The Next Installment of "On Fire: Starring Landon Cunningham"

I know it's short, but it's all I've got so far. Please read! :D
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

It takes 20 minutes to get to the hospital and I don’t talk the whole way there. This is so embarrassing! I don’t even want to go to the hospital, it’s not like I need to. And my dad is ruining my little sister’s day for something stupid.

“We’re here. Do you need help getting out?” Carlos asks.

“No, I’m fine. But can’t we just go home?” I say in a rude tone. I’m getting a tad bit frustrated.

“No, we can’t just go home. I know you think you’re fine, but we have to get you checked out. Now don’t be rude to me, I’m trying to be nice to you here.”

I get out of the ambulance and just as I’m about to start walking in, I trip over myself. Carlos catches me, but not before Landon sees.

“You alright? If you’re falling all over the place, I definitely think you need to get checked out.” Landon says smoothly with a chuckle.

“Ummm, yeah. I… need to check you out… I mean er… get checked out. But actually, I just tripped. Nothing big.”

“Well, anyway, let’s get you inside. If you don’t mind, I’m going to stay until we make sure everything is fine.”

“You don’t have to. Really.”

“But I really do,” Landon says dreamily.

I am escorted into the hospital and immediately sent into a nice, super clean room with white walls. There is a counter with clear jars of all different sizes. A stool with wheels and a long bed table thing with white paper on it are off to one side.

“I’ll be waiting right outside,” says Carlos.

“Me too,” Landon says.

Ugh. I don’t want to be here.

“Jazzy!” my dad says as he walks into the little room. Behind him is Valerie, my step-mom, Fay, my little sister, Daven, Luke, and his girlfriend, Anabell. I’m surprised my cat doesn’t come in, too!

“Daaaaddddd! Why is everyone here? Dad, why did you bring everybody?”

“Honey, we all wanted to make sure you were alright.”

“It’s not like I got a concussion or anything. It’s not a big deal. You’re blowing this way out of proportion.”

“Jazlyn, we wanted to come. Even if you’re not hurt, we just want to be here for you,” Valerie says.

“Fine.”

There’s a knock and, after maneuvering out of the way of the door, my family lets in the nurse.

“I’m sorry, but there can only be two visitors at a time in the room,” says the nurse.

“Can everyone just go wait outside?” I ask.

“Yes, we’ll be right out,” my dad says to the rest of the clan.

Everyone is making their way out the door when the nurse tells me to sit on the exam table. I sit.

“So, you got hit on the head?” she asks.

“Yeah. But it’s really no big deal. I’m fine. No concussion or anything. Not even a scratch! Maybe a large bump, but really, no biggie.”

“Ok. Well we’re going to have to check all the normal stuff. Breathing, heart rate, blood pressure. And once we make sure everything’s normal, you’re free to go. It doesn’t look like you have any injuries.” The nurse says.

“Because I don’t.” I say in a huff.

After all the usual tests, they tell me I’m fine and free to go. The only thing that’s wrong with me is the huge bump on my head that’s throbbing, my bad attitude, and my flushed cheeks. That’s what I was saying the whole time! I walk out of the little room into the waiting room to find Landon telling my whole family jokes. Are you kidding me right now? Is this happening?

“She’s back!” Fay says to the group, while getting up to give me a hug.

“Hi,” I say.

“Jazz! I’m glad you’re alright.” Carlos says.

“I knew I was alright. Can we just go home?” I ask, looking from Carlos to my father.

“Oh, hey, listen… I feel really bad for what happened today. I want to make it up to you somehow. I was thinking maybe you might want to have a walk-on role in my movie! What do you say?” Landon asks.

“Walk-on… role? Movie? You’re movie? On Fire starring Landon Cunningham?”

“Yes, that would be the one. So, you in?”

“Well, uh… I, well, er…” I spit out.

“She would love to!” Carlos says.

“Yes, um, yes.” Why can’t my mouth just listen to my head?

“Well okay then. Mr… uh, Jazlyn’s dad, would it be alright with you if Jazlyn comes to the set tomorrow and learns a few lines?” Landon asks my father.

