Shattered

Chapter Two

An hour later I'm walking the boardwalk in a pair of leggings and a tank top, I was not expecting the weather to be this warm so early in the season. Slipping the cheap pair of flipflops I purchased from the beach shop off, I carried them in my hooked fingers as I pad down the beach barefoot. The sand was hot beneath my feet as they sank in with each step, sand pooling between my toes. The air was filled with moisture and the smell of salt from the ocean water.

Finally, I reached the part of the beach where they were shooting a scene. A couple on the beach, waves crashing against their feet as they gaze into one another's eyes, oblivious to the game of volleyball going on behind them or the couple tossing a ball for a dog to run after. A few extras were in bathing suits, laying on towels for sunbathing but the main focus was the couple in front of the waves.

The girl stormed off angrily as the guy stood in place looking annoyed. The director yelled 'cut' and everyone that was in that area immediately turned towards the docks leaving the beach bare. I grabbed my camera and captured the way the waves were rolling over one another, crashing against the shore creating a white foam. Shortly after I took a few photographs I heard the director yelling commands and the extra's moved back to their assigned spots as the couple slowly moved towards the shore hand-in-hand.

I watched a few of the volleyball players, one looked as if he had some actual experience in the sport. The girls laying on the towels were propped up, elbows resting in the sand. One of them kept looking at the couple on the shore while the other looked out over the water. Neither were doing a very good job of acting normal. Movement out of the corner of my eye pulled my attention to the right. Turning towards the movement I noticed a few kids trying to catch glances of the action. They looked young, maybe 18-20. One of the guys looked annoyed, almost bored while the two girls watched intently. Their mouths were moving but they weren't speaking to one another. The two girls took turns speaking, moving slightly. The guy with them kept rolling his eyes in annoyance but that didn't stop them.

When I realized what the girls were doing, I turned towards the actors and watched as they were moving in the same manner. The girls were acting out the scene. Bored with the actual actors on the set, I quietly slipped behind the boulder I was perched up on to move closer to them. When I was close enough to hear them, I stopped and watched. The girls were acting out the scene as it was being created. I kept taking peeks at the actual set and actors and these two girls seemed more passionate about it than the two hired for the characters.

After a few minutes of watching them, I was thoroughly impressed. I stepped out into the open where I could be seen. Startled, the three of them turned towards me wide-eyed. One of the girls began apologizing profusely.

"We are so sorry, we just wanted to get a glimpse of it being created."

The other girl stepped forward looking apologetic as well.

"We love the show and just wanted to watch the action in person."

Smiling, I raised my hands to show I meant no harm.

"I'm not here for them, I don't work on set." I pulled a card from my back pocket and extended my arm to them. One of the girls stepped forward and accepted it. "What I am part of is a scouting company."

The second girl squealed in excitement. "No way!" She exclaimed as she looked over her friend's shoulder.

Smiling I said, "Yes way." It made the guy they were with laugh. I raised an eyebrow at him with lips pursed together unamused. Making it obvious that I was ignoring him I turned my attention back to the girls.

"My name is Cassie. When you call the number on the card a woman named Ruby will answer, she's the owner of the company. Tell her I referred you and she will take things from there. That is, if you're interested in acting?" I asked with a grin.

They turned towards one another, gripping each other's arms as they began bouncing and screaming in place. Smiling, I said my goodbyes and began walking away. The brunette called after me, she glanced over her shoulder nervously before turning back to me.

"Thank you. Thank you for even taking an interest in us. Our friend over there always told us we were stupid to think we could ever get noticed."

Turning to face her fully, I looked her in her eyes as I spoke sincerely.

"Honey, I watched that boy over there, he is not a true friend. You can do with this what you want to but, in my experience, you don't want friends that don't believe in your dreams with you. The two of you deserve better."

Smiling bashfully, she thanked me. "My name is Sarah, by the way. And my friend back there is Celest."

"Well, Sarah, I wish you all the luck in your future. Maybe the next show they decide to shoot here will have you cast in it."

She smiled bigger and bounced back towards her friends as I turned to make my way back to the top of the beach. Satisfied with finding two potential clients just shortly after arriving, I decided to end my day with texting my sister. I took a picture of myself with the beach behind me and sent it through text message. It didn't take but a few seconds for my phone to ring.

"Where are you?" She demanded.

Laughing, "Nice to hear from you, too, Jess."

"Cassia Hayes, don't you play with me like this. Are you really home?" She asked, her voice softening as she ended her question.

"Yes." Smiling as I pictured the smile that I knew was on her face, I heard her moving around wherever she was at. "What's going on, Jess?"

"Nothing, I'm leaving work. You're at the boardwalk? I'll be there in five." And the call ended.

Making my way to the other side of the dock, I noticed the table we always sat at when we were younger was open. I hurried towards it, placed my camera on the table, and sat down. Pulling out my phone I text Jess where I was and within a few minutes she was pulling me out of my chair into a tight hug before taking the seat across from me.

"What're you doing here? You said you'd never come back home." She asked eyeing me.

Looking down at the table, I reached for the strap on my camera and fiddled with it.

"Ruby wouldn't pick anyone else. She forced me to come."

Jess looked at me with a raised eyebrow. She studied my face as her brows slowly pulled in and she chewed on the side of her lip.

"Stop. I'm not lying to you." I knew she was trying to decide if I was lying, that was her tell. She eyed me further, not commenting on my previous statement.

She finally gave up and leaned forward. "Where are your things?" She asked looking around me.

"In the room."

"The roo-" Her brows furrowed as her lips pursed together. She stood, hands on her hips while clenching her teeth together. "If you think for one minute that I'm having my sister stay in a hotel when she has a perfectly suitable bed at our place, you're mistaken."

"Jess," I started.

"No. Grab your camera, we're going to that hotel and grabbing your things. How long have you been in town?"

Walking next to her, I sighed. "A few hours, maybe?"

"Good, you won't get charged. Let's go."