CONFESSIONS FROM A TEENAGE GIRL'S DIARY

CHAPTER 3: Disbelief, Shock, Joy, and a Leg Going Numb

Chelsea McKenzie beamed at Lizzie. "So we finally meet, Lizzie McGuire," she said, grinning at Lizzie from ear to ear. "Although that scream wasn't exactly the reaction I had in mind."

Lizzie looked disgusted. "This must be some kind of joke!" she said, looking at Mr. Holmes and Ms. Mitchell, hoping for them to answer positively, but they just shook their heads.

"Now, now, Miss McGuire, there's nothing you can do," Mr. Holmes began, his voice calm but firm. "Miss McKenzie has already been hired to play you. Everything's set."

"Miss McKenzie?" Lizzie said, her voice raising. "That's not even her real name! I - we –  know this girl!"

Lizzie took a look at her parents, Matt and her friends, who all nodded. They too seemed a bit shock at Chelsea McKenzie's presence.

Ms. Mitchell smiled. "Lizzie, that's her stage name."

"Yes," Chelsea said quickly, as if she wanted to clear the issue. "I'm an aspiring actress, and this is my first successful audition, Lizzie. Isn't that great? Anyway, they picked out my stage name for me."

Mr. and Mrs. McGuire looked at Lizzie as if saying "it's not so bad", but Lizzie just sighed. There really was nothing she can do but accept the fact that Chelsea McKenzie – a.k.a. Andie Robinson, the "sevy" who kept on copying her – was going to play her life story.

* * *

Days passed by and the shooting of A Junior High Girl went by quickly. They only had two more weeks and the movie was finished. As with the contract, Lizzie and her parents cannot view the script and know the details until the special screening is set.

Lizzie tried to avoid Andie at school but she didn't need to bother. Andie was always with Kate, who for some reason was still kind to Lizzie, but not going around being extra-sweet around her.

"McG," Gordo said as he took a seat. "I was surfing through the Internet yesterday and looked at what I found," he said, handing his printout.

ANDTV ENTERS REALITY GENRE

After the much-publicized talks with Ununiversal and Old Line Cinema, ANDTV has successfully won a two-picture deal with the said movie companies for reality-based movies. First up is "A Junior High Girl", based on the life of 14-year old Lizzie McGuire of Hillridge, California. Filming has started more than two months ago and will conclude in two weeks. A target date of 20 August has been set. Mostly first-time actors have won the parts, including the lead. The movie is budgeted at $20 Million, and is predicted to be a box-office smash for ANDTV.

"Wow," Lizzie said as she smiled as she finished reading the article. " Coolie."

"You betcha," Miranda said as she too took a seat beside Lizzie. "This is majorly awesome."

* * *

August 15th had arrived, and the special screening for "Confessions from A Teenage Girl's Diary" – the final title of "A Junior High Girl" – was set for today. Lizzie could not believe how fast time has flown by. The movie finished in record time, and just a week later, the post-production had concluded. In a matter of weeks posters advertising the movie had been circulated, and as much as Lizzie hated to admit it, Andie looked good in the posters. It showed her sitting on a tree house, wearing pink and purple clothing, reading from her diary.  She had a smile and looked sweet, as Miranda and her parents pointed out to her. Matt and Gordo, meanwhile, thought that Andie looked "surprisingly hot".

The screening was at 8:00 in the evening, and they were due to leave at 6:30, but by 5:00 Lizzie was finished preparing. Not having anything better to do, she went online and typed the movie title. She found one site and clicked on it, then proceeded to read the article.

Two new films fight it out for the Top Spot
Two new releases will go to wide release this weekend. Old Line and Ununiversal team up with ANDTV for the first of their two reality based movies, Confessions from a Teenage Girl's Diary. Based on the life of  fourteen year old ordinary California girl Lizzie McGuire – whom the studio said cannot be reached for any interviews prior to the movie premiere – Confessions is opening ultra-wide with 3,500 theaters on Friday. Feedback has been mostly positive, and it looks like the actress playing the lead character – Chelsea McKenzie, is on her way to stardom. Budgeted at $20M, the movie should have no problem gaining a respectable amount this weekend. However, if it reaches #1 is yet to be seen. The other new release this weekend is the Australian hit movie Need for Speed, which is about racing nuts, and is definitely made for racing nuts. Like Confessions, Need for Speed is budgeted at $20M, but opens in less theaters – 3,240 to be exact. However the male audience might dominate against the female fanbase Confessions is likely to bring.

Need for Speed may open with a strong $24M, but Confessions from a Teenange Girl's Diary will not be too far behind with $22M. Good timing for both movies that they are opening to different audiences – so whether Speed or Confessions take the #1 spot is yet to be seen, as the audience has proven to be a tricky market to figure out in the box office lately.

Lizzie was in shock. A movie based on her life is predicted to make 22 Million Dollars on its first weekend? That was great news! She instantly called up Miranda and they three-wayed with Gordo. She told them the news and they were naturally excited to hear about it.

"McGuire, do you know how much more they're going to pay you?" Miranda was inquisitive. "I mean, it's great you got $500,000 for the rights to your lifestory, but if this movie becomes a hit, and I'm sure it will – I'm sure they'll give you more!"

Lizzie screamed in delight. "Ohmygosh, I never thought about that." She and Miranda screamed some more, but it Gordo it was enough. He cut in the girls' screaming. "Guys, it's already ten minutes after six. We better get going."

"Okay," Lizzie said. "I'll be expecting you guys in twenty minutes." They said their goodbyes and Lizzie couldn't wait for her friends. They were carpooling with the McGuires, while the Sanchezes and Gordons will carpool in another car.

"Ow!" Lizzie screamed as she felt her leg go numb. "Uh oh," she said to herself. Her leg doesn't go numb unless something – something bad, something she won't like – is coming. But what could the premiere bring that Lizzie won't like, aside from the fact that Andie is playing her?

She sighed, massaged her leg for a few minutes, shook the thought aside, and went downstairs to join her parents.

"It's going to be a blast, Lizzie." Matt said, actually having a decent conversation with her sister for once. "Everyone is talking about it."

Lizzie couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, I'm sure it will be good."

What's the movie like? How will they react, will they like it or not? The special screening for Confessions of A Teenage Girl's Diary is coming soon at a chapter near you. LOL. Anyways, please read and review. Thanks.