After They Called Cut

Megan's POV

Amanda nearly spits out her drink when she sees me walking toward her table in the dining hall. Cute.

I'd just finished zoning out with my script in bed-revisiting that ridiculous pool scene-and figured I should probably eat something before I turn into a skeleton. And look at that. Amanda's already here, sipping water like a startled deer in headlights.

"You're done?" I ask, sitting down across from her like it's the most natural thing in the world. She composes herself fast. Pro move.

"No, I just started eating when you joined me," she says, then digs into her food like nothing happened.

Alright. I'll mind my own business.

But then-surprise-she speaks up again.

"Are you just gonna eat that? It's too little, don't you think?"
She's eyeing my tray like I brought a single leaf and called it dinner.

"This is enough. I'm still on a diet," I reply, casually taking a bite. It's not much, but it keeps the abs and the press from making snarky comments.

She's quiet for a beat, then suddenly decides we're best friends or something.

"I was about to ask this in the elevator, but... you changed your appearance a lot. I mean-don't get me wrong! I'm not judging or anything. It's just... when I saw you during introductions, I was a bit surprised you were so pale. And skinnier."

So she was staring.

"Yeah," I say, leaning back a little. "I changed my appearance for the role. When Diablo said I got Jennifer, I figured-why half-ass it? So, I stayed out of the sun for four months, didn't touch a tan lamp, and got myself down to about... 97 pounds."

I shrug and smile like it's not a big deal.

Amanda's just staring at me, like I told her I moonlight as a vampire.

I laugh. "Relax. It's for the movie. I'm not dying or anything."

She nods slowly like she's still processing it.

A few minutes later, Johnny and Adam sit with us and change the subject. Thank God.

++++

It's been three days, maybe, since we started filming the pool scene. Feels like three weeks.

"I am not insecure, Needy. God, that's a joke. How can I be insecure? I was the Snowflake Queen," I say, soaking wet, exhausted, but still acting.

"Yeah, two years ago. When you were socially relevant," Needy-Amanda-threw her line back.

"I am still socially relevant."

She nails her next line. "And when you didn't need laxatives to stay skinny."

Funny that her line was about my weight when we actually talked about that just a few days ago at the hotel. This is fiction-mostly. I hold character. I am Jennifer Check.

"I'm going to eat your soul... and shit it out, Lesnicki!" I snarled, fully in it.

Amanda doesn't even blink. "I thought you only murdered boys."

I tilt my head.

"I go both ways."

"And-cut!!" Karyn yells.

Finally.

They started prepping the stunt: the long pole that's supposed to stab me-Chip's (Johnny's) big hero moment.

"I go both ways..." I repeat to myself, still half in character.

Honestly?
Not the worst line I've ever said.