“Well, I don’t know…”

I give my dad the you-better-let-me-do-this-or-my-life-will-be-ruined look. With the crazy eyes and everything.

“Well of course I’ll let her,” my dad responds after seeing me.

“That’s great! Listen, I have to run, but I’ll see you tomorrow at, say, 9 AM? Does that work?” Landon asks.

“Yes, of course, I’ll be here. There. Okay.” I reply.

“Alright, again, I’m so sorry for today. But we’ll have fun tomorrow!”

“Okay. Yeah bye.”

Landon makes his way to the entrance while me, and my whole family, watch in silence as people start to recognize him. In a matter of minutes, right outside the hospital door, Landon gets mobbed by girls and paparazzi.

“Uh, can we go home please?” I say, slicing through the stunned silence in the room.

At once, all my family starts talking.

“You’re going to be in a movie!”

“With a real star!”

“I’m so glad that thing hit you on the head.”

“I’m so excited for you!”

“Ok, I’m not glad that it hit you on the head, but I think you get what I mean.”

“Alright! Yes, it’s exciting, but I really just want to go home. Please.” I exclaim.

“Oh, right, yes, let’s go.” My dad says.

“Can you guys give me a ride back to the set? The Terminator’s there.” Carlos asks.

“Of course, let’s go.”

“Listen, I really appreciate you guys coming out here. I love that you care about me. And I’m very excited by the whole movie thing, if you couldn’t tell. But, it’s a good idea to go home! And forget this ever happened.”

“Jazz, you’re going to be in a movie. I don’t think we’ll be able to forget.” Carlos mentions.

“Not helping, Carlos.” I say sternly.

I take my time going around to every family member to give them a hug. I know I shouldn’t feel embarrassed, but I do for some reason. And I just want to go home.

“Thanks again, guys. Talk to you all later. Let’s go daddy. And Carlos.”
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Now we’re in the car on our way back to the set. No one is talking and it’s really awkward! I just don’t know what to say. This all seems surreal. I’m going to be in a Hollywood movie, with my Hollywood crush. I just can’t really believe it.

“So, you’re really going to do it, huh?” Carlos asks me.

“Well, yeah. I think it’s going to be fun. And come on. I get to hang out with Landon Cunningham! This is crazy!” I respond.

“Yeah is it. You have to be there at 9 tomorrow, huh?”

“That’s what, uh, Landon said.” First name basis?!??!

“What time do you think you’ll be done?”

“Oh, I really don’t know. I’ve never done anything like this.”

“You probably won’t be done in time to go to that benefit thing tomorrow then.” Carlos says with a sigh.

“Oh gosh! Carlos, I’m so sorry,” I look at him in the back seat. “I forgot. Darn, I’m so sorry. But I have to do this.”

“Yeah, no, I totally understand. Maybe we can hang out on Sunday after church or something. I’ll just ask Melanie to come to the benefit.”

“I feel so bad. I’m really sorry! That’s all I can say.”

“Please, don’t feel bad, it’s okay. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.” He says, but I know he doesn’t mean it. I can tell by the sad look in his eyes.

“I’ll make this up to you. I’ll let you ride in my limo when I become rich and famous,” I say with an awkward laugh.

“Yeah, that’d be great,” he says, looking out the window.

I forgot about the benefit. Wow. I can’t believe I forgot. We’ve been planning this for at least 3 weeks. It’s a formal dinner and concert, I was going to buy a new dress and help Carlos pick out a new tie. But in the midst of everything that happened today, I didn’t even think about it once. Maybe that hit on the head did cause some kind of amnesia. Or maybe I’m just the worst best friend in the whole world.

The Beginning of "On Fire: Starring Landon Cunningham"

*Bing bing!*

It’s a text. From Luke.

“Can’t hang 2day. Lex and me R spending the day 2gether and going 2 a concert. U can come if U wanna.”

Yes Luke, I would love to come with you and your girlfriend to some screamo concert. Thanks, but no thank you.

