Will the Real Abi Sanders Please Stand Up?

by Sara Hantz

  “Yes, that’s one option. Or I could buy a car. That would save me relying on Mom for rides, which is definitely something worth considering.”

  “Good idea. Your mom is the worst driver on the planet. No offense,” Liv adds.

  “None taken.” What Liv says is true. Not that Mom realizes, of course, but I swear last week she almost took out three crossing guards in under five minutes.

  I turn to head back into the café.

  “I can’t wait to tell everyone about the movie. They’ll be so freaked,” Liv says as she opens the door and we walk back inside.

  “NO!” I shout it too loudly, and some girls standing in line stop talking and turn their heads in our direction. “No,” I repeat, more quietly. “I don’t want anyone else to know.”

  “Why? This could be our passport into the in-crowd and beyond.”

  “And we want to be in the in-crowd because?” My lips twitch as I try to maintain a serious face. I know exactly why she wants a higher profile.

  “You mean apart from being noticed by Austin?” Liv replies.

  Austin is this guy from a local school that Liv thinks is really hot. Trouble is, he doesn’t seem to know she exists. If we ever see him at parties, he’s surrounded by cheerleading girls. Matt knows him because they’re at the same school—he doesn’t like him much. He figures Austin thinks he’s God’s gift to girls. Austin should be so lucky.

  “Look, I haven’t signed my contract yet. And if I screw this up and they let me go, I’m gonna look like an idiot, so the fewer people who know the better.” I keep walking toward our table, with Liv close behind.

  “Abi, will you stop it?” Liv demands as we reach Matt. “They wouldn’t have offered you the job if they didn’t think you could do it.”

  “You got the job.” Matt leaps to his feet and throws his arms around me. “Awesome. Let’s celebrate. Cake anyone?”

  Everything goes to back to food with Matt. I relax into his hold until suddenly remembering something that Danny told me. Crap. I hope Matt doesn’t mind too much. I pull away from him and focus on the floor.

  “Yeah, well, before we do, you might want to know that from now on, I’m not allowed to attend class. I can go to the dojo, but I can’t do any kickboxing, in case I injure myself. I’m really sorry, but I can’t compete with you in the Worthington Trophy again this year.” My shoulders sag, at the sadness I feel about having to miss all the extra time we spend together when we’re training for something special.

  “That’s cool,” Matt says without missing a beat, but there’s a strange expression on his face that makes me pause. However, the look’s gone in an instant, and I wonder if it was all in my imagination.

  Chapter Four

  “Abi, for God’s sake, concentrate,” Zac, the director, shouts. “Fairies don’t look like elephants when they fly. Legs together, arms graceful, and glide. Please.”

  My cheeks are crimson, and I want to die. We must have gone over this move fifty times already, and I still can’t get it. I know, without even looking, that the other guys have lost it with me. It’s easy for them, but I’m a kickboxer, not a freakin’ acrobat. It’s not like I’m not trying my hardest. But the more Zac shouts at me, the harder it is for me to do what he asks. Surely he must realize that.

  Now he’s saying something to Danny. Let’s all guess what it is: Get rid of the silly girl. We couldn’t get anyone more incompetent if we tried. In fact, a monkey could do better.

  Well, a monkey could do better. Then again, a monkey wouldn’t need to fly across the room wearing a harness that cuts badly into its thighs. We’re doing wirework, the one thing I couldn’t wait to do. Ha. Well, it looks like the joke’s on me.

  At least we’re not filming yet. This is just the rehearsal or, as they say, “prepping.” We’re in one of the studios that’s full of equipment with pulleys and wires. I have no idea how it all works, except that it keeps me up in the air. They film wirework indoors against a blue screen, and then edit to make it look like it’s outside by dropping in a background.

  According to Vince, Hui’s stunt double, what I’m doing is really basic stuff, nothing like the things they did on The Avengers. Which it wouldn’t be, obviously, or they’d have employed a real stunt person and not me. I remember reading that the actors had months of training even though many of the stunts were done by stunt doubles. It might be basic for someone who’s experienced, like Vince, but it’s not for me.

