Reality Check Read Online Free Page A

was a pair of oversized sunglasses. Her hair was pulled back in a sloppy ponytail, and her face was minus makeup or expression. Seconds seemed like minutes as the girl stared at Charly, tapping a flip-flopped foot on the floor. She said not one word. Finally, she nodded.
    â€œAnnison,” Charly whispered.
    Mr. Day beamed, snaking his neck so he could see around Charly, who’d walked in front of him and was now blocking his view. “Yes? Is that a yes?”
    Annison removed her sunglasses, then took Charly in, pressing her lips together in thought. She nodded. “She’ll do.” Then she smiled, big and wide and forcefully, like she’d been practicing it. Her eyes were void of feeling. ”Yes, that’s a yes.”
    Charly looked from the starlet to Mr. Day, then back to the girl. She wasn’t just your normal, everyday girl. She was Annison. Annison had been like the Nikkis and Waynes of the world, then suddenly she seemed to disappear. Obviously she was back, and was just as beautiful and commanding of attention as ever. “Yes? Yes, what?” Charly asked Annison, turning to Mr. Day, then back to Annison.
    Annison proffered her hand. Her smile was still intact, her teeth were bright, and her attitude matched. She seemed warm in a strictly-for-the-camera way. “Nice to meet you, Charly. I’m Annison—”
    â€œOh. I know. Trust me, I know who you are. Every one does,” Charly said, almost jumping out of her boots. She couldn’t contain her excitement. She’d never been so close to such a big star, and was floored that Annison knew her and called her by her name.
    Mr. Day stood like a proud father, looking from one girl to the other. He nodded. “You were right, Annison. Charly’s a great match for you.”
    Charly, still holding Annison’s hand, froze. “Match?”
    Annison shrugged and pressed her lips together. “Yes. I have good taste. I knew you’d be, well . . . good. I saw the pilot of the show you were in that was canceled, which is too bad. You were good. Then when you crashed that sitcom and were on the bus and kept calling the driver Midge, I knew you were the one.”
    Charly nodded. “Thank you.” So she’d been right. That had been Annison she saw on the set.
    Mr. Day smiled. “Charly, meet the star—”
    Annison loudly cleared her throat.
    â€œSorry. I meant to say, Charly, Annison’s the star of a new show: The Extreme Dream Team , a traveling reality series where some lucky person’s life is made over. And you’re going to be on it with Annison!”
    Annison cleared her throat again.
    â€œSorry. You’re going to be Annison’s costar!” he announced.
    Charly couldn’t breathe. Costar? She’d take co-whatever. As long as she was co-something, she was happy. Before she knew it, she’d clasped her arms around the actress. She was glad that Annison had chosen her to do the show, which meant the director of the sitcom had been wrong. Here he’d questioned Charly’s method of acting when she’d pretended to be a cast member, even implied it wasn’t so good, but he’d been everything but right. If she’d acted badly, Annison wouldn’t have chosen her, she told herself.
    Annison pulled away and put both her hands on Charly’s shoulders. She smiled. “You’re welcome,” she said, then put her sunglasses back on with one hand and reached into an oversized bag on her shoulder. She pulled out a small box and handed it to Charly. “It’s nothing, just a little welcome and thank-you.” She turned to Mr. Day. “Day. I’m ready. Where’s my crew and my trailer? You did get the crew I requested, right?” she asked, walking toward the door and glancing at her watch. “There’s no need for me to be fitted and styled. My crew already knows what I need, and besides, I’ve been acting for