Well, so much for going to the set of the movie that’s being filmed here in town. Lame!

I guess I’ll have to find someone else to go with me. I’m not missing this. On my FriendLounge profile I post: Lukas ditched me again! Who wants to go the set of On Fire with me today???

 The first person to respond is Carlos. Of course. He is my best friend these days. I’ve only known him since the beginning of last year. But he really is my best friend.

“I’m coming over right now.”

Good! I can’t wait to get going! And 20 minutes later, there is Carlos, at my door. Now he’s walking in. Going to the fridge. Let me guess: can of pop and some cantaloupe.

Yup.

“Hello my fine feathered friend.” Carlos says, as he sits down across from me on the couch.

“I always love how you invite yourself over, don’t even knock on the door, and then eat my food first thing when you walk in. It’s great.”

“Well, you know, always the gentleman. That’s me.”

Carlos is… odd to say the least. He’s got a thing for cantaloupe. This year is his first year of college. That’ll be… interesting. I don’t really know how he became my best friend, but he did. By osmosis I guess.

“Before the movie set thing, let’s build a time machine.” He says.

“Ok and then we’ll go skiing up Mount Everest.” I say.

“Nah. Let’s go skydiving off Mount Everest.”

“Yeah but we have to get to the top of it first, stupid.” I say sarcastically.

“Ok fine. But before we do that, you promised me we could build a bridge across the Atlantic Ocean. We still on for that? Cause I have a few weeks before school starts. We could start right now.” He says.

We like to play this game where we make up really absurd and impossible things we plan on doing together.

“Oh yeah, totally. I’ll get right on that. Listen, we need to get going to the set of that movie. I have to see Landon Cunningham in person.” I respond.

“I’m not sure I want to go to some hunk’s movie set just so you can drool all over the place. What do I get out of it?”

“You have to come with me. You’re the one with the car, remember? I’ll treat us to lunch… please? You’ll have fun, I promise.” I beg.

“You’re just using me for my car, is that it? I see what’s going on here. Maybe you’ll just have to find your own ride.” He exclaims with a chuckle.

“Yes, that’s it. I’m just using you for your car. And all the money you have,” I say with a roll of my eyes, “C’mon, man! I need to see Landon.”

“All right, all right. As long as I get to choose where lunch is.” He says.

“Deal. Let’s go. I have to grab my stuff from upstairs.” I say, getting up.

As I walk by the couch to head to my room, Carlos grabs me and starts tickling me.  

“Cut it out! Cut it ooouuuutttt!!!!” I yell, but my laughter doesn’t help my argument.

Just then, Daven, my stepsister, walks into the house. Carlos stops and sits straight up.

“Quiet, she’ll use her vampire senses to find us and suck our blood. Shhhh,” Carlos says, putting his finger to his mouth.

“I heard that!” Daven says from the hallway. “What are you two lovebirds doing here?” She asks.

“Daven, you know we’re not…” I begin to say.

But Carlos interjects with, “We’re having fun. Sorry, you wouldn’t know anything about that.”

“Shut up, Carlos. Anyway, Carlos and I are going to go to the set of On Fire starring Landon Cunningham. Luke was going to go with me, but he bailed. What are you doing here? Got off work early?” I ask my sister.

“Yes as a matter of fact. Ms. Laurister didn’t need me anymore today; all of her meetings got canceled because her brother is getting worse. She had to leave to go to Gresham,” She says, looking way too stressed out and old for her age.

“You need a vacation.” Carlos says.

Daven is one of the hardest working people I know. She never gives herself time to relax. She works for a magazine and is the assistant to the head editor. The job is way too stressful, and she knows it, but it pays well and she says she likes it. I don’t think I would last a week there, let alone four years, as she has.

“Is dad here?” Daven asks. She just moved back home because she was going to get married to her fiancé Paul and then move in with him from her apartment. Paul was a cheater. And a good liar. She couldn’t stand living on her own after the breakup. She and Paul had been dating ever since she got the job at the magazine. I still don’t see how she does everything and manages to work out every morning, too.

