Page 10 of Declan
When I was in middle school, I’d tried to participate in the school talent show by doing a magic routine—I hadn’t been talented at all, by the way—and I’d puked before going on stage. The only magic act I’d managed that day was disappearing. That’s when I knew I’d always be better in the background instead of the forefront.
“You okay?” Brysen asked.
I nodded.
The dense crowd made it hard to get through, and when I tried to squeeze past a group of women, the smallest one turned and pushed me backward.
“Nuh uh,” she snapped. “I’ve been here for three hours. Ain’t nobody getting past me.”
If the filming had been done in a studio, I would’ve just had to go to the back entrance, give the people my name, probably get some kind of laminated nametag or some shit, and then be granted access into the building. With the filming being done in town, I had to go through the crowd and find a way to the front.
“Move aside, bitches!” Brysen shouted as he grabbed my arm and hauled me forward. We easily broke through the line of women, who started cursing at us. “Super fine extra coming through.”
My face heated. I could’ve died right then.
Arriving on the east side, we found a crew member and gave them my name. Just as the email had said to do. They searched a list of names on their tablet a moment—long enough that I started getting antsy and thinking they were going to turn me away—but then they nodded and let me pass.
“I love you, shitface!” Brysen called from the crowd.
I wished Brysen would’ve been allowed inside with me. I needed him. He was scatter-brained and a little whacky, but he kept me grounded. I was only fearless in certain aspects of my life, because he was by my side.
I was given a tag that readextraand was told to go to Trailer C. Trailers were lined up in a parking lot behind the shops. The production team had rented out one of the coffee shops that day, and several scenes from the movie would be shot there.
A lady with a headset and a clipboard approached. “Extra? Trailer to the left.”
Another member of the crew ran past before someone else walked by, talking ninety-to-nothing on their headset. Shit, it was so fast-paced. I stepped up into the trailer and smiled when I recognized a few faces. Since they’d wanted locals for extras, I knew some of the people they’d cast. Most of them were college kids that hung out at the lake. Brysen, Royal, and I spent most of the summer at the lake, so we’d become friendly with a lot of people.
“Hey, Kyler,” a girl greeted. She was perky, blonde, and outgoing. I knew her face, but not her name.
“What’s up?” I made my way over to the designated couch and plopped down.
“Just getting all pretty for my two minutes of fame,” she answered.
I grinned. “Same.”
The wardrobe department wasn’t supplying anything to us, other than a few hair and makeup people to make sure we didn’t look like complete messes. But for the most part, we were on our own.
I looked down at the blue shirt I’d chosen, hoping I’d made the right decision.
“Have you seen him yet?” the blonde asked the girl next to her.
The other one squealed. “Yes! I mean, I didn’t get to, like, say anything to him. But I saw him through the window on my way to the trailer.”
“That man issodamn fine,” Blondie said before biting down on her lip. “Oh, the things I’d do to him.”
“You know, I heard he banged a few of his extras from A Spartan Tale,” the other girl stated. “Maybe we have a chance.”
My stomach dropped and I picked at a string on my frayed jeans. I didn’t know what it was about Declan Price that turned me into a fucking fanboy, but I couldn’t help it. I’d had the biggest crush on him for years.
It’d all started when I saw him portray a gay supporting character in an action movie. The character’s sexuality wasn’t some huge part of the plot or anything. He was a normal dude working alongside an FBI agent to solve a case. The movie had been the first big role Declan had ever had. And even though it’d been disappointing to find out Declan wasn’t actually gay in real life, it had meant a lot to see someone like me represented on the big screen.
At that time, I’d been struggling with coming out. In a way, Declan had helped me come to terms with who I was.
“Isn’t he dating that Jennifer what’s-her-name?” Blondie asked with a scoff.
“Just rumors. But even if he is, we’re hotter than her.”
I was called over to the makeup chair and a girl dabbed something wet on both of my cheeks before smearing it around with a little white sponge. I’d never worn makeup, so I had no clue what she was doing. Afterward, another girl came over to fix my hair, and then I was told to get up so another person could take my spot.
