“Sorry,” I say, biting my lip. Had my pause been that obvious?

Paul pats my arm. “Don’t worry. It’s the first day, new studio, blah blah blah. Let’s try it again, okay? Just remember—Sadie is also really wise about solving mysteries. And she wants to teach her little sister about how it all works.” Then he glances at Amelia. “I like your eagerness, Amelia. Very Amateur Sleuth.”

Amelia does a fist pump. “You hear that, Mom?” she yells over the set wall.

“I heard, baby!” calls a voice. “You’re amazing, as always! Mr. York thinks so too! Don’t you, Mr. York?”

I try not to groan. Amelia’s mother, Mrs. Hart, is sitting in Video Village, watching our every move. Video Village is this little setup of screens and directors’ chairs where writers, producers, and sometimes even network executives watch the scene as it’s being shot.

While most people’s parents, including my own, come every few days to make sure things are going well—we have chaperones who look after us during the day and tutors who help us with schoolwork—Mrs. Hart plops herself down at Video Village every single day. She always hogs the front seat right by the TV monitors too, her tall, fluffy hair blocking everyone else’s view. And she always calls out praise to Amelia, sometimes even while the camera is rolling. I guess in Amelia’s case, her annoyingness is genetic.

I also can’t help thinking about how Morton York is sitting in Video Village too, perhaps right next to Amelia’s mom. Does he think Amelia’s acting is good? Better than mine? Was Amelia telling the truth when she said she’d been talking to Mr. York a lot about his new movie?

“Hayley? We ready to go again?” Paul calls.

I jump. Whoa. I am distracted. I need to get my head back in this scene. It’s just first-day jitters. Only… Did I feel a whoosh just now? And Betty, the ghost—is she real, or not?

Don’t think about her.

I roll back my shoulders. “Yep. All good.”

“Great.” Paul looks at Jasper, the cameraman, who luckily I’ve known from the very first day of shooting season one. “Rolling.”

I shut my eyes, channeling Sadie. I remember when I tried out for the role. I’d been so nervous, I’d picked off all the pink nail polish on my thumb. But as soon as I’d gotten into that audition room and said Sadie’s first lines, all the worry melted away. I was Sadie, through and through: curious, determined, and not the type of person who gives up. Or gets distracted.

Yes. Now I can feel myself plugging into Sadie’s character. When I open my eyes again, I’m ready.