“Nope. He just left for the fair with your mom and Fay. He didn’t say when he was going to be home. You look really tired. You should go to sleep,” I recommend.

“Very good idea. I’m going upstairs. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” She warns.

“Don’t worry, that’s not very many things.” Carlos teases.

To Carlos I say, “Carlos!”

To Daven I say, “Good night, Daven!”

To Carlos again, “Carlos, you’re so stupid. Now come on! We have to get to the waterfront ASAP! Landon is waiting for me!” I call out, as I look over yonder to the movie star in my head.

“You wish!” Carlos says, grabbing a pillow and clubbing me with it.

 

After I grab my stuff from upstairs, Carlos grabs another soda and some chips for on the way and then leads me to his beat up Chevy he oh-so-cleverly named Terminator. It has been through a lot. I buckle up and roll down the window. It’s been unusually hot here, even for the summer, and now that I’m actually going somewhere to do something in the heat, I realize how nice it is to have air conditioning in the house, a leisure Carlos unfortunately doesn’t have the pleasure of knowing in his truck. He turns up the radio, and we sing along to the rhythm, although I have to admit, we both don’t know the words very well.

I absolutely love driving down the street with the window down, best friend at my side, and the radio up loud enough to forget about our problems, but not too loud that we lose track of reality.

“You know, there are going to be a ton of people here and security is going to be super tight,” warns Carlos as we come up to our destination.

“I just want a glimpse of him. Maybe a picture,” I say, as I hold up my camera with a big cheesy smile.

With a shake of his head, Carlos says, “Alright, I’ll do the best I can. No promises.”

We decide to park far away and walk to where the movie is being filmed. More parking and a nicer view that way. We get out of the Terminator. I lock the door, which I usually forget to do, and roll up the window.

“You know, Rachelle Reynolds is in this movie, too. Maybe you’ll get a good look at her. Don’t tell me that’d be a bad thing.” I say, looking at Carlos.

“Oh, right, of course. The hot new actress right out of the Disney channel catalogue. I’m not a big fan.” He shoots back.

“Uh huh, that’s why you’re getting all red in the face. Ok, sure. I’ll pretend to believe you,” I say, shoving him.

I look ahead and see at least 500 people, maybe more, standing around a chain link fence. On the other side of the fence, a whole street is blocked off and there is a fake pileup with smoke billowing and flames everywhere. Now this is what an action adventure film should look like.

“Woah,” I say to Carlos.

“You can say that again,” he agrees.

“Woa...”

BOOM!

Both Carlos and I jump.

“What was that?!?!” I yell over the screams of all the fans around the fence.

“An explosion! How cool!” Carlos shouts.

“You like that, huh? I told you you’d have fun.” I shout back.

We make our way up to the crowd and try to get closer to the action, but no one’s budging. I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t either. We squeeze through and get as close as possible.

“OH MY GOSH! IT’S LANDON CUNNINGHAM!” I scream at the top of my lungs. “Carlos! Do you see him? HE’S RIGHT THERE!” And there was Landon Cunningham, on the top of a car, looking frantically around the set.

I fumble for my camera and turn it on.

Blank screen.

“My camera! This is the best day of my life and my camera’s broken!” I shove the camera into Carlos’ face.

“Lens cap.” He says, looking at me.

I shrug. “Oh.”

I take off the lens cap and start snapping photos. This is great. Not only am I at the set of a movie, sure to be a blockbuster, that’s being filmed in my hometown, but I am looking right at the hottest teen star ever!

And all of a sudden, the event that would change my life, exploded in front of me.

BOOM!

 “Hey! You! Watch out!” I hear someone yell. Must be a line from the movie. How exciting!

“HEY!” This time, I look around. Landon Cunningham isn’t yelling the line. Someone behind me is.

“Who is yelling that?” I ask Carlos.

BONK.

 

“Miss? Miss, are you OK?”

I open my eyes. What happened? I touch my head, which feels like it just exploded. I look around. There are people standing all around me and I’m on the ground.

