Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)(13)

“No.” Coop points at me. “This is why you did want to tell us. Because we feel for you. Which is why we’re going to help you out by making and selling this movie for a chock of cha-ching. Isn’t that right, Matt?”

Matt nods. “Of course. We’re here for you, buddy. One for all, and all for leaping back into the fiery pits of humiliation.”

I look over at Coop and Matt and feel myself getting a little choked up. It’s a pretty good feeling to know that I always have my buds in my corner when all the chips are crumbling to pieces.

And who knows? Maybe we can actually pull this thing off. Make a movie and sell it — if not for millions, then at least enough to get a nice big new room — my big new room — added onto our house.

Stranger things have happened.





I STROLL DOWN THE HALL with this semester’s schedule in hand. I’ve got a big smile on my face and a bit of a bounce in my step as I head toward our lockers. What started off as a really crummy day seems to be turning around big-time. Not only are my best friends going to help me out with this baby situation, but I also managed to switch out of Web Design and into Drama.

It’s two birds with one bush. First, I don’t have to be in a class with overbearing Evelyn, and two — perhaps even more important — I can scout out the local talent for our film. Maybe even befriend some of the better actors and get them to work for free.

“What about doing a remake?” Coop says as I step up to our lockers. “Something that’s crying out for a gritty reboot. Like Reservoir Dogs. Or Fight Club.”

“Or Pokémon!” I exclaim.

Coop levels his gaze at me. “Right, Sean. A gritty reboot of Pokémon. That’s just what the world has been clamoring for.”

“We can’t do a remake anyway,” Matt says. “You have to get the rights to things like that. We have to do something original.”

“Okay, fine, whatever.” Coop spins the dial on his combination lock. “But we should definitely film it in 3-D.”

“Right, and where the hell are we supposed to get a 3-D camera?” Matt asks.

“Where there’s a me, there’s a means, Mattington.”

“I don’t know,” I say. “I think 3-D’s been a little overdone.”

“Pfff, wrong.” Coop yanks down on his lock and opens his locker door. “What’s been overdone are boring 3-D movies. Ones that don’t take full advantage of the technology.”

Matt looks at Coop like he’s just spoken Klingon. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Bountiful babes, dawg. Wouldn’t you like to see more jiggling jahoobies in 3-D? You know . . .” Coop lunges at me with two cupped hands. “Comin’ at ya!”

I jerk back as Matt busts up laughing.

“Anyway,” I say, “I seriously doubt we’ll have enough money to film in 3-D.” I shut the door to my locker and suddenly catch sight of Evelyn coming up the stairs at the end of the hall.

Oh, crap.

My heart vaults into my throat as I duck my head and try to hide behind Matt and Coop.

“Hey! Bad touch!” Coop shoves me away from his locker.

“Don’t let her see me. Please.” I shrink into myself and make another attempt to take cover behind my friends.

Matt glances over his shoulder to see Evelyn coming down the hallway. “What’s the deal? I thought you guys were going out.”

“It was a mistake.”

“Why?” Coop grins. “Does she have callused hands or something?”

“I wish. No. She’s just . . . a little nuts.”

“I don’t get it.” Matt clicks open the rings on his binder and puts in some paper. “You guys were all over each other Saturday night.”

“Correction. She was all over me. Like a succubus. I swear she was trying to draw blood. I had to ice my neck all weekend long to get rid of the bazillion hickeys she gave me. And she’s texted me eighty-two times already! You guys have to do me a solid and break up with her for me.”

“Do you a solid?” Coop laughs, clicking his lock shut. “I don’t think so. You asked the girl out; you break up with her.”

“I didn’t ask her out. Not really. She just assumed. That’s what I’m trying to —”

“Hey there, polar bear,” Evelyn says, stepping up beside me.

I brace myself for a rabid face gobbling, but she just lays a gentle kiss on my cheek.

“Hi,” I respond warily.

She gives a little cautious smile to Matt and Coop, then looks back at me. “You okay?”

“Yeah, why? Are you okay?”

“I’m a little embarrassed, I guess.”

“Embarrassed? Why?”

Evelyn’s gaze drops to the floor, her stringy red hair falling in front of her face. “I think I came on a little strong on Saturday. And all those text messages yesterday. God.” She laughs, shaking her head. “I’m really sorry about that. I was just . . . I guess I’m just a little overeager is all. My brother’s always on me about how excited I get about things.” She shrugs, then looks at me with this sort of sad, apologetic hangdog expression. “I didn’t . . . scare you off, did I?”