A Soft Touch Far Away - (Stefanielle fanfic)

PREJUDICE

Danielle's POV :

I brought Charlotte home again this night, after her panic attack.

The next day we only had a short table read and we were free for the whole afternoon, so the cast decided to go karting.

I wasn't very fond of the idea and so was Stefania, but we still decided to accompany our friends for the party we would do after.

I entered the big room for the table read and Charlotte was already there, her head resting on her crossed arms on the desk.

I sat next to her and gently put my hand on her lower back.

"Hi beautiful girl."

She lifted her head and looked at me with tired eyes.

She looked broken and my chest got tight seeing her like this.

She was nothing like the girl they presented us when we learned we would welcome a new regular actress.

Flashback

"For this season, someone new will join the cast." Happily announced Krista.

"You probably already know her, it's Charlotte Rayne."

People exchanged surprised looks, but overall they were looking forward to meeting her.

"Isn't she like... nine ?" Wondered one of the guest actors.

"She's twelve but very professional. She has a lot of experience in different movies and series so I have no doubt she'll find her place among the main cast."

"I've met her personally and she's a bright and very nice girl. She knows what she is doing and looks more like an adult than a child when she's acting."

Some scoffed, others laughed.

We could hear comments like "She's just a little princess, having everything she wants thanks to daddy and mommy."

"She should stay where she belongs, between the rich and untalented stars."

"She probably got the role because of her parents' money."

"Or because she threw a tantrum."

"Enough !" Yelled Krista.

"I hope you'll all try and welcome her as an equal. She's young so remember that even if she's very professional, she's still a child."

End of Flashback

"How do you feel today ?"

"Fine." She simply answered.

"Charlotte, don't lie to me."

"I'm okay Danielle." She insisted.

"Charlotte..."

The rest of the cast started entering the room.

"Please Danielle, not now." She pleaded.

I nodded and everyone sat down.

The table read went well, as soon as Charlotte transformed into Hayley, she wasn't the same person. She was a confident, extrovert teen but when she wasn't on the scenes reading her lines, she was looking down at her lap, fidgeting with her fingers and trying to breathe deeply.

I could see how tense she was, how her shoulders were sometimes shaking when someone was speaking a little too loudly.

At the end of the table read, everyone gathered their things.

"Let's meet at the kart track." Grinned Barrett.

"Be safe on the road, it's raining pretty badly." Advised one of the executive producers.