My First Kiss Was Stolen On National Television

Chapter Two

I'm not mad at Marie. No really, I honestly am not. There could be a lot of reasons why she never told me about this. Or she may have, and I just wasn't listening. That seems like something I would do.

 However, when she comes running out of the front doors when I pick her up later, tears practically pouring down her face, I know that isn't the case. Her hair, still in its perfect curls, is falling forward, hiding her face from anyone who isn't coming head on at her. Even though she has yet to even enter my car, I somehow know that her bad mood has something to do with this news about Alex Winters.

 "Becca," she rasps as she throws open my door and rushes in, for once not graceful even when in front of her peers. "My agent just told me-" 

 "I know, I know." I cut her off. "This has to do with that movie, isn't it?" 

 Marie stares at me for a second before whirling around with a whail and dropping her head in her hands. "So you saw the paper, too?"

 "Allison and Keith dragged me to the pool, and they were sitting at the enterance." 

 Marie groans and shakes her head. "Can we please just start driving? I really dont want anyone to see me cry right now."

 I sigh and put the car into drive before pulling away from the curb. "This isn't really something to cry over, you know. It's just one movie working next to teen heartthrob Alex Winters." I bat my eyes and make my voice go all stereotypical fangirly when I say his name. 

 "But you've seen me act! I'm just going to make an embarrassement of myself!"

 That's true, I can't help but admit. Maire may be talented in many things, but acting certainly isn't one of them. That always tended to fall more in my department than hers, one of the few things I'm actually better at. 

 I glance at her out of the corner of my eye as we approach the exit to the parking lot. "Why are you doing this, anyway?" 

 "It's a movie that's based off some popular romance book. They want a no name to act opposite him and apparently we look better together than anyone else." her voice breaks, a sure sign that she's about to break down. "I don't even have a choice in it. Carla says that if I want my name to become big, this is the quickest way to go." 

 "Then why don't you go the longer way?"

 "It's too late! The story is already all over, magazines, newspapers, everyone already knows about this!"

 I suck in my lips and try to think of a proper way to comfort her. I still don't think this is enough of a reason to go all ape shit over, but I have to admit I can see why she's upset. I wouldn't really enjoy having to do this whole movie thing, either, but probably for completely different reasons. An inability to act isn't something I would be worried about, it would be actually having responsibilities and getting up and doing something. It's the same reason why I never tried out for those plays. 

 Either way, I can't think of anything to say that will make her feel better. This has always been the type of thing our elder sister, Beth, was better at than I, despite being Marie's twin. 

 "When's the first read-through?" I finally settle for asking.

 "In two days." Marie lifts her head a bit, so I know that I somehow must've said something right. She, at least, seems to think I might have some sort of plan even if I'm just grasping at straws. 

 "Alright," I speak slowly, turning out onto the road and buying time until I can think of something to say that might actually be helpful. "Then that gives you a good two or three weeks before the actual filming starts. I'm sure we can make you at least a decent actress by then."