INTUITIVE, austin butler

1

I can't sleep.

It's six o'clock in the morning and Ive been tossing and turning since three.

The nerves of my new job won't leave my mind, and it's enough to make me blankly stare at my ceiling like a heartbroken teenager.

I love acting, and I'm confident in my abilities, but it's been over a year since I stepped foot on any sort of set. It's been over a year since I heard the word 'action' enough times to hear it while I was sleeping, and most of all, it's been a year since I felt myself.

Now you may be wondering... Riley, what have you been doing for a year?

Drinking coffee, and absolutely never leaving my apartment. Thank the heavens above for my manager Lana, who moved in with me after the incident and did all the grocery shopping while I was a basket case. I can also thank Lana for landing me this role... She said it was purely because of my talent, but I know she's just being nice , and that she negotiated me this part. No decent director would give an actress who hasn't been seen in public more than two times in the last year a huge part like this.

Lana has practically tattooed the words, 'I think I'm great, I know I'm great!' into my mind over the last year. After ten months of her saying that first thing in the morning to me, and printing out a shirt with that quote on it, I finally started to believe her. She sat me down the other night and we watched the last movie I acted in, and I felt the drive I had been lacking for the past year ignite again. Lana wasn't wrong, I was pretty good. It's too bad my career nearly went down the drain the past year... I'm not being dramatic when I say this is my last chance. I have to nail this role.

So finally, after hours of picking at my fingers, and debating whether or not I have chicken pox and should call off, it's time to force myself out of bed.

As I roll out of bed slowly, Lana comes crashing into my room, "Goodmornin' my little star," She flicks the light on and I nearly shriek at the light. "It's time to go kick some actor ass." She walks over to my huge window, and opens the blinds, blinding me yet again.

"Lana," I rub my eyes, "Why are you up right now?"

"Riley Jane Boston," She throws a pair of jeans, and a black sweater at me, "You're wearing that by the way," She whispers with a little laugh.

"I don't understand morning people." I murmur to myself and throw off my shirt, replacing it with the black sweater.

"I'm up because my girl is back! Riley Jane Boston is back and this time around..." Lana hands me perfume, which is halfway offensive. "She's gonna win an Oscar. I know it, I feel it in my bones."

"I think you want an Oscar more than I do." I huff, and slide on my jeans. I look at myself in the mirror, realizing this outfit isn't half bad.

"You're right," Lana appears behind me in the mirror, and she pulls on the slack of my jeans. "I'm gonna buy you new jeans while you're at work."

I furrow my brows at her, "Um.. thanks?"

Lana claps her hands several times, "I'm so happy for you Riley, you need this."

In reality, I feel like she needs this more than I do. I know my little hiatus hasn't been easy in her career, and as much as she loves me and genuinely does want me back on the stage, I know she's also doing this for her. Considering all she's done for me in the past year, I'll do this for her.