We made it about two blocks when a motorcycle with a photographer on the back zoomed up and planted himself in front of me as I ran. I chuckled when there was a police car at the end of the next block. I heard the driver argue, but the police officer said something about not letting your passenger ride backward and without a helmet or eye protection.
When we made it back, there were now fifteen of them. One had a Hollywood Central logo on his jacket, and I recognized him as the weird long-haired guy who came across as not being very bright. I motioned him in through the gates. Frank had told me they got special treatment while they were working with us.
“Have you had breakfast yet?” I asked.
“No.”
“Here’s the deaclass="underline" you can come in, but you leave the camera outside. Rita James doesn’t want to be filmed in her house. I’ll give you an interview after we’ve had breakfast and I’m in something other than running clothes.”
“And I get breakfast?”
“Yep.”
He was all smiles. I asked Rosy to make whatever he wanted, within reason. Then I ran upstairs and took a shower. When I came down, he was eating a waffle with fruit and whipped cream on it. It looked good. I was happy when I saw Rosy had made me one.
“So, do you really have naked pictures of your girlfriend on your phone?” I asked.
I’d heard that he’d offered to show pictures for an interview before, so it was no surprise when he pulled his phone out and showed me. His girlfriend must either be brain-damaged or really love him because she was far too hot to be with him.
All the women came down and were a little leery of him, but when I explained who he was, they relaxed. After we ate, I took him out front and gave him ten minutes.
As we drove out of the gate, two motorcycles were waiting. Fritz drove a block and then stopped, and the cycles rushed up and tried to box us in. But they were thwarted when the police car that had helped us earlier pulled up and had them get off their bikes. Fritz waved, and we drove on to the studio.
◊◊◊
I was between scenes, talking to Caryn, when there was a knock at the door. It was Zak.
“Hey, David. You busy?” he asked.
“Come on in, Zak.”
“Hey, Caryn.”
“Morning, Zak. You need me to take a walk?” she asked.
“No, you can stay. I just wanted to see what David was doing this weekend.”
“Either Friday or Saturday night I’m going out with my football friends.”
“That’ll work. I’m having a party Saturday night. If you want to invite them, that would be great. I should have plenty of women there. In fact, I need some guys to even out the numbers.”
“I could invite Craig Wild, Trip James, and Craig’s manager Kent,” I offered.
“I like Kent. They can come too,” he said, and then turned to Caryn. “You’re invited as well.”
“Wish I could, but I have to go home this weekend,” Caryn said.
“Okay, okay, good. Maybe next time,” Zak said and then left.
“Do you think he was high?” Caryn asked.
“I wouldn’t bet against it. You really going home this weekend?” I asked.
“I need to. My parents want to make up for lost time, and when I move, they won’t see me as much.”
“I guess. I think Zak has a thing for you,” I teased.
“Zak has a thing for anything breathing. I’d be afraid of what I’d catch.”
“So you’re saying I should stop letting the makeup lady give me oral?”
“I’ll make you an appointment.”
That took the fun out of it.
◊◊◊
I don’t know why I assumed that Hollywood Central was live. They do have a live webcast during the afternoon, but the half-hour show was taped. Frank had our segment for us to review before it was broadcast across the country. Everyone from yesterday showed up in my trailer again.
Cole: “On the set of The Secret Circle, they were shooting a sex scene with David A. Dawson and Leah Johansen. It’s reported that it really happened.”
Action: Cole holds up the two photos we sent them.
Sierra: “He’s cute, but looks young.”
Aaron: “He has a new movie coming out. I hear he’s being considered for some big roles. He may be the next Zac Efron, but he’s going for better roles than Zac ever had. Do you think he can pull it off?”
Jamie: “Let me see the pictures.”
Action: Cole hands the pictures to Jamie.
Jamie: “I’d do him.”
Aaron: “You really think Leah had sex with him on set?”
Jamie: “Yes. I’d do him on set here.”
“They want you and Leah to come on Hollywood Central Live to talk about it tomorrow,” Frank said. “I’ve also received more interview requests for the two of you. Rolling Stone, Newsweek, and Variety will be sending someone out, and Variety wants you for the cover.
“Sports Illustrated, ESPN, American Football Monthly, and USA Today all want to talk to you about football. Your setting the national record for yards in a game; being selected Elite 11 Co-MVP, Gatorade State Football Player of the Year, and Rivals Junior All-American; being the top-rated player in the junior class; and now selected First Team USA Today All-American team all add up to quite a bit of football buzz,” Frank said.
“I made the USA Today first team?” I asked.
Frank smiled.
“They contacted Coach Hope to let him know. You weren’t named the Offensive Player of the Year; that was awarded to a running back who’s committed to USC. You were one of three juniors who made first team, and you’re the first ever junior quarterback.”
I looked at Caryn, and she smiled. She’d known and hadn’t told me. I was too happy to be mad.
“Damn, David. I didn’t know you were such a good athlete,” Leah’s agent said.
Leah and Caryn laughed. I didn’t understand why, so they explained that there was a kid on YouTube who had created videos where they would exclaim, “Damn, Darryl.” He’d created enough of a sensation that he was asked to be on The Jeri Preston Show.
◊◊◊
Jessup changed the shooting schedule to allow Leah and me to go do Hollywood Central Live. Fritz drove us over with Caryn, and Frank would meet us there. When we came in, one of their people took us to the Green Room. I was disappointed it wasn’t actually green. Frank and Aaron came in so Frank could introduce us. It was evident that Frank and Aaron were friends.
I learned that the show’s name referred to the historic studio zone, an area where all the major studios were located.
Our interview was the usual jovial fun that’s the trademark of the show. The studio had released a short clip from the movie that showed Leah kissing down my stomach. She had a lot of fun teasing about what had happened without admitting it.
Aaron then switched to talk about my football awards that were coming out, and we spent a minute on that. That was when the fun started.
Aaron: “Someone get Jamie.”
Action: Jamie comes on camera looking irritated and then sees David.
David: “I would do you, too.”
Action: Jamie grabs David’s hand and pulls him out of camera range. Another cameraman with a handheld chases them down the hall. David takes his shirt off and throws it at the cameraman. Jamie runs into an office and slams the door once the couple makes their escape. There’s a lot of noise and thumping to imply something is going on.