In Bloom: A James Franco Story ~

Chapter 3

"His name is James Edward Franco. He was born here in Palo Alto and his mom's name is Betsy. But come on Jen, you sure you want get involved with him? I mean, you've never really gone steady or had sex with a guy before."

"Donna, I'm not expecting some long term relationship with this guy.. He's very cute and his whole personality just makes me happier but..-"

"Woah, YOU'RE happy?" Donna snickered to herself. "Come on, he's a keeper if he makes you happy. Fuck what I said."

"Donna, I'll be fine. And I'm supposed to be meeting him in the drama room after 5th period. Can you show me where it is?"

I followed Donna as she led me to a brick building with a large glass protecting the whole room. The drama room was pretty diminutive, but there was a stage and a few seats for a small audience.

"Is James here?" Donna asked.

"No, but.." I stopped as I noticed James approaching from the small backstage area. "Dammit, hide!" I quickly ran towards the back of the room leaving Donna alone. I noticed James laughing.

"Come out, come out wherever you are.." said James.

"Come on Price, give it up. James is right here!"

My face was fully red and my fists definitely wanted to meet Donna's face with her big mouth which embarrassed the living hell out of me. I awkwardly waved at James and began to blush a bit.

"Ooh, how did this mysterious friend of yours know my name?" James teased.

"Don't you know? You're famous here at Palo Alto." I said. "And seriously, I don't even know how this creepy girl knows your full name."

"Cody told me. He's an office assistant for Ms. Wilson."

"Ah." James stared at me with a blank expression then suddenly shot up his famous grin once again. "So I guess we're meeting here now?"

"Yeah I guess so. But Donna, can you leave now? Sorry, skank."

"It's alright, freshie. I'm out." Donna grabbed my hand, kissed it, and playfully punched my arm as she rushed to the exit door. "Meet you after school, Jen!"

"Well.." James began, "Would you like to see me perform my first monologue? It's a short one, but hey, it's my first one that I learned in a few minutes."

"That'd be great."

I absolutely dreaded Theater class due to the kids who thought their shit didn't stink last year at my previous school who had their own agents and headshots to match their awful personality, but I knew James's voice would make it a hell of a lot better, especially with Shakespeare, which bored me to death.

"Alright here it goes.." James took a deep breath. "And then.. the lover, sighing like furnace with a woeful ballad made to his.." he pointed at me as he jumped off the stage. "And you say mistress' eyebrow."

"Why don't you?" I asked.

"Because, that part's meant for you, cutie."

Cutie? I noticed he had been calling me that, and his body was closer to mine. I didn't want to sound like boy crazy Donna with her horrible love quotes, but I felt some connection between us that couldn't be explained.

"His.. his mistress' eyebrow."

"Nice. And hey, it'd be great if you joined theater." James said, "You would be perfect."

"I'm awful at acting, and to be honest, I'm not a big fan of the whole drama department. I'm sorry."

"Well, I've barely gotten into this. I still need practice, but hell, I'm doing it. My dad expects me to be this Mathematician or whatever, but I'd rather do something out of the box."