#countdowns story

‘You made it!’ Annie-Mae’s voice draws my attention away from moving aside for somebody, and towards her. Or at least, towards the shape I think is her before she collides with me in a tight hug.

‘Wouldn’t miss it,’ I assure her, giving her a quick squeeze before pulling away. There’s a bright smile on her face, but if she hadn’t spoken, I doubt I would’ve recognised her. The blonde wig she’s wearing looks wrong; not like the department have done anything wrong, just because that’s not what my sister’s hair is meant to look like. The clothes are slightly too preppy as well. I know it’s all for the character, and yet it still feels slightly surreal seeing her like that.

Her brow furrows ever so slightly. ‘Shouldn’t you be taking your seat?’

I awkwardly run a hand through the back of my hair. ‘Ren’s there so nobody can try switching. Bertie’s trying to smother fires with your director, and Brooke’s probably causing issues with security.’

The smile on her face seems to brighten further, amusement obvious. No matter her protests growing up about my friends, their support tonight means something.

I place a quick kiss on the top of her head, careful of the microphone wire leading to her forehead. ‘But I wanted to let you know we were here. Break a leg, Annie.’

‘Thanks, Sly,’ she says, pulling me in for another hug. ‘Enjoy the show.’

You’re always taught never step in the path of an attacking animal. That you should either freeze or get as far away from them as possible. Unfortunately, I chose to ignore all that advice and instead move to wrap an arm around Brooke’s waist. A dangerous option, one normally only Bertie would be daft enough to pick. But I can’t let her do something she may regret.

Brooke goes to move, and stumbles because of my grip on her. For a brief moment, panic flashed in her eyes, before she looks back at me.

‘What’re you doing?’ she asks.

‘Is it worth it?’ I ask in a whisper, forcing myself not to look at the chuckling mother. Her comment had been throwaway in her eyes, nothing worth dwelling on. ‘Attack her, she threatens a law suit for assault, and then Dad’s left trying to get you out of it.’ Bringing my dad into the mix is a low blow, but the flicker of annoyance in her eyes assures me it’s the right call. I have a point, but she’s loathed to admit it right now.

‘Who said I was gonna attack her?’ she asks petulantly.

A little of the tension eases in her shoulders, and I make the executive decision to release her. Still, I move a little in front of her, partially blocking the woman from sight.

‘Just your general mother bear demeanour,’ I tease with a shrug.

Brooke sneers at me before folding her arms tightly across her chest and all but glaring at the door the twins should soon be tumbling out of.