Free Will the Real Abi Sanders Please Stand Up? by Sara Hantz Page B

few minutes’ walk away, and on the way I can’t help but notice the peace and quiet. Well, not peace and quiet as in total silence, but no voices or motorcycles— just the sound of the birds.
    When I get there, I’m just about to sit on the ground at the water’s edge when, luckily, I remember my dress. If I get it dirty, Fran will go mad because I ripped the other one on Wednesday, all down the back, and it might not have been repaired yet.
    Instead, I sit on a large rock and wrap my arms around my knees. I rest my chin on them and draw in a lungful of fresh air.
    I’m so sick of Tilly treating me like her whipping girl, I could scream. I know when Danny offered me the role I was unsure, but I hoped, deep down, that it would be a great experience. I mean, look how well kickboxing worked out. I didn’t want to do that either, but ended up discovering something I was completely passionate about.
    Since I got this role because of kickboxing, it should work out, right?
    Wrong.
    How much of a loser would they think I am if I say I don’t want to do the job anymore? The way I’m feeling today, I’d really like to. But would I dare? Would I be allowed to, seeing as I signed a contract? I wonder if it says anything about leaving. What if I had to give back all the money I’ve earned so far? I’ve already spent some on Christmas presents and on an adorable pair of jeans.
    I strum my fingers on my leg and mentally give myself a shake. I’m being so pathetic, thinking of giving up at the first hurdle. Working on a movie set is just like being at the dojo. We’re a team. We look out for each other; well, some more than others. Even so, I’ve got to stick at it. I actually need to be more like Tilly and grow a backbone. She doesn’t let anyone push her around. I’m not saying I want to be exactly like her, just that there are some things I could take from her.
    A rustling noise from behind brings me back to the present. I jerk my head around and quickly scan my surroundings, but there’s nothing there.
    I hear the noise again, only this time it’s coming from my left. Yikes. The hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention, and my arms have goose bumps running down them. I jump up from the rock and quickly look from side to side but see nothing. Is it an animal? Or a person? Whatever, something’s not right. Crap. What should I do? It might be a stalker. You read all sorts of things about stalkers and their obsession with movie stars and how they find their way into the star’s bedroom and…
    “Gotcha,” a male voice whispers in my ear at the same time covering my eyes with his hand.
    I open my mouth, but before any sound comes out, he spins my body around and my jaw drops as I glimpse a guy so cute he should be illegal. He kisses me firmly on the lips.
    A butterfly sensation shoots through my stomach in the split second between wanting to lose myself in his kiss, which is totally crazy, and panic.
    Luckily, reality takes hold, and I know I need to think of something quick, before he does something horrific to me. No one just kisses a stranger like this without having creepy motives. So, using as much force as I can muster, I put my hands on his shoulders and push him away, while at the same time lifting my leg and aiming a front kick at his groin, which doesn’t quite connect because of the uneven surface. I lose my balance and fall over backward, landing on my butt.
    Pain shoots through my tailbone, but there’s no time to nurse my wounds. I scramble to my feet and race towards the trees.
    “Tilly,” he calls. “What are you doing? It’s me. Stop.”

Chapter Nine
    Me? What does he mean me? Who’s me?
    I slow down to practically walking pace and glance over my shoulder. He’s standing there, hands on hips, staring in my direction. There’s something really familiar about him, but I can’t think what. Come to think of it, he did call me Tilly. He thinks I’m Tilly. He kissed me thinking I was