Wandering Among the Stars

When Wanda Mikos’ ambition of being a celebrity personal trainer in Los Angeles becomes a reality, she is soon reminded of her dad’s advice ‘be careful what you wish for’. An unfortunate incident in a restaurant results in a potential A-lister client for the newly qualified trainer. With her career being put on full speed, inventing a new training method and dealing with media interest under the scrutiny of an over-ambitious journalist is not exactly what she was expecting. Falling for her new client wasn’t in her plans either.

Chapter 1: LA Jail
I arrived in Los Angeles four weeks ago and here I am in jail. I should mention why I’m here - not jail, LA I mean. I am a ...

Chapter 2: Patsy's News
I am in work today and have successfully avoided my boss by bobbing among the gym equipment and offering to help anybody with an ...

Chapter 3: Monday 28th October - Meeting Ethan
I remember my first week here when I saw the studios on Melrose Ave; it was like looking at Cinderella's castle in Disneyland an ...

Chapter 4: Tues 29th 0ct – Madeline and the frying pan
I can't help smiling as I drive up to the gates of Madeline Harvey's house; it’s stunning. I can just imagine Jared and Me ...

Chapter 5: Thurs 31st Oct - Maddy's beauty secret
I adopt my usual smiley face when I ride up to the large white metal gates at the entrance to Madeline's house. I am buzzed thro ...

Chapter 6: Thurs 31st October – Training Ethan
I'm driving to Raleigh studios this morning to train Ethan. I've not really noticed it before but the light in LA has a pinkish ...

Chapter 7: Thurs 31st October – What to wear in LA
At last I'm going out! I've been here seven weeks and all I've seen of LA is the inside of the gym and this tiny apartment. It m ...

Chapter 8: Sat 2nd November – The Nick incident
When Ethan Caldwell walks through the door of the gym, I notice all female eyes turn to watch him. He isn't that famous yet so I ...

Chapter 9: Mon 4th November-The journalist
"Hi Wanda," Alison calls as she wafts past reception in a cloud of Chanel."Oh hello, Alison," I say whilst moving towards the we ...

Chapter 10: Thursday 7th November – Yoogling
Living in LA sometimes feels like living in an alternate universe, especially in Hollywood. Maybe it's because of the film indus ...

Chapter 11: Fri 8th November – Ethan in the park
We arrive at the park and there are already people jogging and listening to music on their earphones."Why do they do that?" I as ...

Chapter 12: Mon 4th November – Who is Jimmy?
Louis has asked me to train Ethan at his house. I can't imagine it would be as opulent as Madeline's but I am curious. I dr ...

Chapter 13: Wed 6th Nov – Rachel Tallyman's breasts
Madeline has asked me to come to Paramount Studios so we can work on her fitness and facial exercises between rehearsals. Today ...

Chapter 14: Sat 9th November – Maddy's interview
I'm sitting in the make up room with Madeline as she is plastered in enough foundation to cover the M25. Her lashes are so heavy ...

Chapter 15: Sunday evening - Wise words and elephant shit
Rolo is coming over for dinner as I told him I have some amazing news to tell him. I want to see his face. At home when one of u ...

Chapter 16: Mon 9th November – TIT training
I tried calling Patsy over the weekend but she was at some gym convention so decide to wait until I see her before mentioning th ...

Chapter 17: Mon 11th November – Ethan in the Studio
It's 4pm and Ethan Caldwell just swept into the gym like he was being followed by a wind machine; his hair blowing lightly in th ...

Chapter 18: Mon 11th November – Finding Ethan
When Rolo arrives, we discuss how we can go about our search. Rolo types Jimmy Hagan in the search engine and pages of hits imme ...

Chapter 19: Tues 12th November –Tiger Training is born
I arrive at the gym this morning soaking wet and wheel my bike into the bike rack. I'm taking some new members around the gym la ...

Chapter 20: Wed 13th November - Ethan's house
I have called Ethan to ask if he would mind testing a new range of stage make-up for Rolo. I will put him through his paces in h ...

Chapter 21: Wednesday 13th November –The party invite
My shift is over so we are heading back to mine when my phone rings. I look at Rolo."What?""What if that's Ethan? That woman mig ...

Chapter 22: Wed 13th November – Rodeo Drive
This is only the second time I have been on Rodeo Drive; everyone walking past looks expensively dressed. The designer shops her ...

Chapter 23: Thurs 14th Nov – Is that Denzel Washington?
It's Thursday morning and it's raining. The Santa Ana winds are blowing and it feels like I'm back in Briford. They have a sayin ...

Chapter 24: Sat 16th November – Holistic training
After our second circuit of the house we lose Rolo to a bunch of women who are hounding him for make up tips. Kristen is pointin ...

Chapter 25: Sat 16th November – Waiting for Ethan to pee
"Ethan Hi," I say stepping back after bumping into his chest."Oh hello Wanda, I didn't realise you would be here. You do get abo ...

