Secrets of My Hollywood Life (14 page)

"Would you?" She claps her hands excitedly. "Let's make it Monday then."

"Deal." I smile and start walking out the door.

"Oh, and Rachel," Principal calls discreetly. I turn around. "If you talk to
your friend
this weekend, tell her they should really do a DNA test." She winks.

I wink back, turn, and run down the hallway towards bio. And that's when it happens. I run face-first into Austin's well-defined chest.

"WHOA. Are you fleeing stormtroopers or something?" Austin laughs, grabbing me with his strong hands to steady my balance. I feel my palms start to sweat. Why am I so nervous? I'm never this anxious around cute guys -- and I've kissed plenty of them for
FA.

I laugh nervously. "How are you doing?" I stare at the dirty linoleum floor tiles.

"I know what this is about," Austin says, watching my reaction. He drops his arms. "You heard about me and Lori."

"You and Lori? What about you and Lori?" I question, playing dumb.

"Look." Austin is staring right at me with his bright turquoise eyes. "You had nothing to do with our breakup Friday night. We were about to break up anyway. I was sick of seeing the way she walked all over people, including me. What she did to you Friday night was the last straw. I explained that you and I are just friends."

Friends. "Of course." I try to hide my disappointment. What's wrong with me?

"AUSTIN, LET'S GO!" Rob Murray calls from down the hall. "Coach K is going to let us practice for the game during gym!"

"One second!" Austin yells back. "I've got to go," he says apologetically. "Are you still free to study after school?"

I think for a second. No, Laney has me taping
The Ellen De-generes Show.
"Uh, I have a doctor's appointment," I say apologetically. "I completely forgot."

"What about tonight?" Austin asks. "Lacrosse practice ends at six, so we could meet at my house at six-thirty." He grabs my notebook and green ballpoint pen out of my hands and scribbles down his address.

"COME ON!" Rob yells again. "I better go." He starts backing away, grinning. "See you tonight," I reply, clutching the page he's just written on.

My
Ellen
taping goes well. The morning talk shows are so much fun to appear on, because they're a relaxed atmosphere and the questions aren't prying. Ellen doesn't bring up Sky once! I knew I liked her. I'm still on a live audience high when Rodney drops me off at Austin's at 6:30.

"I don't know why I'm nervous," I tell Nadine on the car ride over.

"Maybe it's because this is the first time you've liked a guy who seems to like you for you, not for what your career can do for him," she offers.

"You think I like him?" I scoff. "I don't. We're just friends. And I can't like him, it's too complicated."

"Yeah, but that's how life works," Rodney mumbles from the front seat, where he's sipping a Jamba Juice smoothie. "You fall for someone when you least expect it." I wonder for a moment whether he's speaking from experience.

"But I'm living a lie," I protest. Ever since Friday night, when Austin and I had such a good time chatting, I've been hearing this nagging voice in the back of my head:
What's going to happen if he finds out the truth?

"Well, it's too late to worry about that now, isn't it?" The sedan pulls up to Austin's sweet-looking colonial home. The house looks spacious, but not crazy big like Lori's or, well, mine. But what's so great about it, as I stare at the well-worn bricks, ivy climbing up the front porch, and the kids' bikes scattered on the super-green lawn, is how homey it feels.

"We'll pick you up at eight-thirty," Nadine says, checking her watch. "You've got a phone interview with
Access
on the East Coast to do at eight-forty-five."

I nod, give my Old Navy jeans and black velour zip-up hoodie a final once-over, making sure I'm in Rachel mode after
The Ellen Degeneres Show
(it was so nice to dress up in a Nicole Miller multicolored satin slip dress for an appearance), and open the car door. Rodney zooms away by the time I've reached the doorbell. Seconds later, Austin's mom opens the battered white screen door.

"You must be Rachel," she greets me warmly. Mrs. Meyers is wearing an apron that says #1 MOM over her khakis and red polo shirt. She wipes her hands on the apron and holds one out to me. "It's nice to meet you. Excuse my greasy palms. I'm making cookies."

Wow, a mom who bakes. "It's nice to meet you too," I say shyly. "I'm here to study with Austin." She has his sandy blond hair, only hers is tied back in a wispy ponytail.

