In Love with Madden

I'M SURE IT'LL BE FINE

Everly hadn't expected to get a job offer as she picked up her phone.

She glanced at the caller-ID, which said "unknown caller", and hesitantly said "hello?"

"Is this Everly Smith? I'm Karen Davis, a casting director for an upcoming movie, and my team and I would like to offer you the role of one of the bigger characters in the story."

"U-uh, right", Everly faltered slightly before regaining her composure. "It sounds really great but I should probably talk to my-"

"Your agent?", Karen interrupted somewhat rudely.

"Uh, yes, right. Ma'am", she added after half a second of silence.

"We've already been in contact with Mr. Johnsen and given him the necessary information. We spoke to him directly after Mr. Madden."

Everly took a second to rewind the woman's last sentence in her head. Richard? What is his connection to with any of this?

"Thank you?" Everly said, internally wincing at how much it sounded like a question. "I mean, I will ask him, Mrs. Davis, and then we'll be in contact."

"Good day to you", the casting director answered, and she had hung up before Everly had the chance to respond or ask why Mrs. Davis had spoken to Richard about her.

She called Audrey without skipping a beat.

"Soooo", Everly said instantly as Audrey had picked up, "here's what just happened!"

She recounted the occurrence to her friend as well as she could, and Audrey was just brimming with questions. "What movie was she hired for? Which genre is it? Is it romantic? Ooooh, are you going to be playing opposite another handsome man?"

"I-", Everly started, when she realised, she actually had no idea about any of her friend's questions, "-don't know, actually", she said with a frown. "Mrs. Davis didn't give me any details, really. Our whole exchange was so brief, and she only said that she had been in contact with Eric and Richard also, which is a bit confusing, so I don't know."

"Richard? She spoke to Richard about your role? Why?" Clearly Audrey was as confused as Everly.

"That's what I don't know!"

"I'm sure it'll be fine!" Audi assured her, "I'm sure this is a huge opportunity and that it'll be great for you! You are taking the part, right?"

It was quiet on Everly's side of the phone for a few seconds.

"Yeah, I think so", she said, "I really should speak to Eric first though, and probably also try to get some answers out of Richard. And, shit, I have to call my brother too!"

"Oh yeah, good luck with that", she laughed, "he'll be so pissed that you're not returning home anytime soon."

Everly groaned. "Oh god, don't remind me."

They said their goodbyes, and Everly gathered the courage to call her brother.

Joshua was not overly thrilled, very far from it, actually, but he understood her passion for acting and he understood how London wasn't the best place to be in terms of finding roles, so luckily he let her be after she had repeated her promised to come visit at least a hundred times.

***

Everly had texted Richard a few minutes before she casually dropped by his apartment, and they had been in a heated argument after she found out it was thanks to Richard she had even been offered the role.

"Look, Richard," Everly spat, "I don't need your help finding a new job! Do you just see me as some helpless woman, who desperately needs your help to make a living? Why did you do it?"

Frustrated, Richard raked his hands through his already tousled hair.

"Look, Everly", Richard mocked, "I didn't do it for you, and I don't think you're helpless, for god's sake."

A bit taken aback at Richard's tone, Everly stayed silent.

"My friend, who is dating the woman, who oversees the casting of the movie, asked for help in finding a perfect someone to play the role of the love interest, and I recommended you.", he continued, slightly less annoyed.

"Oh", was the only thing Everly could think of replying, already feeling stupid for reacting so harshly.

"I just wanted you to stay around, I thought it could be a nice surprise!" His voice no more than a whisper, and he added, in a slightly concerned tone, "You don't feel pressured into accepting, right?"

Everly tilted her head upwards towards his, kissed him softly and drew him in for a hug. "It's okay, Richie", she said, all rage abandoned, "I forgive you. I just don't want you going behind my back! And don't worry, I already spoke to Eric, the part is wonderful, and I accepted it. Thank you.", she rolled her eyes playfully at the last part and softly shoved his shoulder.

"Soooo!", he said, quickly changing the subject a bit, "I must've played a huge part in your decision to stay in LA, right? I mean, you're basically choosing to stay in my city instead of going back to your brother's!"

Everly shoved him again, this time quite harder, and said, "Don't flatter yourself." She gave him a quick peck on the mouth. While exiting his apartment she also called out "and don't be a dick, Richie!"

"Oh shut up", he laughed at her retreating form.