Head of Costume Design

Wrinkling her nose as she teased, “You couldn’t handle me Tarek. I’m too much woman for you.” Gemma stared at the face he made. Stunned silent, she chewed on her straw contemplating what to say next before deciding on a friendly piece of advice. “Never make that face again. Ever. It’s not flattering at all.” Laughter followed, mostly because she could picture the scene perfectly. Everything from the quivering bottom lips, full waterworks, and the words she blabbered between sobs. “Please tell me you requested to have her reassigned to someone else or quietly dismissed from her internship.” Her attention returned to their discussion about Josie’s character. Gemma wasn’t sure but she was skeptical about the other writers viewing habits of the show or their research of audience reactions. There were some Thursday nights where she joined Tarek and they picked apart every piece of the episode. Discussing his wardrobe choices and Gemma chiming in with the writers’ room details about a scene’s creation. She also trolled the web, so to speak. Reading posts on popular social media sites.Visiting pages dedicated to the shows favorite characters and ships. That thought alone gave her the answer she needed. “It’s obvious that they don’t watch the show and they definitely don’t listen to the viewers. A pregnancy plot would destroy Leann’s character. That’s not her arc and it’s not Josie’s strength as an actress.” She finished off her drink and motioned for the bartender’s return, “They don’t get it. They’re recycling 80s Dynasty plots like they were great then, when they weren’t. Have you ever watched this old shows. You think the CW’s version is horrible. You’ve seen nothing.” 

“BEST…the best idea I’ve heard all day. Give up the fittings and inappropriate daily groping of hot cast members.” Gemma thanked the bartender for her drink and took the first sip. She immediately began to relax and alcohol wasn’t the only cause. She had to thank Tarek too. From day one he’d been a friend on set and off. Sometimes it was difficult to tell by the way they tossed insults back and forth but it was their special way of showing affection. “Are you really discussing the lack of edgy and chic maternity fashion when a pregnancy would be death to the continuity and beauty of Leann’s character. I mean I get drama. That feeds ratings. Makes the viewers come back week over week but do it wrong and you lose your audience in a shorter time frame than it took to gain them.” Wrinkling her nose in response to his greeting to the other crew members, Gemma reminded Tarek of one simple fact, “Your ego is all I’ll be stroking. I’m immune to all that flirting.” Taking another sip from her drink, she listened to the details of his day. Confusion the only response she had to the missing jackets. “But wait. How do you lose five jackets unless you do hand them out like candy.” She couldn’t help but laugh when he mentioned the crying. “There’s a special place in hell for people like you that make interns cry.” The questions didn’t stop, “Was it like silent tears or did she do the whole lips quivering, sobbing thing before she ran off?”

“Oh, wait, you mean to be a writer I have to give up groping the hot cast members?” Tarek waved a dismissive hand. “Nope, I’m out.” He took another drink. “Honestly, though, do these writers even watch the show? Forget the fact that it would be a bitch to dress her, do people in that room really think that Leann would even go through with a pregnancy? She isn’t even in Canyon Falls for what’s his face... it was never about him, it’s always been about her finding herself and not having anywhere to go... where would she even live with a baby?” Maybe he was one of the only ones who worked for the show that watched it. Sure, he loved seeing his name at the end of the episode with credits to the wardrobe but he also cared about the characters and he knew the cast well enough to know that those characters were apart of them. He knew Josie would be upset if they stuck her with an out of the blue pregnancy plot when it wasn’t where her character was headed. “At least you’re the only one who seems to be immune to it or else I’d be oh so bored.” Tarek hooked up, everyone knew that. “She had to have just given them to any one who said they were an extra, regardless of what scene they were an extra for and, of course, she didn’t take down any names like she’s supposed to... now I’m out 5 Canyon Falls High blazers.” With another sip of his drink Tarek mimicked the face the intern had made. A bottom lip jutted out to here, big doe eyes, and a stammering “B-b-but I t-t-thought you s-s-said... and then I gave her a look like she was crazy and told her to ‘please, leave’.” 

This was why Gemma adored Tarek. He said exactly what she’d been screaming inside of her head for the last five hours. “How? See how easy that was for you to connect the dots on why that would be a horrible idea.” Gemma could imagine it now. The letters the show would receive, most of them addressed to Josie and each one expressing their undying hatred of her and her character Leann. “Why can’t everyone be as smart and undeniably adorable as you.” Stopping mid compliment, “Oh wait. You already promised to buy me drinks, I can stop with the ego stroking.” She followed his lead, heading to the bar they often frequented after work. “That big heart of yours is going to get you in trouble one day. You know I’m dramatic.” Linking her arm in his, “How about you buy the first two rounds and I’ll get the third.” Leading them to the bar, Gemma took a seat, eyes carefully watching Tarek, “Your turn to vent about your day.” 

“Maybe I should be a writer?” The idea wasn’t appealing to him at all but he probably knew the show better than some of the other actual writers. “All I know is that I really don’t feel like styling a pregnant girl... maternity clothes aren’t as cute.” Plus, with the character of Leann it would be even harder. Where would he even find edgy chic maternity wear? “You can suck up to me all you want, you know I don’t mind. My ego loves to be stroked.” He followed her into the bar, waving to a few of the other crew members. “Deal.” He waved the bartender down. “Oh, my turn? Fun. I stupidly asked the intern to bring a rack of jackets to set for the extras and somehow she lost like 5 of them. How? I don’t know. I think she just gave them out without taking names and then when I like slightly raised my voice she started crying. Legit crying, Gemma, like I’m a monster.” His anger sparked up again and he grabbed the drink that had been put in front of him.

“And somehow I still manage to look better than you.” Gemma wrinkled her nose with response, stopping short of sticking her tongue out for added affect. “I need a drink or five after being trapped in that room all day.” Rolling her eyes, she made a move to dig through her bag in search of her phone, eventually abandoning her efforts and returning her attention to Tarek. “Can you believe, someone actually pitched a pregnancy plot today? A fucking pregnancy plot and we’re not even half way through the season.” Leaning in to rest her chin on his shoulder, lashes fluttering and lips pouted, “Get me drunk so I can forget every dumbass I work with on a daily basis.” 

“You wish.” Tarek slung an arm around Gemma’s shoulder and headed towards the parking lot. “Oh, let me guess, knock up Josie’s character to make it seem like that’s why she’s in Canyon Falls? The baby that breaks up everyone’s on true pair.” Everyone loved a good love-triangle but it wasn’t necessary to add in a baby too. A pregnancy didn’t always equal drama and some writers, apparently, didn’t get that. He was in costumes and even he got that. “A drink or five coming right up.” He pointed his arm dramatically towards a favorite bar that was just down the street. “On me, too, seems like the least I can do after the shit day you had.”