Ryan - Pop Quiz

I ts quarter to three on Friday afternoon, and Ms. Burke is droning on and on about the major battles of the War of 1812. Four seats back, oneaisle from the window, Dane Pierce is fighting a battle of his own, a battle to stay awake.

The only thing keeping Dane from falling asleep and sliding out of his desk onto the floor is Penny Vaughan. Penny is sitting one row ahead of him and one aisle over, which means Dane has a clear view of her. As always, Penny looks as fresh as a daisy, with sunlight streaming through the window onto her hair.

Penny is one of the smartest people in his grade, and, unlike Dane, shes managing to pay attention.

Dane realizes the room has gone silent. He turns to look at Ms. Burke, whos staring right at him. She seems to be waiting for something. He sits up, not sure what to do. He coughs. He doesnt really need to cough, but he feels like he should do something.

Dane? the teacher asks.

Yes, Ms. Burke? Dane responds, eyes widening. He tilts his head to indicate hes not quite sure what shes getting at.

Do you know the answer? she asks patiently.

Dane swallows. Um, can you repeat the question?

Ms. Burke lifts an eyebrow and waits a long moment. Dane feels everyone in the room turning to look at him. The lesson might be boring, but now that theres a chance to see someone getting embarrassed, the class is starting to show some interest.

Prashant, Danes best friend, lets out a low whistle.

Thats enough, Prashant, says Ms. Burke. The question is, Dane, in which city did the Battle of the Plains of Abraham take place?

Ummm, says Dane. Chicago? The room erupts with laughter.

Not even close, says Ms. Burke. Perhaps if you spent more time listening and less time staring at Penny, youd pick up some of these details.

Dane drops his head onto his desk and groans.

From behind him, Prashant leans in and whispers, Dont worry, Dane, love is the greatest lesson of all.

Cut!

The laughter abruptly stops, and I sit back up in my seat. A short man with a cool haircut, dressed all in black, hurries up the aisle from the back of the room.

Chill Bill Lee stands next to Ms. Burke and turns to speak to the class.

Nice work, guys, he says. Lets run through it one last time, and then well break for lunch. Then he looks right at me. Good job, Aiden. This time try to make Dane look even more lovesick when hes staring at Penny, okay? He makes a goofy goggle-eyed face, and we all laugh.

He turns to Anais, who plays Penny. Dont worry, Anais, he says with a wink. Hes just acting.

She rolls her eyes and turns around to grin at me. I smile back, trying to look like Im in on the joke. The thing is, Im starting to wonder if my crush on Anaisummm, I mean Pennyreally is just acting.

Bill points at Satri, the kid who plays Prashant. Good job, Satri, but try to whisper a bit louder this time.

Got it, says Satri.

Everybody ready? asks Bill, moving to the back of the room.

Pauline, the hair and makeup lady, comes over to me and powders my cheek and then lightly musses my hair. She pulls back and squints, then gives a thumbs-up. Looking good, Aiden, she says.

Around the edges of the room, the electrics, who are responsible for lights, check with the camera operators, and equipment is shifted around and tweaked once again for another run-through of the scene.

Through the window, I catch a glimpse of some kids strolling down the sidewalk. Theyre chatting away, towels around their necks. I assume theyre heading to the community pool. Its the dead of summer, and school is out for another whole month. But for those of us who attend Cherry Lane High School, class is still in session.

Cherry Lane High School, CLHS for short, is the fictitious secondary school that has been the main setting for the popular cable TV show Pop Quiz for nine seasons. For the past two years, Ive played a supporting role on the show. Even though I spend a lot of my summer vacations working, I love it. As far as Im concerned, its the most fun job a fifteen-year-old could ask for.

Ive been performing since I was a little kid. When other kids my age were starting to play hockey or practice piano, I was writing plays and performing them in my backyard. Eventually my parents got the hint and enrolled me in acting lessons. For years, they drove me to private and group lessons twice a week, and to make a long story short, it paid off. When I turned thirteen, I was finally old enough to audition for Pop Quiz. To my surprise, I got a part.

Because the show relies on teenage actors, production has to take place during the summer months. It doesnt bother me at all, since this is how I want to spend my time anyway. I know the rest of my castmates feel the same way. Acting is fun, andI wont lieits pretty cool to be on TV . Pop Quiz isnt a massive hit or anything, but its popular enough to keep chugging along, and we definitely have a following. I get recognized when I go to the mall, and I even get fan mail sometimes.

Places, everyone, says Dexi Beales, the assistant director. The two camera guys step back into position, one in the corner of the room, and the other one crouching off to the side, his camera pointed directly at me.

I take a deep breath and roll my shoulders back, sinking back into my character.

AndAction! yells Bill.

Ms. Burke starts the lesson again, and Danes already staring at Penny, playing it up even more this time. It doesnt take much acting, if Im being totally honest.