The Accidental Movie Star Read Online Free

Pelinski.
    Caz took the cup with a “thanks” and set it by his feet.
    Petra took a sip of hers. “Is this mocha frap with soy?”
    Olive nodded in a knowing fashion. “I read soy’s your favorite.”
    “Well, soy was.” Petra waved a hand, making her silver bracelet slide high on her slim arm. She paused to admire the gleam in the overhead lights then said, “But soy’s so last year. You know what I mean. All those third world countries are running out of soy so everyone’s banning soy, and I have to stay current. This year I drink orange latte with one swirl of peppermint.”
    “I’ll get that right away for you.” Olive dashed toward the coffee cart, swinging her arms, knocking into the early morning desperados, weakened by their need for caffeine, who surrounded the cart. Olive used their vulnerability and her diminutive frame to advantage and popped to the front of the group. “I’m getting coffee for Petra, so, me first.”
    Ashley sent a quick text to her best friend back home. “It’s like the 1950s. PAs fetch coffee.”
    Marissa replied, “Made new mustard-mayo sauce for fries.”
    Ashley texted back. “Outcome?”
    “Customer feedback rated recipe a seven.”
    “That’s high.”
    “Not good enough.”
    “I want to try them.”
    “I’ll have the dish perfected when you get home. Irina came out of the office when I was putting away the free sample tray.”
    Ouch . Irina, the Fry Hut’s part-time manager, was also seventeen, but she relished the power that came with her title with a fervor that boded well for a career as a future army colonel or third world dictator.
    “Irina made me wear the fry costume and greet customers in the parking lot.”
    The temperature had to be at least high nineties outside in Houston. Ashley started to type her reply, when the tall man in front of the speakers said, “I’m Russ Simmons, your director.”
    Ashley hit the off button on her phone. The farewell music chimed out, and she slapped a hand over the speaker, trying to look innocent.
    “Welcome to your first and hopefully last crew and cast meeting until the wrap party.” The large group on the bleachers, who had quieted when he spoke, gave a mild cheer.
    Suck-ups.
    “Most of you worked with me before, and know how I work,” the director said. “I concentrate on film, and leave the day-to-day running of things to our assistant director. I’ll now turn this meeting over to him.”
    A few people clapped. The goatee-wearing AD stepped forward and raised his hairy, pointy chin. “Please call me AD. We’re not working together for the next five years. We’re shooting for fifty days. In that time, while on set, you will be called by your title.”
    The AD stroked his goatee. “I have a backup for each one of you. If you cannot meet your commitments, we will replace you. After shooting starts, the cost is prohibitive to replace the actors, obviously, because they’re on film. Putting it plainly, the cast is more important than the crew.” There were a few protest murmurs from the crowd. Crunch. Garrett opened a pack of cookies and shoved one in his mouth.
    The AD held up his tablet and motioned toward the stars. “If a cast member needs to eat, feed him. If he needs an errand done, run it. If her hem is torn and the fabric distracts her, sew it. Fix the problem or find an assistant. Issues you can’t handle come to me.”
    His speech made sense, but somehow seemed wrong. Especially the part where all the crap would get dumped on the assistants. Welcome to my world for the next fifty days. Ashley pressed her palms into the cold metal ridges of the bench seat and rolled her head, reminding herself she needed this job to help her college applications stand out.
    The broad shoulder of the guy next to her bumped hers and he whispered, “If you didn’t get that, I’ll explain. We don’t matter.”
    She stifled a laugh.
    He ran a hand over his blond buzz cut. “I’m Boomer.”
    “Hi, I’m