Chapter 22: Fool's Luck

After confirming that he would play Donnie Darko, Evan Bell felt that life was truly amazing. He had just turned down a contract with Warner Music not long ago, and now he was stepping into the world of movies.

Although fans loved Jake Gyllenhaal's portrayal of Donnie Darko in his previous life, Evan knew that if he didn't carefully study the script and deliver a solid performance, this classic cult film might not be as successful.

Determined, he poured all his energy into learning the script, hoping that his first performance on the big screen would leave a lasting impact for years to come.

Thinking about movies made Evan remember Anne Hathaway. He knew she had been chosen for an interview for "The Princess Diaries," and he decided to call her to check-in. It had been two weeks since school started, and it was about time to catch up with her.

"Hello, this is the Hathaway residence." A pleasant, unhurried, and elegant voice answered the phone.

"Mrs. McCauley, this is Evan," Evan Bell said, recognizing Anne Hathaway's mother, Kate McCauley Hathaway. Although she took her husband's surname after marriage, she was still known as Kate McCauley from her days as a singer and actress. Mrs. Hathaway was always happy when people called her McCauley.

"Evan, dear boy, how was your road trip? Are you enjoying it?" Kate's voice became cheerful upon recognizing Evan.

"Everything is fine, but I couldn't take a shower along the way, which made my smell something you don't want to be around with," Evan replied, causing a series of laughter from the other end of the line. "My bad odor aside, Mrs. McCauley, is Annie home?"

"Anne is here, just a moment." Kate put the microphone aside, walked to the stairs, and called out for Anne. She then returned to the phone. "She's here."

"Please give my regards to Mr. Hathaway, Michelle, and Thomas," Evan added politely, not forgetting to greet Anne Hathaway's father and siblings.

Kate nodded repeatedly on the other end of the phone and then handed the microphone to Anne. "Evan, how was your road trip? Did you have any exciting experiences?" Anne's carefree voice came through, and Evan could imagine her smiling face on the other end of the phone.

"Of course, it was an exciting journey from the moment I left New York," Evan said, generously sharing stories from the trip. Although there were no thrilling experiences, the cross-country feat and the amazing scenery made Anne sigh in awe.

"If I have the chance, I will definitely try it once. Traveling the world with a backpack sounds so cool," Anne said enviously. She had always been adventurous which made getting along well with Evan easy, but her family's conservative values often held her back. Despite her envy, putting such a trip into practice seemed difficult for her.

Evan understood. He had hoped to make such an attempt in his previous life, but it never materialized until now. "It was indeed cool and carefree. Packing your bags and wandering around, following your heart, and letting your short life bloom with infinite brilliance—that's the real way to enjoy life." Evan suddenly thought of Blake Lively, a young woman with such courage. Her dream of freedom and the courage to take action made Evan, who had lived two lives, admire her.

"Hey mate, how did the interview for 'The Princess Diaries' go?" Evan remembered the main reason for his call. They had been talking about traveling for nearly twenty minutes before he remembered.

Although Evan had only lived in London for six years, and most of that time as an infant, British English habits had always stayed with him, including his British accent and certain expressions. For example, Americans often use the word "dude," while the British prefer "mate." Evan's British accent was not awkward but rather comfortable and elegant.

Anne was used to Evan's accent and way of speaking, so she didn't mind. "Oh my God," she exclaimed after hearing the question, "It was a disaster."

Evan couldn't help but smile. "What happened? Did you hit the director?"

"Haha, if I had hit the director, it would have been more than a disaster; it would have been a tragedy," Anne replied, amused by Evan's teasing. "My dad could have used his expertise then," she added, referring to her father, Gerald Hathaway, who was a lawyer.

"To be honest, I was so nervous during the interview. There was only one chair in the room and a row of people sitting in front of it. It reminded me of my college interview; it was terrible," Anne said, describing the scene. "I walked to the chair, greeted everyone, and was about to show the elegance of a princess and sit down. But I missed the chair, just brushed the edge, and fell to the ground. The chair flipped over too. Everyone laughed. If I could, I would have disappeared right then."

Evan laughed out loud, which made Anne a little angry and embarrassed. However, thinking about her clumsy mistake, she couldn't help but laugh too. "This role is for a princess, and I made such a blunder. I probably have no hope now," she said, but her tone was light-hearted.

"No, no, no, I think you'll get the role," Evan said firmly, rubbing his eyes that had tears from laughter. His tone wasn't comforting; it sounded confident.

Anne didn't believe it. "Evan, you don't have to comfort me. You didn't see everyone's expressions; they looked disappointed and even shook their heads." She thought Evan was just being supportive because they were close friends.

Evan got serious, though still smiling. "Anne, if I remember correctly, the director of 'The Princess Diaries' is Garry Marshall, right?" Anne confirmed. "He directed comedies like 'Pretty Woman' and 'Runaway Bride' and made Julia Roberts a star. Marshall loves comedy. Although I haven't read 'The Princess Diaries' script, I bet the princess won't be the elegant, noble type but a lively, cheerful, and slightly clumsy one."

Anne thought about the script and couldn't help but agree. "Yeah, that's right."

"So, remember what I told you before? You are perfect for this role. Although you fell off the chair during the interview, which was absolutely embarrassing might I add? It might actually work in your favor instead," Evan concluded.

"Are you serious?" Anne was surprised, but since it was Evan speaking, she began to believe it. She still remembered the disapproving looks from the interview panel but now felt more hopeful. "Well, I hope it turns out as you said."

It did. Garry Marshall chose Anne Hathaway as the lead for "The Princess Diaries," marking the first significant turning point in her acting career. It showed Marshall's good eye for talent and Anne's natural charm.

"By the way, I'm about to start filming a movie," Evan dropped a bombshell, making Anne jump with excitement, wanting to hear all about it. She seemed happier than Evan himself.

Evan told the story simply, and Anne sighed repeatedly, "It's just like you, choosing what you want to do. I think this movie will suit you perfectly." She meant that independent and cult films matched Evan's style.

"Who can say for sure about the acting challenge involved in the filming of this movie? I have no idea at the moment," Evan admitted. He had Broadway experience and vaguely remembered Jake Gyllenhaal's performance, but doing it himself was another matter.

"Haha, when it comes to acting, I can still be your teacher. You can always ask me for advice," Anne said with her hearty laugh, a sound that always brought joy to whoever could hear it, especially to Evan who was just on the other side of the phone.