Flash Point (37 page)

“A friend of mine saw you in that TV show
Who Knows People
, the pirated uncut footage when you took off your clothes to get the attention of that flash mob to prevent a stampede. He says you have a magnetic quality on-screen. He is putting together an independent film, very small, no studio backing although he does have distribution. When he knew Cai and I were coming East to see Cai’s family and that I would see you, he asked if I would see if you’re interested in auditioning for a role in the film. Two scenes only, he says, but good scenes.”

Kaylie’s eyes widened. Waverly shifted in her chair, and Amy didn’t dare look at her. Amy didn’t dare look anywhere, in case she somehow screwed this up for Kaylie. But then another thought hit her, and despite herself she blurted, “You said your friend saw Kaylie take off her clothes. Is this film porn?”

Aliya laughed. “Oh, no, no. It is a respectable film. The part is a girl who is trying to find her father, who has gone missing. She gets murdered in her second scene, which propels the plot. My friend wrote the screenplay, and he is very good.”

Kaylie said, “Then why aren’t you in it?”

Aliya said gently, “I don’t do small indie films.”

Of course not. She was an international star. Even if her dialogue was partially incomprehensible.

Aliya continued, “If you agree, you can fly back with us and stay with me for the audition. My friend will cover your expenses. We leave Saturday.”

“Yes!” Kaylie said. “Oh my God, yes! Except—”

The court date. Amy figured rapidly. She said, “If you’re back by next Thursday, that would work.”

Aliya said, “We can have you back by next Thursday. Why?”

“I’m in a wedding. Well, the wedding is Friday, but there’s a rehearsal.”

Good catch, Kaylie
, Amy thought.

“A wedding,” Aliya said. “How nice.” She looked pointedly at Rafe and Amy. Amy shook her head, dazed. Marriage? Although maybe Aliya didn’t know how old she and Rafe were. She loved Rafe, but Gran would have killed her if Amy made a decision like that at seventeen.

Gran. Amy wished that Gran could see Kaylie get this chance. If it turned out to be a chance. It might not, but maybe . . .

Waverly stood. “I’m sorry, but I have to leave. I have another appointment. Aliya, nice to have met you.”

Amy stood too. “Don’t go, Waverly.”

“I really have to.”

The two girls looked at each other, and Amy knew that Waverly saw Amy’s pity for her disappointment, and also that Waverly resented that pity. Somehow Amy never could do the right thing with Waverly. Except that once, in a hotel on fire and under siege. Not exactly the basis for an ongoing friendship.

“Well,” she said awkwardly, “stay in touch. Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Aliya watched Waverly walk away, and Amy had the impression that Aliya knew exactly what Waverly had wanted and why she was leaving. Aliya was shrewder than she looked. And yet she didn’t know about Waverly’s grief for her own grandmother, or how she had stayed to help Amy with Gran when both their lives had been in danger. Aliya saw Kaylie’s talents but not her jealousy. Cai saw Kaylie’s ruthlessness but not her courage. And what things didn’t Amy know about any or all of them?

She sat back down at the table. The conversation turned general. They joked and laughed. No phantom invaded Amy’s mind, but she pondered that
nobody
knew other people, baby. Not all the way through. Nobody.

Just muddling through.

* * *

Click here for more books by this author.

BLOG POSTING:
ODDITIES OF OUR FAIR CITY

by Don Owens, “Our Own Town Crier”

Maybe leopards do change their spots. In a strange little nonevent yesterday, a state-of-the-art miniature camcorder was returned to the store from which it had been stolen nearly a year ago. “This has never happened before,” said Nang Min Ho, owner of Nang’s Electronics on Fenton Street. “I have no idea how the thief got the camcorder out of the display case a year ago, or back into it today. But I’m glad he did, because it’s quite expensive.”

If this becomes a trend now that the economy is showing such definite improvement, maybe someone will return the good old days when everyone had a job. Although thanks to the bold and decisive nonpartisan legislation passed by Congress in response to the so-called Flash-Point Riots a year ago, we’re at least halfway there. And I’m always glad to report on a repentant thief who returns merchandise. Even if we’ll never know why.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would like to thank both my editor, Sharyn November, and my husband, Jack Skillingstead, for their many patient readings of this manuscript, and their many valuable suggestions for improving it.

Nancy Kress
is the author of twenty-nine books: seventeen science-fiction novels, five fantasy novels, four short-story collections, and three books on writing. She has won four Nebula Awards, two Hugo Awards, a John W. Campbell Award, and the Theodore Sturgeon Memorial Award. Her work has been translated into nearly two dozen languages (including Klingon).

In addition to writing, Nancy frequently teaches at various venues: Clarion, writing festivals and arts centers around the country, and—most recently—as the Picador Guest Professor at the University of Leipzig in Germany. Nancy Kress lives in Seattle with her husband, SF writer Jack Skillingstead, and Cosette, the world’s most spoiled toy poodle.

Follow her blog at nancykress.blogspot.com.

Fiction by Nancy Kress

An Alien Light

The Prince of Morning Bells

The Golden Grove

The White Pipes

Trinity and Other Stories
(collection)

Brain Rose

Beggars in Spain

The Aliens of Earth
(collection)

Beggars and Choosers

Oaths and Miracles

Beggars Ride

Maximum Light

Stingers

Beakers Dozen
(collection)

Yanked

Probability Moon

Probability Sun

Probability Space

Crossfire

Nothing Human

Dogs

Nano Comes to Clifford Falls

Steal Across the Sky

Crossing Over
(as Anna Kendall)

Dark Mist Rising
(as Anna Kendall)

Before the Fall, After the Fall, During the Fall

Flash Point