The next morning was kind of a blur to me. I remember getting ready, grabbing my bed and eating the delicious breakfast Amber made. I'm surprised I remembered pants. My outfit today was like any other day, plaid shirt, graphic t-shirt, jeans and my converse. However, Lexi wore something different. With girls, I never understood why they didn't just wear the same shirt for a few days. That's what every guy in my family would do. Lexi was borrowing one of Amber's leather skirt, with a white t-shirt and black flats. Nothing too fancy, but she did try harder than me. I know it's an important meeting and Jimmy said I should dress nicely, but this screenplay is based off my life experiences and I don't want to add me wearing a suit everywhere. That's just not me. The building we were heading to was actually walking distance from Jimmy's place. Which is like super nice because NYC traffic sucks. I'm going to admit, I'm nervous and excited at the same time. Lexi is nervous too, but she doesn't show it. She always tries to look calm for my sake. We made it to the building and sat in the waiting room...waiting. It was a good twenty minutes before the secretary with long brown hair in a pony tail and dark, dark brown eyes said I could go in. I told Lexi to wait outside, it's just something I have to do on my own, for once. The producer was taller than me with short, dirty blonde hair and blue eyes that kind of reminded me of the ocean reflecting the sky. He was wearing a blue suit with a white shirt. 

"Sir, thank you so much fo-"

"I'm not in the mood for a kiss ass. Give me your screenplay." He interrupted me. 

I handed it over and he firmly grabbed it out of my hands. He was a little imitating and kind of a dick. But I had to keep a smile and pretend not to be scared. I really want this and I know my story is good. 

"Edgar. I like your name, lets hope I like the story." 

Usually liking someone's name is a good sign. Or just because no one really has my name. Either way, I'm going to be positive about it. There's no way he could hate it. I noticed on his desk his name is Luke. Not really something I would expect from a movie producer. He finally put it down and stood up. He walked over to his scotch table and poured himself a drink. Luke stared out his window. What, what do I do? Should I just stand here until he says something or say something?

"Um." I quietly said under my breathe. 

"You can leave now." He replied with a straight forward tone.

"Did you like it?" I'm very confused. You can see how confused I am, right?

He turned around with a drink in his hand, "No."

"No?"

"No."

I'm really scared to ask what I'm about to ask, "Why?"

"You want a reason too? Jeez, you people are so needy."You people? 

I just stared at him, what could say?

"I'm going to be painfully honest. It sucked. No one wants a happy love story anymore, what are we in the 90s? I wish you could see how stupid this story is, I'm sorry you're so blind by ignorance," Wow, he is brutal, "People now a days want dark and gritty love stories. Something that really catches the eye. You're kind of an idiot, who would ever pay money to see this. And now a days, everyone in a movie has cancer, the only difference about this one is that he's not the main character. If that's how creative you get, you should try taxes." 

"Are you done? Because I don't lie in my stories. They're all based off my real life experiences. My girlfriend and I have been in love since the fifth grade. My brother did have cancer and I can't help it if I have a good life." 

"Edgar, come back with something that doesn't suck. Go out into the real world and experience that. The only way I'm allowing you to come back is if you have a good, gritty story." 

I nodded, grabbed my screenplay and left. I'm crushed. How could someone like that, knock down something like this? Luke practically said that my whole life is boring. I live a life like everyone else. Shit. Lexi was standing, smiling, but as soon as she saw me, she frowned. She always knows when something is wrong and I'm upset. She ran up to me and hugged me tightly, I could barely hug back, I was so distraught. 

"Lex, follow me." I muttered and left the building. I dragged her to a mini-mart on the corner of the block. I walked in, pulled out my I.D. and asked for a pack of Marlboro Red. I paid and left. I walked into an alley way to light it. I lit it.

Lexi slapped my shoulder, "What the hell? Smoking now, since when?"

I shrugged, "Since I got rejected. This is the only brand that I knew and I don't know what to do." It's also because Luke said I had to live dangerously and this is the first step. 

"Well, you don't have to smoke! How do you think your brother, Bryon got cancer? He smoked those!" 

"Lexi. Please. I just need something, okay? I also don't need you yelling at me."

She looked more disappointed than angry, "There are better things to do."

"I know, but just let me do this, please."

She nodded. It was a rough start, but started to get smoother as I smoked more. Lexi grabbed it out of my hand. I thought she was going to throw it on the ground, but instead she took a hit. I was shocked. I didn't say anything. I knew she would either say something or nothing. 

"I'm not going to let you get cancer by yourself. We made a promise to do just about everything together." She softly said and I knew it ended with a little smile. 

"We should probably head back to Jimmy's." I said.

"Why? You're just going to get pity from them. Lets explore the big apple." She stood in front of me and smiled. She kissed me, "Gross, smoking makes kissing taste weird."

I kissed her back anyways. I was actually teasing her a bit. Lexi doesn't know what Luke said to me and I know I'm going to tell her eventually. But it's nice that she doesn't know, now I get to have the real NYC experience.