Author's Note: Yes yes... Popuri got the lead. Isn't that a GOOD thing? Well... if Karen got it, it would be totally incest! Guess that totally gives away who got the male lead! So the people who are so patient to read my stupid rambling, ranting, venting, random author's notes get the slightest of advantages! Anyway, I know you're telling me to shut up and get on with the freggin story now so I will.
Ruby Red in Mineral Town
The First Shooting
(Popuri's POV)
I got the lead! I didn't expect to, but I'm so grateful that I did! It could open some doors for me that I would of never considered stepping through otherwise.
As everyone crowded around me in congratulates, I saw Karen run off in the corner of my eye. I know she really wanted this part, but I was mad at her now. First she acts like I don't even deserve the part just because I don't want it as bad as her, and now she ruins the moment by trying to make me feel guilty about it. I'm not that stupid, I know wrong from right. And that girl is definitely wrong.
"Ann, you're playing Popuri's best friend, and Karen's playing Cliff's sister... hey, where did Karen go?" Mayor Thomas scanned the area, baffled. "I could of sworn I saw her come in with you girls."
"Who knows, who cares?" I said darkly. I wasn't going to let her selfishness spoil this moment for me.
Ann, who had sauntered over to the casting list, gasped. "C-cliff's the leading male!"
I raised my eyebrows. "Cliff huh?" Well, what did I think about him. He's kinda cute, I have to admit. But seriously, that guys scares me a little bit. His bird, his clothing (if you can call it that), and so on. I've never ever spoken a word to him before.
But Ann looked a little distressed. "Y-you? And Cliff?"
"Whatsa matter? Jealous, Ann?" I smirked.
"N-No!" she tried so hard to cover it up, but I could see her cheeks turn a little pink. "I just mean that... good luck with him," now she grinned back at me, trying to make it look like she was sorry for me. I knew how Ann felt about Cliff... even though she says she hates his guts, I can tell that he's swept her off her feet. I doubt they're dating undercover, but I think they both feel the same way about each other. It could get awkward.
Shooting started the next day, and I had mixed feelings about it. I knew I'd have to face Karen at some point. She still did have a part in the movie after all. A part of me... no, ALL of me was hoping that maybe no one told her about her minor part, though it'd be a miracle, since news travels around town faster than it does on the internet.
"I'm here," Karen announced upon her arrival to the bar (where we were shooting the very first scene). Damn, there goes my dreams. I turned sharply to the other direction, leaving myself with a view of the old, liquor-soaked barrels that cluttered the back of the building.
"Popuri," Karen began uncertainly. "I know that you're probably mad at me, and I'm sorry for yesterday."
I slowly spun back to face her. "Really?" It wasn't like Karen to apologize for... anything.
"Yeah, you deserve the part just as much as I did."
I smiled widely and pounced on her with a big hug. "Thanks Karen. That means a lot to me." I was sincerely touched by what Karen had done. She's never expressed any regret for anything she's ever done wrong to me. So this did mean a lot to me.
The first scene consisted of me, Ann and a few extras. I was jus handed the full script a few seconds after entering the bar, and I had a few minutes to leaf through it. It's not as thick as I thought it would be; about fifty pages. Enough for about an hour movie, I suppose. I also scanned for any awkward scenes in the movie... how much times would I have to kiss him? Once is too many... good looking or not, Cliff scared the hell out of me.
"Okay, everyone's here," Mayor Thomas waved his arms around to get everyone's attention. "First of all, congratulations for receiving a role in the island's most important event... ever!" How much times has he said that? "Blah blah blah blah... now, it's time to shoot our first scene. I'm sure you've all taken the time to read the script... blah blah blah blah... Popuri and Ann, you two are to stand over here and walk in to the bar, all the while saying your lines, all right?"
"Yup," we nodded in unison.
"All right, get into your positions everybody!" The camera crew and the cast scrambled to get into place. "Act One, Scene One, Take One... action!"
It took a few tries (but not as much as I thought it would) for Mayor Thomas to be pleased.
Ann and I trudged up the steps to the bar.
"He left? Just got up and left? How could Todd do that?" Ann said.
"You know why? Because he got bored. Bored or this stupid town, and bored of me." I answered darkly.
"But Todd came here just five days ago, he couldn't of been that bored. I mean, we've lived in Mineral Town for all our lives, and we don't get bored."
"Yeah, you're right. He didn't get bored of this town. He just got bored of me." Ann opened the door and we both walked in. "I've never been able to hold down a guy for more than a month Marian. I'm like, a guy repeler."
"Don't say that Ruby! Besides, you're only nineteen. You've got plenty of time to meet a guy, fall in love, get married and live happily ever after."
I scoffed. "And if I don't by the time I'm twenty, my parents are going to step in and find a guy for me. I can't let them do that! It's creepy! I thought Todd would be my savour... but I guess I'll end up in an arranged marriage. Marian, you gotta help me find a guy in three months!"
The two of us slid into bar stools, where Jeff was washing a beer mug.
"Damn Luke," Ann said. "Ruby needs a drink, and fast."
"You upset about Todd?" Jeff filled the mug up to the top and slid it in front of me. "I heard about that."
I gasped. "You heard! From who!"
"Celeste, who told my grandmother, who told my aunt, who told my mom, who told my dad, who told me." Jeff smirked. "It's cheaper than buying a newspaper."
"Oh that's great!" I pounded my fist on the counter. "Now everyone knows what a loser I am."
"What'd you expect though?" Jeff gave Ann a mug of draft beer. "That guy was in the military. You knew he was going to have to leave soon anyway."
"But he didn't tell me when he'd leave. We hung out in the mountains for a while the day before he left, and I asked him. He said he didn't know."
"A stroll in the mountains? Sounds romantic," Ann drawled.
I cleared my throat uncomfortably. "And... we were all alone..." I rotated my index finger around the edge of the mug.
"Oh you didn't!" Jeff threw his cleaning cloth over a tap in disgust. "How could you do that? How could you be so naïve? Todd was just taking advantage of you!"
"What? No way!" I shook my head. "He wouldn't use me..." the sick realization struck my character. "Oh my God, you don't think so, do you?"
"Uh, yeah!" Jeff and Ann shouted in unison.
I feigned surprise and disgust. "But... that can't be! He... I..." shaking my head, I left in mid sentence out the door.
"CUT!" shouted the mayor. "Okay, great job guys, nice work. Okay, everyone, take five," and the whole bar erupted into conversation.
"Wow, we got through our first scene!" I grinned as I walked back into the building.
Ann sighed. "Wow, it's a lot tougher than I thought. It took almost an hour for just five minutes of movie time."
I grabbed a muffin from a table and bit into it. "But it's all worth it."
In five minutes, I'd have to start my scene... the one that I meet Cliff... or 'Evan' in this movie. Oh my God, I'm so tired.
Sorry it took so long to update! Blushes It's just that I had so much stupid work at school and I didn't get too much time to spend on the computer as a result. Wrote this Sunday night and finished right after school today, since I had a shortened day and came home early. So sorry if it's a bit rushed or not very clear or whatever! Stupid school eh? That, plus I was watching a lot of golf in the weekends. Did anyone else see Mike Weir win the Nissan Open! Oh my freggin God I almost had a heart-attack when his SEVEN stroke lead went to nothing... but he still won and me so happy! Like Ann in my other fic! Cough Okay I'll shut up now... unless you want me to keep going about Mikey then I will; otherwise I'll stop before you come to my house with pitchforks.
