Roxie stood on set, her heart thudding in her chest as the crew buzzed around her. The Southwest Airlines commercial was finally happening, and she could barely contain her excitement. The bright lights, the polished equipment, and the professional actors moving around with ease, it was everything she had imagined and more.
She glanced down at her outfit, a breezy sundress the costume department had chosen for her, and tried to take a deep breath. This was it, her first real shoot. The butterflies in her stomach fluttered wildly, but it wasn't just nerves. It was adrenaline, pure and powerful, surging through her veins.
This is really happening, she thought, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides. She was about to be on camera, with the whole crew watching, and soon, everyone else in the world.
Her co-star, Edward, was already standing in front of the camera, looking as relaxed as ever. He caught her eye and flashed a charming grin, giving her a small wave.
"You ready for this?" he called out, his voice carrying easily over the noise of the crew setting up.
Roxie grinned back, though her nerves made her voice falter slightly. "As ready as I'll ever be!"
Edward chuckled and gave her a thumbs-up, his easygoing nature calming her a bit. Roxie tried to steady herself, reminding herself that she'd made it this far. The audition had gone well, the callback even better, and now she was here. She could do this.
Ryan had been right, this was just the beginning. She couldn't let her nerves get in the way now.
As she moved into position next to Edward, the director called for quiet on set. The chatter from the crew died down, and the energy shifted. Everything became focused, centered on the scene they were about to shoot.
"Alright, everyone, this is take one for Southwest Airlines," the director called, his voice calm but commanding. "Let's keep it light and fun. Edward, Roxanne, just like we rehearsed."
Roxie nodded, her heart racing as she looked over at Edward, who gave her a reassuring smile. The camera rolled, and for a brief moment, everything seemed to slow down. Roxie took a deep breath and slipped into character, the loving, carefree wife on a spontaneous vacation with her husband, eager to experience the best of Southwest Airlines.
"Are you sure we'll make the flight this time?" she asked with a playful smirk, glancing at Edward as if they'd had a history of missing flights.
Edward responded with his usual charm. "With me in charge? Definitely."
It was a simple line, but the chemistry between them felt real, just like it had during the callback. Roxie could feel the energy of the scene building, the lighthearted banter flowing naturally between them.
The first take went smoothly, and the director called "cut" with a satisfied nod. Roxie let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, a smile breaking across her face. She had done it. The first take of her first commercial, and it hadn't been a disaster.
"Good job, Roxanne," the director said as he adjusted the camera angle. "We'll do a few more takes, but that was a great start."
Roxie beamed, the rush of excitement and adrenaline flooding her senses. This was exactly what she had dreamed of, the feeling of being on set, nailing the scene, and knowing she was doing something she loved. The nerves were still there, but now they felt like fuel, driving her forward.
As the crew reset for the next take, Roxie caught sight of Ryan standing just off to the side, watching with an approving smile. He gave her a small nod, and she felt a swell of pride. She wasn't just some aspiring actress anymore, she was here, on set, making it happen.
They went through a few more takes, each one smoother than the last. By the end of the morning, Roxie felt like she had found her rhythm, and the director seemed pleased with the footage they'd captured. The atmosphere on set was light, filled with chatter and laughter as they wrapped up the main scenes.
When the director finally called for a break, Roxie stepped off set, her heart still racing from the adrenaline. She wiped a bit of sweat from her brow, feeling the weight of the lights and the intensity of the shoot, but she was buzzing with excitement. Her first commercial shoot was almost done, and she couldn't have asked for a better experience.
As she moved toward the catering table for a bottle of water, Ryan approached her, his expression proud but calm as usual.
"Nice work, Roxanne," he said, giving her a small smile. "You handled yourself well out there. Looked like you've done this a hundred times."
Roxie blushed, still trying to catch her breath. "Thanks, Ryan. It felt incredible, like, I can't believe I'm actually doing this."
Ryan chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Believe it. You've earned it."
The afternoon sun filtered in through the studio windows as the crew bustled around, preparing for the final scenes of the commercial. Roxie stood by, her body still buzzing from the morning's shoot. Her nerves had settled into a more comfortable rhythm now, and she was enjoying the flow of being on set. The rush of adrenaline was still there, but it was joined by a quiet sense of accomplishment.
She had done it, her first commercial shoot, and she hadn't flubbed a single line. The interactions with Edward had felt effortless, and the director seemed pleased. Roxie caught herself smiling, trying to soak in the moment.
