Falling For The Co-Star

Falling For Her Co-Star

"Gabriella Taylor? Please follow me." As soon as I hear my name, I glance nervously over at the person who's standing at the door. I pick up my handbag from down by my feet on the floor, stand up and walk towards the lady waiting for me. She smiles and gestures for me to follow her lead. I take in my surroundings... a fairly modern office building. We stop outside a double door and stand there. I hear a faint voice coming through from the other side. The lady in front of me opens the door then steps back gesturing for me to walk into the room. I thank her and walk a few steps. I'm greeted by a panel of a few people. The man on the left end of the table says my name. "Yes that's me Sir, hi." He nods and looks down at a folder on the table. The woman next to him explains that the man next to her on the right side will play through the dialogue with me, as he will be male character. They want to see how I manage the lines. I do manage them. If only they knew how many times I went through the script beforehand because I struggle with retaining information of any kind. The panel ask me a few questions about my resume. "This is off the record Miss Jackson but we think you would be perfect for this role we have for you. We will of course send out a letter of confirmation and you will hear more from us soon. Thank you for coming here today." Trying to hide my surprise, I straighten myself up, smile and shake their hands. "Thank you for giving me the chance to be here today and I really hope that am successful." Then the lady from earlier appears at the door, ready to show me the way out. I awkwardly wave as I leave, I hear them laughing behind me as the lady closes the door. I'm soon outside and call a taxi.
It's been a month and a half since my audition, I'm prepping myself for my first day on the set of the television show that I will be acting in. I've had a hair trim, and been getting fit as much as I can. The audition panel sent me a completed script for my first episode. I just hope I don't embarrass myself in any way. Acting has been one of my lifelong goals but friends and family have always told me I need to toughen up and not be so anxious. That's the thing though, when I'm acting, I'm playing someone different and I forget my own anxiety and insecurities. It's every day living that I struggle with. I'm clumsy. Forgetful due to not being able to retain information. Jokes go in one ear and out of the other, and I always forget the punchline. Social anxiety is also something I have issues with. I sound like a right mess! Don't even mention relationships! I have had a few but nothing serious. Guys always prefer to be friends or get bored so they end up cheating on me.
I climb out of the taxi. Instead of moving away from the car, I stand frozen as I take in the site in front of me and all of a sudden, I'm pulled away. It happens so fast that my breath is took out of me, literally! "That car could have knocked you over, hurting you even." The voice breathlessly tells me as I come to. I'm face to face with a man. I stare at him. Hazel eyes. Short blond hair. Slight stubble along his jawline. I try to stand up straight, away from him. I mumble "thank you" to him. I take in his features. They're a look of gentleness. Curiosity, maybe? I see his lips form a little smile. I apologise. He chuckles to himself. "You new here?" He asks me. Thinking I've answered him, he looks at me, like he's waiting for something. Oh crap, I better speak. "I, I, yes. Yes, I'm new here. This place is a lot bigger than I imagined." He holds his hand out towards me and introduces himself, "well hello, I'm Donnie. You are?" I shake hands with him. "Hi, I'm Gabby. Nice to meet you." I like how my hand felt in his but I realise I'm still shaking it. I apologise. Now he laughs but with a kind smile on his face. Which is handsome, I think. "I can show you the entrance and then there they can take you to where you need to be. How does that sound Gabby?" With my hand that shook his hand, I gesture for him to lead the way. "Thank you Donnie." It takes a few minutes for us to silently walk to the entrance office. "Here you go, see ya later." He winks and strides back outside. I take a deep breath, in and out, slowly. Well that was embarrassing, I hope I don't see him again for pure embarrassment. God knows what must be going through his head right now?! Sitting here in reception, lost in my self depreciation, I don't notice my name being called. Quickly I look up and it's the lady from the audition. "Welcome Gabriella! We are so glad and excited for you to be with us. I hope you're not too anxious, we will do our best to look after you while you are with us. I will take you to the dressing rooms. We'll get you ready and straight to stage area for your first scene. I'm going to stay with you for today until the cast feel more familiar to you." Nodding along, feeling appreciative and excited. She asks how I'm feeling right now. I explain how i nearly got myself ran over by the taxi and some guy saved me. Then how I became a mumbling idiot because he was attractive. I tell her how I hope to never see him again due to embarrassment and shame. She tries to hide her giggles when I mention that the guy was someone called Donnie and looks away, which confuses me. Oh well.
We're now in the dressing rooms, seems like everyone else is on set so I have it to myself at the moment apart from Dawn. She's waiting just outside the door. I quickly change, after putting on some high heels, I go to stand up and end up falling in a heap on the floor. Dawn comes rushing in to check on me. Her face is horrified by seeing me on the floor, rubbing my ankle. "Are you okay, what happened?!?" I sigh to myself. "I'm not used to wearing such high heels, my foot wobbled causing me to end up like this. I'll be okay though." She asks what size I am, looking relieved, she takes off her own pair and hands them to me. "I'm the same size as you and these are a little lower but not too much." I ask if she's sure, to which she responds with "yep. We'll sort out your footwear for the rest of the episodes." I strap these on me and stand back up. Straight away, my feet feel better. We finally leave the dressing room and make our way to the set. We don't exchange words as I'm going over the lines in my head.
I'm directed to be standing outside a door, ready to knock on it. Wow straight to the first scene I see, no introductions with any of the cast but I guess I've probably caused them to be a little behind now so I can't complain.
The director snaps a clapperboard. I take a deep breath and go start my first scene. I knock on the door. I wait for the person on the other side to speak. "Come in!" Opening the door, I froze when I saw the face I was hoping to not see looking up at me from behind the desk. Crap! He's smirking at me. The director yells for everyone to stop. He has a smile on his face, probably trying not to laugh at seeing me again, and so soon, no doubt. I watch as he does a little wave at me with the hand that is out of the camera view. Oh jeez, give me strength.