"Hey!" Austin appears in the doorway. He's rubbing a towel over his wet head. "I just got back from lacrosse a little while ago. I had to shower."

I nod, trying not to blush as I notice his toned abs through his damp white t-shirt.

His mom shakes her head. "Austin, you never sit still. You two yell down if you're hungry." She disappears into the kitchen.

"Thanks. It was nice meeting you," I call after her.

"We can study in my room," Austin tells me, leading the way up the worn carpeted stairs. "Let me just introduce you to my sister first." He knocks on the first door at the top of the stairs.

"Come in!" a voice yells.

Austin opens the door and peeks inside. A young girl, around the age of eleven, looks up from the book she's reading on her stuffed-animal-strewn bed and smiles. Her mouth is full of braces. "Hey," she murmurs shyly. With short dark brown hair, she doesn't look anything like Austin, except for her similarly striking turquoise eyes.

"Hi," I reply nervously, as if I'm being studied. "I'm your brother's friend Rachel."

"We're going to be studying in my room, Hayley," Austin says. "Come down if you need any help with your homework." She nods and gives us another metal smile. Austin shuts the door.

"Your sister is so cute," I muse. "I wish my brother was always that quiet."

"I thought you were an only child," Austin comments as we walk to the end of the hallway.

"Yeah, well, I am," I correct myself quickly. "I meant my
cousin,
Matty. He's
like
my brother, we spend so much time together. He's always following me around and wanting me to help him with stuff and he's never happy no matter how much I do so ..."

"Wow, come up for air!" Austin laughs, opening the door to his bedroom. "I've never heard you talk so much."

His room looks exactly how I'd pictured it, with lacrosse posters on the wall and sports equipment everywhere. There's also dirty clothing on the floor, much like my own room at home, before Anita's had a chance to clean it.

I feel my cheeks flush. "I have a bad habit of babbling," I admit sheepishly. "I've got to work on that."

Austin pulls a second chair up to his narrow old oak desk. I walk over and put my messenger bag down. That's when I see the picture hanging above the desk. It's from one of those fan magazines, and it's of... me. I'm wearing an ivory midriff-baring peasant top and jeans, and my hair is wind blown. It was for my
Allure
cover.

Austin catches me staring and now it's his turn to become beet red. "My sister gave me the picture," he explains. "She loves
Family Affair.
I just think, um, Kaitlin Burke is hot."

I don't know what to say. This is surreal. Austin thinks the real me is
hot.
Hearing Austin's confession makes my legs buckle. Sure, fans, interviewers, and magazines have complimented me before, but this is the first time I've ever really believed it. I think I have to sit down.

Austin sighs. "I don't know why I can't lie to you," he complains when I quietly drop into the beat-up wooden chair next to him. "Okay the truth is, I
do
watch
Family Affair.
My sister got me hooked. Can you believe it? The captain of the lacrosse team hooked on a soap opera!" He shakes his damp head. "If the guys on the team found out, they'd never let me live it down."

The thought hits me like a lightning bolt. If Austin were just another open-mouthed fan asking for my autograph, would I have noticed him when I finished signing his scrap of paper? How many other cute guys have I passed up because I didn't take the time to stop and really pay attention? But then again, even if I did notice a hot guy, how would I know if he was really interested in me, or my celebrity?

That's the cool part about being Rachel. I know, however odd it may seem, that Austin is truly interested in what I, or rather Rachel, has to say. For once, "Kaitlin's" face isn't getting in the way.

"You better help me do a good job on my history project or I'll blackmail you," I joke.

"You're funny," Austin says. "I haven't met a lot of girls like you before."

"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?" I ask.

"Both," he teases. "You're really laid back, which is awesome. So many of the girls I know are hung up on money and what designer they're wearing or what car they're going to buy when they get their license." He rolls his eyes. "You don't seem hung up on that stuff at all."

I smile. If he only knew.

We get to work after that, but I have a hard time concentrating. Sitting so close to Austin, with the smell of his freshly shampooed hair in my face, it's tough to focus. I hope he'll give me these Boston Tea Party notes to go home with because I can't remember a thing he's saying. I fare slightly better when it comes to math.

"So just remember that the sine rule for a triangle is ABC," I repeat.

He groans. "Just explain to me when I'm ever going to need to know the radius of a circle and the angles of a triangle."

