Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90598 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 453(@200wpm)___ 362(@250wpm)___ 302(@300wpm)
“That was fantastic!” the director says. “I love it. I can work with it. Let’s block the next scene, shall we?” To me, he adds, “Keep it up, kid. You’ve got the chops. Now let’s show everyone just how good you are at using him.”
“Thank you, sir,” I say with a smile. Not all directors are quick with compliments, and I’ll take this one to heart.
We manage to get through a few more scenes with just a few takes by using my new trick of pretending Candy doesn’t exist. Since she disappeared for an hour and held things up, Candy has a few scenes she’s in alone with her friends in the movie, so I get a break for a little while. I sit just off to the side and watch because I enjoy seeing other people’s strategies. The other girls in the movie are fantastic. I ignore Candy, obviously.
I pull my phone out of my jacket pocket and make sure it’s completely on silent. I know that Candy is full of shit, but she implanted a seed of doubt in my mind. I open my messages and text Malia.
Malia’s response takes a few minutes. < No, why would you ask that? >
I sigh. I never should’ve bought Candy’s lies. This is who she is as a person. < Candy said she saw Leila with some guy today. I shouldn’t have believed her. >
< No, you shouldn’t have. I like that this girl has you all messed up. >
I smile at my phone. < She does. Do you think I screwed myself completely with her? I’m giving her space, but I don’t want to anymore. >
< Maybe you should reach out. You might stand a chance. >
< Do you know something? >
< You didn’t hear it from me, but I think Leila is willing to give you another shot. You two are both stubborn and get in your heads about stuff, but I think you’re good for each other, too.>
My heart pounds in my chest. < I need more information. >
< Prove to Leila that it’s not just fake and that you like her for real. And make sure she knows you’re not just going to up and leave her when the next opportunity comes by. >
< I wouldn’t do that. You know me. >
< I do, but Leila doesn’t. You guys only just met. You have to remember that. You’re used to being around people who have known you your whole life. >
I laugh, earning me some looks from the cast and crew standing around watching the filming.
“Sorry,” I say. “My friend said something funny.”
No one is all that interested, and I try to keep my outbursts to myself. I’m not trying to ruin the film.
I write < You make a good point. And what I’m taking from this is I have a chance with Leila. >
< You do, and you better not screw it up. I really like this girl. Definitely don’t tell her I talked to you. I’m not trying to lose a cool new girlfriend because I blabbed to her boyfriend. >
< I can only hope that I’m her boyfriend. >
< Talk to her so that you can be! >
“We need you back on set,” one of the assistants says. I sigh and tell Malia it’ll have to wait, tuck my phone back into my coat pocket, and head to the set to pretend to love Candy some more. It’s truly torture.
The rest of the day is hectic. Despite Candy putting us behind with her coffee escapades, we end up ahead of schedule due to a very long day of hard work. I don’t mind it so much because it’ll give us some easier days in the future, but I’m exhausted when it’s just after midnight, and I’m finally getting in my car to head home.
I know it’s late, and I should wait until morning, but I’m too excited not to text Leila. I wanted to do it during filming, but I didn’t have another chance to take out my phone after my conversation with Malia. That’s how crazy things were on set.
< Hey, I don’t want to give this up. Do you think we could get together for another date? We can call it fake and just hang out as friends. >
I toss my phone on the passenger’s seat and drive home. Once I’m at the house, I zombie-walk to the shower to rinse off the sweat, grime, and makeup from today. I don’t look at my phone again until I’m climbing into bed, not expecting to have any messages anyway.
To my surprise, there’s one from Leila lighting up my screen. She must’ve been up late because she texted me within minutes of my original message. I curse myself for not checking earlier and then read her message.