by Sara Hantz
“Well—”
I push myself to my feet, putting my weight in my toes, my hands curved into loose fists. “I won the regional kickboxing championship after my first two years at the dojo, and Bill’s already told you about me winning the WAKO Pan America youth title in my weight class. I’m here because I can fight.” Wow, I have no idea where that came from. “You did need someone ‘yesterday,’ r-r-right?”
He stares at me for what seems like forever, then jumps up. “Okay, as long as you’re here. What’s the harm?”
He seems like a nice guy, just doing his job, I guess. Well, I’m gonna show him what I can do. If he doesn’t want me after that, then I know it’s for the right reasons and not because I can’t talk.
“Thanks.” The word comes out fine, and I feel my confidence return.
“First of all, I need to see if you could pass for Tilly on screen from the different angles we’ll be shooting. Ignore the camera. I don’t have a set routine for you, I’m more concerned with how you look. So just show us some of your kickboxing moves. Include some jumps, and use as much of the floor space as possible.”
But we don’t do jumps, apart from jumping jacks during the warm up. I bite on my bottom lip and think. My mind’s a total blank until, suddenly, I remember the sparring exhibition we did a couple months ago at the Woodrow Center. Matt and I were partners, but I could do my side of things, which involves lots of punching, kicking, and blocking.
Yes! That should be perfect.
I force all thoughts of Danny and the camera out of my mind and launch into the exhibition routine, and luckily it comes back to me almost instinctively as I go. Hardly surprising as we practiced it so often I could do it in my sleep. I make a couple of tiny mistakes, but hopefully it doesn’t matter. It’s not like I’m scoring points here. It’s hard not to notice the camera, though. It feels like I’m being stalked by a Dalek from Doctor Who.
At the end of the routine, Danny and the camera guy applaud. Does he mean it, or is he feeling guilty for what he said earlier, and he just wants me to feel good?
“Was that okay?” I ask, scanning Danny’s face.
“More than okay. You’re a natural. Like two different people on and off screen. You know, the camera loves you—come and look.” A tingling feeling washes over me. He can’t be serious. Me, a natural?
I run over to where he’s standing behind the camera looking at a small screen, and he replays my screen test.
If you don’t count my face, which by the end of it is all red and sweaty, the actual routine looks great. I’m not sure I’d say I’m a natural, though. Not that I know what counts as one. Even so, I’d love to have a copy of it to take home and show everyone, not that I have the nerve to ask.
“Thanks. And thank you for seeing me.”
Danny starts to roll the camera away toward the side of the studio, and I pull on my jeans and shoes. Once I’m back in my street clothes, I head for the door.
“Hey, where are you going?” Danny calls.
I turn and walk back toward him, chewing on my bottom lip. I hope he doesn’t think I’m rude. “S-sorry, I thought we’d finished.”
“I want to explain the process. I’ve already seen a couple of other girls earlier and now I have to talk to the casting director, and we’ll make a decision and let you know later.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
For some reason, I feel a bit deflated. But the main thing is that I did it and that my nerves didn’t get the better of me. It’s not like I expected to be offered the job on the spot. That only happens in the movies. But now that I’m here, and the audition is over, my dread is that I’ll go home and receive the thanks but no thanks call because they’ve decided on someone more suitable. Which is one-hundred percent going to happen, no matter how much I want the job now. I have no experience, and that’s the beginning and end of it, even if Bill did persuade him to test me. So I should stop daydreaming about how exciting working on a movie would be and just accept that my chances are slim, if that.
“You haven’t asked me anything about the job. Don’t you have any questions?” Danny asks.
“Sorry.” Question. Think of a question. “Um. Can you tell me more about the movie?”
“Sure. What do you know about New Zealand?”
Help. I’ve never been good at geography. Hope it’s not going to affect my chances if I tell him I haven’t a clue. Then again, it’s not like it will determine how well I do the stunts, if they want me.
“Not much. Sorry.” In other words, nothing apart from the fact that it’s where they shot the Lord of the Rings, and it’s a long way from here.
