The club was dark and packed with bodies wriggling to the booming music. I was one of those bodies a second ago, but now I sought hydration. I shoved my way to the bar and smiled at the one-dimpled bartender behind the counter. “Hey, Tony!” I had to yell, the music was so loud it vibrated through me.
“Maggie.” He smiled back, making some purple drink. “More shots?”
“Yes, please.” I shifted to fit among the people pressed close to me at the crowded bar. “And some water.”
“Staying healthy?”
I laughed. “Sure thing.”
“You look good tonight. Celebrating something?”
I fluffed the back of my hair. “I won a contest.”
His cheek dimpled as he mixed more drinks. “Congratulations. Shouldn’t Pretty Boy take you somewhere fancy?”
I turned my head over to the table where Kyle and my friends sat. “Pretty Boy did ask to take me somewhere fancy, but I said no.” I looked back at Tony, my brows hooked. “I thought you knew me better than that. I’m heartbroken.”
He laughed, pouring my shots. “You broke mine first.” He slid the tray and the water my way, his olive-green eyes reproachful.
My lips pressed in a thin line as I grabbed the drinks, memories of last year’s Christmas party, where I did break his heart, vivid in my head. I thought of something kind to say, but a touch on my back interrupted me.
“Do you need help with these, baby?”
My head jerked back, and Kyle flashed his pearly teeth, already taking the tray.
“Thank you.” My jaw flexed as I nodded toward Tony. “See ya.” I returned to our table, Kyle at my back.
My friends from film school, Amanda and Raoul, were sweaty from all the dancing. Raoul stood, his dark eyes red and glazed, and held his glass up. “To Maggie. May she win nine more contests.” He collapsed on his seat.
With a laugh, I tapped my glass with my friends’. “Maybe you two could just chip in. It’s your fucking movie, too.”
“I would, if I had anything.” He tilted his bald head back in frustration.
“We’ll figure something out. Don’t sweat it, girl,” Amanda said, her forehead glistening. Good thing she wasn’t wearing any makeup. She rarely wore any; with beautiful olive skin, big eyes, heavy black lashes, and full lips, she glowed already.
“The problem is that we’re running out of time. Submissions to the short film festival start in less than five weeks,” Raoul said.
“I can try a few more contests or get more freelancing gigs, but I don’t think that will get us nine grand in time.” I sighed. “Looks like I’ve no better option than to take Dad up on his offer.”
Amanda’s big eyes became bigger. “You’ll do what now?”
“Yeah, I didn’t catch that last one.” Raoul stared at me.
“Stop looking at me like I’m crazy. It’s the only solution,” I said.
Amanda inched a brow. “Since when does Maggie Dawson do something she’s not passionate about, let alone hate?”
“Well, I’ve never had to. Now, I do.”
Kyle grimaced. “No, you don’t.”
“Yes, I do. I’m not taking anybody’s money for this.” I looked at my friends. “Fact check: you guys still have school. I know you have part-time jobs, but how much can a barista and a waitress make anyway? I’m the only one who can make the kind of money we need. So…I’ll work.” I nodded, assuring myself before them. “I’ll tell Dad I can take a couple of projects for a few weeks if he’ll pay me in advance, and I’m sure he won’t mind. That way we can start the movie as soon as possible.”
“Wow.” Amanda exchanged a glance with Raoul. “Mags, we don’t know what to say. Thank you, girl.” They took turns hugging me.
Kyle wrapped his arm around my shoulder and leaned in. “What about what your mother would say?”
A few months ago, that question would have brought me to tears and made me dismiss the idea completely. But now, even though it was going to be very painful going back to work and listening to the terrible things Andrea would tell me, I felt even more determined to make whatever sacrifice necessary to achieve my goals. I wanted to make this movie more than anything, and nothing was going to stop me now.
