Call the Shots (Swim the Fly #3)(28)

“No . . .” I take a step back. “I guess, I just figured —”

“But we can make it one, yes?” He grins. “I mean, if you’d like. I don’t want to step on any toes here, but I can certainly whip these kids into shape for you. Use our class periods to rehearse. Lord knows I’ve been doing the same goddamn curriculum for the last twenty years. I could use a change. What do you think? I like it. Do you like it? We can utilize school time and school funds to shoot this movie of ours.”

It all sounds so great — unbelievably great, really — that it takes me a second to process that last word. “Wait. Our movie?”

“Listen, I’m an artist first and foremost, Sean.” He places a hand on my shoulder. “I may have missed my time. Shot my load, so to speak. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want to help foster my students’ artistic endeavors. That’s my dream now.” He glances at his watch. “Look, I’ve got a staff meeting to get to.” He takes a business card from his wallet and hands it to me. “E-mail me your script, and we’ll talk more next week. This is going to be great. It’ll be fun to have a concrete project to work on in class.”

Before I can protest, Mr. Nestman disappears out the door.

I turn back to grab my stuff and see Leyna standing there, looking at me. Everyone else is gone. This should seem like a gift from the gamer gods, but after what just happened with Mr. Nestman, I can’t help feeling a little uneasy.

“That’s cool that Mr. Nestman’s willing to help you out,” she says. “He was really great directing me in The Miracle Worker last year. Did you see it?”

“Did I see The Miracle Worker?” I say, trying to buy some time here. “Of course I saw The Miracle Worker!” I exclaim, and am rewarded by a megawatt Leyna smile. “Yeah, wow. You were awesome in it. Really, truly brilliant.” I realize I’m laying it on pretty thick, but I can’t seem to stop myself. “Wow,” I repeat dumbly.

“Thanks.” Leyna’s still beaming. Phew. “I’m thinking of going to acting school after I graduate.”

“Really? Sweet. Me too,” I blurt. Half a second later, I realize what I just said. Acting school? Really, Sean?

“Cool!” Leyna says. “Are you going to be acting in your movie, then?”

“Oh. I don’t know,” I splutter. “I mean, I’m writing the screenplay, so I have to focus on that right now. But maybe. I might do a scene or two.”

At least that could be true. But what I really want to know is will Leyna be acting in my movie? Did she add her name to the sign-up sheet? I want to ask but the words won’t come.

“I think you definitely should,” Leyna says encouragingly. The sweetest smile I’ve ever seen in my life tugs at the right corner of her mouth. “I’ve watched you during improv. You’re really good.”

Leyna’s been watching me? My cheeks flush and my palms start to sweat. “No way,” I croak. “Nowhere near as good as you.”

“We just have different acting styles,” Leyna says. “You have this intense emotional thing going on. Even when you’re not acting. Like there are all these feelings and thoughts going on behind your eyes.”

Oh, Christmas, is it that obvious?

“Thanks,” I say, trying to harness my intense emotional thing into something resembling confidence. Because it’s now or never, Hance. “So, does that mean you’ll be coming to the audition?”

My heart jackhammers in my chest, so loud that I’m afraid I’ll miss her response when it finally comes.

“Are you kidding?” She reaches out and gives my arm a gentle squeeze, sending an excited current right through my body. Then, loud and clear: “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

Oh, my God, I can’t believe this is happening. Leyna thinks I’m intense. And she’s coming to the audition. And she just gave me the I’m-into-you arm squeeze.

The signs couldn’t be more clear.

And I now know exactly what I have to do.





“YOU GUYS ARE GIRLS, RIGHT?” I look over at Valerie and Helen as the five of us walk through the back parking lot of the school.

“Uh, yeah.” Valerie laughs. “Last time I checked.”

Coop smirks. “And when was that? Can you describe the whole ‘checking’ proc —”

Matt punches him in the shoulder to shut him up.

“What?” Coop exclaims. “I’m just curious.”

“Anyway,” I interject. “I need some girl advice. What’s the nicest way I can break up with Evelyn?”

Coop makes a face. “You can’t break up with her. She’s getting us a camera. That’s key, dawg. It frees up our entire budget for everything else.”

I shake my head. “She’s not getting us a camera. Where the heck would she get a professional video camera from? She’s just saying that because she’s a whackadoodle.”

“Evelyn?” Helen’s tone is pure disbelief. “She’s one of the sweetest girls I’ve ever met.”

“That’s what she wants you to think,” I say. “She had me fooled too. At first. Actually, no, that’s not true. At first I thought she was mental. And then, all of sudden, she wasn’t. But now she is again. Probably tomorrow she’ll be fine. Who can tell? All I know is that she turns the crazy on and off like a faucet.” Plus, if Leyna finds out I’m seeing someone, my chances with her are shot.