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“Ah, Mr. President,” I replied. “I worried I’d lost you.” Worried; hoped—same thing really.

Angus pulled his shoulders back, puffing his chest out even further than usual. “Well, I’m here now.”

“I can see that.”

“We have lunch in the cafeteria,” Angus continued. “You can come sit with me.”

I think I’d rather go back for another round with the kraken. “Actually, I’ve got to make a call. If you just give me the directions to the cafeteria, I can find my own way there.”

Angus faltered in his steps. “I can stay with you while you make your call.”

I lifted an eyebrow. The guy was like a dog with a bone, and I was getting a bit fed up of being chewed on. “It’s a call with the director of my next movie. Aprivatecall.”

“Oh.” His shoulders sank. “Well, the cafeteria is down this corridor and through the large double doors on the left. Come find me.”

I let out a breath as Angus disappeared before I ducked into the men’s bathroom that was nearby. Thankfully, it was empty. I quickly pulled out my phone. Zeke answered on the first ring.

“Need me to come rescue you?” he asked.

“How did you know?” I sighed.

“It’shigh school,” he replied, as though it was obvious. “So, am I coming to get you?”

A small, pathetic part of me wanted to say yes, but I hadn’t even finished the first day, and there was no way I could give in so easily. “Nah, I’m not ready to throw in the towel just yet. I do have a favor to ask you though.”

“Yes…”

“The drama class I’m in. I need you to get me out of it.”

Zeke laughed like he thought I was joking. When I didn’t join in with him, he went quiet. “You’re not kidding, are you?”

“No. They’re doing some play and have cast me as the lead, but I want no part in it.”

Zeke hesitated on the other end of the line. “I’ll have to check with the studio first,” he said. “They selected your subjects.”

“I don’t care what they picked. I need you to get me out of it. You know I don’t have much stage experience.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll do my best,” Zeke said. “How’s school beside that?”

“Well, the kids here are intense and don’t seem to get personal boundaries.”

“Too many girls throwing themselves at you?” I swear I could hear him smiling on the other end of the phone.

“You’d think it would be a good thing,” I grumbled, drawing another laugh out of him. I sometimes got the feeling that Zeke rather enjoyed watching me put up with this kind of stuff.

“Shouldn’t you be in class?” he asked.

“It’s lunch right now.”

“And you’re on the phone with me instead of eating? You must be overwhelmed.”

I smiled at his joke. I was known for my healthy appetite. I spent hours in the gym every day though, so it was to be expected. My stomach rumbled in complaint as if it suddenly realized it was being neglected.

“You’re right, I better go eat. You call the studio and get me out of this play.”

“I’m on it, have fun,” Zeke said before hanging up.

I took a moment before lowering my phone and putting it back in my pocket. It was time to face the masses once more.