Chapter 8
1330 Words
Los Angeles smells like sunscreen and pollution.
It's beautiful, don't get me wrong, but this place is definitely overpopulated.
I watch from the hotel skyscraper as traffic moves at what looks like twenty miles an hour.
"We're going to to be late if we don't get you to your audition right now," I tell Christian who
takes off his tie and undoes the top button of his shirt to look more casual.
He smiles brightly.
"Look at you. Managing time like a professional," he praises.
I smile back cheesily and grab my phone before we head out to our rental car and start the slow
drive in traffic to the studio.
Upon arrival, the place is crowded. There's a line of people out the door with scrips in their
hands and nervous looks on their faces.
This is crazy.
"Wait! We can't cut!" I say pulling Christian's hand as he begins to walk past people.
He frowns and assures me they gave him the go ahead to audition as soon as possible.
I do my best to ignore the glares and scoffs from jealous people that we pass, while Christian
smiles for pictures as his fans gasp upon sight of him.
This is normally how I imagined outings with him when he's not in disguise. People are going to
flip now that we're public.
We arrive outside the audition room and a muscular man in Black with a headset on his bald
head holds up a hand.
He doesn't need to ask a name, but he says someone is finishing up inside.
Leaning against the wall, I stand awkwardly as Christian types something on his phone and the
next people in line that we cut watch curiously.
"What part are you going out for," the girl next to me asks.
I'm surprised by that raspy feminine voice that so few women have. She looks to be some form
of mix between Indian and Caucasian with her dark brown hair that's almost black.
"I'm not trying out," I say as if it's a sports team.
She nods and smiles holding up her highlighted script casually.
"I'm going out for the main character. It would be a huge opportunity for someone of color to
play the lead in one of the most anticipated films of the year."
I nod and agree.
"I'm Kashellea Workenstock by the way. Call me Kasha. And you?"
"Vasilisa Sinclair. Would I have heard of you?" I question swearing I heard that name
somewhere once.
"Would you have heard of her?" a man from behind her snickers.
"She's only been in at least seven films over the past five years. She's one of the most sought-
after actors now."
Kasha waves a hand in dismissal.
"He's gloating. I've never been the lead before. I usually play the best friend or the sister in law.
Not this time though. It's go big or go home."
"Next," the man in Black calls from the doorway.
"Good luck," I tell her following Christian into the audition room.
It's a large open space with black floors. A long white table with scattered papers and a laptop
had five people sitting behind it, one with a video camera at the end.
"Christian Monochero. An honor," the man in the middle says.
"It's an honor to be here," my boyfriend replies.
"And who did you bring with you here today? What part is she going out for?"
I shake my head quickly and step out of Christian's way.
"No, I'm not auditioning."
Christian laughs and pulls me forward again.
"This is my girlfriend Vasilisa. She's here for support."
I wave awkwardly and receive a few fond smiles and questioning looks.
"Well, your character spends a lot of time later in the movie with the main character Scarlett, and
before that it's only clips in the beginning before you find her. Can Vasilisa step in and play
Scarlett so we can have a real feel of how you'll play out the FBI agent?"
Christian nods and accepts two scripts while stand frozen.
He knows I have stage fright!
"You'll be fine. Just read the lines okay?" He whispers putting a quick kiss on my forehead.
I sigh in defeat and hold up the script, scanning through the lines quickly to at least semi-
memorize them.
"Whenever you're ready." One of the men says with his hand on the camera button.
Christian looks at me questioningly and I nod before he clears his throat and begins reading.
"Can you feel? Can you really Scarlett? Ben might have been the only man desperate enough to
run after you, but you ditched four other guys! And those are just the ones I found out about!
His eyes are pleading and I feel like he raises his voice on purpose, knowing how emotional I get
when people yell.
Shaking my head to clear the oncoming tears, I let my voice crack naturally as I spit my lines.
"They weren't you Derick! I didn't feel anything for them and I moved from guy to guy trying to
find someone who could make me feel something! Anything!"
Christan scoffs with disbelief.
"And that's me?"
I sigh in defeat and whisper in a pained voice that I feel actors do on tv when admitting their
feelings.
"Yes. Don't you get it? Every psychiatrist was convinced I was borderline sociopathic, but you
just proved them all wrong. I just needed the right man. Can't you understand that?"
A tear falls slowly from my eye, the words hitting a bit too close to home for my liking.
"Scarlett... How do I know that this isn't just what you do? Will you play me too?"
I shake my head helplessly and reach out for Christian. My hands pull on his shirt pleadingly and
I sniff with unconcealed despair.
"How could I play the man I love?"
Christian Feigns shock, seemingly speechless for a moment before he drops his head and
captures my lips in one of his kisses. It's less familiar though, as the normally soft affection is
suddenly searching frantically for something I can only return.
Time seems lost until a loud cheer and several clapping hands applaud loud enough to drive my
boyfriend and I apart.
"That was fantastic!"
"Astounding!"
"Sam?! Come're. Come're..."
The group suddenly goes silent as they all huddle and Christian and I glance at each other in
confusion.
He shrugs and places our scripts back on the table until the men break apart and smile widely
between the two of us.
"We have an offer."
Christian's interest is peaked considering normally he walks out with a quick 'yes'.
"We'll take you on as the FBI private investigator and increase your salary, but only if she," Sam
says pointing to me, "plays the leading role."
My breath escapes me as panic ensues and I shake my head my head rapidly.
"But I'm not trying out?!"
Sam shrugs as his Co workers write things down on their papers.
"Technically you just did. We lived it and your chemistry is off the charts, dating or not. Plus,
the public will adore the fact that you two are a couple. They'll eat it up."
I look to Christian for help, but he seems to be seriously considering this.
"I mean, you could be with me most of the day, baby. It's a good way to make sure people accept
our relationship instead of trying to tear us down on social platforms. You'll get paid more than
your current job..."
He continues to list off the pro's and by the time he's done, his eyes practically beg me to accept.
I have no idea if I'll be any good or if something will go terribly wrong and I'll get fired, but this
seems to be the one thing Christian is asking of me. He hardly asks anything.
With sullen nod, I agree to the terms and decide to make everyone happy.
"I'll do it."
- Writer
