[Los Angeles]
In the cafe, Lucas with Drake, talked about the project, instead of relying solely on the script and his Mind Workshop training, Lucas chose to delve deeper, seeking a more personal understanding of Jacob. "Drake," he began, "you mentioned basing Jacob on yourself. Would you be willing to share some of your own experiences?"
A flicker of surprise crossed Drake's face at Lucas's question. He took a thoughtful sip of his coffee, the gesture laced with a subtle hesitation. "It's an interesting request, Lucas," he finally began, his voice tinged with a complex mix of emotions. "I based Jacob on a lot of experiences, some more personal than others." He sighed, a faint weariness in his eyes. "I suppose sharing some wouldn't hurt."
"Jacob is a complicated character," he began, his voice warm and inviting. "He falls hard and fast, just like I did with my Anna. We were young, reckless, and driven by passion, living in different cities, fueled by stolen weekends and late-night calls."
Drake paused, his gaze drifting out the cafe window as if reliving the memories. "But distance, it has a way of testing even the strongest bonds," he continued, a hint of wistfulness creeping into his voice. "We craved each other, but reality had its own agenda. Careers, family expectations, life pulling us in different directions."
Drake's voice dipped as he delved into the past, each word tinged with the distant ache of a love lost. "Four years," he murmured, " "Back and forth, the distance stretching between us like an elastic band, snapping us together only to fling us apart again."
Eventually, the inevitable happened. "It just...didn't work out," he concluded, his voice barely a whisper.
Lucas listened intently, his expression morphing from curiosity to unease. Half an hour had passed, punctuated only by Drake's recollections and the clinking of coffee cups. He couldn't help but feel a knot of discomfort tightening in his stomach. While Drake's story undeniably painted a vivid picture of the character Jacob's emotional landscape in Lucas's mind, something felt incongruous. The rawness of the emotions, the vulnerability laid bare, contrasted sharply with the controlled precision Lucas was accustomed to through the Mind Workshop. It felt messy, real, and unsettlingly unfamiliar.
Drake chuckled, noticing Lucas's furrowed brow. "Seems like you haven't had much experience with the rollercoaster of love, huh?" he said, a light tease in his voice.
Lucas offered a hesitant smile. "You're right," he admitted. "That's why I wanted to hear your story."
Drake sighed, a flicker of doubt clouding his eyes. "Well, there's always my co-writer, Ben. He had a similar experience. Maybe hearing another perspective..."
"I appreciate it," Lucas interrupted, sensing Drake's dwindling confidence. "But honestly, you've given me more than enough material to chew on."
Drake seemed surprised, a glint of renewed hope flashing in his eyes. "You know, besides my personal doubts," he began, a touch of awkwardness in his voice, "I haven't actually seen your official audition yet."
"You haven't?" Lucas echoed, raising an eyebrow. "I thought that's why we met here."
Drake chuckled sheepishly. "Well, about that... I did rent a room for auditions, but it wrapped up earlier today. See, things were a bit tight financially..."
A wave of amusement washed over Lucas. He glanced around the cafe, taking in the curious stares and bustling activity. Was he seriously about to perform right here?
Yet, as he met Drake's earnest gaze, the absurdity of the situation melted away. He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. The Mind Workshop, a cheat he had relied on heavily, suddenly felt insufficient.
Drawing on a different reserve within him, Lucas focused. The cafe faded away, the noise silenced. In his mind's eye, only Drake remained, their conversation transformed into a scene from the script. With newfound flexibility, he slipped into the skin of Jacob, roughly channeling the turmoil and confusion Drake had so vividly described.
While Lucas's interpretation of Jacob initially felt rough around the edges due to his lack of personal experience with love, his portrayal of the character's youthful essence was undeniably captivating. As Lucas inhabited the role, Drake watched in awe, impressed by the speed and depth of his immersion.
Even more impressive was Lucas's ability to ignore the distractions of the bustling cafe. People around them, initially oblivious, turned their attention to the impromptu performance unfolding before them. Yet, Lucas remained unfazed, his focus laser-sharp as he channeled Jacob's turmoil and confusion.
Drake, initially disappointed when he heard from Lucas himself that he lack of real-world love experience that was important for his film, felt his doubts melt away. The raw talent and dedication radiating from Lucas rekindled his confidence in his choice.
The cafe held its breath as Lucas's final words echoed. A stunned silence stretched, broken only by the soft murmur of surprised whispers. Lucas and Drake exchanged glances, before they stepped out into the bustling street.
"You truly surprised me," Drake chuckled, wiping away a trace of moisture from his eye. "I didn't think you'd use the entire cafe as your stage!"
Lucas sheepishly grinned. "Sorry about that. I just figured you wouldn't be able to rent another room for auditions, and I really wanted to show you what I could do."
Drake laughed, a hearty, genuine sound. "No, no, it was great! Truth is, the only role left was Jacob, so technically you were the only one left to audition. Could've waited and you could've auditioned in my place, I'm not that strapped to afford a decent spot in LA."
A faint blush crept up Lucas's neck. He'd been so focused on embodying Jacob, he hadn't considered the unorthodox nature of his impromptu performance. Relief washed over him, however, as Drake continued.
"Those five, seven minutes? They were enough. I knew you have the potential, the actor I was looking for Jacob."
A smile broke across Drake's face. "Time to inform the rest of the cast and crew. With the casting complete, we can finally begin tomorrow."
Lucas nodded. He hadn't known much about "Like Crazy" in his previous life, but the spark he saw in Drake's eyes ignited a curiosity within him. Who would be his co-star? Who would portray Anna?