Chapter 280: Chapter 280: Fizbo (1)


    [Edward POV]


    "Um, I have a question." Vanessa asked as we read our lines. Wearing a shoulderless shirt and a short skirt, she shyly raised her hands up to avoid disturbing the others who were in heated discussions, especially Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt who were trying to nail their chemistry for the characters.


    Judd Apatow turned to her and smiled, "Yes?"


    "I''m still confused as to why I''m a nurse. Isn''t that perpetuating the Filipino stereotype?" She asked in a joking manner. Judd turned to me and called, "Yeah Edward. Isn''t that perpetuating stereotypes?"


    I scoffed at the director before turning to Vanessa, "It is a stereotype. A good one. We reinforce good stereotypes and avoid bad ones. Like ''Me so horny'' for the asian woman tropes. Or,... do you want something like that?"


    She raised her hand towards me and grumbled, "No! I''ll be a nurse, thank you very much!"


    As Judd and I chuckled, Judd asked curiously, "I''m still not convinced about this, are you really able to get George Lucas to allow us to use his set?"


    I smirked and casually said, "I even negotiated with him to use a scene from Star Wars. Tom Ryder– RG''s character, needs some name recognition in the universe if we want to say that he''s a big movie star there. George owes me, so he''s letting me use that."


    Vanessa suggested, "You know, he could release some albums too. N-Not really releasing it, but you know, in that movie..."


    Ryan Gosling heard the suggestion and chuckled, "That''ll be pretty fun."


    Paige and Judd took note of the suggestions before Judd said, "Although it''s really in his character to do that, we don''t think that his brother will let him."


    As the brother character was my character, I knew him best so I said, "He''ll stop it if it doesn''t get up to standard."


    Judd suddenly got an idea and became excited, "Ooh! He could''ve made some videos behind his brother''s back, but was stopped by Colt (The brother) before it could be released, just like his highly sensual homoerotic film."


    Vanessa was astonished when she heard the last sentence. "Wait, did I miss something?" She began checking back the script with an excited expression. "I only just read my part." She added shyly.


    Rolling my eyes at Vanessa, I rubbed my chin and said, "It could be a point of conversation between him and Jody Moreno (Emily Blunt). That''s when we could start to change people''s perspective on him. ''Turns out, there''s more to this guy than a narcissistic prick after all.'' And we can use the song to market the movie when it hits theaters."


    "Wait, is this really happening?" Ryan asked with disbelief as he looked at me, his lips curled upwards in excitement.


    I joked, "Congrats. You''re now a singer too. But we still need to have specifics. Will he be in a Boy Band? Emo Band? Country? Metal? Honestly, I''d really love to see you sing in an emo band."


    Emily interjected teasingly, "I''d really like for it to be heavy metal."


    Judd laughed and said, "Boy band... sounds kinda good. But, it''ll be better if the song can be both funny, and good. It doesn''t even have to be a masterpiece. As long as it fits the theme of the story."


    I rubbed my chin for a while as I thought about it. "Hmm...I may be able to make one or two songs today."


    "TODAY?!" Emily suddenly widened her eyes and stood up. As everyone turned towards her in shock, I nodded in confusion and replied casually, "..Y-Yeah? Today so we can plan out the other things. I mean, if I have an instrument, I could give you guys a sample–"


    Judd, Paige and Vanessa stood up and volunteered at the same time, "I''ll get the guitar."


    "WAIT!" I stopped them immediately. "I have a birthday party to go to now." I tried to explain, but Judd had already rushed off to get the guitar, "Wait here Ed! Don''t leave!"


    "You have a birthday party?" Ryan asked after Judd left. I turned towards him and said, "Yeah, wanna come?"


    Vanessa interjected quickly, "It''s a kid''s 10th birthday party."


    "OH!" Ryan slightly widened his eyes. "I think I''ll just stay here and familiarize myself with the script."


    "Your loss. Emily?" I turned to the actress. She smiled softly and said, "I''m also going to study the script."


