America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 200 Gunshots Ring Out

Burbank High School's open day attracted a large number of parents, and this year, in addition to the series of events in previous years, celebrity students also participated by bringing their movies.

As per the plan agreed upon by Warner Bros. and the school, Martin, Black, and other stars of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants participated in a basketball game between Burbank High School and North Hollywood High School in the afternoon, and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" was screened in the school auditorium in the evening so that students could watch the film in advance.

Martin and Bruce arrived at Burbank High School together and drove directly to the school parking lot.

The two got out of the car and headed straight for the basketball court.

The basketball arena at a renowned private high school in California is quite impressive, easily accommodating thousands of spectators at a time.

The large library next door, judging by its size and decoration, is no less impressive than a university library.

Martin couldn't help but say, "If only I had gone to a private high school back then..."

Bruce automatically chimed in, "With your talent, you wouldn't be any better off than you are now."

Martin, despite being a poor student, has a good sense of self-awareness: "That's true, but for a student who can afford a high school like this, getting a good recommendation to a mid-tier public university shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Bruce, also a poor student, said: "I haven't learned about it, I haven't experienced it, so I don't really know."

Martin scoffed: "A complete academic failure!"

What else could Bruce do besides give him the middle finger?

The two arrived at the side entrance of the basketball court, where a representative from Warner Bros. and Burbank High School were waiting. They led Martin into a large lounge.

"Hey Martin!" As soon as Blake saw his idol, he rushed over and gave him a big hug: "I've been waiting for you for so long."

Right behind them, the other three female protagonists, America, Alexis, and April, watched coldly.

Having clashed before, Aibo muttered a curse under her breath: "Bitch, you're such a simp!"

America didn't speak, but she nodded repeatedly.

Blake enthusiastically pulled Martin aside, saying, "It's still early. My cheerleading competition is in three hours. I'm the captain of the cheerleading team here, you absolutely have to watch my competition!"

Martin readily agreed: "I definitely won't miss it."

Blake was particularly excited today: "You throw the first ball in the basketball game, you get to get on the court early, and the northwest tunnel has a better viewing angle. I'll be closer to that side during the game."

Martin suddenly remembered that cheerleaders always wear short skirts and short tops during their performances, which seemed quite interesting.

He specifically asked, "Are you going to compete against Hall Middle School's cheerleading team?"

"Hmph!" Blake said confidently, "I'll utterly crush Hall High School!"

Martin said, "It's so unfair to Hall High School that you're playing."

Blake asked, "You're praising me, aren't you? Yes, you're praising me! Martin, you also think I'm too good for you..."

Martin looked at the narcissistic girl and said, "It's simple. If 100 points is the maximum, your figure is at least 99 points. You'll win just by standing on the field."

Blake couldn't help but puff out his chest and pull in his stomach, leaning closer like a sycophant: "But in my eyes, out of 100 points, you get 120."

A Warner Bros. staff member then came in from outside and reminded them, "Get ready, the media reporters are here."

With three hours to go before the match, there wasn't even a queue of spectators outside. The main cast members of the film crew arrived so early for another reason: to be interviewed by reporters.

WarnerMedia reporter Helen entered the lounge with her cameraman and other assistants.

The main cast members arrived at the pre-arranged location to take photos and videos.

Originally, it was supposed to be a lineup of four women and one man, but because Martin Scorsese became a huge hit and Blake Lively was a nepotism hire, it became a male-female pairing, with three female supporting characters.

America, indignant, broke the silence: "You two are a pair of adulterers!"

Aibo still remembered the hatred she felt when someone threw soup over her head during filming, and asked in a low voice, "Should we get back at them?"

Upon hearing this, America automatically distanced herself from her.

Alexis didn't get involved in the crew's infighting, as if she hadn't heard anything and completely ignored April.

The subsequent interviews didn't involve the three of them for the time being; reporter Helen interviewed Martin and Blake first.

"The production team is very unfair," America muttered.

Alexis, being slightly more easygoing, offered a reminder: "The production crew has always been this unfair."

In front of the camera, Helen asked Martin and Blake, "I watched the trailer, and you two seemed to have amazing chemistry on camera. Do you know each other very well?"

