I woke up Monday m with a huge yawn and stretched my body zily getting out all the kinks.

  That weekend was a crazy one. After spending Saturday at Universal Studios with Evan's family, my parents came home on Sunday and decided to have a dinner outing. They ihe Spaders as well, as a thank you for taking care of me during the weekend. Together we went out to this amazing Indiaaurant. The musid the ambiance were great and they pyed a very upbeat tune in Hindi and enced the patrons to dance along with their staff.

  I danced for at least an hour. It was su amazing experience. While most of the people out there were watg my movie, I was dang away all my worries into the night even though it was a school night.

  Yep, Steve and Kathy be a little careless like that. Poor Melinda and John didn't dee the invitation out of their politeness and had joined in the fun along with Evan.

  And now I am suffering the sequences of all that movement throughout my body that is not used to much physical work.

  Yes, .E. in school but I am the zy one who hardly ever participates willingly. I guess I'll have to beore active if I have to tinue a life of dang, a ses, and the like. Whoever said being an actor is an easy job?

  Ign that for the moment I quickly got ready a into the kit area to see Steve reading the neer while Kathy was making sunny side-ups for me. Just as I liked.

  "Any news?" I asked Steve just as Kathy served me my breakfast, which was fried eggs and a gss of milk.

  Steve looked up from his paper and looked fused for a moment but immediately realization dawned upon him and he smiled, "Yes, I got a call from HBO. The premiere was viewed by 10.3 million people which is more than good enough feedback for such a movie. The DVR ratings and VOD ratings will take some time to e out. But, the film was a resounding success."

  I pumped my fist in the air in celebration. Finally, I take a breath of relief. While critics' reviews had assuaged my worries somewhat, I was still a little worried about the possible ive response from the public. It would seem HBO's strategy did work and all the ive news about me was capitalized in the form of viewership.

  "So what's ?" I asked Steve gingerly.

  "Nothing. I have to go to Pittsburgh where the pre-produ work of [Wonder Boys] is in progress to adapt some ges in the script. It will take a few days. After that, we will go back to how things were before the movie." Steve shrugged as if that answered everything.

  I shook my head, "No, what I mean is… what about your project? After [Wonder Boys] that is."

  "sidering I paid good enough money for a particur book series," He waggled his eyebrows at me meaningfully, "I io write its spy or at least the outline and pitch the idea to a big produ pany. sidering what I have heard from HBO, Warner Bros is very ied in w with me again. Though sidering Disney's expertise in kids' movies I go that route as well. It will be a difficult process and would take at least 6-8 months to finish writing the script alone because it creates a whole fial world. Then I have to prepare a produ pn as well."

  "What about me? Any other role for me?" I asked eagerly, ing to the main topic I wao discuss all along.

  "You py Harry when the script is done." He answered dismissively.

  "But that will take too long!" I almost shouted, "You said it will take 6-8 months provided that the idea is agreed by the produ pany immediately. It will take you months to iate a tract itself. Then, you'll begin w on the script. And then pre-produ for the building of sets and such. That gives me more than a year of free time."

  "Lower your voice." He anded in a calm but steely voice.

  "Sorry." I lowered my head in shame.

  While I may not sider myself a child, I am one, and I fet that sometimes. sidering all that Steve has done for me, it's very ungrateful of me to behave like that.

  "It's time for your school. e, I'll drop you," Steve motioowards the door and picked up his keys. I grabbed my school bag, having already finished my breakfast, and followed after Steve.

  We walked in sileowards the car. When the car was on its way, he said softly, "Troy, I know you are young aable, but you 't just keep doing things. You have to take a break sometimes. With that in mind, I have heard your request and will ask around in my circle if any jobs are avaible for you. But don't get your hopes too high. We won't get you a for now though, your mother and I are more than willing to a that capacity."

  I didn't like their decision, but I uood it. Agents are profit-oriented beings. This has upsides as well as downsides. On one hand, a will work to get you a role actively because he will earn only when his t does. Oher hand, for young actors, ageher won't give their full effort or they'll ighe t's other requirements like education. Thus many guardians prefer to maheir kids themselves.

  I got out of the car as we reached the school and I waved Steve goodbye before making my way towards my css. On the way, I couldn't help but notice the staff members giving me an odd look. A look nition resent in the eyes of most but there was also some hesitation? Not sure. I just ighem a back to being a student.

  It was when I sat in my seat that I saw that even my cssmates were ag weird around me. Evan was te, as it would seem and I was feeling a little unfortable with all the stares and whispers.