“No matter.” He leans back in his chair. “Most people think of Nebraska as flat, but in fact parts of Omaha, especially the Loess Hills, are similar to New Zealand’s hills, which is why we chose to shoot there. The movie’s loosely based on the ancient Maori legend of Mataaho, but with a more contemporary feel.”
Contemporary feel? How do you make legends contemporary?
I look down at my lap and notice I’m flicking the nail of my middle finger with my thumb. I quickly stop. Mom gets mad at me when I do it. She says the clicking noise is really annoying.
“Cool.” What else can I say? “And what part does Tilly play?”
“Princess Waiere. Hunua’s daughter. She falls in love with Hui and runs away with him to his tribe. According to the legend, the God of Secrets and his brother got really angry with a high priest of the tribe the princess came from for stealing magic and using it to fight Hui’s tribe. The Gods killed the high priest and turned the ground into volcanoes.”
“When you say it’s going to be contemporary, do you mean it’s not set in fairyland?”
“Not as such. It’s still going to be a fantasy, but it’s a twenty-first-century fairyland.”
“What?” I clamp my hand across my mouth. I didn’t mean for that to come out.
Danny frowns. “It may sound strange, but it’s a good script. And story. You’ve got to remember we’re appealing to a world-wide audience, and most of them won’t know anything about Maori culture.”
Like me, he means.
“I suppose,” I say, slowly shaking my head. “And what sort of stunts will I be doing? I-I-I mean will the stunt person be doing?”
“Oh, the usual. Fighting mostly, which is where being able to kickbox comes into play and why we need someone with your talent. There will also be some wirework. And motorcycle scenes.”
He talks for five more minutes and then walks me to the door. My head’s spinning with it all as I make my way over to the car where Matt is waiting.
I actually survived the audition and didn’t make a total ass of myself. Who knew?
Chapter Three
Matt parks outside the entrance of Chelsea’s, our favorite café, where we’ve arranged to meet Liv. While he goes to the counter, I find us a table by the window and stare out of it, looking but not really seeing as I think about the audition and how I persuaded Danny to let me try out. If I do get the job, then it’s not going to be easy. Not the kickboxing side of things. That I’m comfortable with. But the rest. That will be tough. The constant pressure to monitor myself and my breathing before speaking can be really draining.
I glance across at Matt waiting in line. He’s wearing my favorite blue tee, which sets off his eyes. He looks so good in that color. His chestnut-brown hair is all tousled, like someone just ran her fingers through it. He flashes a smile to the girl behind the counter, and she blushes and smiles back at him. Whatever.
“Here you are,” Matt says as he walks over to me.
He places the tray on the table. There are coffees and muffins for the three of us, and a panini.
“I take it the panini is for you?” I ask.
With Matt, his stomach is always first. I’ve never known anyone who eats as much as he does. And he always finishes anything Liv and I can’t. It has to be seen to be believed.
He laughs, then pulls his hoodie
over his head and hangs it over the back of his chair. He drags his hand through his hair, attempting to flatten it, but it still sticks out in all directions. He hates it. I think it’s cute. But, of course, he doesn’t know that. No one does.
We wait another fifteen minutes for Liv. She sees us and waves, absentmindedly swinging a sheet of long, dark hair away from her eyes. She treats us to a wide smile that belongs in a teeth-whitening commercial. Despite the fact that she probably just got out of field hockey practice, she looks perfect.
“Hey,” she says when she reaches the table. “Sorry, I’m late.” She pulls out the chair opposite me and sits down. “Hockey practice went on and on. For some reason, coach decided we’re all unfit and got us doing speed drills until we collapsed. What a nightmare, especially since all I wanted to do was find out how it went today.” She fans herself with her hand.
“No problem,” I say, laughing at her.
“So, tell me everything,” Liv says excitedly. “What was the audition like? How many other girls were there? Did you see Tilly? Was Danny hot? What was the studio like? How did you…?”
