“I’m doing the cons,” she announced, to herself as well as to him. “This summer.”
Noah’s eyebrows shot up to his hairline. “Didn’t you say you would rather die—”
“They pay well,” said AJ. “And if I’m there, they’ll pay even better. Apparently the more cast members, the higher the fees. Dave made two hundred grand last year. I’m not going to pass that up just because it looks stupid.”
The slightest tinge of color crept into Noah’s cheeks, and AJ grabbed a fry off his plate, feeling weirdly exhilarated. Maybe it was getting to throw his words back in his face, or maybe it was realizing that, despite the horrors of Patrick’s predicament, they weren’t out of moves yet.
Noah was reading their bill now, brow furrowed as if he were skimming over a new scene. His expression was so familiar, AJ’s heart stuttered.
She couldnotwatch another person she loved be struck down.
“Well, it’s interesting you say that,” said Noah grimly. “Because as it turns out, I’m also doing ‘the cons’ this summer.”
AJ’s mouth fell open. “You are not.”
Noah nodded, tucking the bill and four twenties under the napkin dispenser. “Yup,” he said. “My publicist thinks it will be good for my image—help me connect to a more grassroots audience.”
“Your publicist thinks hanging out in a showroom full of Trekkies will be good for your image?”
“Apparently some people think I’m pretentious and out of touch, can you believe it?”
Now it was AJ’s turn to blush. “Since when do you care what people think?”
Noah shrugged. “Since I gave up Edward Cullen and thus my best shot at an Academy Award.”
He said it lightly, but AJ detected a faint edge in his voice. She didn’t know the first thing about the backroom dealings of Hollywood, but she did know the Oscars were political. Noah had been snubbed last year. Maybe he really did need to go out and kiss babies in order to win.
She grimaced. “You shouldn’t have to do that.”
Noah gave her an incalculable look. “I don’t know why you’re fighting this, it’s good for you. The more cast members, the higher the fees, right?”
“Right,” said AJ.
“Noah!” Emily called from the pinball machine. Noah ate two more fries then put his hand on AJ’s shoulder as he got to his feet.
“It’ll be fun,” he said.
AJ watched in awe as he crossed the room to Emily. He bent his head toward her attentively and asked to have a turn on the machine. When Emily smiled up at him, it beamed out of her.
Albuquerque Comic Expo
June 9, 2012
The booth forInto the Bluewas in the remotest crevasse of the Albuquerque Convention Center, so far from a natural light source it was oddly reminiscent of the crale set itself.
Apparently, in the hierarchy of the autograph section, “Into the Blue:Assorted Crew” ranked below a lesser-known Ferengi DaiMon, the star of a nineties monster-of-the-week drama, and a child actor who was now so unrecognizable he had to wear a T-shirt depicting his nine-year-old self.
Dave, Toni, and Xiaobo were already seated at a long table bedecked in a metallic-blue foil cloth, autographing photographs for a small queue. They were all mid-signing as AJ approached, but Dave and Xiaobo winked at her; Toni did not look up from her conversation.
AJ and Toni had carefully steered around each other for about a year after AJ’s humiliating exhibition at Capri Social Club; then Toni had moved to L.A., and AJ hadn’t seen her since. According to Dave and IMDB, Toni and Xiaobo had walked on and off various network shows for the past few seasons. Neither had yet done anything as significant asInto the Blue.
“Age, you made it!” called Dave. He had offered to meet up with her beforehand, but she hadn’t wanted to intrude on his weekend with Toni and Xiaobo. Judging from Toni’s glacial vibe, AJ had chosen wisely.
“Look, everyone,” Dave exclaimed louder. “It’s Ana Tar!”
AJ waved to the handful of fans, most of whom seemed confused by her, which was fine. AJ didn’t need to be recognized for Ana. Or for “No.”
What she needed was ten thousand dollars, which was technically the floor of what she would earn today, her appearance fee. She would also get a cut of whatever autographs she signed. So, in AJ’s estimation, she was hopefully looking at fifteen thousand dollars for Patrick and his family.
