Page 15 of Take It Till You Make It
Sally slaps her hand over her mouth, making her apology muffled. “I didn’t mean to insult your bestie.”
We focus on getting food. I’m pleasantly surprised to learn it’s all free. I expected a lunch lady to be sitting at a register at the end of the line, but instead, we turn toward the tables, and I follow Sally to a booth along a wall.
I learn that I’m a few months older than Sally, which we both think is funny, considering I’m playing her little sister. That she has already graduated from high school because she started school at the age of four. That her boyfriend relocated too while he pursues his degree in child psychology online. They are both living with her aunt, but Sally made sure I understood that she and her boyfriend are not living together – like that. Then she drops the bomb that her best friend is dating teen heartthrob Tod Strapper.
“In my opinion,” I look around to make sure I’m not overheard. “Tod Strapper deserves his reputation, while Crispin Moore doesn’t.”
She cocks her head. “Why do you say that?”
“Tod seems genuinely nice. And he also seems to enjoy acting.”
Sally grins and nods. “He’s so nice. I’m so happy for Sarah.”
“While Crispin is a conceited jerk who seems to think he deserves the spotlight.”
Sally frowns. “Is he conceited? He’s been pretty nice to me.”
I roll my eyes and lean forward so I can continue to whisper. “He sort of has to be nice to you since you’re playing boyfriend and girlfriend. It’s in his best interest to make you like him. But he has been nothing but dismissive toward me. If I was a fan, I’d be completely disillusioned by his treatment.”
“Huh.” Sally sits back. “I had no idea.”
I can see that she’s genuinely surprised to hear what a jerk he is. She totally strikes me as a person who gives everyone a million chances to prove they don’t deserve her trust and friendship. She’s way too nice. But since I’m not sitting alone right now, I’m thankful for that.
“Does your aunt go out for lunch?”
Sally shakes her head. “She works out.”
“Like at a gym?”
“Yep, weights and stuff. She’ll slip back into her trailer for lunch about half an hour before our afternoon call.”
“Do we always get a two-hour break?”
Sally nods as she takes a bite of her fajita. When she finishes chewing, she says, “You should definitely bring a book or something to entertain yourself. Unless you want to hit the gym too.”
“Oh gosh, no. The only way I’d hit the gym is with my car.”
She chokes on her next bite. “That’s funny. But me too!”
It feels so good to sit and talk to someone my own age. While it makes me miss Glory more than I already do, it also soothes me in a way I didn’t even realize I needed. I’ve spent the last several months being the adult in the family, and visiting with Sally lets me release all that responsibility that has been thrust on me and pretend I’m still just a normal seventeen-year-old girl.
Maybe this movie thing isn’t all horrible.
I take a big bite of my fajita.
“You’ve got something, just here.”
I look up to find Crispin, holding an orange, a boiled egg, and a can of soda in one hand and pointing to the side of his mouth with the other.
I hastily wipe my mouth and come away with a smear of sour cream and guacamole on my hand. Of course, he has to witness my messy eating.
“See you guys after lunch.” He says it like a challenge.
I look across at Sally with a panicked expression. “Why? Why will he see us after lunch?”
She shakes her head, already scrolling through something on her phone. “Because of the scene switch”
“Scene switch?”
