The Actor's Contract

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n Francisc

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che. These girls know just how to cheer a person up, and I’m so glad they entered my life. I

! B

d seems to decelerate quickly mak

ates to keep the white BMW going in a straight line, her tongue sticking out of her mouth slightly, and eventu

sure we’re okay. Mel is pale and she looks around frantically as if she’s expecting s

d me the whole story in detail and even though I can’t even imagine what they must have gone through, I know it’s something that will linger with

ns … Jackson doesn’t seem to have emotions … and Logan has too many emo

stand there staring at the busted wheel as if it’s going to magically repair itself. A tangy, acidic smell with a dash of carbon and sulfur drifts through t

e first one to come up with that brilliant plan

ley suggests handing Mel a bottle

taneously. Then we all burst out laughin

ivated face towards

nd Mel steps back holding her hands up. I look at Kiara with determination and we both nod

e the spare out, without breaking a nail might I add, and drop it unceremoniously o

mit it, but my sister’s sickness has taken a toll, leaving me scared for her life most of the time. And being all alone since the boys left didn’t m

one is so tight it takes a team effort (Kiara and me) just to turn it slightly. This is gonna take a wh

t-haste and fall backward on my butt – again. Kiara lets out a squeal and covers her mout

bumped into me earlier. Annoyed, I blow some loose strands of hair from my face. He holds out his h

el asks, a question mark

nd on his heart and gives us a big smile. “I

o hit the man over the head or something. Well, truthfully, I was thinking about it. Something about him stirs my gut an

in a row watching how his well-toned biceps flex each tim

brows at her in agreement. Within a few minutes, the sp

unofficial spokesperson. She holds out

ri

ra, and Aria.” She points at e

eth, his eyes on me. Great! Why am I always the

we say together like a

l of a sudden I don’t feel so well. Something about him upsets me, and I quickly jump in

ut I’m sure Mel accentuated the word ‘go’ before

e waves while walking t

s to late-punch him from a distance. Brian

my mouth to tell her it makes no sense, but Kiara puts her finger on her lips, gesturing for me to keep it shut. She mouths ‘hormones’ while looking

, with Haley giving the occasional “Mm” and “Yep” nodding her head in agreement just

at’s it, I can’t keep it in and I let a soft snicker fall over my l

back, other bitch!” I swal

without breaking into a hyena-giggle and Ki

-to-ear with another ticked-off Blackburn. But

ng that we’re close to the ocean, but I don’t have a clue as to

ay as it seems like th

RE YOU?” What the fiddlesticks is wrong with HIM? Maybe they have thi

ocean,” I

uc

e robot wants to know where we are?” Kiara sniggers and Mel is still ranting on a

to Chart House,”

he phone again, hoping this woul

ot ears! Now is not the time to tell him about t

s her hand around her throat in a strangling motion, s

I’m aware that this action probably provoked him to a near seizure, but I’ll deal

obviously coiled-up tense buffalo. What’s he gonna do? Race over here to kill me?

ace. Kiara strangles herself, even more, pulling her face mos

asks, but it’s obviousl

nd then she starts laughing so loud

to the dashboard, “remember when you ran away from Dam

least the make-up sessions are always great,” she tell

falls with her head on my shoulder just

that robot!” I say and M

deep voice and we’re doubling up again. I s

I’m almost hopping with anticipation as the smell of the ocean drifts on the wind fills me with excitem

g a cardboard sign saying ‘Mood cups’. And as soon as he e

ach him some emoti

with hundreds of sea lions, lazily squished against and even on top of each other. Most of them are soun

to get a better view. They are so freaking cute. I ha

again, I’m left breathless with the perspective before my eyes. We get seated at a table in a corner next to floor-to-ceiling windows w

yed through the glass. Mel gets up to take an incoming call from Damion,

nce, with sailboats and ferries coming and going, and huge container ships lumberi

t this time I’m already sitting down. With a sigh, I pick up the salt pot and turn it around and around in my hand, avoiding eye contact, cursing the

ay?” I open my mouth to decline, but he’s already slumped into Mel’s chair next to me, dismissively putti

one that only Damion can put there, but it di

Brian hadn’t wrecked my mood, the way he jumped up so abruptly ma

son’s sister … ” PJ scuffs softly, but not soft enough. Is it just me or does he look scared? Then again … I still need to find one person on

ks playfully, and I bite my low

I hop

and walk away. We watch them going. PJ whispers something to

e like him that we need directio

t man somewhere before

,” Mel seems discomposed while I wonder how they know t

d has an appetite,” Mel pats her tummy and I smile, thinking that i