Page 78 of A Little Bit Extra

“So, last week on set, huh?” Max says to the group.

“I’m excited. This film schedule has been exhausting,” Emmett replies. He turns back to the food table, grabbing another muffin. He gestures to me with it, and I nod. I definitely want half of that.

I was going to ask them if they knew anything about the new movie being filmed here, but Ed walks up and joins the conversation. Then I think maybe I shouldn’t if it’s not supposed to be public yet. So I stand there and talk with them about the week ahead before I decide to check things off my list.

Moving about the day is simple. By the time lunch rolls around, I find a seat across from Tyler in the cafeteria.

“Hi!” I set my tray on the table and take a seat. “Your day going okay?”

He nods, his mouth full of whatever the sandwich of the day is. “Busy, but that’s pretty normal for it being the last week. What about you?”

“Eh, doesn’t feel too bad. Just a lot of running around, making sure everyone else is all set, you know?”

“Yeah, I get that.”

We talk about our weekends and what else we did after we all hung out. I’m not surprised to hear that what we did was similar; a movie marathon and lots of snacks. Eventually Lane joins us, sitting next to Tyler, and he fills us in on some casting issue that I honestly can not sum up because I have learned to zone out. There is always some sort of casting issue, so I’ve learned it’s best to just listen and nod.

Max comes next and takes a seat next to me. He’s on the phone with someone, but when we ask him who it is, he just waves us away. Lane says it’s some new girl he met the other day, and that gets a glare from Max. It’s most definitely a girl.

Marcy joins us, but she doesn’t sit. She’s always on the move, so she stands at the end of the table saying her hellos. She leaves just as fast as she came muttering something about needing to grab a sandwich on the way out. I tell her I’ll text her later. She gives me a thumbs up. I want to let her know I want to do the movie, but not until I talk with Emmett first.

Eventually, Emmett wanders over and sits on my other side. He leans over and bumps my shoulder with his. I do the same back.

It’s nice like this. Most days are like this, actually. Sometimes I see everyone at lunch and we get a few minutes to chat and catch up about the latest studio gossip. Other times people come and go, but at least I see everyone during the day.

January Studios has become a home for me. Or at least the people here have made it that way. It doesn’t feel like I’m working most of the time, and it definitely makes me grateful that I accepted a position I wasn’t even interested in to begin with.

I try to live in the present, but when I look around at this table and see Emmett, Max, Lane, and Tyler laughing and talking about some memory, I’m blessed to have met them all.

I figure I should get back to things, since we have been sitting in the cafeteria for over an hour. I know their schedules are pretty loose, but I have a list of things I need to get done before I’m able to leave today.

I get up and say my goodbyes, receiving waves and "see ya laters" in response.

My phone buzzes when I reach the doors to the trailers. I place my tray by a trash can and pull my phone out of my pocket as I push open the doors to the outside.

Emmett

6 days until I can kiss you in public and let the world know you’re mine.

I sigh and smile. The world will soon discover that Emmett is no longer acting and that we are in a relationship. I’m not as nervous about that as I am about his parents’ reaction. I don’t let that take over my thoughts right now. No, right now I smile at my phone knowing that I’ve managed to not only land a role as a lead actor, but find someone who believes in me and likes me for me. Just when I was starting to come to terms with the fact that I may have to make some changes in my life, I'm about to check off the remaining item on my plan.

25

Emmett

After seeing Cassie act in her showcase, I knew, 100%, that my script had to be turned into a film. Why? Well, it’s our love story. The problem is, I wasn’t sure how to go about doing that. I knew actors got movies made all the time, but I didn’t want just anyone making this movie. I wanted it to be filmed at January Studios, my home studio.

Everything needed to happen quickly. I needed to figure out my next move prior to the interview, so I asked the one person I knew could help me for assistance.

Ed.

Ed has been there for me, frequently, over the years. Even before I signed on for these last two movies, we knew each other just from being in the same circles. He has always rooted for me.

I asked him to come to my trailer early Monday morning, knowing that I would have a few minutes before I saw Cassie for the day. When I told him my idea, he sat there and listened, not saying anything the entire time, besides humming here and there.

When I asked him if he knew anyone I could talk to, he made the most surprising proposal. He mentioned he was looking for a short movie to produce and direct, since the next movie being filmed at the studio wasn’t for another three months.

I was speechless.

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