  Right. This is it. I’m going to really concentrate. I will not be beaten. I can do this. It’s not hard.

  I’m a graceful fairy,

  I’m a graceful fairy,

  I’m a graceful fairy.

  “Ready,” I call, for the first time feeling confident of success. I’m focused. My body is in the right position, and my head is in the right space.

  The technician holds up his thumb so I know we’re about to go. I try to relax my mind, then point my toes, bring my legs together, and hold out my arms at forty-five degree angles. So far, so good. I swallow hard as I begin to move exactly as I’ve been instructed to.

  I’m doing it. I’m actually doing it. Please let Zac say it’s okay.

  “Hoo-flipping-ray,” booms Zac’s voice. “At last, she’s got it.”

  I’ve done it. I’ve actually done it. I can now do wirework. And even Zac’s sarcastic tone can’t spoil it. Matt will be so jealous. Well, not as jealous as when I first told him about the motorcycles I’ll be riding, but this will come in a close second. I’ll be able to tell him later, because he’s been waiting for me at the studio nearly every afternoon this week to see how my day has been and to give me a ride home. I love that he’s doing that. Even if it is because he’s my friend, and not because he has feelings for me like I have for him…

  Put them away, I remind myself. Matt runs in the opposite direction when girls get too serious. The last thing I want him to do is run from our friendship, so I lose him forever.

  A loud crash, sounding like someone slamming the door, gives me a start, and I jerk backwards. My legs splay, and I lose all control of my body, until suddenly I’m hanging upside down.

  This so isn’t happening to me. My hair flops in front of my eyes, and my arms dangle in mid-air. Let’s not even think about how shallow my breathing is.

  Crap.

  After what seems like an eternity (which is probably only a few seconds), someone starts a slow handclap. And here’s me thinking it couldn’t get any worse.

  I figure it’s Zac and wait for everyone to join in. Except they don’t.

  The silence is deafening. Until…

  “Look at that stupid girl. What is she doing?”

  Oh, no. That voice is a dead ringer for Tilly’s. But it can’t be. I know this is her first day back on set since I’ve started, but Vince said earlier that she’s filming in the hills today, a good hour’s drive from here. More to the point, I’m in no rush to meet her just yet. I don’t want to do that until I’ve at least come to grips with some of this stuff, or she’ll think I’m a total idiot. That so can’t happen.

  I crane my neck in an attempt to get a better view but still can’t see anything other than the wall, and it feels like my neck is going to part ways with the rest of my body.

  Don’t be her. Don’t be her.

  Desperate for a better look, I twist my body slightly and swing my arms back and forth, until I start to move. Once I can touch the wall, I give a hard push. Except I’m stronger than I think, and I begin to swing from side to side so fast it makes me feel really sick.

  There’s no way I can allow myself to throw up on the people below, so I clamp my hand over my mouth. I can’t think about that now.

  As I continue swinging, I keep getting fleeting glimpses of very dark hair and a pink top that definitely weren’t there before.

  My mantra of don’t be her plays on repeat in my head.

  After what feels like forever, they pull me to the side where I grab hold of the scaffolding with both
hands and pull my legs around so I’m in a standing position.

  One of the tech guys reaches over from the platform and unclips me. I just about manage a nod of thanks before he turns around and climbs back down. Other than that I remain motionless. My legs feel like jelly, and I don’t dare move in case they give way.

  “Okay, everyone,” Zac says. “Let’s break for lunch. Meet back here in half an hour for a final run through.”

  Not again, surely. Why? I did it right, didn’t I? Zac said so just before the spinning incident.

  “You coming, Abi?” Vince calls.

  Vince is so nice. Especially to me, right from the first day of rehearsal. And he doesn’t make me feel like an idiot for stuttering. In fact, I hardly stutter around him now.

  “Sure, I’m on my way.” I turn around, take hold of the sides of the ladder, and climb down. When I get to the bottom and both my feet are safely on the ground, I turn to face them. “Okay, let’s…”

  My jaw drops to the floor, and my eyes are riveted on HER. As in Tilly Watson. Who is standing next to Zac.

