Senior Year Box Set полностью

“I have to get going.”

Who was I kidding? I would make time for Brook.

◊◊◊

I’d lost count of the number of times I’d been glad Caryn had found this house for me. If I lived almost anywhere else, the traffic would’ve made me late. Manaia had me at the door right on time. On the way, I’d told him to go find us breakfast and bring it back after he dropped me off.

Hana and I rushed in, and Mr. Otsuki, our director, spotted me.

“We’re ready for you,” he announced.

“I haven’t had a chance to get into makeup or change out of my street clothes,” I warned him.

“You look fine.”

I shrugged. Hana said my lines phonetically for me, I repeated them back, and she nodded.

I did the scene. Nailed it!

◊◊◊

While we did a handful of scenes, the rest of the crew had been busy at the Lisa Smith Wengler Center for the Arts in the Smothers Theatre. They were getting ready to shoot the theater scenes for my date with Haru. As soon as we were done, we walked over there. I was amazed that they’d gotten so many extras to show up on Christmas Eve morning. Back home, people either had a half-day at work or skipped it to be with family. If it were me, I’d have been sleeping in at this hour.

I headed to the dressing room in the theater to change into my date clothes. In the back, all the actors for the play were getting ready too. It was the typical preshow frenzy I’d experienced doing our high school production. Through the chaos, I spotted Haru. Then I noticed it had suddenly become quiet.

I looked around, and all eyes were on me.

“Hi,” I said and gave them a little wave.

An older man, who I assumed was in charge of their play, stepped forward.

“Welcome. We’re all excited to have you here. It’s a great opportunity for everyone,” he said, pumping my hand.

“Pepperdine has been very welcoming. All the cast and crew have commented on how friendly and accommodating everyone has been. I have high hopes that, with your help, we’ll have a successful shoot today,” I said as I struggled to find the right words.

It seemed to be what they wanted to hear. I was soon surrounded by the cast, who all seemed to want to ask me questions. I held up my hand to slow them down.

“Sorry, but I have a tight schedule today. How about I come back next week, and we can talk?”

“That would be excellent,” the man in charge said.

I was happy to see Manaia was back with food.

“Sorry, traffic was nuts. I think everyone’s out doing last-minute Christmas shopping,” he explained.

“Why didn’t you go to Starbucks here?” I asked.

“They closed because school’s out. I had to run into Malibu to find something open.”

I opened the bag and found a breakfast burrito. Score!

◊◊◊

The shoot at the theater had gone well up to the point where we needed to get some b-roll of Haru and me watching the play. The focus was on the stage with us watching the play, which was a modern version of Romeo and Juliet. It was different because they’d not updated the speech, just the clothing.

The problem was that the actors on stage got nervous when the cameras were on them.

Romeo:If I profane with my unworthiest hand

This holy shrine, the gentle fine is this:

My lips, two blushing pilgrims, ready stand

To smooth that rough touch with a tender kiss.

Juliet:Good pilgrim, you do wrong your hand too much,

Which mannerly devotion shows in this;

For saints have hands that pilgrims’ hands do touch,

And palm to palm is holy palmers’ kiss.

Romeo:Uhh …

I felt for the guy. There was nothing worse than to be on stage and have your mind go blank. Somehow, I pulled the next line out of my butt. I’d had to read the book for my literature class.

“Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?” I shouted out.

The actors all looked into the crowd to find who had provided the next line. They had to shade their eyes to be able to see me as Haru pointed me out. They picked up where they’d left off.

Romeo:Have not saints lips, and holy palmers too?

“Cut!” Mr. Otsuki called out. “Next scene, people.”

“He’s not going to redo it?” I asked.

“I think that was more interesting than what he’d planned,” Haru answered.

It was either that or Mr. Otsuki had decided today would only be a one-shot kind of day. He was the boss.

◊◊◊

Mr. Otsuki let us go earlier than I expected. When I came out after washing off my makeup and changing back into street clothes, I found Haru waiting for me with Hana.

“Where are we going to lunch?” Haru asked.

I’d totally forgotten my promise to take her today. I held up a finger and then sent a text to Lexi. She was on a roll as best PA ever, and I was sure she’d made reservations somewhere. I received a call back.