Page 33 of Endeavor

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll text Dad and Carrie. I just had to talk to someone, and I knew you wouldn’t be with any patients.”

“I’m glad you called. How’s everything else?” My parents, sister, and I talk about once a week. I’m close to them, but all of us are super busy.

I launch into some basics about my classes and friends. Twenty minutes later, Mom has to go, so we hang up and I sit there in my car. I take a deep breath. I know a few other students who have had some help from major Hollywood players, as USC’s film school is well known and respected, but I also know it’s not the norm and it’s certainly unusual to get two people interested in advising you on a film project. I decide to text Kate, because I know she’s always waiting to hear.

Me: IT WAS AMAZING!! (smiling emoji)

Kate: I need the details!! Call me!!

I press call and she picks up before it even rings.

“Tell me everything!”

I giggle and launch into the story once more. When I finish, Kate squeals with excitement.

“OMG! I’m so excited for you!” she yells as I pull the phone back from my ear.

“Calm down, woman. You almost blew out my eardrum.”

“Whatever! You have to keep me posted. I need a total play-by-play of everything that happens. I’m so bummed that I can’t be there to see you film some of it.”

“I know,” I reply with a sigh. “It’d be fun to have you here.”

“OK, don’t get sappy, I can’t ruin my makeup. Now, what about the Grady situation.”

I laugh. “Situation? Really?”

“Don’t be coy. I need to know what’s happening. It’s imperative for me to fulfill my best friend duties.”

“You’re crazy, you know that?”

“Whatever, on with the boy talk.”

I fill her in on the fact that I have a second date with Grady this weekend.

“Do people bump uglies on the second date? Like, what’s the current rule on that?” she asks.

“If the other royals could hear you now…” I chastise. She giggles. “I don’t even know if I really like him yet, so NO!”

“OK, well, then. I hope you get some lip action or something.”

“I’ll let you know, Dr. Ruth.”

“I gotta go. I’ll talk to you later,” she says as I hear voices in the background. I’m about to put my phone away and finally pull out of the parking garage when a text pops up on my screen.

Grady: I hear you have new advisors.

Me: Wow, word travels fast in Hollywood.

Grady: Yeah, well, it’s trending on Twitter.

Me: What?

I start to pull up my Twitter app when I see another text from Grady.

Grady: I’m just KIDDING. Don’t panic.

Me: TG. I almost died.

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