Page 53 of Lights, Camera, Love

All the critics who have already viewed the movie say that Austin gave an exceptional performance in Moving , and he’s already signed with the biggest talent agency in America.

Instead of staying on in Sydney like he thought he would, he’ll be jet-setting back to the States next month, and in a cruel twist of fate, he’ll be taking my best friend with him.

Rafael nearly burst a blood vessel from crying when he told me about it because of how sad he is to leave me, and he’s still hoping I’ll go with them.

Meanwhile, Martina has been dangling offers in my face—everything from leading roles on Aussie soap operas to bit parts in international movies to hosting the upcoming reboot of Dancing with the Stars . But as exciting as all that sounds, in my heart I know that the limelight isn’t for me.

I don’t want to be watched, photographed and gossiped about everywhere I go.

During the several visits my dad has made to me this past year, he’s shared countless stories that have taught me about the downsides of fame.

Being embroiled in dangerous speedboat chases with the paparazzi, being constantly misquoted and harassed, being unable to do normal things like walking through a shopping mall without putting his life in danger—the list goes on.

Plus, I’m pumped to take over the running of DanceLab from Rafael. My plan is to expand the program with a few more styles, such as breakdance and lyrical, and to introduce children’s classes after school; that will keep me plenty busy.

I give Rafael and Austin a regretful smile. ‘No way, you ratbags. I don’t want to be a third wheel over in La-La land.’

‘You could never be that,’ Rafael says, rubbing my forearm. ‘But … you could see your dad more. And your little brother.’

‘Way to pull out the big guns.’ I squint an unimpressed look at him. ‘But I can jump on a plane to visit them and you whenever I want. I’m honestly so excited to be taking over the dance studio. Plus, I don’t want to leave Mum.’

‘Leave Mum where?’ tinkles a slightly breathless voice. Right on cue, my mother steps up to us, her manicured fingers gripping one of the Tractor Fuel cocktails.

‘Hey, you made it.’ I hop off my stool to give her a hug. She moved into her own studio apartment after I helped clear her debts with my first few payments from Moving , and now it feels like I hardly ever see her.

‘So sorry we’re late,’ she says. ‘I had a whole salon day booked for this, and the stylist was running behind.’

‘It’s all good,’ I say, taking in her one-shoulder dress, the perfect shade of crimson to match her lips. ‘You look beautiful.’

A man steps forward, his hairy fingers clutching a champagne flute.

‘Hey, Jack,’ I say, leaning to give Mum’s boyfriend a kiss on the cheek.

Who would’ve thought she’d end up dating the stranger who commandeered my favourite coffee mug so long ago?

It’s been almost ten months of them being exclusive, and there’s a shine in Mum’s eyes that I haven’t seen before. I hope it never leaves.

‘How was the red carpet?’ she asks around her cocktail straw.

‘ Insane ,’ I reply.

Austin nods. ‘I’ve never seen anything like this here. In LA, it’s kinda normal, but this is a new level of movie mania for Sydney.’

‘The film must be phenomenal,’ Mum says. ‘I’m so looking forward to watching it tonight.’

‘It’s pretty amazing,’ I confirm, remembering the early edit that Austin and I viewed at a private screening and the astonished, excited look we shared when the credits began to roll.

‘Olivia’s a fantastic director,’ Austin chimes in. ‘You’ll see.’

‘I guess your father really came through on that,’ Mum murmurs to me, her jaw tightening slightly.

‘He just made the phone call,’ I remind her.

‘Really, the success of this movie is owed to the changes Olivia made and the early press we managed to get thanks to Austin’s old manager.

’ My gaze flashes to Austin’s, and we share a brief, sombre look of understanding.

Kye helped us achieve all this, and it’s a shame he’s not here.

‘It sounds like the only person who didn’t do much was Buzz,’ Rafael comments with an eyeroll.

We all clink our glasses in a ‘cheers to that’ moment.

Since Kye shared the video of our confrontation at the wrap party with Village Pictures, Buzz has been in hiding, and I’m relieved he hasn’t emerged for the premiere tonight.

