Kayla and Charlie do a Commercial


27-30-December-99

Two weeks after the girls sudden arrival Kayla had to go home. Charlie had rung and it turned out that he had gotten himself a job, and one for Kayla while he was at it. Very convincing, he had begged Kayla to take it.

"C’mon, they’ll pay for your airfare back and forth, you’ll be gone for all of two days and you get paid on top of it all. It’ll be a riot."

She didn’t take much persuading she was now waving from the back of a taxi as she sped off, yet again, to the airport. The others stood on the porch waving back at her, delighted that she had this chance but sad that she was leaving them, even if it was for only two days.

"What a chance, hey? She’s always on about her big break and I guess, well I hope, this is it." Keryn said as they walked back in the front door.

"Well you gotta thank this Charlie guy, he seems to be helping out a lot lately." Isaac joined it, skeptically.

The others turned on him.

"Geez, this is so good for her, how she got it or whatever, this is about her and anyone that helped her get there deserves a pat on the back, don’t be so over protective." Snapped Keryn.

"Overprotective? I hate to remind you about Dan, her deranged mother and all those skeletons she has hiding in her closets. Someone has to worry."

"True but this is the start of her new life... let her enjoy it, she needs it." Keryn retaliated.

Trudging back in, they all realized that they were tired and they flopped on the couch. Taylor walked to the stereo and pumped up The Red Hot Chilli Peppers "Scar Tissue" and they all sat back to shout the lyrics out.

With the birds I’ll share this lonely view
With the birds I’ll share this lonely view





Kayla laughed out loud as she sped along in the cab the radio was blaring Sugar Ray and both she and the taxi driver were screaming out "Every Morning." It was a happy day. Charlie, her angel, had rigged up some deal that had her in a commercial... it was a laugh and she couldn’t wait. Come to think of it she didn’t even know what the commercial was for, knowing Charlie probably some beer commercial, or then again it could be hysterical and be a washing machine ad, now that would be a riot. She lent back and chuckled... life was good. Just when things were down they picked up and she was flying, for the first time in her life.




Charlie pushed his new car to new limits. It sped along the LA highway towards the airport at alarming speeds and he was enjoying it. So the car was second hand, beat up and basically a piece of no good metal, at least it had power. Placebo was his chosen style of music. He felt just like Ryan Phillipe at the beginning of Cruel Intentions. That was a good movie, the girls were obsessed with it, they had a copy of it at the house. The things you find out when you share a house with two, well technically one, girls. Pulling into the carpark Charlie flung his car haphazardly into a parking space, slammed the doors and hurried through the cool air to the welcoming heat of the domestic airport.




Keryn and Taylor had gone to catch a movie. Zac was at Margo’s, his seemingly unusual best friend, and Isaac found himself alone on the back porch with rain coming in sheets down. He stared out at the water that the earth soaked up eagerly. He was tired of this. Tired of everything. He went into his room, dug around in his draws for a while and returned with his diary, with a sense of deliberation he scribbled his odd thoughts as if they would kill him if kept any longer.




Kayla gave Charlie a hug.

"How are ya? Burnt the house down yet?"

"Nice to know you have faith in me, no not yet."

"Okay Charlie, let’s cut the crap... what is this commercial for?"

Charlie smiled.

"You’ll see."

"You’ll see? Come off it! Tell me now."

"Now? Nah... that would be too easy... you hungry? I’m hungry."

"Don’t change the subject!! Tell me!!"

"Patience is a virtue."

"A virtue I am proud to say I don’t have, so take me out of my misery and telll meeee."

"Stop acting your age, it scares me."

"I have this urge to kill you."

Charlie laughed.

"C’mon Kayla lets get to the car before the blood starts flying."

The two hurried out, hugging their clothes closer and attempting to escape the cold. Once in the car the radio was flipped on and their voices rung as they zoomed to the closest coffee house, for old times sakes.




Keryn was in the lounge with Diana and Walker, they were discussing universities as Mackie and Zoe played on the floor. Zac was still at Margo’s and Isaac and Taylor were making everyone drinks in the kitchen.

"You Okay Ike?"

"Sure, I’m fine, never been better."

Taylor raised his eyebrow.

"Tay I’ll tell you later. We’ll give them their drinks and then in our room okay?"

Taylor nodded, this was like the old Hanson spirit. Meetings nightly in their room. He smiled. The kettle boiled and they both began to fuss with the milk and sugar.




"Frankly Diana I don’t know. There are so many courses. There doesn’t seem to be anything decided at the moment other than the fact that I am accepted."

"And the fact that you’ll live here."

Keryn’s eyeballs almost fell out of her head. Walker obviously saw her look of disbelief.

"Haven’t the boys told you yet?"

"Told her what?" Asked Taylor as he walked in juggling three mugs.

"About the house."

"Nope, not yet... go on Mom you tell her, it was your fantastic idea in the first place."

He flashed his dazzling whites at his mother and have her cheek a kiss. He handed out the mugs, told Keryn he and Ike would be back soon and crept upstairs.

"Well Keryn, Walker, myself and everyone but the three boys are moving to a property in Dalesford drive, you know, two streets down. We need the space so that extra bedroom is yours if you want it. I think the boys were convinced that you wanted to live closer to the Uni but I think this would be more your style, what do you think?"

Keryn could barely contain her happiness as she went over and hugged both Walker and Diana, her adoptive parents.

Taylor closed the door after him and demanded an answer from his older, but not always wiser, brother.

"Charlie, that’s what’s up."

"Ike, don’t fret, he is a friend of hers."

"She doesn’t exactly have a good track record of choosing good friends."

"Yeah well you know what Ike? I think this guy is a good guy. He is looking after their place, he seems nice, he isn’t making moves on her and he has got her a job. Nothing could be better."

Ike smiled, a very forced smile.

"So you don’t think he is making moves on her?"

"No!! And if he was she would knock him back to the ground. Kayla is better now, she has heaps more self esteem, thanks to you, she will tell him when to stop. You have nothing to worry about."

Ike smiled.

"Thanks Tay."

"No problem, let me know when you have a real problem."




The next day Kayla and Charlie were up early and were on site early. Still in a state of unknowingness, Kayla sat in the make up van and tried to get info out of the girls in there. She was failing miserably.

Outside the crew were setting up the site, for the margarine commercial. Charlie couldn’t wait to see Kayla’s face. This was going to be hysterical. Emerging ten minutes after Charlie, Kayla decked out in a incredibly uncomfortable and unflattering fluorescent yellow jumpsuit was told what she was in for, screaming at first in slight horror she then collapsed in laughter. The two threw margarine pots at eat other and chatted about how the salt levels in this margarine were ‘better than the competitors’. Their laughter rang throughout the commercial and as gay and superficial as it was, it was fun to shoot. Tired and sweaty at the end of the day the director came across to congratulate them.

"Well I don’t think I could have found a better pair to throw these things around all day, I think you are real pros."

Kayla and Charlie looked at each other before collapsing into laughter for the umpteenth time that day.

"Natural at throwing marg tubs, I’ll take that as a compliment, Dav." Said Kayla.

Dav began to laugh too.

"You gonna need us tomorrow Dav? Seems that we got a lot of footage today."

"Yeah I was just about to say that, seeing you guys are such naturals we wrapped in a day, so you have tomorrow free. Thanks, hope to work with you again."

As he walked off Kayla and Charlie were again in fits.

"Margarine? Jesus lucky you didn’t tell me, I wouldn’t have come, but it was fun, I have to admit!!"

"Yeah, lets go Kayla... meet you in the car in 15? Okay?"

"Sure."


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