Chp 37 : True Angel?

"You know him Max, Anthony?" Al asked them.

"Mmmh yeah, that's Billy our middle school quarterback.... well our bullies," Max whispered.

"Yeah that's right nerds, I see you have a new attraction in your circus, you think you are great just answer those question, nerds!" Billy's gang laughed like hyenas while Al kept ignoring them.

Saw his provocation was ignored, Billy became mad and locked Max and Anthony's neck with his arms.

They became uncomfortable by Billy's arms lock and finally, Al said.

"You better stop being a homo in the public big guy, although you love them as a sexual object, I prefer you not to show off in front of everyone else," Al said with smirks.

Everyone in the cafeteria laughed at Al's jokes.

"What did you say, nerd!" Billy became mad.

"Well other than that, he seems also has a low IQ and bad hearings, do I have to repeat it slowly?" Another laugh was heard directed at Billy.

"You, me after school backyard." He challenged Al.

"Dude, did you know how to fight?" Max said.

"Nope, but I know how to win." He smirked evilly. "Why don't you both fight back anyway?"

"Man, he at least 120 kg of muscle and 187 cm, look at us, we are 175 cm, one is skinny as bones, one looks like a Theodore the chipmunks."

Now, Al's height at least 178 cm with pure lean muscle, although he hid it well in his baggy hoodies.

"Let's just see then," Al said.

After the school period ended, every student gathered at the school lawn to watch the fight between the school's bully and the new kid.

The weird thing is, there is no teacher or any adults who came to prevent this, what a great education system in these first world countries, that's why many cases of shooting in school happened in the USA.

No one cared about any bullied student's psychological state until they come to school with 9mm metals struck their heads.

"You sure Ed? This one is Billy we are talking about, I don't want you to get hurt." Ione said worriedly.

Robin saw their conversation became a bit jealous and said, "Let him be Ione, he can take care of himself." She said coldly but her face seemed to have a trace of worry.

The boys also told Al not to do it but Al told them to learn from it and broke out from the bullying cycle.

"Ready nerd, cuz I'm gonna kick your ass!!"

The fight began and Billy charged his body to Al, then he immediately took out paper spray and spray it into Billy's eye.

His charge was stopped and He screamed in pain. Al took down the distracted Billy with a Bartitsu move he learned from Mind Library and take him down to the ground, took out a flex cuff from the pockets of his hoodie, and tied it to Billy's hand and feet.

"As stated on the law that the use of pepper spray and harmless cuffs are a legal act for self-protection and any means of detaining the user from their actions must be done by any legal law enforcer or you could contact my lawyer if you want to make things more complicated, isn't that right Mr. Williams?"

Al was staring at Principal William's location and every single student who came to watch them was looking at Principal direction.

Now the students realized that why Billy could act arrogantly in school, he was protected by the Principal himself because he was some kind of football player in Middle School.

This was proven how the principal was already there but didn't do any shit to stop the fight. The principal became speechless and escaped from the student's glare to save his own face.

Max and Anthony immediately raised Al's hand and screamed, "Now we have a winner, Edward Brandt!!"

The students cheered as they celebrated his wins over the school bullies while Billy and his gang escaped the scene.

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Right now 5 of them were hanging out at Burger King in the mall and eat some junk food, Al ordered 5 cheeseburgers because he loved eating them.

He was already in mid puberty so he didn't afraid of eating junk food anymore and from his dietary food he ate when he was a child, he could grow furthermore.

"That some shit ton lot of food you eat there Ed, why I didn't found you fat like this," Anthony said with his slang while touching his belly.

"Tell us how Ed," Ione said, then continue eating her salads.

Both Max and Anthony ate Whooper and Robin was eating sundaes.

"High metabolism," Al said while devouring these cheeseburgers smirked and had a little foodgasm.

They just rolled their eyes hearing Al said it.

So they were discussing Al's upcoming short film and tomorrow they could observe the shooting location. All of them curious about how could orphan like Al shot some short films that could cost a thousand dollars from just equipment alone.

They were also afraid that this was Ed's lie for making friends with them but they won't care anymore if he lied because from this moment in their hearts, they already treat Al as their best friend.

On Friday, Al took them to the rented house where the shooting would take place.

The cast will be as follows,

Producer: Mary Gárcia, Alphonse Brandt, Steven Spielberg

Director: Alphonse Brandt

Cinematographer: Willy Pfister

Cameraman: Michael FitzMaurice (1) and Cory Geryak (2)

Art and Set Director: Julian Walker

Sound Director: Mark Weingarten

Drew Foster (kid): Drew Barrymore

Drew Foster (adult): Jodie Foster

Bella: Bella

Parents: Steven Spielberg & Amy Irving

This will be the first time Mary worked as a producer and she handled it well. The film length is about 11 - 15 minutes, the shooting takes times about one week most and the fastest will be 4 to 5 days.

Shooting began today, Saturday, and Sunday. The rest is waiting until he finished school then he will continue shooting at noon.

Everything has been planned, Steven, Amy, and Jodie will finish filming on Sunday.