As they wrapped up the last take, the director finally called out, "That's a wrap, everyone! Great job today!" A small round of applause followed from the crew, and Roxie couldn't help but laugh as the tension of the day began to lift.
Edward gave her a congratulatory fist bump as they stepped off set. "You were great, Roxie. Made it easy for me."
She smiled, feeling a rush of warmth. "Thanks, Edward. You were amazing too. This whole thing was... unreal."
"First of many," Edward said with a wink before walking off to chat with one of the producers.
As Roxie grabbed a bottle of water, she felt someone approach from behind and turned to see Ryan making his way toward her. He had that familiar calm but proud look on his face, as if he'd known all along that she'd do well.
"Not bad for your first commercial," Ryan said, his tone light but approving. "You really nailed it out there."
Roxie grinned, still riding the high of the day. "I can't believe it's over. It went by so fast."
"That's how it always feels," Ryan replied. "But you did great. Directors and crew seemed happy. This is exactly what you needed to get some real momentum going."
Roxie nodded, feeling a sense of validation she hadn't quite let herself believe in until now. The months of auditions, rejections, and waiting were starting to pay off, and it felt amazing.
As they stood there, Roxie noticed Ryan glance down at his phone, checking something briefly before slipping it back into his pocket. "Speaking of momentum," he started, his tone shifting slightly, "I wanted to tell you about something else that's come up."
Roxie raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What is it?"
"There's an indie film casting right now," Ryan explained. "Small production, but the director has a reputation for getting his films into festivals. It's a good opportunity for you to get some more screen time, and show off what you can do beyond commercials."
Roxie felt a spark of excitement, but there was also a flicker of nerves. A commercial was one thing, fun, lighthearted, but relatively short and simple. A film, even an indie one, felt bigger. More challenging.
"What's the role?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"It's a supporting role," Ryan said, his eyes studying her reaction. "You'd be playing the younger sister of the lead character. The film is a drama, family dynamics, a lot of emotional weight."
Roxie's heart sped up at the thought of tackling something more serious. She'd always dreamed of being in a film, but the idea of showing more depth, more emotion, felt both exciting and terrifying. Could she really do it?
"I think you'd be perfect for it," Ryan continued, his voice encouraging but steady. "If you're interested, I can set up an audition for you. It'll be competitive, but I know you've got what it takes."
Roxie hesitated for only a second before nodding, her confidence bolstered by the day's success. "Yeah... I want to try it."
Ryan smiled, clearly pleased with her response. "Good. I'll make the call and get you the details."
For a moment, they stood there, a comfortable silence settling between them. Roxie's mind was already racing with thoughts of the audition, the possibilities, and how far she'd come. But then, as she moved to step forward, her foot caught on the edge of a lighting cable she hadn't noticed.
"Whoa, " she gasped, stumbling forward.
Before she could fall, Ryan's hand shot out, catching her by the arm and steadying her. Roxie blinked, her heart racing from the near-fall, but as she looked up, she realized she was much closer to Ryan than she'd anticipated. His hand was still on her arm, and their eyes met for a brief moment, the air between them suddenly thick with an awkward tension.
"Careful," Ryan said softly, his tone light, though there was an edge to it. He let go of her arm, stepping back just slightly.
Roxie swallowed, her face heating up as she pulled herself upright. "Thanks... I, uh, didn't see that there."
"No problem," Ryan replied, clearing his throat. There was an awkward beat of silence, the weight of the moment hanging between them.
For a split second, Roxie wasn't thinking about the commercial, or the audition, or anything else. Her mind had shifted entirely to the fact that she'd just stumbled into Ryan's arms, and the look they'd shared hadn't exactly been the casual, friendly kind.
She quickly stepped back, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I should probably... get going. Long day."
"Yeah, of course," Ryan said, his usual composed tone returning. "Get some rest. I'll email you the details about the audition."
Roxie nodded, giving him a small, tight smile before turning on her heel and making her way toward the exit. Her heart was still pounding, but not just from the adrenaline of the shoot anymore.
As she stepped out into the cool evening air, Roxie let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding. What was that? she thought, her mind swirling with the awkward exchange. She had barely been able to focus after the stumble, and now, as she made her way home, her thoughts kept drifting back to that moment with Ryan.
She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. It had just been a small thing, nothing to dwell on. They'd worked together for weeks, and there had never been anything awkward before. It was just... the adrenaline. The excitement of the day. That was all.
Right?
But as she walked down the street, the memory of his hand on her arm and the look they'd shared kept creeping back into her thoughts, no matter how hard she tried to push it away.