Around 10:45 I arrive at the studio about the same time as a black stretch limo. The back door opens and out climbs the one and only Joshua Jackson. Hurriedly getting out of my car to meet him, I drop my bag and film spills out everywhere.
“Here, let me help you with that,” says Joshua, leaning down to help clean up my mess.
“Oh my gosh, you’re…you’re…”
“I’m Joshua Jackson. You can call me Josh,” he says, flashing a perfect white smile. “And you are?”
“I’m…a little star struck right now, forgive me. I’m Alicia Jordan,” I stick my hand out and shake his. Putting my bag over his shoulder he holds out his arm and I take it, blushing wildly. This was totally unlike me to act this way around a celebrity. “I’m also your photographer.”
He raises his eyes, and then moves them over my body. “Really? I’ll call you Mrs. Jordan then.”
“No, I’m not a Mrs, I don’t even have a boyfriend.” Oops, I had said that just a little too willingly. But it is the truth, right? Nick and I have never said anything about being exclusive, and we have only been on one date!
“Really? That’s incredible.”
“Why?” I ask, almost shyly.
“Because someone like you should definitely not be without a boyfriend.”
I blush and we walk into the studio.
“Joshua! Bro, what’s up?” says Joshua’s co-star, James Van Der Beek.
“James! Hey, man, what’s happenin’?” Joshua asks, giving James a high five.
“You were supposed to be here ten minutes ago, they need you in wardrobe. Who’s this?” he asks, looking at me with a smile.
Josh puts his arm over my shoulder, “This is the photographer. Her name’s Alicia.”
I put my hand out and shake James’.
“Well, I’ll get to know her while you go get ready,” James takes my arm and leads me to a small room as Josh went off to wardrobe. It was a small white room, with tables and chairs, sort of set up like a small cafeteria. “Would you like something to drink? Coffee or something?” he asks, politely.
I shake my head, and then reconsider, “Well, bottled water would be fine, thanks.” He walks up to a vending machine and buys me a Dasani. “Thank you very much,” I take a sip, then hear someone yell my name. Excusing myself from James I follow the noise until I come to the clothing room.
“Which do you like better?” asks Joshua, holding up two button-up shirts. The first was green and Hawaiian print. The second was a baby blue and navy blue plaid pattern. I choose the second.
“It really brings out your eyes,” I say, and he thanks me for the compliment. “Are you almost ready?”
“Yeah, hold on one second,” he rips his shirt off, showing his well-toned six-pack, and puts on a white undershirt. Then, he slips on the over shirt. “Now, I’m ready.” He smiles and we walk back onto the set.
“Why is your face so red, Alicia?” James asks, causing me to blush even more. I quickly find a way to change the subject.
“So, I want you guys over there on the platform. But, I guess, if you want you can we can start you off over there.” I command, giving my usual drill-sergeant directions. The guys get into places and I snap a few shots. “Okay, look like you’re mad at each other. Pretend to fight.”
“That should be easy,” says James, who is standing behind Joshua, as he takes my bottled water and pours it down Josh’s back.
“Son of a bitch!” he screams, tackling James to the ground.
I laugh at the two’s playfulness and immaturity.
“James Van Der Beek! Look what you did! Now I have to do him all over!” shouts Courtney, one of the hairdressers.
“Sorry,” he grins, sheepishly.
“It’s all right. While she’s fixing him up I can do your solo shots, okay?” He agrees and Joshua stalks off, looking rather pissed. “Is he alright?”
“Yeah, we always do that to each other. He’s just pissed that I get to be alone with you first.”
“Yeah, I’m SURE that’s the reason,” I laugh sarcastically. He raises his eyebrows and gets into position.
An hour later, the four of us are sat on the sandy beach. The beach isn’t too crowded and there’s a cool breeze blowing. It’s just perfect. After having to take a detour to both Brian’s and Nick’s houses for their beach stuff, I had started to wonder if we’d make it before sunset. Nick is playing with a softball. He spots a volleyball net in the distance and jumps up excitedly.
“Hey, volleyball! Let’s go play!” We all agree and head off down the beach. Nick decides to take control of the teams. “Ok, so I guess it’s me and Brian. Or should we go by height? Then it’d be me and Jade.”
“Huh?” We all look confused.
“Height it is,” he nods happily and drags me off round the other side.
Brian ducks under the net, still confused. “Height?”
“Yeah. Cos height is an advantage in this game I figured the tallest should go with the shortest to even it out.”
“Oh, right,” Brian goes back to his side, explaining it to AJ.
I look at Nick. “I’m scared. That actually made sense.”
He laughs. “Hey, I’m not all dodo y’know.”
