Page 48 of Out on a Limb

“But it’s raining.”

“I don’t melt.”

Walker soon got the message that this was non-negotiable. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” Raindrops sprinkled on Cameron’s hair and shoulders, but he ignored it. He didn’t care about getting wet. He just wanted to get home.

“Thanks for your help this morning.” Walker leaned in for a hug, which Cameron reluctantly accepted. He felt like an intruder, and he wanted to leave before he was busted.

“Say good-bye, Hobie.”

Hobie motioned for Cameron to squat down.

“Bye, Hobie!”

He didn’t respond. His tiny, number-two pencil arms pulled Cameron into a hug. Cameron smelled the fresh scent of toothpaste lingering around his mouth.

Φ

Cameron laid on his bed for a good part of the morning staring out the window. He listened to birds chirp, one of the telltale signs that winter might actually be gone for good. Up here, winter was like a horror movie villain. Never dying for real.

He woke up some time later to more birds chirping, a yellower tint of sun, and a buzzing phone.

A buzzing phone.

Cameron ran his hand around his nightstand like a metal detector on the beach.Beep beep beepbeepbeepbeepbeep

“Hello?” He didn’t recognize the number.

“Is this Cameron Buckley?” A man with a dudebro accent asked.

“Speaking.” He wiped his hand over his face and stifled a yawn.

“This is Arthur Brandt. I received your resume from Professor Mackey.”

Cameron popped straight up. Grogginess? What was that?

“Hi, Mr. Brandt. I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize the number.” It was a 310 area code. LA proper. Cameron swooned.

“It’s Arthur, and that’s to be expected. Is this a bad time?”

Cameron got off his bed and paced around the room. “No. Not at all.”

“I figured a college student would be around in the afternoon.”

“You figured right.” Cameron pictured him sitting at his desk, feet up, stylish blazer, palm trees in the background.

“Professor Mackey told me that you’re one of her most promising students, and I had to talk to you.”

This wasn’t just talking, Cameron knew. This was his chance to impress.

“Film is my passion, and I can’t wait to start working in the industry.”

“What have you seen recently?”

Cameron rattled off the list of movies and TV shows from memory. “And I’m really excited about the lineup of movies that Mobius has coming out.”

“It’s been a helluva ride. I’ve been here five years. I’ve been developing this script calledMakeshift Corianderby this hot, young writer, and I’m hoping to get it into production by the fall.”