    "Ouch!" Hudgens mocked playfully before she laughed. I smirked devilishly and said, "I guess you''re excited to start your 10 hours long choreo practice today."


    Flinching slightly, Hudgens'' eyes shook and she said, "Wait. NO!"


    Judd ran back to the meeting room with a guitar. As he gave it to me, he panted heavily, even holding his back as he tried to catch his breath. "I...Well...I''m going to sit."


    Holding the guitar properly, I said, "Okay, the song starts like this..." Everyone held their voices as they looked at me.


    ...


    [General POV]


    Mitch and Cam''s house. Phil came by to borrow some stuff for the party. He needed to get back in time to meet the reptilian party hire representative that would be coming over to the house soon.


    "See you in a few hours." Mitchell said with a smile. Phil checked the cord for the machine as he stood at the front door. Mitchell was in front of him, and Cam was in the kitchen.


    "Yeah. Thanks again for the karaoke machine." Phil smiled innocently. "I''ll get it back to you right after the party." He promised.


    "That''d be great." Cam replied.


    Mitchell whispered to Phil without Cam realizing it, "Please don''t. I beg you. Don''t bring it back."


    "Okay." Phil nodded as he dodged the request.


    "Hey, Phil. Are, uh, you getting a clown for today?" Cam asked suddenly as he placed down his washed plate.


    Phil''s face paled instantly. His eyes were full of fear. He replied with a shaky voice, "Oh, no. L-Luke''s not...much of a clown fan."


    "Really?" Cam asked with a slight disbelief.


    "Yeah. He never liked ''em." Phil answered seriously.


    "Has he ever seen a good one?" Cam asked again.


    "Has- Has anyone?" Phil replied dodgingly, and he took a step back to exit the door in a hurry. " So anyway, thanks again." Phil said before he rushed out of the house.


    "Okay. Yep. See you later." Mitchell replied casually as he closed the door before going to sit at the sofa.


    Cam stomped into the living room, following Mitchell before he could get there. "No clown? No- No clown?" Cam asked incredulously.


    "Let it go." Mitchell sighed wearily as he sat down on the sofa, grabbed his tea cup and read the screen of his laptop.


    Luke nodded and before he could run away again, Claire held her shoulders tightly and said, "Go take a shower and change your clothes. Now."


    "But–"


    "Now!" Claire said assertively and firmly. Luke groaned and obediently went inside the house. "I''m taking a shower but I''m not going to use soap!" He shouted rebelliously.


    Alex chuckled at Luke''s misery but her smile faded when Claire said, "Pick up the bags. You''re helping me at the art and crafts table."


    "What?!" Alex was taken aback, but did it anyway, even though she was complaining, "Who sets up an art and crafts table at a party?!"


    Behind Alex and Claire, a crew of people were inflating a bouncy castle, and another team was setting up a zip line for the kids.


    Back to Cam and Mitch''s house.


    Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, Cam picked up the white paint and contemplated hard as he looked at himself.


    ''I couldn''t get Luke out of my mind.'' Cam monologues inside his mind. ''I know I made a promise to Mitchell, but some things are bigger than promises. Fizbo would be at that party.''


    He opened the paint lid and dipped his fingers inside the paint. Then. he smeared it underneath his eyes.


    Cam inhaled sharply and greeted his reflection, "Hello, old friend."


    Mitch finally returned after an hour. As he opened the door, he said, "I''m home. I got Luke a video game, but it''s about math.So I guess we''re those kind of uncles– Cam..."


    Mitchell froze in his steps as he saw a clown walking towards him. "Don''t be mad." Fizbo, Cam''s clown alter ego, held his hands up high to appease Mitch.


    "Cam, I thought we discussed this." Mitchell said in disappointment.


    "We did. But I- I started thinking. And this isn''t about you or me. This is about a little boy who deserves some happiness." Cam tried to defend his actions.


    "And he''s gonna get that from his weird gay clown uncle?" Mitchell said sarcastically.


    Cam got a bit angry and said defensively, "Fizbo is not gay. He''s asexual."