“Stop.” I cut her off and hold up my hand. “One question at a time, please.” There’s no stopping her when she gets on a roll. She gets so involved, it’s like it’s happening to her.
“Sorry.” She giggles.
“First, no Tilly wasn’t there, thank goodness, or I’d have freaked, big time. And second, Danny was nice for an older guy. And third…”
“And third, she killed it,” Matt says, nudging me with his elbow.
“I nailed the routine, if that’s what you mean.” I nudge him back, smiling up at him.
“As if you wouldn’t.” He wraps his arm around my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. His fingers idly stroke my neck.
My stomach does a little flip. Do friends do that sort of thing to each other? Of course they do, if they’re Matt. Stupid, over-friendly, touchy-feely Matt. There’s nothing in it. I’m just allowing my imagination to get the better of me, again. But, whatever. It feels nice.
“Did you have any problems with…you know…?” Liv asks.
The stuttering elephant, she means, that’s always in the room.
“At first. I nearly blew it before the audition even started. But I guess it could’ve been much worse. I could’ve totally screwed up the routine, too.”
“So overall, everything was fine,” Liv says. “See, I told you it would be.” She does a little dance in her seat.
Warmth radiates through me. After all the stress of today, it’s just nice to be alone with Liv and Matt. I don’t have to worry about speaking and not getting the words out. I don’t have to worry about anything. I can just be myself.
“I guess,” I reply.
“When do you hear back?” Liv asks.
“I don’t know. Danny said he’d call when they’ve made a decision. But, to be honest, I don’t care what happens. I got through the audition, which is more than I thought would happen yesterday. Not to mention, can you really imagine me working on a movie? It’s what dreams are made of, and we all know dreams are dreams and reality is reality.”
“Stop the crazy talk,” Liv says. “You have just as much right to your dreams coming true as the rest of us.”
She’s right, except working in the movies has never been my dream. I don’t really have real dreams, apart from the obvious—to never stutter again. Oh…and to win the world championship next year. Okay, so I do have dreams.
“I hear you,” I say. “Anyway, no more talk about the audition, because whatever we say won’t affect the outcome.”
“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong,” Liv says. “You have to tell the universe that you want the job. Then it will happen. So we all have to put out positive vibes. That means you too, Matt.”
Matt rolls his eyes toward the ceiling. He has no time for Liv’s “hippy-dippy stuff,” as he calls it.
“Ridiculous,” he says, leaning back in his chair and folding his arms tightly across his chest.
Liv reaches across and smacks him on the head—lightly, but enough for him to know she means business. She sits back and focuses her determined gaze on me. Uh-oh.
“I, Abi Saunders,” she says, palms in the air like she’s meditating, “want to be a stunt double in this movie with Tilly Watson. I want this job, therefore I will have this job. Repeat.”
“Really, Liv?” I say.
My cell, vibrating on the table, suddenly captures my attention. I go to pick it up when it stops. I’d put it on silent for the audition and forgotten to turn the ringer back on. Who would be calling me? It can’t be Mom, because I already called her. And the only other people who call me are sitting right here. Except—
After a few seconds a message comes in.
“It’s Danny,” I say after listening to it. I wasn’t expecting to hear from him so soon. “He wants me to call.”
Beads of sweat form on my forehead and a mass of thoughts swirl around my head. Is it yes? Is it no? Why couldn’t he just tell me in the message? Does he want to see me again? Is he just contacting me because he’s friends with Bill and wants to let me down gently?
“To offer you the job,” Liv exclaims. “I knew it. The universe is listening, as it always does.”
Matt makes sounds that resemble a cat in distress to express his feelings about Liv’s comment.
“We don’t know that. He’s Bill’s friend, and a nice guy, so maybe he wants to tell me in person that I didn’t get it.”
“Call him now,” Liv demands. “The not knowing is driving me crazy.”
“Not here,” I say. It seems stupid, but what if I start to cry when he tells me no? Which, first of all, is hardly what you’d expect of someone my age and, second of all, is just plain embarrassing. “I think I’ll go outside and do it.”
