Sliding Doors - 2 (English Version)

Chapter 55

Hero

I have never been so nervous about an audition.
The idea that this time the director wanted me and only me for this part flatters me but at the same time makes me nervous.

There are some girls in the Voltage studios, one of them is Sydney. Luckily I already know her, so she's a familiar face.
Some of the other girls I recognise because they've rehearsed with me from a distance and now they're here for the final rehearsal.

We'll have to look in love and it won't be easy at all...
I only have Jo in mind and I have to do a lot of work on myself to get into the part. It's work. I'm not Hero, I'm Jim.
I'm Jim and I'm American.
Focused, I have to be focused.
The problem is that I'm reminded of the sexy rehearsals I did with Jo and I'm distracted.
I take a deep breath and walk into the room where the director and some writers are waiting for me.

"Welcome Hero!" The director stands up and comes towards me, hugging me warmly.

His reaction surprises me but at the same time makes me feel confident immediately. If they want me, there must be a reason!
After years of playing Hardin, it was time to bring his exact opposite onto the stage: Jim. A shy boy, at his first experience with girls.
He doesn't look much like me, just as Hardin doesn't look like me at all. Acting is about bringing someone different from you into the scene... As if he were a person in his own right...

"If you agree let's bring in the first girl... Let's rehearse some scenes, shall we?"
I nod as one of the girls I saw outside in the hallway a few minutes ago enters.

Rehearsals go on non-stop and I have the opportunity to try out my accent at last...
Despite the fear of not being up to it, Jo's kiss this morning and her pep talk keep playing in my head and I calm down every time I'm about to lose my concentration...

I sigh when the fourth girl enters.
The scene to be filmed is always the same and the five minutes spent then staring into each other's eyes are sometimes awkward...

"Let's rehearse and then take a break..." The director smiles at me sensing my tiredness after an hour of rehearsing always the same.
"Hero your accent is admirable, really... Do you have a coach following you?"

I think of Jo and quickly reply "Yes, her name is... Joey " I smile "she's helping me a lot..."

"Good job! I knew I could count on you..." He smiles at me and we start rehearsing again.

There's not much connection with these girls, I can't connect with them but that's just me...

If my yardstick is Jo, I don't think I will ever find anyone her equal...

"This time it was definitely better..." I hear the director comment and the girl next to me smiles shyly.
I smile at her to reassure her...

"What did you think?" She whispers.

"I honestly don't know..." I run a hand through my hair.

"So guys let's take a fifteen minute break and resume... Is that okay with you Hero?"

This incessant but at the same time relaxed pace with which the director conducts these rehearsals puts me strangely at ease.
It feels good, even though I'm starting to get tired.

I nod and leave the room, joining the other guys in the snack room.

I politely greet everyone as I take a cup of tea from the table.

"Hey Hero..." I turn around and there's Sydney smiling in front of me "Good to see you again! Will you be there tonight at the party for Moxie? We finished the shoot!"