Read Online Just Like the Movies by Kelly Fiore - Free Book Online

while.”
    I blink, then look down at my hands.
She could see all that in a look?
    â€œWell . . .” I twirl a dark curl around one finger, “there’s someone that I sort of like, and I—I’ve never really had the chance to talk to him much . . .”
    â€œWho is it?”
    I feel uncomfortable. “I don’t know. I’ve never told anyone—”
    â€œSeriously? I’ve been spilling my guts to you. I promise I won’t tell a soul. If I do, you’ve already got a boatload of intel on me.”
    I sigh. “Sworn to secrecy?”
    She nods, and I look down at my hands.
    â€œJoe Lombardi,” I whisper.
    â€œWho?”
    â€œJoe Lombardi,” I say again, a little louder this time. I glance around the almost-empty café as if someone might have heard.
    â€œWow,” she says, leaning back in her chair. “I’m . . . surprised. Joe is definitely hot, and he’s got that sort of dark-and-dangerous thing going on. You just seem so . . .”
    â€œStudious?” I arch an eyebrow.
    â€œStraight-edge,” she says, crossing her arms.
    â€œYeah, well, it doesn’t really matter anyway. He doesn’t know I exist.”
    We both look out the window then, watching the theater sign scroll through its message.
    â€œYou know what would be great? If life could be like themovies,” Marijke says with a sigh, scraping up the last bit of icing onto her fork.
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI mean, why
can’t
relationships center around big romantic gestures and sweep-you-off-your-feet moments?”
    â€œSuch as?”
    â€œSuch as you meet the love of your life and he asks you to prom in a hot air balloon or on top of a mountain or something,” she suggests.
    â€œOr the guy you’ve had a thing for finally learns your name and falls for you too?” I suggest.
    Marijke nods. “Exactly. Is that really the kind of stuff that only happens in movies? I mean, the movies must have been inspired by real-life events, right? Think about it—
Titanic
was a horrible disaster in history, but Hollywood turns it into one of the greatest love stories of all time. That can’t be a one-shot deal.”
    And that’s when I get the idea.
    If my life were a movie, you’d see a lightbulb appear over my head or a lightning bolt strike my body. Regardless of the source, inspiration hits me with a force that’s practically electric—an idea that’s impossible to ignore and might be just crazy enough to work.

If you’d asked me a few hours ago what I’d be doing right now, I would have guaranteed it wouldn’t be this: baring my soul to a girl whose name I didn’t even really know until tonight.
    Lily is sort of staring off into space, and I take another bite of my cake. She’s the last person I would ever have expected to confide in, but it
is
actually kind of comforting to talk to her.
    â€œWhat if I told you there was a way to get your wish?” Lily asks me.
    I raise my eyebrows, confused. “What do you mean?”
    â€œWhat if you could pick some of the strategies they use in the movies,” she says. “Some of those big, mind-blowing, attention-seeking strategies—and put them into play?”
    â€œHuh?”
    Her eyes are bright. “I’m serious. If you want Tommy to see that you’re the only girl for him, you need to show him.And what’s the best way to do that? Through grand gestures! I mean, if guys can make dramatic stuff like prom proposals work, why can’t we pull some ideas from our favorite movies?”
    I just stare at her for a minute.
    â€œYou’re serious?” I finally ask.
    â€œYeah. What do you think?”
    â€œI love Tommy,” I say slowly, “but I’m not sure upping the drama is the best way to make our relationship work.”
    â€œBut it could be,” Lily argued, leaning forward. “I mean, what