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about the place, an old theater that was getting shut down before she took it over for her school. Or maybe it’s just that Aunt Sookie is good at getting people to act, because a lot of her students seem to find roles in TV or on the stage. Not all of them. Not even most of them, because that’s not how it works when so many people want to be actors, but plenty.
                There are even a few famous faces around. I’ve seen Astor Fairway around, apparently taking private lessons in between starring in some new teen sitcom that’s going to air later in the year. He’s somehow even more good-looking off screen than on it, with short blond hair that seems to spike and curl all at once, big blue eyes that I’ve seen in close up on TV plenty of times, but are somehow even more arresting in real life, and the kind of body that comes when how you look is a major part of getting roles. I’ve mostly left him alone when I’ve seen him though, because I guess he gets enough girls coming up to him and telling him how much they love everything he does.
                A few days after Nat, Drew and Rachel show up, one of our neighbors throws a party. Peterson is a friend of Nat’s, and for a while the two were pretty much inseparable, so I guess he wants to say welcome back. Maybe it helps that his parents are out of town, too. It’s been so long since we’ve all been to a party together that I can hardly wait for it.
                It’s as good as I thought it might be, though it’s pretty crowded. It turns out that pretty much everyone from school heard it was happening, and none of them were going to say no to a party right on the beach. Though maybe it’s good that some of them are there. I see Rachel talking to a boy I know from my class, named Ryan. Ryan’s kind of the class Goth, with dark hair shot through with red, a nose stud, and a generally dangerous look that doesn’t really work for him because he’s such a nice guy.
                “So,” I say, “you like Ryan?”
                Rachel actually looks nervous about it. It looks like she has it bad for him. “What’s not to like? He’s gorgeous, we like all the same bands, and he seems so nice. Sometimes, I meet guys, and they assume that just because I look this way, I want some kind of bad boy. I just hope he’s into me too.”
                “Of course he’s going to be into you,” I say. “You’re perfect for him. He’d be an idiot not to be. Now, why don’t you go find him?”
                Rachel nods and heads off. She really is into Ryan, then. Good. I want her to be happy, and Ryan’s a good guy.
                “Looks like your friend is having a good time.”
                I spin as I recognize the voice and gaze into familiar deep blue eyes. “Astor, what are you doing here?”
                This close, he looks even better than he does when he’s on the way to his private lessons. I can see why the camera loves him so much. Astor smiles.
                “Mostly, I’m dodging fans. I thought a party might be fun, but it’s kind of hard when everyone knows who you are. Thankfully, I’m not the only one attracting attention here.”
                That’s true. Drew seems to have attracted a whole bunch of girls to him, so that he’s standing at the center of a small huddle of them. When did he turn into a guy who could do that? As I watch, he puts an arm around one of them, whispering something in her ear. She nods, and they leave together. I guess that isn’t any of my business.
                “So,” I say, “if you could have all that attention, why come talk to me?”
                “Maybe because you’re the prettiest girl in the room?” Astor says. “Besides, I’ve seen you around Sookie’s Acting Academy. You’re her niece, right?”
                I nod.