Free Film Star by Rowan Coleman Page A

hard on this film? Your whole life will completely change because of this. Things might never be the same as they are now.”
    I stared at her.
    â€œAre you bonkers?” I said. “Of course I want to do it!”
    â€œJust checking,” she said. And as she went back down the stairs she was singing. I hadn’t heard her singing in ages.
    Finally there were the goodbyes.
    Mum and Dad took Nydia, Anne-Marie, Danny and me to our favourite pizza restaurant. And I thought that had to mean something because before they split up we used to come here at least twice a month. It was one of our special places. Since Dad had moved out and until I got that second audition for the film, we hadn’t been anywhere together. And now I was sure that Dad saw more of Mum than he did of his so-called “girlfriend”. Ismiled at them happily. “This is great, isn’t it? Being all together.” Mum and Dad swapped looks across the table.
    â€œYes, love,” Mum said with a small smile.
    â€œGreat,” Dad said, looking carefully at his menu. It seemed as if although they didn’t mind spending time together, they didn’t actually want to talk about it.
    â€œGood evening, everyone,” Cassie said as she came to take our order. “Hi, Ruby, I really miss you in Kensington Heights, but I have to say I love your character, Danny—Marcus is brilliant. Actually, I’ll have to get you to sign something before you go because my little sister loves you!”
    â€œNo problem,” Danny said, looking a little embarrassed as he glanced at me.
    â€œDanny’s very popular with little girls,” Anne-Marie said mischievously, winking at me over the top of her glass.
    â€œOh, don’t let Suzie hear you say that!” Cassie said with a laugh. “She’s nearly fourteen! All of her pals think you are the bee’s knees, Danny.” I watched a blush spread across Danny’s cheeks and tried not to feel jealous of some girl I had never met and who Danny would probably never meet. “I expect you’ll be the next one to move on to bigger things,” Cassie added.
    Danny shrugged.
    â€œOh, I don’t know,” he said. “I think kids our age only get these chances once in a blue moon.”
    â€œOr if there’s a Harry Potter film being shot,” Anne-Marie pointed out. “And there’s always a Harry Potter film being shot; it’s as regular as Christmas for kid actors. Should hopefully see a good few of us through to adulthood. Although not me,” she finished with a little twist of her mouth. “I don’t care though, cos Art Dubrovnik’s considering me for his next project, isn’t he, Ruby?”
    â€œHe is,” I said, even though I didn’t think that was exactly what he had said.
    Cassie smiled at all of us, her pen hovering above her pad.
    â€œSo are we ready to order?” she asked brightly.
    We were halfway through our pizzas when I noticed that Nydia had hardly touched hers. Instead, she picked at her side salad without much enthusiasm. I remembered the conversation we’d had in the school corridor with the bell clanging in our ears.
    â€œAre you OK?” I said, keeping my voice low.
    â€œFine,” she said quite loudly, smiling at me.
    â€œI’ve thought about it and I know I won’t be around for a while, but I’ll get days off and I’ll come back and then on one of those days we could go and see the nurse…”
    â€œNo, it’s fine,” Nydia said. “Honestly. I don’t need to see the nurse and make a big fuss. I’m fine now.”
    â€œBut I—”
    â€œReally,” Nydia said, picking up a slice of pizza and biting the end off it. She spoke through her mouthful. “I was just being silly and jealous and overdramatic. I’m fine now, really. There’s no problem, honestly.” I looked carefully at Nydia’s face to see