SF Chapter 151: Easy A
It was Friday, and everyone was at the post-premiere event - a party gathering some of the cast, along with producers and executives from across the industry.
"See, Easy A feels way better than Superbad," Rachel commented to Dani. She clearly liked this one more, with far fewer crude and vulgar jokes.
Besides the two of them, Ross, Priya, Chandler, and Prudence were part of the group.
"Nah, I still think Superbad was funnier," Chandler pointed out.
But soon Monica approached them. She was dressed more professionally, like a head chef.
"So, how is it?" she asked anxiously.
Dani placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Mon. Everyone loves your food."
"This is already your third time - why are you acting like a raccoon on caffeine?"
"I changed two dishes on the menu, and I added a few more things," she revealed. "I put in more paprika, and..."
Monica listed the ingredients.
"Well, it tastes the same," Ross said, taking another bite.
"The same very delicious food," he added quickly, seeing his sister glare at him.
"See, Joey likes it," Dani gestured to him, who was walking over with a plate piled high with food.
"Joey would eat anything... he's not exactly a reliable standard," Monica said, crossing her arms.
"Aye, woman, there's no pleasing you," Dani chuckled.
Prudence chimed in, "They're incredible, Monica," she assured her.
She stepped closer as well, gesturing toward a group of girls. "See? Even the actresses are eating."
"And you know how careful they are with their figures. Obviously you would know - you're in great shape too."
"You think?" Monica smiled, adjusting her uniform, clearly pleased by the praise.
"Yeah, you are totally hot, Mon," Dani said, giving her a thumbs-up.
She just gave him a quick pinch. "Okay, I need to go back and see if anything else is needed," Monica remarked, already heading off.
[Monica commentary]
"Yes, this is the third time I'm doing it. I handled the buffet at the other two premieres," Monica said while arranging more dishes to restock the buffet.
"Not only am I getting paid really well for this - like months of my salary at the restaurant..."
"But it also helps me get invited to cater weddings and other studios' premieres." she revealed.
Monica paused for a moment, then added, "If this keeps up... I might have enough money to open my own restaurant." She grinned.
[Commentary ends]
The group chatted a bit longer, with Dani even introducing Joey to some executives once his plate had gotten a little emptier. He did the same with Rachel.
Seeing a blonde approaching, Dani smiled. "Well, if it isn't my favorite blonde beer."
Hilary just gave a small smile, pulling him into a quick hug.
"Oh, this is Prudence, my friend," he introduced.
"Hilary Duff," the blonde said, shaking her hand.
Prudence offered a polite smile. "Nice to meet you."
"Just friends?" Hilary asked, fishing for gossip, since his hand was resting on the brunette's waist and she looked very comfortable around him.
Dani leaned toward her and teased, "You're too young to understand. Sixteen-year-old baby."
Hilary just rolled her eyes, not taking the bait.
"She got scandalized by my last movie," Dani revealed to Prudence. "I saw one of her interviews talking about it."
"I just said there were too many vulgar drawings in the movie," Hilary pointed out.
"There aren't!" Dani shot back. "There were only 124 drawings of dicks, counting all the ones that appeared in the credits."
"Why do you like him again?" Hilary turned to Prudence.
The girl beckoned her closer with a finger, as if she were about to share a secret.
Hilary leaned in, and Prudence whispered, "He's incredibly good at it," she said with a playful, suggestive tone.
"What?!" The blonde jerked back suddenly.
"Dani is very good at writing - writing songs. Most people don't know about it," Prudence revealed.
Now Hilary raised an eyebrow in Dani's direction. "Really?"
Dani shrugged. "I think they're nice. And people close to me who've heard them also liked them. But I don't really know..."
"But I'm not 'friends' with him because of that," Prudence clarified to the girl. "There's also his money and his fame."
"Prudence!" he made a face.
"And his handsome face and well-defined body," she added.
"Yeah, that's it!" he smirked.
"Don't get into their rhythm," Amanda said as she approached the trio. "These two are impossible!" She mocked.
"Congratulations, Amanda," Hilary gave her a hug, since she hadn't been able to attend the L.A. premiere.
The group chatted for a while longer, until Jay and Gloria approached them.
"We're heading back to the hotel, son," Jay told him.
Dani glanced at Prudence, who simply shrugged in response. "We're going too. I'm curious about the early box office numbers."
Amanda glanced at him.
"Want a ride, Mandy? Since we're staying at the same hotel," he offered. "You can hear the results with us."
She accepted.
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In the hotel room, besides Jay, Gloria, Amanda, Prudence, and Dani, Claire and Phil were also present.
The rest of the group - Ross, Phoebe, Joey, Chandler, and Rachel - decided to stay and enjoy the party a bit longer, after all, it was Friday night.
Monica, of course, would stay until the very end to make sure the buffet was always up to standard.
"Relax, Amanda, the movie was incredible," Dani said, placing a hand over hers. She was the only one who looked visibly anxious.
"Jess (yes)," Gloria agreed. "And you don't need to feel embarrassed, girl."
"When the first movie came out, Danielito was all anxious, shaking like a-" she wiggled her body side to side.
"A washing machine," Jay supplied.
"Wash machine," she nodded.
"Not only that day," Claire joined the conversation after taking another sip of her wine.
"Before Mean Girls came out, Dani was like a neurotic raccoon, all nervous."
"Oh, my poor Dani," Prudence played along, kissing the top of his head.
Dani just made a face, pulling her closer with one hand so she could sit on his lap.
Amanda looked amused at him.
Then the phone rang, and Jay pressed the speaker's button.
The voice on the other end - a Paramount executive - got straight to the point. "We're at 9.7 million for Friday. If Saturday holds, you're looking at high twenties, possibly low thirties for the weekend. Congratulations."
Amanda let out a sigh of relief, while Dani shouted, "Woo-hoo! We did it! Mandy and Dad! We sure did it!" He grinned.
The rest applauded and went over to hug the two of them.
Dani explained to Prudence, "It was higher than Freaky Friday, Lindsay Lohan's second movie. And that one will end up around 160 million."
"So we have a chance of being around that too."
[Amanda commentary]
"I'm so relieved!" Amanda put both hands over her mouth.
"I know we still need to wait to see if the weekend keeps up," she tried to calm herself, "but at least I can tell my parents everything is going well!"
[Commentary ends]
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