Read Online Imposter by Antony John - Free Book Online Page A

There’s the place where Muggles walk around on sidewalks and cars drive bumper to bumper, and there’s the magical Hollywood, where people’s faces are on billboards a hundred feet tall, and anything can happen.”
    She thinks about this for a moment. “Did you really just go all Harry Potter on me?”
    â€œI think so, yes.”
    â€œHmm.” She puts her hand over her mouth to cover the grin. “I see your point, though. It’s hard to believe this is real.”
    â€œSo what about you?” I ask. “What are
you
thinking about?”
    She points toward the top of the hotel. “I’m thinking that penthouse up there is where Richard Gere and Julia Roberts got cozy in
Pretty Woman
.”
    I follow her finger. “No way. My dad loves that movie.”
    â€œAll dads love that movie. Or maybe it’s just Julia Roberts they love.”
    â€œDo you blame them?”
    She rolls her eyes. “Don’t get me started.” She smiles again, but her expression is serious. “Do you believe in that whole Pygmalion, ugly-duckling-turns-beautiful-swan thing?”
    â€œI don’t know. I mean,
Pretty Woman
is hardly trying to be real, right? But yeah, I do think people become more beautiful the longer you know them.”
    â€œReally? The way I see it, most people can hide their flaws for a while, but eventually the truth comes out.”
    If she’s talking about Sabrina, she’s wrong. I know now thatSabrina’s not perfect, but she’s more fascinating than ever.
    â€œHere,” says Annaleigh, swimming close. “My turn again.” She eases the camera over my head, her fingers running through my hair. A few seconds later, the lens is pointed at me. “So did you and Sabrina hook up today?”
    â€œWhat?”
    She wields an imaginary microphone. “It’s what all our viewers want to know.”
    I splash her. Then I remember Brian telling us not to test the waterproof capabilities of the camera.
    â€œ
I
would’ve hooked up with her, if I were you,” continues Annaleigh.
    â€œAnd if you weren’t me?”
    â€œI would’ve hooked up with Kris instead.”
    â€œAfter what he did at the party?”
    â€œWe’re talking about hooking up, not getting married. Anyway, since we’re at Hogwarts, I’d just use a memory charm on him afterward to make him forget. Wouldn’t want him to go all stalker on me.”
    â€œIs that a problem for you normally?”
    â€œAbsolutely. Ex-boyfriends trail me around like puppy dogs.”
    â€œMaybe you smell like bacon.”
    She busts out laughing. “That is the weirdest thing I’ve heard in years. I’m so glad I’m filming. This is going straight on YouTube.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œKidding! What happens at Hogwarts, stays at Hogwarts.”
    She climbs out of the pool. Grabs a couple towels and tossesone to me as I join her. Lays the camera gently on a deck chair.
    â€œI’m sorry I didn’t come with you and Sabrina this afternoon,” she says. “To be honest, she kind of intimidates me.”
    â€œShe’s cool.”
    â€œYeah. She and Kris were the coolest, most beautiful couple in all of Hollywood. Makes you wonder what went wrong between them.”
    I wrap the towel around me. Annaleigh does the same. The air is chilly, but neither of us moves.
    â€œHey, we’re going to look out for each other, right?” she says finally.
    â€œYeah. Definitely.”
    â€œPromise?” She holds out her closed fist.
    I bump it. “Promise.”

11
    WE SPEND THE MORNING REHEARSING, AND the improvement is dramatic. Ryder sits at the head of the conference table, nodding like a bobblehead doll as we nail scripted lines and improvise others. The only downside is that Sabrina isn’t around to see it. Or maybe that’s the reason things go so well.
    After three hours, two bottles of water, and a