Page 2 of The Fake Script

Bracing myself, I open the door. But it’s not a neighbor standing on my doorstep. It’s Auston. He must have heard the news. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him yet. It would have made it too real.

One look at him, and I’m crying my eyes out again. He wraps me in his strong arms, holding me tight.

“Emma,” he murmurs against my hair as he rubs a comforting hand over my back. “What’s wrong?”

Scrunching my eyebrows, I muster all my strength to pull back and face him. I guess he hasn’t heard. Suddenly, the clock in the entrance tolls. It’s two o’clock. He’s just here for our study session. “You really don’t know?”

His eyes widen in panic as he studies my face. Then, he shakes his head. “No, tell me. What happened?”

“My parents,” I say, but it comes out strangled. “They got in a car acc—”

I can’t bring myself to finish my thought and instead burst into tears, finding comfort in Auston’s embrace again.

“Oh, Emma,” he breathes, holding me tight. “I’m so sorry.”

I don’t know how long I stay in his arms, but it helps—a little. As I focus on the smell of his cologne and the strength of his arms around my shoulders, I don’t feel so lost and alone anymore.

“Will you come with me to the funeral?” I mumble against his chest, not ready to let go yet.

“Um,” he begins, and I can hear him swallowing hard. “Emma, I’m so sorry. I can’t.”

A few seconds tick by before his words register in my brain. I lean back, still secure in his arms as I stare at him.

“That’s actually why I came. I know it’s really bad timing.” He glances away, twisting his mouth. “Emma, I have to leave.”

Frowning, I break from his hold and take a step back. “Leave? Where are you going?”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “I got the part in that sitcom I auditioned for last month. Their first choice didn’t work out. So we’re moving to LA. They want me there as soon as possible. My mom is in the car waiting.”

“What? No, you can’t leave me now,” I plead, my voice breaking.

“I’m so sorry. About this. And your parents.” He rubs his arm, his gaze falling. “I hope we can stay friends, but right now, I have to go. I have no choice. I’ll be just a phone call away, I promise.”

He looks genuinely sorry—I can see it in his eyes—but I still want to tear him apart. Who cares about some stupid career right now? My life is in shambles. I have no one left, and now Auston is leaving me too.

I guess what they say in books and movies is true. Pretty boys will break your heart worse than anyone else. And you should stay away from them at all costs.

1

Just a peek

Ten Years Later

Emma

Looks like I’m the last one standing. The only one of my friends who hasn’t succumbed to the charm of a man. Well, the real kind at least. I’m more into book boyfriends. They’re reliable. They’ll never betray or abandon me. Fictional men are solid.

Unfortunately, I’ve been in a major reading slump lately. Does that have anything to do with the fact that I’m about to encounter my first love again after ten years? Probably.

Crawling out of bed,I grab my phone and type my old address into Google Maps, head to Street View, and tap on “view more dates.” I go back ten years, and as always, the moment I tap on the screen, my heart constricts. There they are, Mom and Dad, in front of our old house. Mom is taking the groceries out of the trunk, and Dad is coming from the front door to help her. I stare at their figures, basking in the sensation I hate to love so much. It’s not even a good picture of them, since their faces have been blurred for confidentiality reasons. Still, I prefer looking at this image over those where they’re posing for the camera. It was such an ordinary moment. They were simply coming back from the grocery store, like so many couples do every day. And for a second, it’s like they’re still there, in front of the house where I grew up.

Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath. As much as this was once our reality, it’s not anymore.

I gently press my lips to my phone, then exit the app, knowing that I’ll see them again tomorrow.

Lying back on my bed, I release a long sigh. Just when I start to wonder why I feel particularly lousy this morning, I remember what day it is.

This is the day production of theVelvet Kissesmovie adaptation begins, right here in our bookstore. Today’s the day I’m seeing Auston again.

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