He got little more than a slap on the wrist for his outburst, and a few outraged people have suggested I post Kye’s video online, but I would never do that.

I don’t want to see Buzz suffer; I just want him to have a good think about why he was fired from Moving and what he ought to do differently next time.

Hopefully, his highly regarded uncle heard about it and gave him the talking-to he deserved.

On the table, my phone pings with a video message from my dad. Ordinarily, I’d play it later, but I can tell from the thumbnail that it stars my baby half-brother, Levi. All my self-restraint evaporates.

‘Hang on, guys, I’ll be back in a sec,’ I say, and offer Jack my stool. I weave through the mingling guests and find a quiet spot near the bathrooms to play the video.

On the screen, Levi reaches for the camera with his tiny, chubby fingers, a huge smile scrunching his face.

My free hand lands on my chest.

‘Someone wanted to wish you good luck.’ The words are spoken off-camera, in a nasal voice that could only belong to Gabriel Dean. ‘Can you say, “Good luck, Evie. Have a great premiere!”?’

Of course, my little brother can’t repeat those words yet, but he gurgles my name, then bounces up and down with excitement, thinking he’s about to see me.

My dad laughs and scoops him up, using his other hand to turn the camera on them both. ‘We just wanted to wish you all the best, sweetheart,’ Gabriel says, and my chest swells as he presses his lips to Levi’s squishy cheek.

I refuse to let it get to me that what my little brother is experiencing right now is something I will never have. I’m overjoyed for Levi and determined to appreciate the gifts I’ve been given rather than dwell on what’s been taken from me.

In the corner of my eye, I see the stage manager for tonight’s premiere waving at me from across the room. He holds up his watch, taps it, and does a little jig with his shoulders.

Oh, shit—it’s time. I give him a nod, then quickly type a message of thanks to Gabriel.

I hurry back to our table and let Mum and the others know it’s time to head back outside to the red carpet. On my way to the private storeroom to change my shoes, I collide with Avalanche, whose monster-sized foot misses my bare toes by a sliver.

‘Jeez, boss,’ he says with a chuckle, his palms cupping my shoulders to steady me. ‘Nearly took you out.’

I pull him into a hug. He looks damn fine in his three-piece suit, and I’m so proud of him right now.

Bliss, Snuggles, Mayday and Usher appear behind him in dressy outfits and dance shoes, each one of them looking like a million bucks.

Despite having performed in a showcase, a movie and multiple flash mobs by now, their eyes are bulging with nerves.

‘Come on,’ I say to George, Cait, Sarah, Liam and Aneesh, and escort them to the storage room, where we perform a quick ‘Team Evie’ pre-show circle and raise our arms in a group cheer.

Once I’ve swapped my heels for split-sole dance sneakers, we worm our way outside, where the other guests have gathered on the red carpet, leaving a space in the middle that doesn’t obstruct the view for the public crowd.

When the stage manager sees me, he drops his head in relief.

He checks that we’re ready, then barks something into his headset.

With the portable stage speakers at full volume, the classic crowd-pleaser, ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ by Coolio, cuts into the air. The mob of waiting fans share stunned, open-mouthed glances.

‘This is the last time we’re gonna do this routine,’ I remind my dance students as we take our positions on the red carpet. All the cameras in the vicinity swing towards us. ‘So, shake what your mama gave you.’

They laugh over the music, and then, on the beat, we collectively drop low into a deep hip-pop.

Grooving back up, we kick a leg forward, switch to the other leg, and then kick back.

The crowd goes wild as we crisscross, heel-toe, pop, roll and glide—my smile so big that my cheeks hurt.

My slow-motion walk, in tandem with Usher’s, draws a massive cheer, and then we both spin and do a double-dolphin-dive and rise-up combo.

Elation surges and sparkles through my bloodstream.

This is what I want to do with my life.

This is my peace.

The track comes to an end, and laughter pours from my lips as I turn and double-high-five each member of my dance crew.

Time for a glass of water and to get back into my high heels— damn .

I tuck a loose wisp of hair behind my ear and spin around to offer a final wave to the cheering fans. Then, my eyes snag on a face that makes my stomach drop.