My Leading Man | Timothée Chalamet

chapter six

After sitting down for lunch and I had finished regaling Sydney with all that had happened today, we both sat there silent for a few moments.

    Finally, Syd broke the silence. "Wow. Wow, Vi! This is huge!"

    I nodded my head slowly. "I know. I- I can't believe it."

    "So what do you think you're gonna do now?" She paused, giving me a sly grin. "Are you going to call Timothée's agent and give him the part?" She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively at me.

    I laughed, but covered my face with my hands. "I don't know, Syd. If I don't get this grant, I just don't think it's possible. I only have a little bit of money saved, and all that money goes towards school-"

    "I know, I know. But let's face the facts." Syd was always good at getting me out of a spiral. She splayed her fingers across the table in diplomacy. "You wrote a script; you, Violet Ross, wrote a script that has been praised several times by two people who are experts in this industry- not to mention that one of them was Timothée Chalamet." She paused, for effect.

    I rolled my eyes. "I know, Syd, but what about the other actors? He's just one of several I would need."

    "So hold auditions! We're both members of the film community at this school anyway, so take advantage of it! Plus," she paused, eyeing me. "Have we forgotten that I'm an acting major? I'll play your leading lady!"

    I hesitated, deep in thought. I'd always been told it's best to not have people you're close to play parts in your films, because it can just cause tension. Then again, Syd had already played parts in about a million of my other theatrical endeavors, and, hey, beggars couldn't be choosers. "Alright," I gave in, smiling. Syd was a good actress, after all. She'd played the lead role in several of our high school's productions, as well as a supporting one in some of NYU's. What did I have to lose? I gave Syd my full attention. "But I want to keep this professional. Will you still audition, at least a little bit for me?" I laughed nervously. "Just run a few lines."

    "Of course of course," Syd said, waving her hand around with finality. I pulled my script out of my pack and handed it to her.

    "Maybe, wanna learn the lines for the first two scenes? And we can go through 'em this weekend."

    "Sure. Sounds good." Syd beamed at me. She loved acting, and I was sure getting to act alongside Timothée was no burden for her, either.

    "Great." I smiled back. "But I don't think I should hold auditions yet for anyone else until we know for sure that I'll be making this thing." Syd nodded in agreement, and we turned the conversation to what nerve her last boyfriend must have had for already posting a picture of him with another girl on Instagram.

    -

    The rest of the week flew by, and it was now Sunday evening, with no word yet from my professor's colleague. I paced around my room nervously. I told myself I would call Timothée's agent by the end of today, with a solid answer. All week I'd been trying to convince myself to not get my hopes up, that I would likely not get to make this film, at least not with Timothée, but despite all my chastisement, my hopes were up. They were on the freaking moon. When Syd ran lines with me on Friday, it just all felt so real. She fit the role really well, and I could imagine her and Timothée being in a relationship - at least, looks-wise, as their characters were supposed to be together.

    I pulled my mind out of my thoughts and paused to look outside my bedroom door, into the hallway. I still hadn't told my parents about all that had happened; I was just nervous about everything, worried about getting too excited for it all just to be disappointed, and a small part of me worried my parents would discourage it. Unable to keep it from them any longer, though, I squared my shoulders and headed out to my parents in the kitchen.