We start playing volleyball. Nick and Brian get quite competitive but AJ and I just leap around for the hell of it. Often in the totally wrong direction. I knock into Nick more times than I don’t, really pissing him off at first but then he starts giggling every time the two of us land in the sand. After a while, we start to draw a crowd of girls. I look at them worriedly and move over to Nick.
“Hey, should we go?”
He glances at the girls. “Nah, they’ll be fine. They usually just stare.”
“Ok…”
He looks at me amusedly. “You scared?”
“Oh yup,” I announce. “I’ve heard about what happened to your last girlfriends.”
He frowns and slips an arm around me casually. “That was only cos we weren’t there to protect them.”
I look up at him with a wry chuckle. “And you think you could protect them against hundreds of hysterical teenagers?!”
He laughs. “Nup, but I guess they’d kill us first.”
I push him away with a laugh as Brian hits the ball over.
While I’m clicking away with my camera, Josh returns to the room, completely refreshed and dressed in the green Hawaiian print shirt. I laugh and nod to his outfit.
“I know you don’t like it, but it was the next best thing.”
“I didn’t say I didn’t like it, Pacey. I really do. It looks good.” He gives me a funny look and I notice my slip-up. “Oh god! I mean Joshua! That was really embarrassing,” I cover my horrified face.
“It’s alright, I get that a lot. And thank you,” he laughs. “Is it my turn yet?” he asks, looking at me and then James.
“Definitely, watch out. She’s a slave-driver!”
“Sure, go get on the little thingy over there,” I say pointing to a small boat, which is supposed to represent True Love.
“I miss that damn boat,” he fakes a tear, leaving us in hysterics.
“Just get up there!” I laugh and return to my place behind the Nikon. After a couple of pictures of him on the boat, I redirect him to the platform again. “I want to take a few close ups. I also want one of you, James, and both of you together for my collection. Would you mind autographing them for me tomorrow or whenever you approve them?”
“It would be my pleasure,” Joshua says, coming down from the boat and kissing my hand. “Before we do the close ups, do you mind if I get water. It’s really hot in here.”
“You were just standing in front of a fan!” I exclaim, referring to the giant fan that blew his hair to give it the “sea-blown” look.
“Well, I came down here by you and got all hot again.” He gives me another 100-watt smile and head off to the small room Daws-, I mean James and I were in earlier. Quickly returning, he leaps up onto the platform. “Fire it well!” he bellows, striking some weird muscle-man pose.
“Umm, whatever,” I laugh, shaking my head.
He gets into his regular pose, bending down and resting his elbows on his knees. I shoot him for a few more minutes and then check my watch. It’s nearly 12:47 and I remember promising to meet Jade and the guys at the beach at 1:00. I wonder what’s going on right now. Right about now AJ probably has a poor Bri in a headlock, and AJ has a broken nose. Jade is standing there scared, not knowing what to do. Nick’s probably trying to pull AJ off Brian, but can’t help a chuckle here and there.
“Alicia,” Joshua says, waving his hand in my face, snapping me back to reality.
“Oh, yeah. Yeah, sorry ‘bout that. Kinda zoned out for a sec. I’m back now,” I say, smiling brightly as I load up my equipment.
“I guess we are leaving now. I’ll see you soon okay?”
“Count on it,” I reply, giving him a hug. “Thank God you two were so easy to work with! I did Bitchney Queers and Ghetto Timberfag two days ago. Talk about my worst nightmare!”
Joshua snickers at hearing my nicknames.
“Well, we like you. We put our last photographer through hell!” James says, waving goodbye and exiting the building.
I laugh and wave goodbye to Josh, who insists on giving me a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
“That was MUCH better than my dream,” I laugh to myself, taking the film to Ashton in the dark room. “I owe you for this job, Ash. This was seriously a dream come true! I can’t believe I got to work with the stars of Dawson’s Creek!” I say, throwing my arms around him.
“No, I owe YOU one. I was beyond pissed when Damien bailed. I didn’t know what to do! Besides, I knew it would be love at first sight when you laid eyes on what’s-his-name Jackson.”
“It was!” I laugh, throwing my bag over my back. “I gotta go now, I’m meeting some friends at the beach.”
“Okay, have fun. I’ll have someone call you to come check over the photos, alright?” he asks.
“Sure, whatever.” I run out of the building and jump into my car. Pulling a Nick, I peel out and speed down the highway, blaring the radio to “My Way” by Limp Bizkit.
I reach the parking lot and find an empty space next to a large Expedition. Climbing out of the car, I walk around the Expedition to see the license plate. “AJ bone 69”, it reads. I laugh, happy I found the right car. Taking out my cell phone, I call Jade for help in finding them.