Page 50 of He's The Reason Why

“We’re playing this game for her, so she can’t be out yet,” Blake said. “We’ll call that a practice run. At least you see how it works now.”

“I’m not so sure about that.” She still couldn’t think of a sentence that would have worked.

“Why don’t you go first,” Blake offered. “That way you won’t be distracted by certain people with nefarious intentions.”

“Ouch.” Marshall put a hand on his chest. “Are you going to let him diss me like that, Piper?”

She pretended to think about it. “Yes. Yes, I am.”

“I’m hurt.”

“No you’re not,” Blake said. “Go ahead, Piper.”

Being put on the spot like that made every thought she had scurry into the corners of her mind to hide. All she came up with was what had really been on her mind all day. “All I want to do is get this scene right.”

She winced, then looked to Blake for approval. “It did start with the lettera. That’s okay, right?”

He patted her shoulder and nodded. “Because if the scene is right, then the movie will be fantastic, and…”

They both looked at Marshall. He rolled his eyes. “Chances to get laid will be a thousand times better.”

It was her turn again. This time, she’d had a few seconds to catch up, and the sentence leaped to mind. “Despite the fact that Marshall hasn’t showered in a week and his feet smell, and…”

Blake laughed. “Everyone thinks he looks like Jaba the Hutt when he’s naked.”

“Freaks and chicks dig this body,” Marshall said, utterly unoffended, “and that makes Piper my Princess Leia.”

Piper had a hard time getting her sentence out over a fit of giggles. “God knows I wouldn’t want to deprive the next girl of that dubious pleasure.”

The sentences became more outlandish as they went on.

“Quite frankly, my dear, I need more money if we’re going to involve the neighbors,” Blake said in a haughty British accent.

“Right, then we’ll have to trade something else,” Marshall responded in heavy Scottish brogue.

By the time they got to the end of the alphabet, Piper’s sides and cheeks hurt from laughing.

“X marks the spot, especially the G-spot, so I should probably do an inspection to verify,” Marshall said with a leer in her direction.

“You are such a pig, and I think you should go away now,” Piper said, wiping tears from her eyes.

“Zounds, I think she’s got it,” Blake announced with a wide grin.

She beamed with an odd sort of pride. It was a silly game, but somehow it had eased all the tension she felt about tomorrow. Her awe over Marshall had drained away, and it was like she was having a fun night with two old friends, if those friends had more charisma and “it” factor than any two people should possibly have.

“If only doing the voice-over was this easy.”

“It is. Or it will be,” Blake said.

“Let’s do another round, only this time as Jesse and Jewel.”

Anxiety rumbled around Piper’s stomach. “How do we do that? I mean, the lines don’t exactly follow the ABC rule.”

“Forget the lines,” Blake said. “This isn’t about the lines. This is about finding out who your character isin betweenthe lines.”

“Outside the lines, if you will,” Marshall said. “There are no lines.”

“Who’s Marshall going to be?” Piper asked.

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