“Wha… Carlos? What happened?” I try to lift my head, but I get really dizzy and fall back.

“Jazlyn? Jazz? I’m right here.” Carlos says.

“Carlos? What happened?”

“You were hit on the head. Some falling debris from the movie taping.” Carlos says, sounding concerned.

“Movie? Falling debris? Am I OK?” I ask, still feeling woozy.

“I sure hope you’re OK. But if you’re not, I’m going to sue.” Carlos says, looking up at a man on the other side of me. The man looks sorry and shrugs.

To Carlos he says, “She looks fine to me, but we need to get her to the hospital.”

To me he says, “Jazlyn, right? Listen, I’m so sorry for what happened. The FX guys didn’t think the explosion was going to be so big. We’re going to take you to the hospital and get this all worked out…”

I hear the first part, when he says my name, but everything after that, I don’t hear because just then I remember. On Fire is a movie that’s being filmed here in town starring Landon Cunningham, the cute blonde… that is talking to me!

“Landon… Landon Cunningham?” I sit up and look right into those sparkling green eyes.

“Well at least she doesn’t have a concussion!” Landon says.

“You’re lucky.” Carlos says with a stink eye.

“Yes, we are. Now, I’ve called 911 and the ambulance is here. Looks like we don’t really need it, though.” Landon says half to me and half to Carlos.

“OK, break it up folks, we need to get a stretcher out here,” an officer says.

“No, I’m fine. I don’t want to go to the hospital. Carlos!” I say as I look at him and grab his hand.

“You have to! We know you’re fine, but you still need to get checked out.” He says.

At this point, the director, half the film crew, and the stars of On Fire have formed a huge crowd around Carlos, Landon, and I.

“Miss, uh, Jazlyn, we’ll get you into the best hospital in the city and you’ll be just fine. Again, I’m so sorry this happened. Thank goodness it wasn’t worse.”

I would respond, but I’m a little too dumbfounded that one, I just got knocked on the head by falling debris from a movie set, and two, that the star of that movie is apologizing to me.

“Jazz? I’m going to help you get up. These guys are going to take you to the hospital.” Carlos says, taking my arm.

I stand up, feeling dizzy, stumble forward, catch myself, and brush myself off. Carlos holds onto my arm so I don’t fall again.

“I really don’t want to get on the stretcher,” I point out. “I’m just going to walk to the hospital, I mean, er, ambulance.”

A paramedic comes to lead me to the ambulance.

“Carlos, get over here.” I demand.

He runs to catch up.

“I’m going to call your dad and tell him you’re going to the hospital. He’ll want to know.” Carlos says, already pulling out his cell phone. “He’s going to be so worried.”

As I climbed in the back of the ambulance, I notice that Landon Cunningham was getting in the ambulance’s cab. Is he coming with us to the hospital? No way! He’s just leaving the set of the movie?

“Pssst, Carlos.”

He mouths that he’s talking to my dad on the phone. After a few minutes, he hands me the phone and says, “It’s your father.”

“No… No! Tell him I’m not here,” I say.

“Take the phone,” Carlos responds.

“Hi daddy,” I say into the phone.

“Jazzy, what happened? Where are you? Are you OK? What’s going on?” my dad asks me.

“Dad, I’m fine. I went to the set of a movie downtown and there was this explosion and something hit me on the head. I’m fine, but they’re still making me go to the hospital.” I explain.

“What was the explosion from? A terrorist attack? Oh God help us. Honey, I’ll be right there. Is anyone else hurt? Where’s Carlos?” my dad questions.

“Dad! Calm down! It’s not a terrorist attack. It was a fake explosion… on the set of the movie! And dad, come on, you just talked to Carlos. Please, calm down. I’m fine. You don’t even have to come to the hospital.” I say.

“Of course I’m coming to the hospital. I’ll be right there. I just have to get Valerie and Fay. We’ll be there in a few. Are you sure you’re OK?” he asks frantically.

“Dad, really I’m fine. Really!” I exclaim.

This is why I didn’t want to call him.