Martin not only has flexible bottom lines, but also flexible personas. At this moment, he thought of Anne, so he borrowed Anne's persona at a certain point in time: "Blake and I knew each other long before filming, and by the time we joined the crew, we were already best friends who could talk about anything."

He gestured to Blake: "As you can see, Blake is the kind of girl even God would envy. I can't describe how wonderful she is. I'm so proud to have such a friend and partner."

These words reached Blake's ears, and the girl, who already had a tendency to fawn over Martin, looked at Martin with eyes that almost turned into hearts, and automatically chimed in: "Martin is my idol, my favorite actor, he's the most perfect man I can ever imagine!"

Blake deliberately left the question unsaid: "He was a true gentleman, and it was always very comfortable to be with him. I've thought more than once that knowing Martin might be the best gift God has given me."

Helen glanced at Martin and immediately understood that this girl was someone who judged people by their looks and figure.

After asking a few more questions about the film, the interview was temporarily paused. After a short break, Helen will interview the other three leading actresses.

People from Warner Bros. knew some things about the film crew and specifically went over to tell the three of them not to talk nonsense.

Bruce then found Martin: "There's a text message."

Martin glanced at Elizabeth, who was approaching with white hair.

She asked if there was time now and if she could bring her classmates to take a group photo.

Martin approached the person in charge at the scene and asked them a question.

It was break time, and the person in charge readily agreed.

Martin replied to Elizabeth, telling her which lounge she was in.

Elizabeth replied, "I know where it is."

Just two minutes later, Elizabeth led a dozen or so girls in through the door.

They were mostly sixteen or seventeen years old and wore the same Hall Middle School uniform.

Elizabeth immediately ran over, smiling sweetly, "Martin, I'm here."

A dozen or so girls followed, surrounding Martin and laughing.

Martin nodded to Elizabeth and greeted the cheerleaders around him: "Hello everyone."

"So you really do know Martin." One girl said enviously to Elizabeth, "It's so great to have a big star as your older sister."

Elizabeth was very understanding: "Stop fooling around, everyone hurry up and take a picture with Martin, we still have work to do here."

The girls swarmed around Martin.

Meanwhile, Blake noticed this and asked one of the cheerleaders, "Judith, are they our opponents today?"

Judith glanced at the blonde girl with the sweet smile: "Yes, I know the girl who was talking to Martin. She's the younger sister of the Olsen sisters and a member of the Hall High School cheerleading team."

Blake felt like something of his had been stolen: "These bitches, they've come knocking on my door!"

Judith asked ingratiatingly, "Would you like to...?"

Blake immediately interrupted her: "Don't be silly!"

On Martin's side, Bruce took the SLR camera and directed the person to adjust the position accordingly.

He has taken many photos since last year, and his professional skills have improved dramatically.

Once everyone was in position, Bruce raised his camera and took five photos in a row.

Elizabeth's little desire to show off was satisfied, and she turned to Martin and said, "Thank you, I'll treat you to dinner another day."

Martin nodded: "Call me anytime."

The cheerleaders from Hall High School left quickly. A little while later, Helen briefly interviewed the other three actresses before the cheerleaders went in to familiarize themselves with the venue.

Martin was going to throw the first pitch and take promotional photos on the field, so I went with him.

Helen followed at the very back with the film crew.

Turning into a passageway outside, Blake could faintly hear the sound of a ball hitting the floor. "Our home team is starting to warm up," he said.

Martin nodded and followed him into the basketball court.

On the court, tall, strong students stretched their bodies and practiced simple dribbling.

Martin found some of them somewhat familiar.

Behind them, the cameraman carried a camera to film, and Helen also took a small DV camera and filmed the stadium with great interest.

There were posters of people pulling jeans in many places throughout the venue.

…………

An ordinary Chevrolet pulled up in front of Burbank High School and parked outside the school.

Andrei, Sergei, and Viktor each carried a long sports bag as they walked into the school.

They were wearing Burbank High School's loose-fitting tracksuits, and they were familiar faces. The security guard didn't even glance at them, let alone stop them.

Many student clubs held events today, and many students brought their sports bags.

With a clear goal in mind, the three headed straight for the basketball court.

Those who harbor the deepest grudges against them are definitely in the basketball court today.

Outside the stadium, students gradually gathered. Although there were no queues yet, there were more people than usual.

