’ Toby put on a hangdog look that had faker written all over it. ‘And there I was thinking our relationship was finally starting to blossom.’
    Max narrowed her eyes and got ready to let him have it as Linden peeled a banana he’d picked up from a fruit bowl and settled in to enjoy the show.
    â€˜What I’d like to know is who said you could make your home on my planet?’ attacked Max.
    Toby’s smile spread across his face like warm honey. That was more like it. ‘Scientists call it comingling of the species. Lesser life forms learn frommore intelligent ones, which means you’ve still got a lot to learn.’
    Linden took another bite of his banana and swung his head back towards Max as if he was at a tennis match.
    â€˜And to think your mother went through all the pain of