HDU by India Lee Read Free Book Online

for
Best Director, maybe also Best Original Screenplay.   Be famous.   Have
recognition.”   He shrugged, pulling
his hoodie sleeves up over his hands.   “It all sounds stupid and childish, but I can’t help wanting it.”
    Amanda smiled.   “Better than having no idea.”
    “You don’t know what you want to be?”
    She shrugged.   “I went to school for Communications and I still don’t know what that
really means, or if I even learned anything,” she answered ruefully.   “I’ve always wanted to be famous too, just
‘cause it seems awesome.   But I
wouldn’t know for what.”
    “You don’t need to! You can just be famous for being
famous,” Ian said brightly, though he lowered his voice halfway through the
sentence as if suddenly embarrassed.   His eyes darted around sheepishly and landed out the window before
continuing.   “I always figured if
my film career didn’t pan out, I’d settle for being that.   Famous for being famous.   Maybe do a reality show or… I don’t
know.   Just so some one would still want my life.”   He peered up at Amanda from beneath his long eyelashes.   “Judging me, yet?” he joked.
    Amanda smiled.   “Not at all.   I’ve felt that
way before too.   Because of
Megan.”   
    “You just want to do better than her.”
    “Yeah.”
    “Same.   But don’t worry,” Ian said, vibrant again.   He pushed his sleeves back up and shook the hair from his face
to look her in the eye.   “All we
have to do is find our own success and just avoid them while we’re doing
it.   Because they’re our poison.”
    Amanda laughed.   “Okay.   I’ve got the second
part down.”
    “Good.   Well
I’ll see you tomorrow, then.   B.J’s
Diner?”
    “L.J’s Diner.   You can look up the address and how to get there online,” Amanda
said.   She had offered to pick him
up, but he insisted on calling a car.  
    “I’ll look it up tomorrow.   I’m passing out once I get to my room.”
    “I’ll remind you,” Amanda laughed, zipping up his
backpack before he stumbled out the passenger side.   She watched him promptly trip on nothing.   The silhouette of his wobbly long legs
looked cartoonish as he returned to his feet.   “Maybe you should text me once you get up to your room, so I
know that you made it,” she called after him, immediately cringing at herself.   Her father still made her notify him
whenever she arrived at a given destination.  
    “You’re funny,” Ian said.   “But I will.   For you, Pretty.”
    “Ha.   Thanks, bud.”
    Amanda waited in the car until her phone vibrated in
her hand with Ian’s text.   She laughed
at his drunken typos, giggling to herself intermittently throughout her car
ride home.

 
    ~

 
    It wasn’t until the next morning that Amanda saw the
article on HDU about Natalie Bell.    She couldn’t even delete the post because it had
already garnered over a hundred fifty comments.   She could only hope that she might be able to talk some
sense into Ian.
    “Amanda Bree Nathan,” her mother snapped from the
kitchen as she headed for the door.   “I need a word.”
    Amanda’s shoulders slumped as she turned around,
feeling like a kid again.   “I lost
track of time last night.   I said I
was sorry.”  
    “I don’t remember hearing about this Ian before.”
    “I told you about him,” Amanda lied.   “We were friends in St. Louis.   Before he moved back to New York.”
    “New York?” her mother wrinkled her nose.   Amanda nodded.   “You’re dating.”
    “Mom, no.”
    “The neighbors heard the car pulling in at 3AM.   You’re giving them more fuel for the
fire.”
    Amanda sighed and glanced at the clock on the
microwave.   “I don’t care.”
    “Well maybe you’re not just embarrassing
yourself.   Did you care to think of
that?”
    Amanda sighed.   “Actually, no. I’m running too late to think about that.”
    “Then go,” her mother huffed, turning her back.   “I