The three of them didn't rush into the court, but instead walked around the basketball court.

To prevent students from entering the venue prematurely and in an disorderly manner, the main entrance and several other entrances and exits of the basketball court were temporarily closed and locked.

Only the entrances and exits for the team and cheerleaders were open.

Andrei gave him a wink, and the three of them walked in that direction at the same time.

Sergei opened his sports bag, pulled out a short shotgun, and hid it under his sports jacket.

Andrei held the long bag with his left hand and reached into his clothes with his right hand to pull out the Glock pistol from his tactical vest.

As they approached the entrance/exit, two staff members stationed there saw the arriving students and reminded them, "Please queue at the normal entrance/exit; this area is not allowed..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes widened.

A few meters away, a dark pistol was pointed at him.

Without any hesitation, Andrei pulled the trigger, and with a bang, the staff member fell to the ground.

Almost simultaneously, a loud bang rang out from the side, and Sergei's shotgun riddled another man's chest and abdomen with bullets.

After the gun was fired and blood was drawn, the three men showed no fear; instead, they became excited.

Viktor pulled out his pistol and fired another shot into each of them in the head!

They rushed into the basketball court. Andrei, familiar with the layout, pointed to the three-way intersection ahead and said, "Viktor, you guard this spot. Don't open the other doors. Anyone trying to escape will have to go through here!"

Viktor dropped his bag, took off his jacket, revealing a bulletproof vest and several magazines underneath, and took out a modified AR from the bag, hiding it behind a well-lit corner.

Andrei started running and called to Sergei, "I'll go to the field, you go to the locker room! If no one's in the locker room, we'll meet at the field."

Sergei, with his shotgun slung over his shoulder, finally found an outlet for his pent-up anger and frustration, a gleeful smile spreading across his face: "Let's have a contest and see who takes down more!"

Andrei picked up AR, as if playing Counter-Strike: "I love it!"

Sergei ran toward the locker room and bumped into a black man who had come out out of curiosity to see what was going on. He shot the man in the chest, and with the roar of the shotgun, the black man collapsed to the ground.

There was a huge convenience store on the tunnel leading to the stadium. Andrei ran there.

The shop door was open, and at the counter on one side of the entrance, the bespectacled owner picked up a basket of bottled cola and placed it against the wall. When he turned around, he met Andrei's gaze.

The boss instinctively raised his hand, hoping to escape unscathed.

Andrei fired two shots, sending his boss to meet his maker.

…………

On the basketball court, the Hall Middle School cheerleading team also came to warm up.

Elizabeth came over to greet Martin, and Blake, like a female knight guarding a prince, ran over and stood next to Martin.

The basketball team captain, Miller, came over and started courting Judith.

Several basketballs bounced loudly on the wooden floor.

Martin vaguely heard some noise and asked, "What was that noise just now?"

Blake shook his head: "No, right?"

Elizabeth couldn't hear clearly: "It sounds like there's a sound."

Martin heard another sound, closer than before, and he immediately turned to look at Bruce.

Bruce rushed over, grabbed Martin, and pulled him away, shouting, "Gunfire! AR's gunfire! Let's go!"

Martin had no doubt about Bruce's judgment and took off running.

Elizabeth and Black also heard Bruce's words, and because of Martin, they were quick on their feet and caught up.

Running away doesn't stop him from talking. Martin turned back and shouted, "Someone's shooting! Run!"

The reporter, Helen, and the cameraman, being experienced and knowledgeable, followed without hesitation.

The two were very dedicated, filming the entire process with their DV and camera.

If it's a prank by the production crew, it's also for publicity purposes.

If there really is a shooting...

The two reporters were not afraid; instead, they became excited.

This is America, and people react incredibly fast. As soon as Martin shouted that someone had fired a shot, Judith, Miller, and the three female leads all rushed over.

The cheerleaders and school team players on the basketball court turned to look at the fleeing person.

Martin shouted again, "Run! Someone's shooting!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a man wearing a tactical vest rushed out of the player tunnel, holding an AR gun, and pulled the trigger.

The gun had clearly been modified; in automatic firing mode, gunshots and screams mingled together.

Martin Cat bent over, trying to shrink his body as much as possible, and followed Old Brooks into an exit.

Screams, screams, and the sounds of frantic running came from behind.

(End of this chapter)