Roxie stood in the brightly lit lobby of a sleek, modern casting office, the faint smell of fresh coffee and printer paper filling the air. The walls were lined with posters from famous commercials and ads, each one featuring beaming models and actors in perfect lighting. She clutched her portfolio tightly, her fingers tracing the edges of the worn folder as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other.
Today's audition was for a commercial, something simple, but with the potential to get her face on TV. It wasn't a movie, but commercials paid well, and if she could land one, it might be the first step toward something bigger. Maybe even a break.
She looked around at the other actresses in the waiting area, each of them looking effortlessly polished and camera-ready. They all wore bright smiles and the kind of confidence that made Roxie's stomach twist with nerves. She had rehearsed the lines over and over on the bus ride here, running through the cheery pitch the commercial called for, but the lingering doubts from her past rejections gnawed at the back of her mind.
Just another audition, she told herself. You've done this before. You can do it again.
A young assistant with a clipboard appeared in the doorway, calling out the next name. Roxie's heart skipped a beat when she heard her own.
"Roxanne Miller?"
Taking a deep breath, Roxie stood up, trying to suppress the butterflies in her stomach as she walked toward the casting room. The assistant led her down a short hallway, her footsteps muffled by the thick carpet. The door to the audition room swung open, and Roxie stepped inside, immediately greeted by the blinding lights and the camera set up in front of her.
Behind the camera sat three people, a casting director, a producer, and an assistant, all of them staring at her with bored, detached expressions. The casting director, a middle-aged woman with perfectly straight blonde hair and glasses perched on her nose, gave a small, polite smile as Roxie approached the mark on the floor.
"Okay, Roxanne, whenever you're ready," the woman said, her voice cool and professional.
Roxie nodded, trying to shake off the nerves creeping up her spine. She straightened her posture, put on her best smile, and launched into the script.
"Hi, I'm Roxanne Miller, and I'm here to tell you about the best new product on the market, GlidePro Toothpaste! With its unique formula, GlidePro will give you a smile that dazzles and keeps your teeth clean and fresh all day long. Whether you're heading to work or out with friends, GlidePro's got your back!"
Her voice was upbeat and cheerful, just as the script had called for, and she made sure to project warmth with every word. She kept her smile wide, trying to imagine she was already on set, filming the real thing.
As soon as she finished, the room fell silent, save for the soft rustling of papers from the assistant on the casting panel. The casting director gave a brief nod, her expression hard to read.
"Thank you, Roxanne," the woman said, glancing at the producer beside her.
There was a beat of uncomfortable silence. Roxie's stomach churned. She could feel the rejection coming before the words even left the casting director's mouth.
"We'll be in touch," the director said, her tone flat and final.
Roxie forced a smile, nodding as she backed away from the mark. "Thank you for your time," she managed to say, her voice strained.
As she walked out of the room, her shoulders slumped. We'll be in touch. She knew what that meant. It meant they weren't interested. Another audition, another opportunity slipping through her fingers.
With a sigh, Roxie made her way back to the lobby, the sting of rejection settling over her once again. She pushed through the glass doors into the late morning sunshine, feeling the familiar weight of disappointment pressing down on her.
But then, as if the universe decided to throw her a lifeline, she spotted a familiar face leaning against a sleek black car parked just outside the building.
It was Ryan.
He looked effortlessly handsome as always, dressed in a sharp blazer, his sunglasses perched casually on top of his dark hair. He spotted her immediately, his lips curving into a smile as he pushed off the car and approached her.
"Well, well, if it isn't Roxanne Miller," he said, his tone playful but warm. "Didn't expect to see you here."
Roxie blinked, her heart doing a strange little flip in her chest at the sight of him. "Ryan? What are you doing here?"
He shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets. "Had a meeting with a client nearby. And lucky me, I run into you." He gave her a knowing look. "Audition?"
"Yeah," she admitted with a sigh. "Commercial gig. Didn't go so great, though."
Ryan raised an eyebrow, his smile fading slightly. "What makes you say that?"
"I don't know... I could just tell. They had that look, you know?" Roxie ran a hand through her dark brown hair, tucking a few loose strands behind her ear. "I'm getting pretty good at reading disappointment."
Ryan's expression softened, and he nodded as though he understood exactly what she meant. "Trust me, I've seen that look more times than I can count. But hey, don't let it get to you. It's not about how many no's you get. It's about finding the right yes."
Roxie let out a small laugh, though the sound was more out of frustration than anything. "Yeah, well, I feel like I've been looking for that yes forever."
Ryan studied her for a moment, then reached into the inside pocket of his jacket and pulled out a sleek business card holder. He flipped it open and took out another card, handing it to her.
"I meant what I said the other day," Ryan said, his voice serious now. "I think you've got something. And I want to help you. You just need the right opportunities, and I can get them for you."
Roxie stared at the card for a moment before taking it from him. The sleek paper felt smooth between her fingers, and for a split second, she felt the smallest flicker of hope. Maybe this was it. Maybe Ryan was the one who could finally give her a shot at something real.
"You're serious?" she asked, her voice hesitant.
Ryan nodded, his expression sincere. "Absolutely. Look, I've been in this business a long time, and I know talent when I see it. You've got it, Roxanne. And if you want, I'll prove it to you."
She hesitated, her mind racing. It sounded too good to be true, but something about Ryan felt genuine. And she was tired of playing it safe, tired of staying in her comfort zone and waiting for a break that never came.
After a beat, she smiled. "Okay," she said, her voice firmer now. "I'd love your help."
Ryan's grin widened. "Good. You won't regret it."
