Love Under Construction

1. New Site

Spencer's POV

"What's up, mom?" I say on FaceTime while she smiles on the other end.

"We miss you very much! Have you been able to find acting work?"

I wish I could say 'yes' and make my her proud, but it wouldn't be the truth.

"No mom! I'm looking though," I tell her as I wait for the bus near my apartment.

"What about those acting classes that you signed up for?" She questions and I'm already over the conversation. "If that's not working out baby boy, you can make an honest living back home."

"I got to go, momma. My bus is here. Tell everyone I say hello. Bad reception." I lie before ending the call abruptly.

I know my mom loves me and just wants what's best for me, but I just wish she didn't suggest I give up so easily.

I came here to be one of the greats. And she shouldn't want me to leave until I do just that.
____________

"Yo, Spence!" My homeboy Shawn says before I turn to shake his hand. "Heard this next job is a lick!"

"What is a lick?" I ask as I hide my accent natural accent.

He hesitates to see if I'm serious and I am. "I keep forgetting you ain't from here."

I chuckle before we board the city bus with our hard hats and book bags.

"What I'm saying is this house is out in the hills, on a beach. Some rich white kid got his hands in daddy's trust fund and is ready to make a Never-Never Land 2.0." Shawn explains as we find our seats.

"So we should have work for a while?" I ask and he nods.

"Exactly!"

"Aye, I just want to thank you for hooking me up with this gig, until the acting jobs pick up," I say sincerely.

"It's nothing bro! I know what it feels like to need work. I told you, you're good with me." Shawn says and I believe him.

I met him at LA Fitness on my free week trial, when I first moved here from my hometown. And he's been letting me use his buddy pass ever since.

I have to admit that I wasn't sure how I would adjust being here all alone, but Shawn made the transition a little easier with his genuine demeanor. He reminds me of one of my best friend's back home.

I stop my words when I hear my phone ring and I see a message from Yonni.

Ignoring it is the easy part. Matter of fact, it might be too easy.

"Is that waitress bae?" Shawn asks and I laugh.

"Call her what you want. But make sure you add 'not my lady' at the end of it." I say and he laughs.

Yonni is my first taste of American women and she's been nothing short of a 'trip' since we first hooked up.

"But you said it yourself, the sex is amazing, right?" He asks and that's not the point.

"Yeah, and then her ex came through the door."

"So the hell what!" Shawn counters seriously. "You said he wasn't tripping about you smashing his fine ass ex-girlfriend in their apartment, right?"

"Apparently, they're just roommates."

"But you don't believe her—-," Shawn mumbles nonchalantly.

"Doesn't matter what I believe. It's what's true or not true."

"That's your own insecurities," Shawn tells me and he may be right but I don't want to admit it. "You came over to America comparing these LA women to your ex. That was your first mistake."