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“Are you into that stuff?”

“Not really.” And after hours of research into it, I didn’t even understand the appeal.

“Why are you making a documentary about it, then? Are they corrupt? Who’s your subject?”

“My—” I hesitate to say my mom’s friend, because it just sounds so juvenile. It would sound even worse to call Yvette the woman my mother used to babysit. “A woman from Philly. She wants to profess her love for the CEO of the company, but she needs to get his attention.”

His eyebrows rise in disapproval. “She’s in love with someone she doesn’t even have the attention of? Are you aiding a stalker?”

I wish I hadn’t opened myself up to this conversation. It’s too much to explain to someone I don’t even want to be talking to. “She’s not a stalker. They were childhood friends. It’s romantic and high stakes and has a message of supporting local businesses in the background—it’s a good documentary idea!”

He blows out a laugh at my frustration. “So, you’re just filming her attempt to get into his pants?”

Eye. Roll. “Vice and Virtual is holding a contest where she’ll do obstacle courses and brainteasers, like, video games, but inreal life. The winner gets a prototype of the VR headset they’re selling next year.”

He blinks, placing the camera bag over his shoulder. “Video games in real life?”

“Like, you know how Mario goes down pipes? A contestant would go down a slide or something. It’s all real, and physical.”

He doesn’t look impressed. “So, they don’t have to be good at video games, they just have to be fit?”

I try not to have second thoughts, but then there’s one thought and then there’s another. I reach for the necklace I know isn’t around my neck. My grandma gave it to me, but I gave it to Corrine after her breakup with Holden, to help her ground herself when she started to feel any certain way she didn’t want to feel. I miss that necklace. The only thing grounding me right now is gravity.

“It’ll be great,” I say, my cheeks growing hot. I remind myself that the Temple people approved this idea—it can’t be that bad.I will not doubt myself, I will not doubt myself, Iwilldoubt myself.“It has heart, action, and a cause; it’s like the perfect documentary.”

He smirks. “Yeah, sure. Good luck.”

And then he walks away and I’m stuck behind the desk for several more hours worrying that my documentaryisn’tas great as I think it’ll be, that the GoPro footage will be too shaky to use, that Yvette will get her happy ending on day one and leave me with no story at all.

I wonder if there’s an angle to film her at that will give me a guaranteed acceptance and if I can find it before my deadline.