Ashleigh wasn't herself. Wendy chose not to say anything, but concern fluttered in the back of her mind when Ashleigh didn't even order anything to eat. "It's fine, seriously, I'll pay for it. You can pay me back when you're superstars," she said, looking between the two and forcing a smile. But her persuasion didn't work, so she turned her attention to Louis. "So, how long have you been in America?" She asked. But before she could get her answer, Ashleigh's red wine went everywhere. Wendy shoved herself away from the table on instinct, but it was too late. The wine had stained the front of her dress. It was Ashleigh's reaction, however, that upset Wendy. She didn't even get to refuse the other girl's money before she was gone, leaving Wendy and Louis alone. Wendy stood for a minute, staring after her friend and blinking away tears. It had to be her fault. Maybe if she'd brought them somewhere less fancy, somewhere where they would have felt more comfortable, this wouldn't have happened.
"Well, we've ordered now, we may as well stay and eat it," She forced herself to joke, sitting back down.
A week later
"Thank you very much, Miss Collins, we'll be in touch," the casting director said. Wendy smiled and thanked him, heading back out to the street. They weren't even finished the press for one movie and she was already going for auditions for the next. She knew she was lucky- her male co-star was filming already. But her agent thought that it was better for an up-and-coming actress like herself to take it easy. She didn't want to appear to be trying too hard, and she also didn't want to overwork herself.
As she reached the street, she pulled out her phone and texted Louis. Despite the disaster of their first meeting, they'd been getting on extremely well ever since. Wendy really, really liked him. He was passionate as well as physically attractive, and he had that artsy, mysterious personality that she'd always loved. She needed a date for a charity ball in a few weeks, and knew that she wanted to bring him. But first, he needed a suit, and she had it all worked out. She knew one of the finest tailors in New York, and she was fully intending on buying him a nice suit. He could pay her back if he insisted, but she wanted him to have something really, really nice.
"I've got a surprise for you. :) Where are you rehearsing? I'll come meet you once you're ready."