It is dark and damp outside. The moonlight reflects off my pale skin as I tread carefully through the dark trees. Leaves and twigs crack under my feet as I continue to move forward. Following a small path through the woods, I end up in a big open space. As I look around, my eyes adjust to the lighted area to notice a few houses by the edge of the open area. Carefully I tiptoe over to the closest house on the right to peek through the window. I notice everything inside is made of wood; the kitchen, the living room and even the house itself.
'Hmmm I wonder who lives here? Why live in the woods away from everyone else?'
I turn to go but stand frozen as my eyes land on my surroundings.
'How in the world so many wolves are able to gather near me without making a sound, is beyond me? All I know is that I am frightened with fear and cannot move an inch.'
A creaking sound behind me catches my attention as I twist around toward the noise. I watch silently as a young man comes out from the darkness of the house. His blue, crystal eyes shine bright in the moonlight. My mouth becomes dry as his image becomes more focused to my eye sight.
"Who are you," I whisper.
He opens his mouth to speak but no words come out. Instead a faint noise appears.
"I'm sorry, what was that?"
The noise occurs again to make my eyes blurry. Blinking a couple times, I look around to notice I am still in bed. I reach over to shut off the annoying alarm going off. Sleepily, I climb out of the bed to plug in the curling iron in the bathroom to let it heat up. I walk back in my room to my walk-in closet to try and decide on an ensemble to wear. After deciding on a black skirt with a red blouse and red Louis Vuitton heels, I walk back in the bathroom to curl my hair. When I am finished and ready, I grab my purse and head out to drive to the All-Star Industries building.
I park in my usual parking spot then hop out and use my pass to gain access inside the building. Everyone greets me as I walk down the hall to the big conference room. Marcell stands up as I walk in to hand me a hot caramel macchiato. We both sit down and start looking at the profiles he has on each person who is going to audition today.
"So are you ready for today," he ask excitedly.
I sigh, "as long as I do not have to deal with Kyle any longer then I am ready for anything."
"Davina, you know we are not the only ones who get to decide. If Kyle is the best then he will be given the part. If not, then you can celebrate afterwards."
"Fine, so when can we get auditions started?"
"We're still waiting on the producer and the writers."
"Hopefully they do not take too long to get here."
I decide to read through the manuscript as we wait for the others to arrive and join us. The new movie is about a girl in college who has been with her boyfriend for a couple years until she meets another guy while in school. She realizes she really likes this new guy and has grown apart from her boyfriend for a while now. It goes on explaining her conflict and her having to make a choice.
The script seems to call to me and I find myself looking more forward to filming this movie than I did the last one. I have just finished reading when the producer and writers walk through the door. I smile as they shake Marcell and I's hands.
"It is nice to see you again Davina. I hope you will enjoy working on this movie with us."
"I think I will enjoy working with you all very much. I cannot wait to start filming."
"Neither can we but first we must pick the rest of the cast."
"Well, let us get started shall we," Marcell said as he gestures toward the door.
One by one the receptionist brings in each candidate who is auditioning for the leading role of the boyfriend in the movie. My hope seems to fade as I watch everyone audition. Kyle strolls in half way through the stack of recipients and my heart sinks as he nails every one of his lines. I watch as the rest of the judges smile and swoon over him and his acting skills.
'This cannot be happening, Kyle cannot get the part of my new co-star. I will not be able to last filming a whole other movie with him.'
As we continue to watch the rest of the auditions, my hope has completely vanished and all I want to do is crawl into a ball and weep. After another half hour, we have finally arrived at the very last candidate. I give up hope and start packing up my belongings but quickly stop as my eyes land on the last audition. Those icy blue eyes hold me in a trance as he begins reading his lines.
"Aribella, I know you are confused and do not know what to do but I need to tell you that I really like you. I did not plan on falling for you but I did and I am sorry. I know you say you are not with Tyler anymore but I know he still cares for you. I would hate to ruin your friendship with him or with anyone but I cannot hold my feelings in any longer. I really do like you and care for you. I am sorry if you do not want to hear this but it is how I feel. I just need to tell you right now how I feel."
"There is nothing to be sorry for."
The words have left my mouth before I know what I am saying. I clear my throat as I notice everyone staring at me now.
"That was very good. May I ask what your name is?"
"My name is Ethan, Miss Davina," he says smirking.
"You did an excellent job. We will let you know our decision by the end of the week."
I grin as he thanks everyone then leaves the room. Right there I decide Ethan is perfect for the role of my new co-star.
"So, what does everyone think about all the audition candidates?"
I glance at Marcell and sigh, "I was hoping for better performances but I guess we will have to pick from what we were given."
"I agree, my vote goes to Kyle. Not only did he deliver his lines perfectly but you two already have chemistry."
My hands ball into fists as I glare at the producer.
"Kyle and I do not have chemistry. I cannot even stand being in the same room as that arrogant wanna-be."
"You don't have to like him. He was the best so he will get the part of your boyfriend in the movie."
