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“How’s it going?” a voice behind me asked.

I turned and faced Tyler.

“I can’t do it,” I croaked. “Lost my voice.”

“It’s just stage fright,” he said. “Remember?”

I shook my head no. “I can’t sing,” I insisted.

“Breathe with me,” he said. “Slowly.”

We took a few deep breaths together.

“Positions, everyone,” a voice boomed.

Tyler smiled reassuringly at me and said I’d be great. He handed me a cough drop before he turned to go back to Felicia.

I unwrapped the cough drop, put it in my mouth, and joined the rest of the band.

I was still nervous. But more under-control nervous.

ESTABLISHING SHOT: Catch the Wave deck. Evening. Thirteen teens sitting at tables and
standing around listening to a live band. Cool-looking boy and girl dancing on the side (Sunny
and Ducky).

TRACKING LONG SHOT: Vivian and J.B. walk in and sit at a small table.

CLOSE ON J.B. and Vivian having intimate, silent conversation.

They did eleven takes of those three shots. We played the first chords of the song eleven times!

In between the takes the crew made amore adjustments to cameras, lights, sound.

We never played the song all the way through. They only needed the first stanza as background for those three shots.

By two o’clock I was totally exhausted and bored. And our music was beginning to show it. My friends, the extras, were dropping too. Jill had even stopped staring at Tyler.

Maura called a break. Vance went into a huddle with Tyler and Felicia to talk about the next scene. The rest of us threw back some sodas.

More makeup and hair touch-up.

Back on the set for the second half of the scene.

SOUND: Band playing love song. Lead singer at mike. (ME!)

MEDIUM CLOSE-UP: J.B. takes Vivian’s hand. They stand to dance. J.B. puts his arms
around Vivian’s waist and they slow dance in place. She’s tentative, he’s more relaxed.

CLOSE ON J.B. whispering in Vivian’s ear. She leans back and smiles shyly but lovingly. They
dance even closer together.

FADE-OUT.

Tyler and Felicia did that LUV scene over and over and over. And I sang the same LUV lyrics for them over and over and over. All my friends were watching.

VERY WEIRD!

Finally, Maura shouted, “It’s a wrap,” and the shoot was over.

Maura thanked us and said it had been a great day. My friends seemed happy. Tyler said good-bye to everybody, told me he’d call me, and left with Felicia.

UNTITLED

I sang while you danced with her.

It was unreal.

What’s the deal?

You pretend to be in love with her.

Is it an act?

Or fact?

Why did I write such a stupid poem?

I’m not in love with Tyler.

Tyler’s just a friend.

I think.

I thought.

I don’t know.

My friends were all happy about being extras in a movie. They didn’t even mention how boring it was. Ducky thanked me about a zillion times. Well, at least some people had fun.

Did Tyler?

Sunday 5/9

1:00 P.M.

Tyler called!

He said he
loved
listening to me sing yesterday. That it was fun to work together. He didn’t mention that his “work” was holding Felicia in his arms and slow dancing.

It’s going to be a crazy, busy week for him. They’re filming the J.B.-saves-Vivian-from-the-undertow scene at some beach south of L.A.

“But I have Saturday off,” he said. “Maybe we could double-date with Brendan and Amalia?”

A date? Well, he probably just means we’d go out with Brendan and Amalia. Hanging out with them will be a more normal way to see Tyler than on a film set. At least Felicia won’t be there.

I told Tyler I’d check with Amalia and Brendan and get back to him.

Monday 5/10

1:00 P.M.

I’m in study hall and should be studying, and will study in a minute, but first I have to write what’s on my mind.

Why is everyone flipping out about a little scene in a movie? The
Vista Voice
wants to interview me about the film. And someone from the student government asked if I could arrange a special screening of
Love Conquers All
as a fund-raiser for our library.

Do they think the movie is about Vista? Do they think Vanish are the stars of the movie? Just because we shot for a day doesn’t mean our little scene will even be in the final film. It probably won’t be. Movie producers spend millions of dollars shooting scenes that they never used.

