Behind the Screen (a Tom Hiddleston Story)

4. A Snack Sized Disaster

The streets which surrounded the filming location was the most beautiful sights that Kate had ever seen. The tree's whispered as a slight breeze flew between the crowded branches and birds chirped their afternoon tunes from above them. They didn't really talk much as they were content in each other's silence. It wasn't something Kate was used to as she always felt the need to inject small talk into any given opportunity. This one occasion, however, she decided to keep her thoughts on last night's news to herself and continue to walk hand in hand with Tom.

As they reared the corner where the café was situated they slowed down to admire the view from the top of the hill like bump in the path. They looked out over the park next to the main road which looked like something from a movie; ironic really as this was the exact thing they had made an attempt to escape from. Nevertheless, it was beautiful and after a lengthy admiration of their surroundings, they headed back around the next block to their destination.

Pacing towards the entrance, Kate couldn't help but ogle at the building she was walking into. Pulling against Tom's firm but gentle grip on her arm as she slowed, her expression mirrored that of a child in a chocolate factory. "It's more interesting inside," He laughed as they stopped at the entrance waiting to be seated.

They were greeted by a familiar ding of the doorbell, something Tom was used to as it was his go-to place where he spent most of his free time wiling away reading and people watching. Kate was surprised to see a bulky bodyguard who looked like he would have tackled a lion if the opportunity arose. His bald head reflected the light from the bulb which made Kate giggle to herself, making Tom look down at her to see what she was finding so amusing who also began to exchange mischievous laughter with her.

"Hey man, the waitresses upstairs yeah?" Tom had suddenly gone all gangster on them, sending Kate into overdrive as she was now finding it increasingly hard to stifle her laughter. Tom grabbed her hand and squeezed it as though trying to calm her down which only made her laugh more, causing her to snort a little as she tried to suppress it.

Tom lead the way up the several flights of stairs, not once letting go of her hand. As they reached the tea room, Kate noticed a small lady wearing a black pinafore. "The usual spot Mr. Hiddleston?"

"Yes please, Charlie." He smiled as she seated them right next to the window which provided them with a view right facing right over the park. She loved that he called her by her name rather than treating her as just another waitress. Deciding that they wanted something to share, they ordered an afternoon tea for two. Protesting over who would pay, Kate insisted on giving him something for his kindness to which he declined handing his cash over to the little waitress who took it from him and handed him a receipt.

As they were waiting for their cornucopia of miniature foods to arrive, Kate made a conscious choice to divulge into her expert area. Small talk. "I wonder if Gina is looking for me," Kate laughed as Tom as he poured the remainder of his drink out of the bottle into the glass that had been placed next to him a few moments ago.

"Yeah, she's probably kicking your trailer door down as we speak." His smile reached the furthest part of his face, bringing a whole to meaning to the phrase ear to ear.

"She's such a crazy lady, but charming too... when she feels like it."

"Yeah when she wants to be aha," they laughed about Gina and her temperamental nature for a while until they were gladly interrupted by the waitress bringing their food to their table. Savouring every bite, the silence once again fell over them as they appreciated the remarkable food.

As they were munching away on their snack-sized sandwiches and miniature cakes, Kate couldn't help but feel as though she were being watched. She peered over the top of her banoffee pie to be met by Tom's piercing blue eyes staring straight at her. Not in a potent stare kind of way, more of a loving, appreciative kind of way. Smiling at him and knitting her eyebrows together, a huff of laughter escaped her.

"What? Have I got a bit on my nose?"

"No no, I was just... admiring the view," her face once again resembling a fully ripened tomato. Her smile however not once leaving her face as she resumed eating the delights in front of her. Deciding she needed a break from eating, she went to take a sip from her rather large mug of tea. As she did so, it slipped from within her grip smacking on the side of the table sending coffee flying over the freshly cleaned wooden floor. Scrambling to stop the mug from breaking, thus causing more mess, she swung her arm to grasp a hold of the flying crockery. Seeing as though it had smashed upon impact after bouncing off the table, her hand was a prime target as it slid across her palm slicing it clean open with shards of bone china now shattering across the floor along with several blood splatters.

"Oh my god," her voice as faint but high pitched. She attempted to be discrete in her attempt to clean up the mess she had made, completely forgetting about the blood now slowly pouring out of her hand.

Tom, however, had already seen her clumsy display and was almost instantly on his feet. By now it was causing a stir among other customers, some of which were also on their feet calling over staff in order to assist in the cleanup.

"Hey, don't bother with that... You're bleeding!" She peered down at her hand, sitting back on her legs as Tom grabbed her hand as though he were examining it. Kate's taste buds tingling as a rising sick feeling rose from her stomach to her mouth. She hated blood at the best of times but when it was her own...

The thought of throwing up soon became the least of her concern. Tom took her other hand, ensuring her hand was above her heart to stem the blood flow although she could still feel a hot trickle of blood trailing down her arm.

"We should really get you to the medic tent on set, its only a five-minute walk or so, come on." This wasn't a multiple choice question for Kate to ponder over. He held her tight in his grasp as they speed walked back towards the set, his hand tightly gripping the other hand as they walked.

Her dizzy feeling which she had been trying to push out of her mind was growing ever more prominent and she could no longer ignore it. The tissue covering her hand was now almost completely covered in blood and as she could now see the entrance to the set her vision began to blur to the extent that everything looked glazed over. Her world spinning beneath her feet she stopped in her tracks, Tom obviously noticing her faltering stance he grabbed her as she began to fall.