  Which means I’m who she was talking about.

  Actually, let me rephrase that. I’m the stupid girl she referred to.

  She won’t want me to be her double, now. And after seeing me dangling upside down like I don’t know how to fly, I can hardly blame her for having zero faith in me. I so wanted to make a good impression. Even imagined we could be friends. Not right away, but once she got to know me. What are the odds now, though?

  Before I can even attempt to drag my eyes off her, Zac looks across and sees me staring. Blood rushes up my face until it’s burning hot and, I’m guessing, crimson.

  “Abi. Over here.” Zac beckons with his hand, then turns his attention back to Tilly, who doesn’t even look in my direction.

  Crap, crap, crap, crap.

  “I’ll catch up,” I say to Vince. “Will you get me a sandwich and Diet Coke, please?”

  How can I think of food at a moment like this? Tilly Watson, movie star, basically announced to everyone that she didn’t want me in this movie.

  I hitch in a breath, the rush of air hitting the pit of my stomach and making me shiver. I smooth down my top, which is all twisted from the wirework, and take a purposeful step in the direction of Zac and Tilly. In my head, I try to convince myself everything will be okay, however much my heart is pounding violently against my ribcage.

  “Abi.” Zac’s impatient voice makes me jump. “Hurry up.”

  “Sorry.” I take another step toward him and trip over nothing. Luckily, I manage to right myself before landing splat in front of them both. I take a couple more steps and stand next to Zac.

  My eyes are drawn like magnets to Tilly. Not a pimple on her skin, and her hair is sleek and shiny. How does she do it? It’s insane that she looks exactly the same in person as she does on screen.

  No airbrushing needed with her.

  “Tilly, meet Abi your stunt double. Abi, meet Tilly,” Zac says.

  “H-h-h-hi T-T-Tilly.” Help! This isn’t happening to me. How hard is it to say hi to someone? But of course I know the answer to that one. Still, maybe she didn’t notice. Or will just think that I’m still suffering from being on the wire.

  Tilly stares at me, an incredulous expression on her face. “H-h-h-h-h-hiii.” She smirks.

  I go cold. It’s like stepping back in time to elementary school. Being older doesn’t make the teasing any easier to deal with, especially since Liv isn’t here to stand up for me.

  “Tilly, behave,” Zac warns narrowing his eyes.

  Except it’s all for show since he then winks at her. Just because I stutter doesn’t make me stupid. I know what they’re thinking.

  “Whatever,” Tilly says rolling her eyes toward the ceiling. “Remember, you’re here to make me look good,” she adds.

  “I-I-I do. I mean I-I-I know. I will. S-s-sorry.”

  If the earth would open up and swallow me whole right now, it wouldn’t be a moment too soon.

  “I want you to spend some time with Tilly this afternoon,” Zac says.

  “W-w-what about the run through?” I ask, remembering he wants us back in half an hour.

  “We’ll manage without you. For now, stick with Tilly. Watch how she moves, how she stands. Anything you think might help.”

  Tilly directs a carefully blank look in my direction. Somehow, that’s even worse than the irritation she showed before. “You need to get it right. You’re supposed to be a professional.” She turns and walks away.

  Well, I could have told them that offering me this job was the craziest thing ever. But I’d hoped the fact they actually wanted me meant I had something to offer. That maybe, just maybe, I was special.

  Ha! Right now I feel like a hopeless, unprofessional failure.

  I clench my teeth to try and stop the tears that are so close to falling. Then give myself a mental slap. I can’t give up at the first hurdle. Yes, Tilly was being insensitive. But I’ve had worse throughout my life. I’m going to ignore what she said and prove to her that I can do a good job.

  …

  “Tilly, are you in here?” I call, opening the bathroom door.

  I’ve been searching everywhere, but it seems that she’s nowhere to be found. I’d give up except for Zac’s instructions. I don’t want to get on his bad side. Vince figures Tilly’s giving me the run around on purpose. I don’t know why, not if she wants me to make her look good.