Ducky acts like he had a big part in
Love Conquers All
. He’ll be lucky if the back of his head is on the screen for a nanosecond.

This week I’m going to study hard, work at the shelter, and forget anything that has to do with movies.

Back to work!

Back to my real life!

Amalia and Brendan said okay to going out with Tyler and me Saturday night. Maybe we’ll go bowling.

Will try not to think about Tyler until I see him on Saturday.

Wednesday 5/12

10:00 P.M.

It feels good to be back to my old routine. Lots of homework. Aced a math quiz with 100+.

Going to work at the shelter after school tomorrow.

For the record: Dad said my singing on the set was “very good” and that Vanish has a “good sound.” He also reminded me that a classical background is important and he wondered if I was practicing piano enough. He managed to turn a positive thing (that he liked my singing and the band) into a negative (that I wasn’t practicing piano enough).

I hate when he does that.

Later

Talked with Tyler briefly. He’s going to pick me up at seven on Saturday. We’ll meet Brendan and Amalia at Alley Cat Bowling. Tyler said they finished shooting the rescue scene.

How many times did they film of Tyler saving Felicia?

How many times did he give her mouth-to-mouth resuscitation?

Friday 5/14

8:30 P.M.

Phone message from Tyler.

Hi, Maggie. Sorry I missed you. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow night. My tutor is
giving me a big history test tomorrow morning. Studying tonight. The shoot is going okay.

Wondered how you’re doing.

I heard Uncle Fred yelling something to Tyler in the background. Tyler signed off with a quick
Gotta go
.

Saturday 5/15

Sometime After Midnight

I should have known the evening would be a disaster. What was I doing hanging out with Tyler in the first place? I must have temporarily lost my mind.

Tyler picked me up at seven as planned. He talked about the shoot all the way to Alley Cat. He was pretty hyper from working all week.

When we reached the bowling alley, I reminded him to put on his sunglasses and hat. As soon as we walked inside, a guy Tyler knew called to him. His name was Rod Simon, and I figured he was a friend of Tyler’s who happened to be there.

I waved to Amalia and Brendan, who were already at our lane. I was about to tell Tyler they were there, when two girls interrupted him. They giggled a lot and asked for autographs. A couple of guys saw what was going on and wanted to talk to Tyler too.

I told Rod that it was nice meeting him and to tell Tyler I was going to our lane.

“Nice meeting you too, Maggie,” Rod said. “See you over there.”

I was a little surprised that Rod was planning to hang out with us, and I wondered if Tyler had invited him.

Amalia, Brendan, and I bowled a few practice sets until Tyler and Rod joined us.

Rod introduced himself to Amalia and Brendan. “Rod Simon,” he said. “I’m following Tyler around for a few days. We’re doing a lead piece on him for
Teen ‘Zine
.”

I was shocked. Tyler agreed to let a reporter join us!

I glared at him. But Amalia invited Rod to bowl with us. Brendan thought that was a great idea too. No one but me seemed upset that we were hanging out with a reporter.

But I was upset enough for all of us.

Actually I’m still furious. Tyler must have suggested the evening because it would make good magazine copy.

Is that how he treats a date?

Is that how he treats a friend?

If it is, I don’t want to be friends with him anymore. Especially since all he’s interested in is being a superstar surrounded by adoring girls. He must have signed autographs for every girl at the alley. And even when he was bowling he’d look around and smile. He turned bowling into a performance and our evening into a publicity stunt. He’s worse than Felicia.

I don’t believe a word he said about missing his hometown and friends. I don’t believe a word he says about liking to be with me. No wonder his friends in Santa Claus freak out about his being a star. He acts like one.

It was like Tyler wasn’t with us.

Maybe he was wishing he was with Felicia.

Later, in the car, Brendan was telling us a story about his cousin who does bungee jumping. It was really interesting. Brendan asked Tyler if he’d ever done it and Tyler said, “Done what?”

He wasn’t even listening!