  That was until Lisa, a cssmate of mine, came to me and asked in an i angelic voice, "Troy, why did my Mom tell me to sit away from you?"

  A thing about Lisa, she is one of the more tolerable of my cssmates. She doesn't ask stupid questions, doesn't irritate me, is more mature than our peers, good for having some idle chat, and doesn't irritate me.

  So when I heard her question, I was stunned for a moment or two. Parents didn't want their children to sit near me for some reason. Maybe because I worked in a movie that talked about sex?

  "Why don't you ask your Mom?" I questioned back.

  "I did. She just said you are an actor now and that I would uand when I grow up." Lisa answered holy.

  "Ahem, well you see, my first film was released yesterday on TV. Some people didn't like it so maybe that's why?" I answered her as simplistically as I could.

  "What!" She excimed ically. "Your film was released and you didn't tell anyone? I want to watch it. When will it e on TV again?" She got a little louder with each word, and now that I observed my surroundings, I saw that most of the kids were listening to our versation. And because they were kids, they weren't even trying to hide that they were eavesdropping.

  I sighed audibly and shook my head, "You 't watch it. Even I haven't. It's frown-ups. Mum told me I ot watch it 'til I am 15. That's more than six years away."

  "Hey dude, hey Lisa," I turo see Evan standing behind Lisa, looking a little nervous with all the stares directed at me.

  "Hi, Evan!" Lisa greeted him back, "Did you know we 't watch Troy's film 'til we are 15?"

  "Yeah?" Evan half asked, "But my Mom said I 't watch it till I'm 18."

  That sent people into a new bout of whispers in the . Children be worse than gossiping housewives sometimes.

  I rolled my eyes visibly at Evan who looked guilty at the otion he uionally caused.

  At least I could rest assured with the fact that people didn't e to get more knowledge about the film and whatnot. This was L.A. and a high-css private school at that. There were already some actors in our css. Not anyone I reized, but they were there. And until they see a work of mine for themselves, most children shouldn't e to me asking for the details of my work.

  'Shouldn't' is the keyword here.

  During recess, Evan and I were sitting at our usual spot in the cafeteria when Lisa joined us with her friend Erica. This was a first because usually Erid Lisa sat quite far from here, so it was a little ued. I ig in favor of quietly having my lunch.

  "So Troy, I heard you became an actor," Erica broke the ice.

  "Yes?" I looked at her questioningly to get her to get to the point.

  " you get me a role as well? I want to bee an actress but my parents say I have to wait till I am older." Erica went on a passionate rant, "I mean you did it so it must be possible for others as well, right? But they still think of me as a little girl. I am already 9!"

  That's what I don't like about people. They e to you when they need you, but before that, they don't even smile at you. I know I am being a hypocrite here as I may do the same thing if our positions were exged, but that doesn't mean I have to like the fact.

  Before I could answer her, another kid came to our table.

  "Hey, Troy!" Sam, another of my cssmates, said with a wave, clearly ign the other three octs of the table, "Is it true that you acted in an adult film? My older brother told me when I told him about you."

  I resisted the urge to bang my head oable. The thought that it would bee a usual thing when I beore popur was enough to force me to just smile and say, "Yes."

  "Woah! That's awesome dude!" Sam grinned, gave me a high five the back to his table.

  If only dealing with everyone was that easy.

  "Wait," Eriterrupted my thoughts, "that film was an adult film?" Her voice betrayed her nervousness and, dare I say, a little disgust.

  I am a little fused here. Isn't an R-rated film also called an adult film? That's when it clicked in my head. They are fusing an R-rated film with a porn film. Do they not realize that it is illegal for a minor to appear in a real 'adult film'.

  Then again they are children who don't know better. I have two options now. Either I correct their misceptiht here and curb their wild imagination or I let them tihinking in this dire so I have a little more space.

  Obviously, I chose the sed one.

  "Yes, it's true. You ask Evan, our parents won't allow us to watch the film until we are much older." I answered with a faked sad expression.

  Erica was stupefied at my decration but turowards Evan who o firm my words.

  "You wanted a role as well, right?" I asked ily.

  "Maybe I should wait," Erica replied immediately. "You know, my parents aren't wrong."

  I smiled, "Hmm, it's your decision."

  Right at that moment another kid walked to our table, "Hey Troy, I heard that…"

  I sighed mentally. This will be a long day.

