Page 18 of The Fake Script

“I read scripts,” he says, wincing.

I shake my head. “Not exactly the same.”

He runs a hand over his hair, sighing. “I’ve never been much of a reader, or student for that matter.”

I pause, looking him in the eye. And for an instant, it feels like he remembers. But then, why would he word it like that?

“Well, you should give it a try. There’s no better form of entertainment.”

“Um, excuse me,” he says, looking around in an obvious way.

I wrinkle my forehead. “What?”

He splays his arms and says, “We’re on the set of a movie.”

I shrug. “Movies aren’t really my thing.”

“Now you just broke my heart,” he says, shaking his head with exaggerated fervor.

Well, now you know how it feels, pal.

He smiles.“Seriously, though. You should give movies a chance. They might surprise you.”

“And you should give books a shot.” I wink. “You’ll enjoy yourself and live longer.”

He quirks an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“Yep. Scientists found that reading for at least half an hour a day increases your lifespan by about two years.”

“Wow. They need to print that on the napkins at the next Oscars,” he says with a chuckle. “Though we might end up with a plastic surgeon riot on our hands afterwards.”

I have to hold back my smile. Auston always knew how to make me smile. I loved that about him. He might have been the popular kid, but he was also the funny one.

His gaze stays planted on mine, and I look away. “Should we go again?”

“Sure.” He clears his throat before getting back into character.

We try the same line a few more times, and he’s now way better at the Diego Loma voice. Part of me wishes he wasn’t. What happens when we have nothing more to work on?

What am I thinking? I’ll be free!That’s what happens. I’ll peacefully return to my life and put the painful memory of Auston back into the box it was locked in.

Auston

She almost smiled. At my lame Oscar joke, of all things. She was so close. I used to love the game of trying to win people over. At auditions, dinners, charity events. But these days, I don’t need to. They’re already interested. Already charmed. But pulling a smile out of Emma? Now that’s a real challenge. Especially since it used to be so easy. In high school, she was nothing but smiles, but everything is different now. I guess it was to be expected, losing her parents at such a young age. Not that I can fully grasp what it feels like. I know she had a great relationship with her grandmother, but it’s not the same.

She comes back into the trailer with another steaming cup of coffee, and I shake my head. “You’re addicted to caffeine. You know that?”

She takes a sip, and her body relaxes. “I do. But coffee is just so delicious. So comforting. And it’s good for your health.”

I can’t help but grin. “I’m pretty sure that’s only if you drink a reasonable amount per day.”

Her eyebrows draw together. “I do drink a reasonable amount.”

With a playful glare, I say, “This is the third break we’ve taken since lunch.”

“And? Three coffees is nothing.”

“I’m pretty sure you drank at least two while we were shooting, and that’s not even counting the ones you drank this morning.”

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