Gena/Finn by Kat Helgeson Page A

of each other. And that’s always a lot of fun, when you get to break convention like that.
    MARIAN LITTLE: I think we did upset some fans, though.
    SW: Ha! You could say that. We got some angry letters this season. Particularly after the fire in 3.16. I think there was a feeling that . . . we could have handled that differently.
    [Audience murmur.]
    ML: This show has a truly amazing fan base, and we consider it a responsibility to take care of the fans and . . .
keep the story something viewers will love. But taking risks is also an important part of what we do, and we hope the fans trust that we do have you in mind.

    from: Finn Bartlett
to: Charlie Thomas
date: Tuesday, July 8 8:36 PM
subject: Hi from Chicago!
Hey!
Oh my god, I’m having such a good time. I’m so glad I came.
The girls I’m here with are – well, kind of annoying, to be honest. They talk a lot about how hot Toby Frost is. And, I mean, he is hot, but there isn’t a lot to say on the subject. I don’t know that they’re interested in the characters in the same way I am. I don’t know. It makes me feel weird. I guess I thought I’d come out here and feel
like I was with My People (and I kind of do) but maybe it’s too much to expect that kind of homogeneity from a group of thousands.
The exception is Evie. She’s the one who writes the journal I showed you, and she’s a RIOT. She’s in here now (we’re hiding from some of the other girls in our group and watching Up Below and eating a lot of Twizzlers) and she’s delivering one of Evanson’s speeches right along with him and it’s SO DRAMATIC AND HILARIOUS. Maybe it’s because her hair’s all messed up from sticking her head out the cab window on the way back from the sushi place. I don’t know how to explain it. She’s great.
(Everyone else calls her Gena, which is pretty funny. She told me that online, but I kept thinking about her as “Eve,” and it’s just who she is to me now.)
We’ve all got gold badges, and it’s amazing. I got my picture taken with Zack Martocchio, and he signed a picture I drew of him. I think he was really impressed!
Something’s kind of weird, though. Evie’s been blowing off all the gold pass events. First she skipped the special Q&A with Zack and Toby where you actually get to have a conversation with them (I had to sit with this girl Mallory who’s incredibly annoying), and then she didn’t even want to go to the photo op. No idea what that’s about.
Anyway, thanks for being so great about me coming here. I’m having a blast.
Love you, miss you, see you soon,
-me
    from: Charlie Thomas
to: Finn Bartlett
date: Tuesday, July 8 7:12 PM
subject: RE: Hi from Chicago!
Glad you’re having such a good time! Where does Evie live? Maybe you two could see each other again after this.
Sounds like she’s just not as starstruck as you are. I wouldn’t read into it.
Love!
-Charlie
    from: Finn Bartlett
to: Charlie Thomas
date: Tuesday, July 8 9:40 PM
subject: RE: Hi from Chicago!
I am NOT STARSTRUCK.
Fuck off :P
-me
    TRANSCRIPT EXCERPT:
ZACK MARTOCCHIO AND TOBY FROST PANEL
    TOBY FROST: Zack, though . . . Zack has had a long and illustrious career.
    ZACK MARTOCCHIO: Shut up, dude.
    TF: What? I’m proud of your work, I can’t say that?
    ZM: You’re being a jerk.
    TF: I’m being a supportive partner .
    [Audience laughs.]
    TF: Any Man of the House fans? God, that was a fun show, wasn’t it?
    [Audience cheer.]
    TF: Me too. Let’s talk about Man of the House !
    ZM: No one’s here to talk about Man of the House .
    TF: Dude, you didn’t see her?
    ZM: See who?
    TF: In the back there. Isn’t that Genny Goldman?
    ZM: . . . Genny?
    [Audience turns to look as girl