The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 242: The Blacksmith vs. The Principal

On an otherwise ordinary Wednesday morning, the school day was abruptly interrupted when the principal made an impromptu announcement: all students and teachers were to gather in the auditorium for a special assembly. An important announcement was to be made.

"What could he possibly want to announce now?"

As she climbed the steps to the auditorium, Lily Collins grumbled to her two companions, "What now? Is he cooking up some new school rules to restrict our rights again?"

"Probably," one of her friends immediately chimed in. "He's the worst principal I've ever seen!"

The other girl interjected with a smirk, "Jen, he's the only principal you've ever known."

Ignoring Jen's disgruntled muttering, she then turned to Lily. "Lily, your mom is pretty influential in Los Angeles. Why don't you just tell her about the principal?"

"My mom...?" At the mention of her mother, Lily's anger instantly evaporated. She changed the subject abruptly. "Let's hurry, we're going to be late."

She quickened her pace up the steps and into the auditorium, her two companions trailing closely behind.

The auditorium wasn't packed yet, with plenty of empty seats still available. Lily found a less crowded spot near the back and sat down to wait, her two friends taking the seats to her right.

Lily wanted to keep a low profile, especially where the principal was concerned.She was the captain of the cheerleading squad, a position that gave her considerable influence. She essentially set the trends for school fashion and the unofficial dress code, leading by example with her own style.

A few months back, she'd worn a short skirt and had been reprimanded by the principal for violating the school's dress code. That incident had sparked a series of confrontations. The principal had accused her of everything from bullying her squadmates and hazing new cheerleaders to mocking her classmates. In his eyes, she was the school's resident villain.

"Am I really that bad?" Lily murmured to herself.

Few of the students around her had a high opinion of the principal—certainly none of her friends did.

Just then, a boy approached their row. He glanced at Lily, gestured to the empty seat on her left, and asked, "Lily, is it okay if I sit here?"

Lily eyed the boy, her expression flat. "No," she said bluntly. "And don't approach me again."

The boy opened his mouth, as if to say something else, but seeing the steel in Lily's gaze, he faltered. "I'll just... go now," he stammered nervously.

He hastily retreated.

Lily turned to the friend on her right. "Jen, come sit on my left."

"Okay," the girl replied, moving over to the seat on Lily's other side.

Students continued to file into the auditorium, the seats gradually filling up. Lily stared at the stage, lost in thought.

Soon, the principal would appear on stage and, just like always, deliver a speech that nobody here wanted to hear.

"I wonder if Matthew Horner ever got my letter," Lily mused, resting her cheek on her hand. A faint blush colored her face as she continued, "It would be amazing if Will Turner could show up right now. He could totally beat up that fat principal."

Every girl dreams of the day her prince will ride in on a white horse, sword in hand, to save her from peril.

Backstage, Matthew Horner stood before a mirror, checking his appearance. It had been over six months, but he was once again becoming Will Turner.

"How is it?" the stylist asked.

Matthew nodded. "Same as on set, except for the hair."

He'd cut his long hair a while ago and wasn't wearing a wig for this. After all, it wasn't an actual film shoot.

Just then, Helen Herman came over and whispered to Matthew, "I just spoke with the principal. He's prepared a one-minute speech. You'll go on as soon as he's done."

Matthew drew the aluminum prop sword from his belt, gave it a quick look, then slid it back into its scabbard. "No problem," he said.

...

The principal's speech was about to begin when a sudden flurry of footsteps echoed from the doorway. Lily glanced over her shoulder and saw a crowd of reporters and camera operators filing into the auditorium.

"Is today's assembly really that important?" Jen asked from her left, her voice laced with curiosity.

She was curious, but not particularly surprised.

Lily wasn't surprised either. Reporters showing up wasn't exactly a rare occurrence.

Harvard-Westlake School was a prestigious school, well-known throughout California, and it wasn't unusual for the media to show up to cover various events.

Today, however, the press seemed to be from the big leagues. Lily even spotted the ABC logo on one of the cameras.

The chaotic buzz in the auditorium suddenly subsided, quickly falling silent. Lily didn't even have to look to know that the arch-villain himself had taken the stage. A quick glance confirmed it: there was the principal, standing behind the lectern.

She immediately pulled out her earbuds, plugged them into her music player, and cranked up the volume. Anything to drown out the fat man's irritating voice.

