2. Chapter Two
Chapter Two
Jonah
L ogan is the bad guy.
You know that feeling when someone says something that rocks your whole world view, and for a second you cant hear anything but a rushing in your ears as you process? I hate that feeling, which means I hate this moment as I stare at McAllister, the author of the book were adapting into a movie. Logan, the character Ive been playing as the charming hero and love interest, is the bad guy ? McAllister had better be joking. I need him to be joking.
Wait, I say, still in processing mode. What? I am? Since when? And why didnt someone tell me? My agent, the director, the casting director, anyone ! Hurrying to the edge of set, where my assistant, Dexter, is waiting with the script, I snatch the pages out of his hands and flip through them, desperately searching for some sort of proof that the author is lying. If Ive been acting this character wrong, Im going to have fans of the books calling for my head, and there is nothing that terrifies me more than the threat of angry fans.
Thats not true. Im deathly afraid of sharks and small spaces, but disappointed fans are a close third.
My eyes land on a scene where my character reveals his trueclearly insidiousintentions, and I swear under my breath. The author is right. Of course hes right! He wrote the dang thing. And now my mind is running through all the scenes weve filmed so far and how badly Ive portrayed my character.
This is bad. This is so bad.
Jonah? Dexter asks, sensing my rising panic.
This job was supposed to be my big break, to push me into the next level of acting and get me the kind of recognition that would solidify me as a solid hire. Now? Now it might be the thing that completely obliterates my career. I need you to buy me that book, I mutter, still staring at the lines in the script that would have tipped me off if Id had a chance to read the whole thing. As it was, Im lucky I made it here on time to start filming.
Which book? Dexter asks.
I scowl at him. Which one do you think? Then I wince, hating how angry I sound. This isnt his fault. Sorry. Frosted Peaks . Maybe buy the rest of the series too, while youre at it. I send him off with a clap on his back and return my focus to the script, skimming the last few scenes so I at least know how it ends.
Id like to say Im more professional than thismore preparedbut I rarely have time in between projects to read entire scripts. It hasnt been a problem before now because theres always someone to give me a good overview of my character. I glance at Beckett, a director Ive worked with before, and narrow my eyes. He has given me nothing but praise for my work so far, even though my costar Bonnie usually has something to say about the scenes were doing. Beckett always writes her suggestions off as inexperience, but Im starting to think maybe shes the only one who has a grasp on the story were telling.
My eyes jump to Bonnie. Shes over by the author, a man she is supposedly dating according to a popular tabloid site, though both their body language looks anything but comfortable despite their inability to look away from each other. Not that its any of my business. What is my business is the fact that I should have been listening to her from the beginning, and guilt winds its way through my body, leaving me tense.
Im trying to be better at my job, but clearly Im not doing well at that goal. Im going to be stuck as a B-list actor forever, assuming I somehow manage to salvage the part Im playing now. Hooray for me, I mutter.
Boom!
A deafening noise reverberates through the street, and I duck as people scream. What in the
Jonah! Richie comes barreling at me a second later, ready to tackle me to the ground and shield me with his giant body.
I hold up my hands, my eyes locking on the now-mangled front tire of the SUV were using in the scene. Hey, whoa, everythings
My bodyguard smashes into me, taking us both to the ground and knocking the wind out of me. Stay down, he hisses, lifting his head to assess the damage. Its not normal for tires to explode out of nowhere like that, but
Richie, I choke out. He weighs a million pounds, and I can barely breathe. Im fine.
Ill tell you if youre fine.
Im not fine, but it has nothing to do with the tire and everything to do with the likelihood of me tanking this movie, just like that hardware employee the other day said it would. She didnt actually say I would be the reason it fails, but she clearly isnt rooting for this movie. Or me. And after McAllister watched the last scene we filmed, he seems to agree about my performance being wrong, which isnt exactly a glowing review.
I take a breathnot easy. Rich?
He looks down, his face only inches from mine. He must not have seen any threats, or he would have kept surveying the area. What?
If Im going to be stuck here for a minute, I might as well make conversation. Did you know Logan is the bad guy in this movie?
His eyes go wide. What? Since when?
At least its not just me. Apparently since always.
But you havent
I know. I grimace. How likely would Beckett be willing to refilm everything weve done so far?
Chuckling, he gets to his feet and grasps my hand, pulling me up with him. The director who is notorious for wanting things his way? Good luck with that.
Yeah, thats what I was afraid of. As Richie tries to brush dirt from my backwardrobe wont be happyI glance around the set to make sure no one got hurt. Everyone seems fine, if spooked, though Bonnie is suddenly looking cozy in McAllisters arms. Interesting
Could I get props over here? Beckett, director extraordinaire, says into his megaphone. He seems thoroughly annoyed by the delay, though he should be more concerned about the fact that Bonnie and I were only moments ago standing right next to the now-deflated tire. Everyone take a break. Bonnie, Jonah, lets run through the blocking again.