They stood there for a moment, the air between them buzzing with the possibility of something new. For the first time in a long time, Roxie felt like maybe, just maybe, she was on the verge of something big.
The bell above the door chimed as Roxie walked into the diner for her shift, but tonight, the sound didn't carry the same weight it usually did. Instead of the usual dread that settled over her when she entered, there was a flicker of excitement bubbling inside her. Her mind was still spinning from her conversation with Ryan. The memory of his words, his confidence in her, kept replaying in her head.
Roxie headed to the back of the diner, grabbing her apron off its usual hook, her fingers tying it around her waist with a quick, practiced motion. The shift would be long, longer than she wanted, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she had something to look forward to. A possibility, a chance.
Janie, as usual, was behind the counter, refilling the coffee pots with the precision of someone who had done it a thousand times. Her frizzy hair was pulled into a loose bun, a pencil sticking out of the top. She glanced up when Roxie approached, chewing her gum as she gave her a once-over. Janie's eyes narrowed slightly.
"What's with the grin, kid?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "You look like you just won the lottery."
Roxie couldn't help but smile wider. "It's nothing."
Janie snorted. "Yeah, sure. You're a terrible liar, Roxie. Spill it."
Roxie paused, unsure if she wanted to get into it. She knew how things usually went when she got her hopes up, and the last thing she wanted was to jinx this before it even started. But Janie had been there for her from the beginning, and she needed to tell someone.
"I ran into Ryan again," Roxie said, her voice cautious but excited. "You know, the guy I told you about, the agent."
Janie's expression shifted from curiosity to something more guarded. She raised an eyebrow as she continued pouring coffee. "Agent, huh? And what did he say this time?"
Roxie pulled out the sleek business card Ryan had given her earlier and held it up for Janie to see. "He said he's serious about helping me. He thinks I've got potential."
Janie's gum snapped between her teeth as she eyed the card, her expression hard to read. After a moment, she set the coffee pot down and leaned on the counter, crossing her arms.
"You sure this guy's legit?" Janie asked, her voice a little sharper than Roxie expected. "I've seen too many girls come through this place talking about agents who 'promised' them the world. And most of the time, it's just empty words."
Roxie's heart sank a little. She'd expected Janie to be happy for her, or at least to share in her excitement. Instead, there was skepticism in her voice, like she didn't believe this was real.
"I don't know," Roxie admitted, tucking the card back into her apron pocket. "But he seems genuine. And he's already gotten gigs for other actors. I mean, it's worth a shot, right?"
Janie's expression softened, but there was still a hint of caution in her eyes. She sighed and pulled the pencil out of her hair, tapping it against the counter as she thought.
"Look, I'm not trying to burst your bubble, kid," she said, her voice quieter now. "I just don't want you getting hurt again. You've been through enough of that already."
Roxie nodded, appreciating the concern even though it stung a little. She knew Janie meant well, but a part of her wished she would just be excited with her, if only for a moment.
"I get it," Roxie said softly. "I do. But I can't just keep waiting for something to happen, you know? This might be the chance I've been hoping for."
Janie stared at her for a long moment, her expression softening further. She let out a small sigh and patted Roxie's arm.
"Alright, alright," she said, giving her a small smile. "I'm just saying, be careful. But hey, if this guy really can help you, then I hope it works out. I really do."
Roxie smiled, feeling a bit of the tension lift. "Thanks, Janie. I appreciate it."
Janie gave a grunt of acknowledgment, grabbing the coffee pot again and turning to refill another booth's cups. "Now get to work before Hillman starts barking. We've got a full house tonight, and I'm not doing it all by myself."
Roxie chuckled, shaking off the nerves that had started to build up. The reality of the diner came crashing back down on her as she grabbed her order pad and moved toward her first table of the night. The usual routine settled in, the clattering of plates, the hum of conversation, the sizzle of the grill from the kitchen.
But no matter how busy the night got, no matter how many gruff customers she had to deal with, there was a spark inside her that wouldn't die down. Ryan's words echoed in her mind, a small but steady flame of hope.
I think you've got something. I want to help you.
As the night wore on, Roxie couldn't help but steal glances at the customers who came and went. Some of them barely noticed her, others gave her tired smiles, but every now and then, she'd see someone staring at their phone or flipping through a magazine, and she'd wonder what it would be like if one day, her face was on that screen, in those pages.
The thought kept her going, even as the hours dragged on, her feet aching and her body begging for rest.
Late into the shift, as the clock crept toward midnight, Roxie stepped outside for a quick break. The air was cool and fresh, a stark contrast to the greasy heat of the diner. She leaned against the back wall, letting her head fall back as she took a deep breath.
From where she stood, she could see the alley that ran behind the diner. A group of homeless people had gathered around the dumpster, digging through the trash for anything remotely edible. They worked silently, their movements slow and methodical, as if this was just another night of survival for them.
Roxie watched for a moment, her heart sinking. The sight was a familiar one, something she saw too often in this part of town, but tonight, it hit her harder. She'd come close to that herself, more times than she liked to admit. She was still one missed paycheck away from not being able to afford rent, from having to make choices she didn't want to think about.
She shivered, pulling her arms around herself as she turned away from the scene, heading back inside.
I can't live like this forever, she thought. I won't. I won't end up like that.
As she clocked out at the end of the shift, Roxie's mind was racing. The exhaustion from the day hadn't lessened, but there was a new kind of weight on her shoulders, the weight of possibility. Of change.
She grabbed her things, slinging her bag over her shoulder, and walked out into the cool night air. The streets were quiet now, the occasional car passing by as she made her way to the bus stop.