I shrug. "I guess if you wanted to go into physics or be an astronaut..."

"I have no clue
what
I want to be, but I don't think it's either of those." He shrugs his sculpted shoulders. "What about you?"

"Do I want to be an astronaut?" I ask. "Only if I can visit places like Tatooine."

"No," he chuckles. "What do you want to
do?
Do you ever think about the future?"

What can I say? Austin, I already have a career. I'm an actress. Not only that, but I'm Kaitlin Burke. I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I promised I wouldn't tell a soul, and then I met you and you're funny and cute....

"I...," I begin. There's a knock on the door.

"Sorry to interrupt, kids," Mrs Meyers pokes her head in, "but Rachel, your Aunt Nadine is downstairs. She says it's time to go." I glance at the clock. It's 8:45. Have we been here over two hours already?

"I have to go," I apologize.

Austin nods. "What are you doing Saturday afternoon?" His mom smiles at me and walks away carrying a pile of clean laundry.

Is he asking me out? "This Saturday?" I ask meekly.

"Yeah." Austin grins. "The day that usually comes after Friday."

I smirk back.

"I know this great pizza place. A Slice of Heaven," he says. "We can study there and eat lunch."

Yikes. What if Antonio recognizes me?

"I hate pizza!" I blurt out.

"You hate pizza?" Austin widens his eyes in surprise. "Um, okay. We'll go for Chinese then."

"It's a date, I say. "I mean, it's a plan.

I say goodbye to Austin's mom on the way out and quickly sprint down the walkway to the black sedan. I open the back door.

"You're late!" Nadine exclaims. "I had to pretend to be your aunt!"

Rodney chuckles. "Are you hungry?" he asks me. "We got burgers at Carl's Jr. Don't tell your mom."

I gratefully take one out of the bag. "Sorry," I apologize. "I lost track of time."

"It went well then?" Nadine asks.

"Yes," I say somewhat giddily. "He asked me out."

"On a date?" Rodney prods.

"Well, not a date, but he wants me to study with him Saturday over lunch." Rodney whistles.

"Wait, Saturday?" Nadine panics. "You've got that
TV Tome
photo shoot with the
FA
cast. We have to be there at noon." Sigh. Having a double life is much harder than I imagined.

Monday 3/29

NOTES TO SELF:

ALWAYS check calendar before saying "yes."

Finish xtra credit paper 4 Mr. K. Due in 2 weeks!

Apologize to A -- and RESCHEDULE "DATE"!!!

Thirteen:
The Beauty Buffet

You know how the Oscars are the biggest night of the year in Hollywood? Well, at Clark Hall, the key event is the spring fling.

Don't get me wrong, I'm excited for the dance too, especially because it's my first one ever. But Clark Hall students are
insane
about it. Unlike the prom, which is organized by the school's alumni, the spring fling is completely run by the students -- which makes it the best event of the school year. The student committee in charge has a say in everything from the papier-maâché decorations to the mini hot dog appetizers to the coveted party theme. That's the part the whole school votes on, and like the Oscars, there's some mega-campaigning to ensure the best theme wins.

Every group gets wrapped up in the campaign frenzy -- except, it seems, Liz. ( "We'd rather run the dance committee afterwards than waste time campaigning for a theme," Liz shudders.) Me, I'm taking my vote very seriously: this is the only high school dance I'll ever attend. That's why I'm so torn over my decision.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Quick! Have 2 vote at the end of class. Who R U voting 4?

POWERGRL28: K, I'm in math!!!

PRINCESSLEIA25: Sorry. I'm so confused!

POWERGRL28: Fine, but this has got 2 B quick.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Tell me what is "History's Finest"?

POWERGRL28: Sponsored by the Shakespearian Club and Mathletes. Mr. K's fave.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Is that Y he handed out fliers dressed as Abe Lincoln?

POWERGRL28: Yep. So lame. They want everyone 2 go as famous peeps from history.

PRINCESSLEIA25: Beth is voting 4 them. She wants 2 B Pocahontas.

POWERGRL28: U still voting for "Monster Mash?"

PRINCESSLEIA25: Maybe.

POWERGRL28: Liar! U so are! All bc A dressed up as Darth Vader and handed U that card that said "Vote 4 the Monster Mash or we'll squash U."