Page 11 of My Unscripted Life

I stand, my chair sliding back across the floor with an ear-piercing shriek.

“Well, I guess I’ll be seein’ ya,” he says with a lazy two-fingered salute.

“Yup, later, Benny!” I say. He raises his eyebrows at me. “I mean Ben. Later, Ben!”

On my way out of the cafeteria, I whip out my phone and fire off a text to Naz.

Benny’s back! He’s working on the movie

Shut up. Is he still hot?

I wrinkle my nose, but then take a moment. I mean, he’s not really my type, and the facial hair is a little much, but he’s definitely better-looking. From the way his shirt was stretched across his chest, the sleeves tight around his biceps, it looks like all that hauling equipment on film sets has filled him out a bit. I guess if you like quirky and smart and funny, then yeah. So I text back.

Maybe a 4 on the AP Hotness exam?

INT. THE WILKIE FAMILY KITCHEN.

MOM

What’s the movie about?

DEE

I don’t know.

DAD

Who else is in it?

DEE

I don’t know.

MOM

When does it come out?

DEE

I don’t know.

DAD

Whatdoyou know?

DEE

When someone is drinking wine on-screen, it’s grape juice in the glass.

And craft services is for everyone, and it’s free, and it’sawesome.

DAD

Well, as long as you’re learning something.

It’s Friday, the end of my first week working for Rialto Productions. The week has been all about preproduction, finalizing details and schedules so we can start shooting on Monday. In my little world of props, we’re packing items up by scene so they’ll be ready for our first shots. It’s been a week of packing and stacking. A week of amazing lunches and snacks from craft services. And a week of keeping my eye out for an ever-elusive Milo Ritter.

I haven’t seen him since our not-quite-lunch. I’m not sure if he’s been hiding in his trailer, brooding in his hotel, or if he’s left town altogether until production begins. Or maybe he’s hiding from me and my enduring awkwardness around him.

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