  “Can’t a girl pee in peace?” Tilly snaps, her voice coming from one of the cubicles on the left.

  Ah ha. I’ve found her.

  “S-s-sorry. I’ll wait outside for you.”

  Tilly mutters something that I can’t really hear as I’m leaving the bathroom. Not that I want to know what she’s saying, since it’s probably not going to be nice. Outside, I lean against the wall in the corridor and wait for her.

  Finally, after nearly ten minutes, the bathroom door opens, and she walks out.

  “Come on,” she says, tossing a glance in my direction before turning and striding off.

  I have to run to catch up to her, and we walk in silence. The entire time I’m trying to watch the way her arms swing, turning in slightly, and the way she holds her head, her neck stretched. It’s like she’s had lessons in walking correctly.

  “Stop staring at me.” Tilly comes to an abrupt halt and glares at me.

  I take a step backward and focus on the floor.

  “S-s-s-orry. Z-zac said…”

  “I don’t care what Zac said. Just give it a rest. I’m not the main attraction in a circus.” She frowns. “Despite what the media would have you believe,” she adds, her voice sounding flat.

  I glance up and see a strange, almost despondent, expression on her face, which hardens as soon as she notices me looking.

  “Sorry,” I repeat. “What do you want to do?”

  “I need to go over some moves. The last girl was next to useless.”

  That surprises me, seeing as the original stunt double was a professional. The producers wouldn’t have taken her on if she couldn’t do the job. Unless it’s just Tilly being Tilly. Whatever. It’s sort of a relief, because her having been awesome in Tilly’s mind would have added even more pressure.

  “Okay,” I say, following her.

  We take the stairs to the next level, to a part of the building I haven’t been to before. At the end of the corridor there are a set of double doors, which Tilly pushes open, taking us into a practice room. The back wall is mirrored, and there are practice bars all around the other walls.

  “Mats are over there,” Tilly says, pointing to where there are a few standing in the corner. “And they call this place a movie studio,” she adds, scanning the room. “Just look at it.”

  I don’t reply, just run to the corner, pick up a mat, and bring it over, unrolling it and laying it on the floor. Then I take off my shoes and stand in the middle. Tilly does the same. I’m not sure exactly what she wants to know. Whether it’
s just basic stuff, like how to stand, or what.

  “Stand with your feet apart and your knees slightly bent.” Yay, no stutter.

  “I know that,” Tilly snaps, rolling her eyes toward the ceiling. “I’m not a total idiot.”

  This whole situation is just weird. Here I am, facing someone I’ve worshipped for most of my life, and instead of it being the best time ever, it’s turning into a nightmare. I know on screen it’s all acting. But how can she be so totally different from the characters she plays and yet so convincing? It’s crazy.

  “S-s-sorry.” Crap.

  “Show me how to kick. The roundabout kick.”

  A laugh escapes my lips, and my hand shoots up to cover my mouth.

  “What’s so funny?” Tilly demands, her eyes narrow.

  “Nothing. It’s called the roundhouse kick.” I chew on my bottom lip. And wait for snarky comment. Except it doesn’t come.

  “Show me.” Tilly stands opposite me, in the correct starting position, concentration etched across her perfect, porcelain-skinned face.

  I’ve been training juniors for a while, so I decide to treat it like that. I’m not facing a Hollywood star. She’s just someone who wants to learn about kickboxing. And if she wants to get it right, she needs to do as I say. I shake out my arms and stand with my legs slightly apart and bent.

  “The roundhouse is a turning kick. Lift your knee up and out, like this.” I show her, maintaining the first position. “And then twist your hip toward your target and flick your upper shin out.” I kick out into the air. “You try. Aim at my leg.”

  Tilly lifts her knee, but her hips aren’t flexible, and she misses me by miles.

  “Like this.” I face her, twist, and kick out at the same time she moves slightly forward, and I catch her on the thigh.

  “Ouch,” Tilly cries, leaning over and rubbing her leg.