Double Trouble

Chapter 5: Literally Running Into Each Other

I had heard everything I wanted to hear about this stupid movie right now. My ears can't catch a break! Lucy just goes on and on about how Dale Morris can turn my career and hand me a Oscar in my nail polished hands. Fortunately, Lucy realized she was annoying me so she started furiously texting, probably her longtime boyfriend, Simon James. He's a successful entrepreneur that can earn his way into Hollywood with the click of a button.

"Oh, before I forget, you have a breakfast meeting tomorrow at 9AM with Warner Bros studios discussing the overview of the movie. You're officially in," she gushes. I nod silently and slide up my Sidekick to set a reminder to myself.

TO-DO LIST 3/23

Meeting at 9AM at Warner Bros. Movie time!!!!!!

Dinner with Mom and Dad at 7, at Benitos.

Schedule fitting for Academy Awards tomorrow. Have to get Gina and Don started right away!!!

"Anything else?" I ask. She looks up and shakes her head.

"I'll email you if anything comes up. I think Daniel is supposed to call you and schedule a lunch with you on Thursday, but I wil call and make sure." I nod in understanding and look out the window. Shop by shop, I see a local pizza parlor buzzing with lights and music. Papi's must be having a party. Oh, the joy that I would have if I were going to a high school party. The music, the food, the friends, the football jock that will sweep you off your feet and tell you that he loves you...

I grab the door handle suddenly and jerk it open when we stop at a red light. Lucy snaps her head up and lunges for me. But I'm faster. I jump out onto the sidewalk and fall into the pavement.

"You get back in here, missy!" Lucy calls out to me, when the car lurches forward. I wave good-bye to her, smiling. I turn around, trying to search for the pizza parlor. We must've missed it. I don't go around this kind of place, this must be the suburban side of Hollywood. I turn the street corner--and BAM! I run smack dab into a girl my age and we fall to the ground, things in tow. She scrambles to pick things up, and with the vision I still have from my bump in, I scramble, too. Barely getting up, we part ways, never looking at each other, and go in opposite directions. I reach in my bag for the Sidekick I just picked up from the ground and dust it off. It buzzes in my hand.

Ethan: Wanna come to the pizza parlor? I'm here with Mindy but I think she's going over to your sister's. We can meet there, if you want.

Okay, I think this boy definitely has the wrong number, or I'm being punk'd. Another text buzzes in.

Maggie: Ricky is here! And he's asking 4 u! C'mon, girl, come here and just dance with him! he's super sweet. And, he has a nice butt, but Scott will never know I told u that! ;)

This has to be a prank. I look around for the paparazzi. What is this? What is going on? Frantically, I dig around in my purse, desperately hoping my Sidekick is one of my side pockets. I'm about to dump the thing out onto the ground when flashing lights surround my face.

"Miss Winters! Flash a smile!" one guy screams.

"Where's Mr. Tyler?" another one yells into my ear. "C'mon, where's your dashing prince?"

"Smile over here, Miss Jade!" another one screams. "Give us that jade smile!" I smile weakly and try my best to barrel through the bulky-looking cameramen. I see a light towering over the men, and I try to follow it. I get to the fresh open air from out of the sweaty paparazzi and dash around the next corner. Fortunately, I'm back at Papi's. Someone sees me. Crap. My cover is blown.

"Skye!" a girl with bouncy caramel-colored curls comes skipping over to me. "You made it! I knew you couldn't stay away." Okay, first the Sidekick, now this girl is calling me by a fake name? This cannot be happening.