Perfect Match Read Free Page A

out those money clips over there.”
    â€œGood idea.” I smiled. Relieved that Camille seemed to have found her purpose, I looked aroundfor a bench. It might have been the first time in my life that I opted out of shopping. I felt a little bit like my dad or brother when Mom, Feb, and I dragged them around department stores.
    â€œEeeek!” SBB came up from behind me and grabbed my shoulders. “Flan, thank you
so
much!”
    â€œFor what?” I asked, confused.
    â€œFor revitalizing my entire career!” She was bouncing on her Ferragamo heels. The last time I’d heard her so breathless, she’d just hurled herself over one of the blue
Village Voice
newspaper displays on West Broadway to avoid a Segway-riding paparazzo across the street. “Alex’s friend, Brody? Or Brindy? Or, oh, Brady! Well, he just
inquired
about me. He got my agent’s name from Alex … and he wants to audition me for a part! In his new indie film! Can you believe it? My agent said the script is totally smart and edgy. So it’s basically the opposite of anything I’ve done before. It’ll be groundbreaking! It’ll be revolutionary! It’ll be—”
    â€œThat’s so great, SBB,” I said. I was thrilled for her—and more than a little thrilled with Alex. I’d only mentioned SBB’s career concerns in passing after the movie. It was totally sweet and perceptive of him to talk to Brady already, and without me even having to ask.
    â€œSo what’s the movie about?” I asked. “What role are you auditioning for?”
    â€œOh, you know, it’s a gritty drama, set in an all-American high school. And I would play the typical high school student. I’ll just have to channel my inner—oh
no
! My career is finished!”
    The color drained from her face and she sank onto the bench next to me.
    â€œWhat is it?” I asked, holding her small body upright. I started to fan her with my mittens. “What’s wrong?”
    Very slowly, my little starlet eked out the words. “I never went to high school. I have no experience with ‘typical.’ I don’t have a chance.” SBB sighed wistfully.
    I suppressed a grin. “SBB, high school is easy.”
    She looked at me doubtfully.
    â€œOkay,” I reconsidered. “It’s not easy to
live
through, but I promise you, it will be a breeze for you to act. It’s all your favorite stuff—boys, fashion, immeasurable drama.” I patted her knee. “Trust me, with my help, you’ll be the most convincing high school student the silver screen has ever seen.”
    SBB’s eyes got all wide and dewy, the way they did when she felt really moved. “You’ll help me, Flannie? I really want to prove that I can do this. I want to become a legitimate indie drama darling, the toast of the Independent Spirit Awards.”
    â€œLucky for you,” I said, “I’m something of an expert on high school drama. You can put your empathy skills to use on me.”
    As SBB gave me a tight side squeeze, Camille reappeared in front of us. “So,” she said tantalizingly, holding her hands behind her back. “What do we think of this?” She held up a pocket watch dangling from a cool, sort of gaudy gold rope. “When you open it up,” she explained while demonstrating, “there are three different compartments. The watch is one, and you can store two pictures on the sides. It’s kind of a like a functional man locket. Weird or cool?”
    â€œIt’s a mocket!” SBB squealed. “It’s perfect! Where’d you find it? We’ll take three, right, Flan?”
    Camille led us over to the glass case where she’d found the golden mockets. I wasn’t so sure this screamed
Alex
, but the other girls seemed so into it that I didn’t want to argue. As the two of them brainstormed exactly which photos they’d put