Chapter 26: Sun - Lycra leggings & the laugh-o-meter
It's the night before the interview with Jessie Rayburn and Rolo is helping me decide what to wear. I'm staring into the lycra-l ...

Chapter 27: Mon 18th November – Madeline's pep talk
The car pulls in to the studio parking lot and I take a deep breath. I may throw up in the ashtray.I am greeted at the reception ...

Chapter 28: Monday 18th Nov–Jessie and the dragonfly
"For those of you, who are regular Jessie Rayburn viewers, you will remember my chat with Madeline Harvey recently and how she d ...

Chapter 29: Monday 18th Nov – Alison Bloody Skyler
After the show, I say goodbye to Madeline who has some fancy tea to go to and meet the rest of the guys from the gym. We make ou ...

Chapter 30: Wed 20th Nov–Drive through the bastards!
I'm driving to Madeline's house on Riverdale. It really is breathtaking especially at six o clock in the morning. There is nobod ...

Chapter 31: Wed 20th Nov–The End of Tiger Training?
As I pull into the gym car park I notice Kristen about to leave. I give her a wave and she walks over to the car."You okay?" she ...

Chapter 32: Thursday 21st November – Ducks in a row
As soon as I arrive back in the gym, I call Rolo but get his answer machine so I leave a message; Hi Rolo, it's me, I'm just bac ...

Chapter 33: Friday 22nd November – What did you hear?
I walk through the doors of the gym and bump into Kristen who is running towards the changing rooms."Hi Kristen, you okay?" I as ...

Chapter 34: Friday 22nd November - Interview with Alison
After training Ethan, I take a slow cycle back to the gym as my interview with Alison has been arranged by Patsy for 11am in the ...

Chapter 35: Fri 22nd Nov-Don't give them concussion!
Alison and I part with a fake but polite smile before I make my way to patsy's office to let her know how the interview went.Pat ...

Chapter 36: 24th November.The Sunday Morning show
I'm picked up to go to the studio at 7am. The driver, a tall sallow-skinned chap about twenty-five, opens the door for me and sm ...

Chapter 37: 26th November – Ethan and the robbery
I am sitting in Ethan's trailer waiting for him to get changed for our training session. Although it's only 10am, he has already ...

Chapter 38: Tuesday 26th November – Blabbing to Rolo
Back in the gym I'm helping a member who needs spotting on the bench press. This doesn't involve me running over and shouting 'H ...

Chapter 39: Wednesday 27th November – Thanksgiving
I called and left an apologetic message for Patsy last night but she hasn't got back to me yet and I haven’t seen her in t ...

Chapter 40: Thurs 28th Nov – Celebrity Goss blog
It's nearly three o'clock by the time we sit down to eat. The table is stripped of its decorations to allow room for the food an ...

Chapter 41: Friday 29th November – Trashing the Tiger
It's a lovely morning in LA: the sun is not strong but it's out and making an effort. I decide to get on my bike and cycle down ...

Chapter 42: Saturday 30th November – Karen was right
I'm rather glad to be back in work today but the phones have not stopped ringing. Patsy and Rae are inundated with interview req ...

Chapter 43: Saturday 30th November - The Dagger Club
When we arrive at the Dagger Club there is a queue already forming outside and it's only nine o'clock. We look at each other and ...

Chapter 44: Sat 30th November – Bus to Santa Barbara
We make a right past a Corvette but the paps are on our tail, as they would say in Hollywood. I can hear questions being shouted ...

Chapter 45: Sat 30th November – Chester and Gracie
By 2am we decide to take a walk and find ourselves by the beach. The moon is casting a tunnel of light across the water in front ...

Chapter 46: Sunday 1st December – The news report
I am awoken by the face of an angel breathing gently close to my face. As I open my eyes, Ethan kisses me softly on the lips. My ...

Chapter 47: Sun 1st December – The actor and the maid
The journey home flew by so quickly. Ethan held my hand and kissed me whenever he thought no one was watching."Do you want to co ...

Chapter 48: Sunday 1st December – Waking Rolo
When I arrive home, my first thought is to call Rolo. He answers with a croaky groan."Rolo are you alright?""Oh hi Wand'. No, I& ...

Chapter 49: Tues 3rd December – Ethan and the crash mats
As I leave Maddy's house with a copy of the script from The Origins of Blackheart, and to be honest, a heart full of hope, I say ...

Chapter 50: Wed 11th December – The weeks following
It's been a week since the crash mat incident; I did get a text the next day from Ethan, which read: Hi sexy, yesterday was fun. ...

Chapter 51: Thurs 12th December – Shrek, meet Alison
I'm back in the gym this morning and my head feels like a throbbing boil on my shoulders. That red wine Rolo brought over last n ...

Chapter 52: Thurs 12th December – Pros and cons list?
Although my heart is saying Ethan isn't with Lena and wouldn't do that to me, the picture of him kissing her keeps flashing up i ...

Chapter 53: Friday 20th December – The airport
The familiar cold air of England slaps me in the face as I descend the steps of the aeroplane at Heathrow airport. I pull my coa ...