I frown at Beckett, who is already back to talking with another member of the crew. We dont need blocking, I mutter, ducking under Richies arm in search of some water and a moment to relax. We need a new scene because Ive been playing Logan all wrong. I find an unbusy crew member who stands at attention when I approach, her wide eyes making her appear mildly terrified.
Do you need something, Mr. James?
Im regretting sending Dexter off to find me a book because he always anticipates my needs. I hate asking for things. Some water, please? I ask with a smile. She scurries off like I just threatened her job if she didnt find me water in the next thirty seconds, and I sigh. Im no more important than she is, but I get this royalty treatment all the time, even at the level Im at now. The more famous I become, the less human I feel.
Its the one part of my job I hate.
Jonah James, a sharp voice says behind me.
I may have only talked to her once, but I still recognize Junes voice. Grinning, I turn to face her and cant help but laugh when I catch sight of her scowl. Thats quite a greeting, June. And for some reason, seeing her has made me instantly relax. I have no idea why, with the way shes glaring at me. But after all that nonsense I just went through, Im desperate for a change of pace, and June has given me the perfect avenue. She was barely civil to me at the hardware store, and it was hilarious. And here I thought we might become friends.
Ha! She folds her arms. Shes wearing the same apron she was the other day when I went into her store, and I have to wonder if she ever works or if she spends all her time hiding from customers and wandering Main Street. Youre part of the movie.
I fold my arms to match her. Yes, I am.
You could have said.
Would it have made a difference? I knew she recognized me, but I enjoyed her disdain more than I should have. My only regret is that I didnt flirt with her to see if it would make her mad, but she just gave me another opportunity.
Her scowl shifts to a glare, but though she opens her mouth, no words come out.
Lunch break? I ask, nodding in the direction of the hardware store.
She huffs. Actually, yes.
And you decided to spend it with us instead of on the floor? Im touched. Im not winning myself any favors by teasing her, but will that stop me? No. Her apparent dislike of me is a nice change from everyone catering to my every need.
As if on cue, the crew member from before stuffs an ice cold bottle of water into my hand right as I lift my hand to run it through my hair. It looks like I was anticipating the water, and I wince.
June scoffs as she eyes the bottle. No, Im here to support my friend. She nods toward Bonnie. Toward the author .
I take a drink of water, trying to judge from her scowly expression if this really is a friendship or if she doesnt like the way Bonnie is gazing at McAllister like he holds all the answers to the universe. Friend, huh?
Is this my pathetic way of ascertaining if June is single? Sure. But its too dangerous to ask a woman outright. Ive had way too many people latch themselves on to me in the hopes of capitalizing on my fame, so I never let anyone know if Im available. Even if I am. So available.
I dont even remember the last time I had a good date.
To my delight, June scoffs again and shakes her head. Hank is a friend, yes. Besides, the internet is pretty convinced he and Bonnie are already a thing.
I never believe a word websites like Hollywood Hot Scoop say. According to the tabloid, Bonnie and the author are the next big thing, but they also ran a story about me being in Vegas recently, and I wasnt even in Nevada. They dont always get things right. Do you read a lot of tabloids? I ask, folding my arms again to match her guarded stance.
Of course not.
So you havent read about me?
Why would I want to do that?
I laugh. Her contempt is weirdly refreshing, though I shouldnt be even more interested knowing she doesnt like me. Thats a recipe for disaster right there. But something about her intrigued me the other day and hasnt gone away. You tell me, I say. Youre the one who came to talk to me, remember?
Because I wanted you to know that Im annoyed you didnt tell me who you are.
This woman is quickly becoming the most interesting person Ive ever met, and I shake my head at her with a grin. June, I say, leaning close once more, Im not the sort of guy who goes around introducing myself as a movie star.
Sure youre not, she replies, rolling her eyes.
Hi, I say, holding out my hand. Im Jonah James, popular actor and star of many a womans fantasies. Nice to meet you. I snort out a laugh before I can get the last word out. Is that how you think I should go about things?
Though she grits her teeth and narrows her eyes, a smile plays at her mouth, and its enough to give me a boost of confidence. What kind of name is that, anyway? she asks after a long moment of silence. Jonah James. You sound like an outlaw.
I laugh. You mean Jesse James? Would it make her angrier if I told her that thats exactly where I got the idea for my stage name? Probably. If I tell you my real name, will you like me better?
I dont care about your name. But the curiosity in her eyes says otherwise.
I could play with that. Though I shouldntits not like we would ever become something more than casual acquaintances before Im off to my next projectI smirk at her and head toward where were filming. If youre extra nice to me, I call back to her, I might actually tell you what it is.
Dont bother! she calls back. But that curious look is still there, and I get the feeling this isnt the last Ive seen of June the hardware girl.
But first I need to try to save this movie so I can save my career.