'I'm not sure why this is happening to me right now but I have had enough of it and them making me do things I do not want to do.'
"If you hire Kyle then I quit!!!"
"That is enough from all of you," Marcell yells.
The rest of us become immensely quiet as he continues to talk.
"Davina, you are not going to quit, you made a promise to this company and you are going to keep it. Technically we have two major roles to fill in the movie; Aribella's boyfriend and the guy she falls in love with."
"So, I have two co-stars instead of just one," I ask shocked.
"Yes, and I agree with the producer about giving Kyle the boyfriend role in the movie," Marcell says.
"I agree he did well but I still do not want to work with him."
Marcell grimaces, "I know you do not care for Kyle but he will be casted in the movie as Aribella's boyfriend. Now does anyone have a suggestion for the other leading role?"
As they all frown and exchange ideas, I think about the last candidate. His audition captured my attention and he never once messed up on his lines. His blue eyes come to my mind as I smile. They seemed to hold kindness and familiarity.
"Davina, what do you think?"
I snap out of my trance to look at Marcell, confusily.
"I'm sorry, what did you say?"
"What do you think about the other role? Did anyone stand out to you?"
"Oh, well I was thinking about the last candidate. I feel he did a wonderful job with his lines."
"Yes, his name was Ethan. How do you three feel about his audition?"
I glance from Marcell to the producer and writers, hoping they agree with me. The producer is the one to finally speak up.
"He did a respectable job but no one knows who he is or if he has any previous experiences. Our audience is not going to want to watch a movie with a nobody as one of the main characters."
"You are wrong, the movie does not have to be full of major actors at all," I snap.
Marcell smiles, "I agree with Davina. The movie has already gotten a lot of great feedback as well as publicity and we have not even started filming yet. Davina having the main role in the movie alone is enough to get the public's attention. I think we should give the boy the role of Aribella's love and see how he does with it."
The writers sigh, "fine but if we do not like his work then we will replace him right away."
"That will work for me."
I grin at Marcell as the producer leaves with the writers.
"Thank you very much."
"Look I know you do not get along with Kyle but he did do a fantastic job but so did the last guy."
"Ethan, his name is Ethan," I say remembering.
"Yes Ethan, also I am not quite sure if you were able to read the entire script or not."
"I did."
"Then you should have noticed that Aribella's love has a way bigger part than the boyfriend does throughout the whole movie."
"But you gave the part of the boyfriend to Kyle, right?"
"Of course, I did."
"Wait, that means my role will be spending more time with Ethan than Kyle. Did you do that on purpose?"
I watch as Marcell grabs all of his things and walks toward the door.
"Have a wonderful day Davina. I look forward to working with you some more."
The smirk on his face as he leaves gives me the answer to my question.
'Well, it looks like Marcell is not just sneaky but brilliant as well.'
I gather my script and papers to put them in my purse then leave the industry to head home.
I pull into my driveway to park beside my mother's car. Heavily sighing, I grab my purse and walk inside. She is sitting on the couch talking to two people I cannot quite make out.
"Oh good, you are home. I need to talk to you."
"Hello to you too mother," I say walking toward the living room.
"Do not give me that tone. What is this about Todd saying you told him to tear down our fence?"
I glance over at the couch to notice both Kyle and Todd sitting quietly.
"Hey Todd."
"Hey Dee."
"Davina, why did you tell him to tear down our fence?"
"Look mother, the fence did not get torn down. I just wanted to open the back of it to the woods. Thank you, Todd, by the way."
"Anything for you girl."
"Todd, you can leave now."
I notice the dirty look on my mother's face and sadly know she is not planning on leaving anytime soon.
I sigh, "it is okay Todd. I will send you a check in the mail."
He shakes his head smiling then leaves to walk out the front door. I sit down on the chair and wait for my mother's wrath. She sits down beside Kyle who has surprisingly been quiet this whole time.
"I honestly do not know what has gotten into you lately; refusing to spend time with Kyle and now tearing down the fence in our backyard. What is wrong with you sweetie? I don't understand."
"Mom, it has been a long day. I just want to take a hot shower and then go to bed."
"Fine, I will see you both at the premiere tomorrow."
She gives both of us air kisses then luckily leaves the house at last. Kyle sits quietly still on the couch facing me with a melancholy look on his face.
"Why are you still here," I calmly asked.
"Because we are together, because I like you, and because I want to be here."
"Kyle there is no us, there will never be an us."
"You can keep telling yourself that babe but you are still stuck with me, especially now that I earned the role of your new co-star for our next movie."
'Wow, they really do not waste any time on calling to deliver the news of the cast members, do they?'
"So, you heard you got the the part of Aribella's boyfriend but did you hear the part of me having two co stars this time for the movie?"
"Two costars," Kyle says confused.
"Yeah, looks like you will be competing for everyone's attention during this next movie."
Laughing I walk upstairs to get a hot shower, leaving Kyle dumb founded on the couch. After my steaming, hot shower I braid my hair and get dressed for bed, ready to start my dreams.