Secrets of My Hollywood Life #4: Paparazzi Princess Read Online Free PDF Page A

rehearsal. "Don't miss . . ."
    "Don't miss the final eight episodes of Family Affair ," Tom reminds me. "Keep going. We're still rolling."
    But I can't. I can't say it. I can't say "the final eight episodes." These promos, the thought of losing my on-set family; it all feels too real for the first day back to work. Sky already has a list of projects lined up and I haven't even looked at one. How is she so blasé about this? How is everyone so calm about FA going off the air? Doesn't anyone but me feel like this is all happening too fast? Don't they care that our lives are changing?
    Tears drip down my cheeks. I start thinking about Dad's bad joke again. I'm not just losing my on-set family. I'm losing my steady paycheck, which shouldn't matter too much to a seventeen-year-old, but I'm one that has a roster of people on her payroll (including my parents). "Don't miss the final . . ." I begin to sob. "I'm sorry."
    Melli starts to cry now too and Sky shakes her head. "Will these two ever stop crying? Tune in and find out," she says. "Don't miss the final eight episodes of Family Affair ."
    The crew laughs, but I can see Tom and his eyes are watery too.
    "It's okay, Kaitlin." He gives me a hug.
    "I'm sorry," I sob. "I can do it. Just . . . just . . . give me a second."
    "I can see now it's going to be a hard few months," Tom says softly.
    He just figured that out?
    Ten hours later, I'm standing in front of the ArcLight theater with Austin.
    "Where do you guys want me to pick you up when the movie gets out?" Rodney looks concerned. Paparazzi were waiting for me outside work today. I'm sure it has something to do with the pictures of me with Ava Hayden and Lauren Cobb that were splashed all over the tabloids this morning. They're calling me the girls' new BFF, which is funny considering I don't even know their phone numbers.
    "Rod, we'll meet you at the car," I say. "I think Larry the Liar got enough shots of me at the airport. I see one guy behind that trash can, but I'm sure he'll leave when we go inside."
    "Don't worry, Rodney, I'll take care of her." Austin puts his arm around me protectively.
    How did I get so lucky? I met Austin last fall at Clark High, where I masqueraded as a new student for a few months last year, and if you had asked me then if we would have wound up together, I probably would have said no. Austin found out my secret and was really hurt. Even after he forgave me, neither of us was sure how to balance his schoolwork and lacrosse practice with my crazy work hours and appearances on Jimmy Kimmel , but somehow we've managed to make our relationship a priority.
    Tonight is the first time I've laid eyes on Austin in over a week and I have to wonder: Is it possible he got even more good-looking while I was away? His blond, windswept bangs are skimming his gorgeous blue eyes, and he looks Abercrombie catalog-ready in a navy T-shirt over a long-sleeve white thermal and distressed jeans that make his butt look unreal. (I hope he hasn't caught me staring at it.) I was so excited and nervous about seeing him that I agonized over my outfit tonight. My skin is bronzed from a week of sand and sun, so I changed into a crocheted white halter top and hip-hugging PRVCY jeans.
    When Rodney is finally convinced I'm not going to be harassed by photographers, he drives away. We're completely alone. Well, alone with that one paparazzi guy and a sea of moviegoers, but they don't seem to notice me or if they do, they don't care. The ArcLight is very celeb-friendly, which is why I tend to go here even if the tickets are fourteen bucks. Plus, this is the only theater I know that lets you reserve actual seats in the theater ahead of time.
    "It's just you and me. Finally." Austin grins at me, revealing his perfectly straight white teeth, and kisses me.
    For a minute, I forget about work, my SAT practice test (Nadine gave me one today and I did horribly) and the shutterbug taking pictures of us.
    When we come up for air, Austin says, "I