Honestly.

Chapter 1: The Accident

"We're in trouble Harry," she whispered
"Honestly?" I whispered back.
"Honestly."

Even to this day, I still remember how particularly quiet the lobby was that day. I looked around the room, and every single girl there was just like me. Long brown hair, hazel eyes, tan skin.

This was the biggest audition I had gotten since moving to LA, and the nerves were at an all time high. Every person knew that once you made it into the Roman Casting office, it was either make or break. If they loved you, you kept coming back, if they didn't, it was like starting all over.

So as I looked down at my script, I couldn't help but feel so small. My agent had let me know a big name was attached to this movie, but no one knew who it was. How anxiety-inducing is that? It also didn't help that the brunette directly in front of me was burning holes into my forehead with her stare. I was too scared to look up, so I just reread my script over and over, as if I was relearning the lines. Maybe if she thought I wasn't prepared she would stop staring.

"Nancy, you're next followed by Anna, then Miera."

I looked up at the thin casting associate as she said my name. Just two more people before me and it was the moment of truth. I took a deep breath, relieved to find that Nancy was the brunette in front of me, and I no longer had to worry about my hair catching on fire. Suddenly my phone started vibrating, I pulled it out of my purse to see my mom was calling, I quickly ignored the call, texting her I would call her later. She must have forgotten I had my audition today.

Before I had a chance to put my phone away, it started vibrating again. My mom. I ignored it once more and texted her to remind her I was in the audition. I didn't even finish writing the text when I saw the incoming message from her.

Miera. Dad was in an accident. He didn't make it.

The room started spinning, and all I could make out was that text message "he didn't make it." What did she mean he didn't make it? Didn't make it to his destination? Didn't make it where? But I knew. My dad didn't make it. My dad was dead. I felt the anxiety attack starting, and I sat there frozen trying to fight back the tears that so badly wanted to come.

"Anna, you're next followed by Miera, then Janet. But Anna, our reader needs a minute so I'll come get you in a bit."

Shit.

I thought to myself, I quickly got up and ran towards what I hoped was the bathroom. The world felt like it was shifting under me, the same feeling you get after you've drank one to many, and then it happened. Just like you always read in books and see in cheesy romance movies, I ran straight into him.

I fell back so hard on my butt, that the tears couldn't be stopped after that. My first big audition was ruined, I just knew there was no way I could get back in that room. My dad was dead and here I was crying in front of someone I was too embarrassed and devastated to look up at.

"Are you alright? Are you hurt?"

I shook my head no, because I wasn't alright, and even though my butt was in pain, I wasn't hurt.

"I can't believe he's gone. This can't be real."

I heard myself say it out loud, and it made the moment so much more real. I began sobbing, probably louder than I wanted. I felt as the person I had bumped into sat next to me, and pulled me into them. I was too distressed to care that I didn't know who was holding me, I just cried.

"Hey, hey, who's gone?"

"My dad. He's dead. This audition is ruined. My butt hurts and I'm so sorry for bumping into you." It all came out like word vomit, as I kept sobbing.