Stage Fright

Chapter 13

"You have a boyfriend?" I asked.

The three of them look at me.

"Yeah... don't you?" Hazel asked. I feel my face start to turn red.

"Of course," I lie.

"Oh really," Faith said. "What's his name?"

I think quickly. "Matty," I said casually.

"Matty?" Hazel said, unconvinced.

"So... where is this Matty guy?"

"Well... in Australia," I replied.

"Look, I don't mean to interrupt," Brandon said, looking at his watch. "But I've got to go."

Brandon gives Hazel a kiss. "Bye guys. See you later, Hazel," he said before leaving.

"Let's go," Faith said.

"Yeah, it's getting late," I said. We grabbed our bags and went back to my hotel room. I lock the door behind me while Faith and Hazel drop off my stuff.

They sit on my bed.

"Shouldn't you guys be heading home now?" I asked.

Faith looks at her violet coloured watch. "Not yet. It's only 4:15."

"Oh."

"So, about Matty," Hazel said leaning over to me. "How do you know him."

"And what's he like," Faith said, laying on my couch while staring up at the ceiling.

"Is he a jock?" Hazel asked again.

"Look," I said, quieting down Hazel and Faith.

"Matty is just a boy-"

"He can't be just a boy if he's your boyfriend," Hazel said.

"Yeah, give us the details," Faith said.

"If you let me finish, maybe your questions would be answered!" I shout.

"Ok. I met Matty from doing the play at my school. We both got main... and lead roles, so we practiced together a lot."

Hazel and Faith look at me.

"Oh, I thought it would be more interesting," Faith said.

I was so desperate to make them interested in my life, I knew there was only one thing left to do. Lie.

"Well that's just the beginning. After, I got back from the play, he proposed to me at my door and took me out for dinner. Ever since we've dated, we do some kind of activity together once a week."

"Oh really... like what?" Hazel asked, leaning even closer. I push her away, so Hazel pretends to fall off my bed super dramatically.

"Thanks Jennifer," Hazel said sarcastically.

"No problem," I replied.

"Back to what we were talking about, what kind of activities do you do?" Faith asked.

"Well...," I tried to come up with an idea as fast as I could.

"Do you do dangerous activities together?" Hazel said. "Because that would be cool!"

"Actually... yes! You know, last week we went bungee jumping," I said, trying to sound cool.

"Really," Faith said.

"Wow, this Matty guy seems pretty cool. Why don't Faith and I meet him!"

"Yeah," Faith agreed. "That would be great!"

"Um... you can't," I said.

"Well, why not?" Hazel said. "Did you make him up?" she asked.

"No, but if you want to meet him, go to Australia where he lives," I said truthfully.

Hazel and Faith get quiet.

"I know how we can meet Matty. We'll just call him!" Hazel said happily.

"Oh, we shouldn't do that... he's probably busy," I said, trying to convince them.

"And, how would I call him, I don't have a phone?"

Hazel feels her pockets, takes out her cell phone, and hands it to me.

"Use mine."

Ok, I guess I'm using Hazels phone, I mumble. I begin to dial Matty's number when I come up with an idea.

I pretend to dial his number and act like I'm talking to him. Hey, if I can act in a movie, I can act like I'm calling Matty.

Faith looks at me. "You know you have to dial the number before you talk, right?"

"And turn the phone on," Hazel added.

"Oh, Oh! Invite him to New York," Faith said joyfully.

"Yeah. I can email him a plane ticket," Hazel added.

"I don't know," I said. "It's probably super expensive, so-"

"No problem," Hazel said, cutting me off. "My family is loaded!"

"I guess," I said.

I dial Matty's number while Hazel and Faith start dancing on my bed. I was hoping he wouldn't answer, but he did.

"Hey Matty," I began.

"Hi. Um... who is this?"Matty asked.

"Jennifer Adams, I was in your high school."

"Oh, Jennifer, what's up."

"Well..." I go onto my balcony. "A few of my friends from the acting crew want to meet you."

"Why?" he asked.

"Well... they kind of think I'm your girlfriend because I told them that when I figured out they both had boyfriends and I really just wanted to fit in with them and not look bad," I said quickly, letting it out.

"So... you kind of have to fly to New York," I added.

"Oh, ok. I guess I should start packing,"  Matty said before hanging up. 

I open my balcony door, and go in my room.

"So can he come?" Faith asked me.

"Yeah, he's going to start packing!"

"Yay!" Faith and Hazel said together, jumping up and down.

"Wait... how's Matty going to get a ticket to New York?" I asked.

"Don't worry, we found a way to mail the ticket to him," Hazel replied as they continue to jump up and down joyfully.

"Yay," I said sarcastically.