Amalia made a joke out of it. And Brendan didn’t act offended. But I was.

I should have trusted my instincts. I should have steered clear of Tyler.

From now on I will.

Monday 5/17

After Homework, Before Bed

Tyler left me an e-mail today. How did he get my-email address?

Maggie, I’m sorry about Saturday night. I was surprised that Rod showed up at the bowling
alley, but I didn’t want to be rude to him. He was just doing his job. But I know you didn’t like
having him there. I thought you might come to the set today. Or maybe you’ll come later this
week. Hope your week’s going okay. Call or e-mail back. Please. T.K.

I’m not e-mailing T.K.

Or calling him.

Or going on the set.

Tuesday 5/18

9:0 P.M.

My rat brother gave Tyler my e-mail address! Zeke said he and Tyler have been e-mailing since the party.

Amalia says that Tyler really seemed to like being with us and that she could tell he liked me and wanted me to like him.

I said every girl in America is in love with him and shouldn’t that be enough?

She said that he’s not in love with every girl in America.

I said that was only because he’s in love with himself, like every other actor.

She said I’m not being fair.

I said I had to go, that dinner was ready. Which was less rude than hanging up on her, which is what I felt like doing.

Wednesday, 5/19

8:00 P.M.

Talked a lot about Tyler in therapy today. I tried to imagine what it must be like for Tyler suddenly to find himself in that shallow, fake movie world. Everyone treats him like he’s something special. I wonder if deep down he’s thinking,
I’m just like everybody else. What’s so
special about me? Why is everyone giving me all this money and all this attention?

Dr. Fuentes said that is often the way famous people feel.

I asked her if she thought I should give Tyler another change.

She said I should do what if eel like doing.

8:09 P.M.

I feel like giving him another chance.

Later

Amalia said I should have a party and invite Tyler. She thinks he and I should be together without fans, reporters, directors, other stars, or any of the Hollywood hype. She says that’ll give us a chance to figure out how we feel about each other.

So I’m having a party. A normal Saturday night party.

I’m going to go to the studio tomorrow to invite Tyler in person.

Maybe he won’t come.

Maybe he’ll be too busy.

Maybe he’ll say he’s too busy so he won’t have to come.

Friday 5/21

As I was going up the steps to Tyler’s trailer he came out. “Oh,” he said with a surprised look.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” I said back.

“I’ve been hoping that you’d show up.”

We faced each other in the trailer doorway. I tried to look casual by leaning against the door jamb as I told him that I’d had a busy week.

He said that he wondered if maybe I was mad at him.

I admitted that I’d been a little ticked off about Rod Simon.

He apologized again for that. Then he said he was glad I was being honest with him. That he’s sick of being saying one thing and meaning something else. “Which is the way Hollywood

works most of the time,” he added. He sounded much older than fifteen when he said that.

I told him about the party. He said it sounded great, and that although they were shooting tomorrow, he’d come right from the shoot.

When I asked him how the shoot was going, he said he was on his way to do another scene with Felicia.

“Which scene are you shooting?” I asked.

“The one in the library.” He handed me his script and I quickly read over the scene. It takes place behind a stack of books.

Here’s the dialogue (as well as I can remember it). A very romantic scene.

VIVIAN: No one wants us to be together. My parents, your friends, my friends. Nobody’s on
our side.

J.B.: Maybe you should stop worrying about this tuff. Let’s just be together and see how we
feel. This is about us. Not about them.

VIVIAN: But —

J.B. (putting a finger to her lips): Shhh. I’m happier when I’m with you than I am with anybody
else, Vivian. That’s the truth.

VIVIAN: I feel the same way.

Felicia caught up with us as we were walking to the set. She said hi to me, but all of her attention was on Tyler. “Don’t forget that tonight after the shoot you’re coming to my place for dinner,” she reminded him.

“I know. And don’t forget you promised we’ll work on tomorrow’s scene,” he said pointedly.

I wonder if Tyler said that so I wouldn’t think they were having some kind of big date.