Lily listened to her music, watching 'Principal Demon's' mouth open and close. Not being able to hear him was actually pretty entertaining. She wasn't the only one; many other students had made the same choice. The principal was clearly not popular with the student body.

The principal had been speaking for less than a minute when something unexpected happened on stage.

Lily had been amusing herself by watching the principal's mouth move silently to the rhythm of her music, but suddenly, someone else walked onto the stage from the wings.

"WHAT?!" Lily exclaimed, yanking the earbuds from her ears.

Her friends on either side of her also froze, their eyes fixed on the athletic man who had just appeared on stage, completely bewildered as to what was happening.

Lily's eyes widened in disbelief.

He was a tall, athletic man with rugged features, dressed in period-style clothing and holding an old-fashioned sword.

"Will Turner!" Having just seen the movie and being completely obsessed with the character, how could she not recognize him? "I mean, Matthew Horner!"

She clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears of excitement.

Throughout the auditorium, every camera was now aimed at the two men on stage.

Those teachers and students with camera phones quickly pulled them out, aiming them at the principal and the imposing man who had suddenly appeared.

"Are you the warden of this institution?" a voice with a clear British accent boomed from the stage.

The students in the audience couldn't help but laugh. Lily's mouth fell open in delight. It was true, wasn't it? The principal was just like a crazed warden, and they were all his prisoners!

"Who are you?" the principal demanded, his eyes flashing with anger.

"A young friend of mine sent me a letter."

To Lily's ears, the voice was like honey. "She tells me you've been running rampant here!"

Hearing this, Lily began to tremble with excitement. She grabbed her friend's arm and whispered fiercely, "Jen, did you hear that? He's here for me! He got my letter! He came to save me!"

He was her hero! He was her prince!

"Today!" the enchanting voice rang out again. "On behalf of my friend, on behalf of all the good people you have oppressed here, and in the name of justice itself—I am here to punish you!"

Another wave of laughter swept through the auditorium. Lily laughed too, even as tears of joy welled in her eyes.

She couldn't take her eyes off him. She watched as her prince drew his sword and advanced on the principal, who looked genuinely frightened and began to back away.

Just like a villain in a movie, the principal stammered as he retreated, "What do you want?"

"To free everyone from your tyranny, of course!"

Before Lily could even blink, her prince lunged forward and struck Principal Demon with his sword. The principal immediately let out a pained cry.

"Yes!" she cried, jumping to her feet and shouting toward the stage. "Go, Matthew! Will! Hit him harder for me!"

Someone else echoed her cry, and soon the entire auditorium was chanting, "Hit him! Hit him!"

"Hit him harder!"

Matthew glanced out at the audience and knew the performance had to wrap up soon. If the kids got any more worked up, one of them might actually rush the stage and try to beat up the principal for real.

He shot the principal a quick wink. The man understood and gave a slight nod in return.

Matthew then feigned a punch with his left fist. The principal, who clearly had some acting talent of his own, immediately collapsed to the floor.

"Yeah!"

"Way to go!"

"Will Turner, I love you!"

"Matthew, you're the best!"

Shout after shout erupted from the audience. Matthew pointed his sword at the principal on the floor and declared loudly, "I'm taking this one away! As for the rest of you..."

He gave his sword a dramatic flourish, then pointed it at the students below. "You are now free!"

"Wow!"

"Yes! Finally!"

"No more classes!"

"Screw school!"

The excited cheers echoed through the hall once more.

The school staff had plans in place to handle any overexcited students, but Matthew knew the show was nearly over. He glanced toward the media section and saw the tall figure of Ilana gesturing to him. It was time to make his exit.

He walked over to the principal and waved toward the wings. Immediately, two burly men dressed as pirates emerged and hauled the principal away.

Once behind the heavy curtain, the principal immediately got to his feet.

Matthew smiled at him. "Mr. Pearson, you have some serious acting potential. It'd be a shame not to give Hollywood a try."

Principal Pearson straightened his clothes and replied coolly, "I think the position of principal suits me just fine."

"Will! Will! Will!"

Suddenly, the chaotic shouting from the auditorium began to coalesce into a unified chant. First, they were shouting Will Turner's name, but then it shifted to Matthew's.

"Matthew! Matthew! Matthew!"

As an inside participant, Matthew knew, of course, that several teachers had been planted in the audience to "guide" the students' reactions.

At that moment, Principal Pearson said to Matthew, "Go on. Go meet your fans."