“I’m coming with,” Liv says, jumping up and following me, not giving me a chance to object.
I glance back at Matt who is watching us leave. I hope he doesn’t mind being left there on his own. Actually, why would he? He’s a guy.
Once we’re outside, I swallow hard and then call Danny. He answers after the first ring.
“Abi. Thanks for getting back to me. I wanted to let you know we’ve looked at all the screen tests, and we’d like to offer you the role of stunt double for Tilly.”
My jaw drops. “I-I-I’ve got the j-job?” My voice is barely above a whisper as the enormity of Danny’s words hit me. “E-e-even though I’ve n-n-never done stunt work before?”
Pinch me someone now. This just isn’t happening to me.
“Even though,” he says gently. “Because it didn’t stop you outclassing the professionals we auditioned, plus your likeness on screen to Tilly is uncanny.”
Is he serious? I beat out the professionals. How the heck did I do that?
“You do want the job, I take it?” Danny’s voice breaks my train of thought.
Good question. Unfortunately, the answer eludes me at this precise moment. I thought I did, but that was before. Now my mind’s pure mush. “Um, well…”
My heartbeat quickens. What if I say yes? Deep down it’s what I want. And what’s the worst that can happen?
Worst case scenario: I screw up, Bill—someone I’ve admired for years—thinks I’m the biggest loser to ever walk the planet, I ruin the reputation of the dojo, and Danny will never listen to Bill again.
Crap.
Make that triple crap.
I’ve always hated making decisions. Hardly surprising when considering my star sign is Libra, and anyone who knows anything about astrology will know what I mean. There’s a very good reason why Libra is represented by scales. We’re too busy weighing things to decide. Crap, crap, crap, crap, crap…
On the other hand, as Mom would say, the world won’t come to an end if I give it a shot and it doesn’t work out.
“Yes, please,” I finally say to Danny.
A rush of adrenaline shoots through me. I’ve just said yes. I must be
crazy.
“Cool,” he replies.
He spends the next few minutes going over the main things in my contract and says he’ll email it to me so I can sign it.
“Thanks,” I say when he finishes.
We say goodbye, and I glance at Liv who’s double punching the air.
“Yes!” she shouts, flinging her arms around me, giving me the hugest of hugs.
“Okay,” I say, gasping for air. “If you squeeze me any tighter, the only thing I’ll be fit for is corpse-double.” Liv quickly releases me and lets her arms drop to her side. But she can’t stand still; she’s jumping all over the place. I’d love to be able to match her excitement, but instead it’s fear that’s coursing through my veins.
“This is going to be the most insane summer ever. Did he say anything about getting your SAG card? Because that would be so cool.”
“Yeah. I have to apply for one after I’ve been working for thirty days.” I shrug, not sure why she thinks a Screen Actors Guild card is such a big deal.
“You do know what that means?”
“What?”
“It’s your passport to working on other movies. This is so wasted on you. Why, oh why did I not beg to take kickboxing classes when I was younger?” She folds her arms across her chest and shakes her head, her eyes twinkling.
I burst out laughing. “Lucky for me you didn’t.”
“Well, I’m going to enjoy movie life through you, instead. Please say I can come to the set sometimes. I’ll keep out the way. You won’t even know I’m there.”
“Ha! Yeah, right.” Liv is far from subtle. “If there’s any way I can get you on set I will, but I can’t promise anything. Not until I know how this whole movie thing works.”
“I know that.” She gives me her “serious” look. “How much are they paying you?”
“I don’t know. Megabucks, I hope.” I hadn’t even thought about the money until now. Now that I am, how awesome would it be to have a stash of cash?
“You could use the money for our vacation.”
We’ve always dreamed of going overseas, ever since Liv’s older sister worked her way across Europe—at one point, she even sheared sheep to make some money. Can’t say I want to get up close and personal with livestock, but there’s bound to be something for us to do. Liv wants to work behind a bar, but I don’t, unless she serves the drinks and I wash up. That would work.