“What color collar does he like?”
“Hey kitty, kitty, wanna treat?”
Amidst the noise, someone finally woke up.
He took the script that was covering his eyes
and frowned, ready to speak-
“Sorry, my cat got loose,” I said, gasping for air.
I caught up to the cat right in front of the group
of actors.
“Meow!” The cat seemed to think I was playing
with him. He jumped on one of the lounge
chairs.
Then a hand grabbed his scruff.
<
The next second, I looked into Liam’s eyes. I
heard myself say, “Hey, be gentle!”
THUD! The script Liam was holding fell to the
ground.
He was staring at me, his face flushing.
“What did you just call me?”
8
The mood changed completely.
Liam’s face was as red as a tomato.
So I picked between embarrassing him or
letting him think I meant something else.
“Buddy, come here.”
“Meow!” The cat wiggled happily.
<
Liam didn’t react, so my cat gave him a good
claw swipe and jumped back into my arms.
I glanced at Liam, who seemed stunned.
“Sorry,” I explained quietly. “That’s my cat, his
name is Ginger Buddy, but I just call him
Buddy.’
وو
Buddy blinked at the red–faced two–legged
creature, wagging his tail.
I wanted to get out of there.
“Okay, I’m gonna go…”
“Ginny…”
Liam had his hands over his face.
If there weren’t other people around, I think he
would have lost it.
“Miss, did you catch the cat? The director
wants to see him…”
“Yeah, yeah, I can’t wait for him to meet the
director!” I said.
Then, I turned and walked as fast as I could.
Ginger Buddy made the cut. He’d be staying at
the studio for a month to play the main
character’s cat.
I went back, but the break was over and Liam
was already back on set.
A staff member gave me a tour of the studio
9
<
before showing me the place where Liam was filming.
“Liam is such a great actor. Don’t worry about Buddy, he’s going to be fine.”
I watched Liam act.
He was filming a scene where he runs into a
childhood friend. He looked at her and smiled.
Then, he saw me.
“Cut!” the director yelled.
“Liam, that smile was good but kind of cheesy.
Try it again.”
Liam: “…”
The smile transferred from his face to mine.
The director must have some crazy–good eye
<
to see something like that.
I hung around for a while longer, carrying the
cat.
Then, I heard a familiar voice. “So, is he a good
actor or what?”
I turned. I stopped smiling.
“I just came to visit, and I saw you.” Kai said,
smiling at me. Then the assistant director ran
over to greet him.
“Mr. Kai.”
“Don’t worry about it,” Kai said. “I got some
snacks on the way. They’re coming soon.”
“Thank you, Mr. Kai,” the staff said.
Kai shook it off.
<
“You’re investing in this movie?” I asked him.
“Yeah. The best people, best script. It’s going
to make me a fortune.” He was looking at Liam
with approval. “That kid could win an Oscar
someday.”
I nodded.
He definitely had the skills.
“What about you?” Kai said. “What are you
doing here?”
I showed him my cat.
“The movie needed a cat, so I brought Buddy
here. You know, for food money.”
“Sounds good. I’ll make sure he gets some
special treatment.”
I laughed.
<
“So, you’re interested in Liam?” He asked,
since I was staring at the actor.
“Yeah,” I nodded. “I like him, I want to get him.”
Kai stared at me, shocked.
“But I think he’s mad at me.”
I looked down at my cat.
“It’s okay, I’ll have my brother give you guys
some extra cash.”
“Oh, I’m sure that’s all he needs! Should I go
kidnap him and drop him off here?”
“Ha!” I said, laughing.
9
When Liam got a break, he looked around but
didn’t see me.
<
“Stop looking,” Kai said. “She’s gone.”
“Mr. Kai,” Liam said, finally noticing his boss,
“do you know Ginny?”
“You got lucky there, kid,” Kai said, looking
Liam up and down.
“You might be making me money, but she’s like
a princess. You’re playing in a different league.”
Kai and my older brother, Sam, were best
friends, so he knew more than most about my
family.
Liam frowned.
“Her name is Ginny.”
He’d been in the spotlight for years but never
heard of my family. He had no idea that I was
related to them.
く
“She’s a last–name–Ginny and a first–name-
princess. So, what is it?”
Kai was curious.
“How do you guys know each other?”
“We were desk mates in high school,” Liam
said, his voice low. “She transferred out of
school in our junior year, and I never saw her
again.”
“High school….” Kai thought about it. “Oh! That
makes sense, her family pulled her out when
their grandma got sick.”
Liam turned to look at him.
“What did you say?”