When Al took them to shooting sites, 4 of them are surprised because they see real equipment and crew, shocked when they see Jodie Foster, Drew Barrymore, and Steven Spielberg, and stunned that their friend is not what they think it is.

"Wait nigga, you mean you are Alphonse fkin Brandt?" Anthony said

"You lie to us for a whole week?" Robin said grudgingly.

"I'm not fully lied to you all, my name is Alphonse Edward Brandt, and I'm wearing a disguise to stay low profile you know." He smiled teasingly.

Now, Max, Anthony, and Ione were surprised that their friend was a celebrity and Robin just stay pissed at him because she hated to be lied to.

But somehow Al managed to talk to Robin, coax her, and cleared up any misunderstanding between them.

After some overreaction from them because knowing who are they, friends, with from the beginning, they seem to become reserved now.

"Guys, this is my little sister Drew Barrymore, the little actress of this short film, and this is all of my siblings in the orphanage."

They introduced themselves to each other and Al also introduced Steven, Amy, Mary, and Jodie to them.

Ione, Max, and Anthony almost passed out meeting the big guy of Hollywood. Ione also talked with her idol, Jodie Foster, and got herself a sign on her shirt she wears today.

Jodie and Mary then go to check the location of the set. Mary as the first time producer need to check all the set and equipment for the film could run smoothly.

Al also introduced them to the filming crews and all of them were having a nice chat with each other. Max has been seen talking with the cinematographer and cameraman.

Some essential needs couldn't be missing from the shooting location, Food Trucks.

"Okay guys, and this is the angel from the script title, come here Bella!" Al whistled and a yellow Labrador appeared.

Then Bella came to him and licked Al's face.

"What do you mean angel Ed, I mean Alphonse. Isn't the angel is Drew?"

"Call me Ed as you used to Anthony. Well, the title is some kind of misdirection from me, filmmakers like to put some hidden meaning in their films, and this is mine."

"He's right there kids, I also put some hidden meaning and impression in some of my films, and Al here has a few tricks up in his sleeves." Steven also said this and everyone nodded as understanding Al's intention.

"Thanks, Steven, okay guys I will begin the shooting. I hope you won't disturb us and all of you will learn some of the ethics on filming industry from here. All of you want to join Hollywood right?"

Al's 4 high school friend was nodding at him, four of them have planned to join this filming industry and right now is the best moment to see what and how the filming will look like.

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It was already Sunday, Steven, Amy, and Jodie have finished the shoot and the crew was holding a farewell party.

In these days of shooting, the crews were experiencing a big pressure from Al.

Al was not screaming or scolding like any tyrant directors usually did when they were making a mistake nor encouraging or cheering on them on to do things better.

He just pointed the mistake for example the camera angle and lighting. It almost took half a day to build it and point the position. The crews felt so much pressure emitted from Al who just stayed quiet.

Even some crews asked him to scold them or angry at them but Al just smiled and said it's not his style to mad at some things.

And for the rest, it's the same and even worse. Some simple things like props need to reinstall to the point of like how much speck of sands needed.

It was hell for the behind the scene crew, but surprisingly the results are amazing. Even Willy was amazed after saw the footage.

They felt that everything they learned at school is different compared to this, and Al said to them to wait when he edits it.

For the actors, they felt no pressure at all, even the shot took only a few takes and everything was done.

Drew and Jodie even doubted that their performance were okay because it was so easy and relaxing, not like they have done before but somehow, later on, they realize that their performance when they play at Al's film is many times better than the films that they have done before.

Al has to make sure that the actor did the method acting and let them entered the zone instantly without they even realized it and left it when he said CUT. But it also depends on themselves, for them maybe it was because Jodie and Drew are both talented actresses.

Steven was impressed at Al's skill behind the scene and directorship. He praised Al's way of filming and he can't wait to tell Stanley about this.

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After a few days, the shooting has been completed.

"Okay, I announce that the shooting of <Dancing With An Angel> has completed!!"

The crew cheered and finally, they released from a cold pressure Al emitted.

Filming only took 5 days and the rest is only editing. He will borrow the editing room from Steven.

His friends that have been following Al from day one are all amazed at him. He could be one of the youngest directors in Hollywood and they can't wait to see the short film he made.

Then Robin approached Al and said, "Can I see you edit this film?"

"Hmm, I don't know, I don't smell any sincerity in the air at all, weird. I think it's gonna be rain today, don't you agree Robbie?" He smirked.

She took a deep breath and said, "Can I see you edit the film, please?" She held her anger with a forced smile.

"Of course Robbie, I would have taken you with me even if you don't ask." He ruffled her hair.

She quickly dodged and kick Al's shin. But she feels the resistance and Drew who saw this laughed.

"Be careful Robin, he always wore pads in his legs," Drew told her.

"Too many little sisters always let you prepared from any hit in the legs." He said with his hand in Buddha style.

But Robin suddenly bit his arms.

"Ow, what are you? A dog? Only one Bella is enough." Al screamed in pain.

"Serves you right, E.D.(erectile dysfunction)" Robin said, everyone laughed at their antics but they were silenced by one question.

"What is E.D. ?" Drew asked, everyone was instantly frozen and thinking of a way to answer her questions.

To Be Continued...