  (Break)

  By the time recess was over, everyone and their mother khat I acted in an 'adult film' and were either avoiding me like pgue awking at me like I was aiimal in a zoo. I e silently because this had a positive side effect of them not hounding me every few mio get them a role etting them to meet a particur actor or something equally absurd.

  "Bet you're liking that, huh?" Evan ented with a scowl.

  I raised an eyebrow as I observed him carefully. He hadn't spoken mue besides the usual greetings and things he absolutely had to. Did I do something to upset him? Possibly. I know that I be a little iive sometimes to childreions, but I couldn't think of anything I may have doo offend him.

  "Downsides of being an actor," I replied in a ral tone, carefully his rea.

  Uncharacteristically, he harrumphed a over the textbook, as if reading ahead of the css.

  So it was because of my ag job. Is it jealousy? Does he want some attention as well?

  No. That 't be true. I know him well enough by now to know he doesn't enjoy attention at all. In fact, he was more excited about my movie than me just yesterday. Something happened betweeerday night and the recess. Something that was brewing before the school day began.

  Before I could say anything else, the teacher walked into the and began lish css. I decided to wait for the day to end. Maybe he will get better ter on.

  (Break)

  RIIIINNGGG

  The school bell rang out loud and I got up and gathered my stuff. I had decided that I would talk to Evan to clear out all misuandings at the earliest. No point in dragging it on.

  That was the moment when Evan got up in a hurry and rushed out of the as if he was about to shit his pants.

  "Evan! Wait!" I shouted after him. Either he didn't hear nored me, but he didn't wait. I tried to follow behind but couldn't.

  "Troy, you are to report to the principal's office," Mr. Daven, our History teacher, said.

  I gave him an annoyed look, "Do I have to ght now? I have some stuff to do."

  "Yes," He gave me a stern look and I quickly schooled my features to a sheepish smile. Yeah, teachers don't like students getting annoyed with them.

  "By the way," He tinued with a smile, "I liked your movie. A little vulgar, but your ag was good."

  "Thank you, sir." I gave him a rger smile and a nod

  "Now off you go," He shooed me away, "we don't want to keep the principal waiting."

  Relutly, I made my way over to the principal's office, feeling ahat Evan ditched me. Most kids didn't bother me muow. They were much tamer than during recess where whispers and finger-pointihe on theme. So I ehe silent walk to the Principal's office.

  Reag the said door, I knocked and was quickly called inside.

  "Troy Armitage, e have a seat," The principal, who was an ht middle-aged dy named Mrs. Calder, said with a genial smile, "I must say, I enjoyed your work a lot yesterday."

  "Thank you, ma'am," I smiled.

  "Hopefully, you won't dispy a simir attitude in your real csses," She joked.

  I shared a ugh with her. She robably refereng the part where my character harassed his homeroom teacher with sex talk aionally maniputed her with lies.

  "Is there a reason I'm called here, Ma'am?" I finally addressed the elephant in the room.

  She looked a little nervous but quickly schooled her features, "Yes. Somehow, your information was leaked to the media. Outside the school, there are at least 7-8 reporters here to talk to you. Now, we as a school take the security and privacy of our students very seriously, so I have tacted your father and he will be able to pick you up from the back exit when your after-susic practids."

  I took in the information when something clicked in my head, "Wait, who leaked my information? It must be someohin the school."

  The calm persona she had maintained carefully cracked a little to give away the nervousness, "We don't know for sure. I'll make every effort to find the person if they are within the school staff and make sure they won't be able to do that anymore. Don't worry too much though, it isn't the first time we have had a celebrity attending our school."

  Was I really a celebrity now? I didn't think so. Doing just oV film isn't equivalent to being a celeb. Not in my opinion at least.

  The principal gave me a reassuring smile here, "Security won't let aers on campus, yuardians will be allowed to drive through the back exit for drop and pickup to prevent any future media attention. Most teachers and students are unaware of this, so keep this to yourself. Only the ma and the security staff know."

  "Yikes," I whispered in slight awe, "Thank you, Ma'am. That would help a lot."

  "We want our students to excel." She answered with a serene smile, like a sleazy politi. "I think you're te for your music practice." Mrs. Calder said after a few moments.

  I thanked her again and made my way to the practi.

  It wasn't until 4 as I went to the back exit of the school that it occurred to me that I totally fot about the Evan problem. Maybe he will get better by tomorrow and then I ask him?

  _______________________

  AN: Read upto 20 chapters ahead on my Pat reon/fableweaver