    "Oh." Mitchell exclaimed with disbelief, he couldn''t even look straight at Cam.


    Cam added, "He''s an innocent whose only drive...is to bring people joy and laughter


    and balloon animals. He''s- He''s the least sexual being on earth."


    "Oh, okay. Well, at least we agree on something." Mitchell insulted.


    "Yeah." Cam breathed in relief, but as he thought back on what Mitchell said, he exclaimed in realization, "Oh."


    Mitchell shook his head in disappointment before he said helplessly, "Well, I don''t think I can make you change. So I''ll pick up Lily and then we''ll go."


    Entertain company building, meeting room.


    "So, is that song good enough for the movie?" Edward asked with a slight anxiousness in his voice. As the time got closer, he couldn''t even sit still as he played the song for the director.


    Judd Apatow rubbed his chin as he thought about it, "Well..."


    Edward stood up abruptly and said, "You can take your time to think about it. Discuss it with the others too. I actually have to go now if I want to make it to the party."


    "Alright Alright. Go." Judd waved his hand helplessly. Edward smiled and said, "I''ll make sure to bring you a slice of cake."


    "If the cake is good, then yes. If it''s meh, then no." Judd responded.


    Edward finally left the meeting room in a hurry. He rushed to Amy who was hanging out with Maggie at the pantry and asked them, "Did you guys pick up what I asked?"


    Maggie nodded and smiled, "Yeah. It''s inside the car."


    Amy massaged her shoulder and said, "You need to pay us back more–"


    "We''ll negotiate in the car." Edward stopped the conversation quickly. "There''s going to be a traffic jam at the hour. I''ll be running late if we continue talking here. Let''s go."


    "Wait, me too?" Maggie widened her eyes as Edward grabbed both her and Amy''s wrist before pulling them to come with him.


    "Of course, who''s going to hang out with Amy when I''m climbing the rock wall?" Edward teased.


    Amy nodded in agreement, "Yeah Maggie. It''s common sense."


    "It''s common sense Maggie." Edward joined in to tease. Maggie rolled her eyes and gave up, "Fine! I''ll go to the stupid party."


    Suddenly, Edward stopped and released Maggie''s hand. He got a text message, and as he checked the content, he said, "You know what? You don''t have to go if you don''t want to. My other friends will be there so Amy can hang out with us."


    Edward left Maggie''s behind and walked away with Amy. Maggie blinked her eyes twice as she stood there motionlessly. Then, she exclaimed, "Just like that, I''m thrown away? But...I actually want to go!"


    She whined, but Edward was already gone. Amy and Edward left hurriedly. Everyone was already at the party by the time he started his journey. However, a mile away from the Dunphy''s house, Edward suddenly stopped the car.


    Amy turned to him in confusion, "What are you doing?"


    Edward struggled as he squeezed into the back seat from the driver''s seat. Amy pushed his legs away angrily as it almost hit her face, "HEY! Watch it!"


    "Amy, close your eyes. I''m going to be nude here. I''ll change my clothes for a sec." Edward said as he unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his bare, muscular torso.


    Amy let out a startled yelp as she caught a glimpse of Edward in the rearview mirror. Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly covered her eyes with her hands, turning her head forward inside the car. "Can''t you do that when we''re actually there?" she grumbled, her voice muffled by her hand.


    Edward chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "No can do, my dear. Relax, I can change my clothes fast enough."


    Amy waited, humming along to the radio, her eyes still closed. A moment later, Edward returned to the driver''s seat, prompting her to remove her hand.


    Her eyes widened in disbelief as she took in Edward''s attire. "What are you even wearing?" she exclaimed, her voice laced with confusion.


    Edward, sporting a top hat, a masquerade ball mask, a bright blue jacket, and white gloves, beamed at her. "I''m a magician," he declared, his voice a playful baritone.


    He tossed a handful of confetti in her direction, the colorful bits raining down on her head. Amy groaned, her annoyance evident and she grumbled in disappointment, "I can''t believe I ever thought you were cool."