Under the Lights

I don’t hear whatever he responds. I don’t hear much of anything at all. Because the only thing my brain can process at the sight of Brianna in tight jeans and a dangerously low-cut black lace top is holy shit.

And just like that, I know she’s right. I’m not cut out for chastity. And I’m sure as hell no role model.

Because right now, looking at her, my mind is on nothing but sin.

Chapter Fifteen Josh

I can’t even believe I’m doing this right now. I only half-listen to Chuck as he gives me my dialogue for the night; I’m too distracted by all the people here, about to watch this pathetic farce. It doesn’t help that Royce thinks this is hilarious and, since he’s twenty-one, has absolutely no problem showing up and being in these shots, getting plastered. I can see him out of the corner of my eye, probably trying to convince the blondes he’s flirting with to join him in the bathroom, and it only makes this more unbearable.

And then there’s K-drama. I look up at where she and Mini-Jade are cracking up at something in the corner, holding glasses of soda because they’ve both been expressly forbidden by Jade to drink anything harder. There are those fucking legs again. And the rest of her isn’t looking too bad, either, I have to admit. It’s nice to see her laughing. Happy. Not giving me shit or sulking over work or that Ally’s gone. Just…her. I don’t know what they’re dying over, but I feel a weirdly strong desire to get in on the joke.

I shudder and refocus on Chuck just as he says Vanessa’s name. “Be sure you draw attention to the fact that Wilson’s not here, all right?”

Wilson’s never here, I think. Not last night, not tonight. I know whatever he and K-drama have is every bit as bullshit as she and Liam were last year. What the hell does she want, anyway? She’s a good-looking girl, smart, occasionally even funny. What’s up with all the fake boyfriends? It’s not like she’s not the girlfriend type; she is definitely the kind you bring home to mom — if your mom’s not an insane, self-centered drama queen. Why does she settle for such shit?

“Hey, Chester. You listening?”

“Yeah, yeah,” I lie. Chuck’s a pain in my ass, and just because Vanessa signed me up for this doesn’t mean I’m gonna be his bitch. “Wilson. K-drama. Got it.”

Chuck sighs. “I’m not sure it’s a great idea to call her K-drama on TV, between you and me.”

“Your irrelevant opinion is duly noted, boomlicker. Can we get this over with now?”

He just grins, which might be the most annoying thing I’ve ever seen. He has one of those chin dimples I wanna fill with my foot. “Sure,” he says cheerfully. “Just get your friend Hudson over here so we can get this going.”

Ugh. Right. This shit is so scripted, and scene number one requires some salivating over the girls. Of course. “Hey, Hudson!” I call out, and Royce dutifully excuses himself from the blow-up twins and jogs over with his beer. “Let’s do this shit.”

We let Chuck position us at the bar, and I’m grateful Royce isn’t drunk or high enough yet to laugh through this entire thing. The last thing I wanna do is multiple takes. They flip on our mics, get the cameras rolling, and…

“Dude. Vanessa’s looking pretty hot tonight,” Royce says, just as he’s been instructed. “You gonna tap that?”

“Of course not.” Tonight, I’ll be playing the role of Josh the Chivalrous. “She has a boyfriend.”

“Her boyfriend’s not here.” He takes another drink from his bottle, and I know the cameras are focusing on the sleazy way he smiles around it. “Go for it, man. I’ll take her friend. She’s pretty hot.”

I glance over at Mini-Jade. She’s a little too Punk Rock Chick for my taste, but apparently she’s been hiding some great tits. “I’d like to see you try.”

“I will if you will.” He drains the bottle, puts it down on the bar. “Come on — everyone knows you guys have been all over each other on the Daylight Falls set.”

That’s our job, I know I should say, but the truth is, on set, when she was kissing me, digging her nails into my shoulders, it sure as hell felt like she was pretty into it. She’s not a bad kisser, either. She may be annoying, and it’s completely ridiculous that she still lives with her parents, and I’m almost positive she’s a virgin, but if she did wanna get sloppy and make out a little tonight, I wouldn’t say no.

My eyes shift from Mini-Jade’s tits back over K-drama’s legs before returning to Royce. “Dude,” I say instead, because I don’t really feel like getting into all the Vanessa shit. Plus, Chuck’s already given me my transition out, much as it makes me wanna hurl. “Shannah’s coming tonight. She’d go nuts.”

“Oh, yeah,” Royce says dully. For a guy who pretty much carries a successful movie franchise, he can’t deliver five stupid scripted lines for shit. Makes sense, I guess, since he’s used to playing a zombie. “Uh, we should at least go say hi.” As if Vanessa and I both chose to come to this absurdly shitty club independently. What a coincidence!