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Kat
Something strange happened in the weeks following her departure from the mummy movie. A video of Neil bad mouthing her went viral. Kat didn’t know who had made the video, or how it had gotten out, but the sudden outpour of support she received online was overwhelming. Other actors and actresses came forward with similar stories and in the end it wasn’t her reputation that got ruined, it was Neil’s.
The mummy movie unceremoniously killed off his character – which, according to Dante, annoyed the director but was probably way cheaper than recasting and reshooting – and the new star become the blonde who, in Kat’s humble opinion, looked a hell of a lot more iconic battling an ancient undead army than Neil ever could. Kat was even told she could come back and be a body double again if she wanted to. She considered it, but ultimately decided not to. It wasn’t anything against the film. It was a good movie and she was glad she’d been a part of it. But, the truth was, making videos with Lorrie was not only more fun but had already given her more exposure than working as an extra ever could.
They made skits, short stupid things that only got a couple of hundred views online. But, despite that, it was something fun and creative that got her acting and was something she could show casting directors. After a couple of months they even made a short film which showed at a local underground film festival. A critic called her performance ‘captivating’. She printed it off and hung it on her wall.
A few weeks later she was cast in her first speaking acting role. It wasn’t much, she was a damsel in distress that needed rescuing in a superhero movie. But it got her face onto a big screen for the first time. Lorrie bought her a plastic Oscar award to celebrate.
In the months that followed Dante started appearing in some of their skits which quadrupled their view count. He was, after all, stupidly pretty and more than a little famous. Kat didn’t have time to feel jealous though because right around the same time she somehow managed to score a part time role in a TV series. She was a government controlled cyborg that needed to be stopped by the heroes on a semi regular basis.
It was low budget and kitschy, but also a ton of fun.
By the time the mummy movie hit cinemas a year after it was filmed Kat had quit working at the aged care facility. She wasn’t a Hollywood superstar or anything... but she was a professional actor, and that was all she’d ever really wanted.
But if she was doing well Lorrie was doing better.
After the success of the film festival she’d pitched a quirky queer comedy show to a broadcaster... and they’d given her a budget and crew. Lorrie didn’t pretend she wasn’t terrified of being a first time showrunner. Kat didn’t blame her. From what she saw it was a hell of a lot of work. She did all she could to support her, but the truth was Lorrie didn’t need much help. She might not be the most artistic filmmaker but she knew what she wanted and loved making people laugh. The show was popular enough that Lorrie already had a second season contracted before the first was finished airing.
Kat couldn’t be prouder of her.
“Oh my God, Kat! This is it! This is our part!”
“Be quiet.”
“Here it comes,” Lorrie said, practically bouncing in her seat.
Kat smiled as she watched the screen. They were in the cinema, watching the premiere of the mummy movie. On the screen Lorrie was standing in a long dark cobweb riddled hallway lined with sarcophagi wearing overalls and an overly unwitting expression. She was leaning close to a sarcophagus that was cracked open slightly and peered inside.
The audience gasped as a bandaged hand shot out and seized worker-Lorrie by her neck. She screamed, shrill and terrified, as a mummy emerged, face a festering mass of bone and dried skin.
“That’s you!” Lorrie said.
“Shh!”
Mummy-Kat dragged worker-Lorrie into the sarcophagus and slammed the massive stone lid closed. The heroes arrived seconds too late to save her.
“That’s how we met,” Lorrie told her.
Kat made an exasperated sound. “I know, Lorrie. I was there. Now please be quiet before we get kicked out. I want to see Dante.”
“Hey, I just thought of something.”
“Tell me later.”
“No, I have to tell you now.”
“What?”
Lorrie reached out and took Kat’s hand. Her fingers were warm and familiar. Despite the year they’d spent together Kat’s heart always picked up pace whenever Lorrie held her hand.
“Can I borrow one of your bandages?”
Kat recognised that tone of voice. She was making a joke.
“Oh God,” she whispered, though she was smiling and knew Lorrie could tell. “This is so not the time.”
Lorrie leant close, her breath warm against Kat’s face. “Because I think I skinned my knee falling for you.”
“That’s so corny.” It didn’t matter. As she turned her head Lorrie’s lips brushed up against hers. Kat let the kiss connect, let it deepen. And, just like that, they were making out at the premiere of The Pharaoh’s Revenge. Dante would probably be scandalised if he knew. But, in all fairness, Dante hadn’t appeared on screen yet and they did just relive their first meeting. Plus, it was a hell of a kiss. Slow, lazy, and loving. The kind of kiss that warmed her inside and out.
Lorrie pulled back. “I thought of another one.”
Kat leant forward and reconnected their lips. This kiss was sweeter, softer, but also somehow hungrier. Lorrie hummed happily but didn’t say another word. Kat barely suppressed a smile. If she’d known this was such an effective way of shutting her up a year ago then their time together in the sarcophagus could have been more interesting. Despite the missed opportunity, she was glad she’d met Lorrie in that hot stuffy box. She was glad they’d found each other again. She was glad for everything that had led to this moment, sitting in a movie theatre, madly in love with the woman of her dreams.