Under the Sicilian Sun : The Accidental Tv Star

Chapter Two The Callback

Liam and I had been back for about a week. I had heard nothing about the audition. I had moved on and we were both back into our work lives. Then one day during a much needed break after a hard shift working in pediatrics I finally got a callback.

I was scrolling through my phone just taking a quiet moment to eat and not think about work for a few minutes, when my phone buzzed.

I glanced at the screen, the New York area code flashing, peaking my curiosity. Could this be it?

"Alessandra Paradiso?" The voice on the other end was crisp, the kind that meant business.

"Yes, this is she," I replied, trying to mask the sudden flutter in my chest.

"This is Jonathan Meyers from 'Under the Sicilian Sun.' We were impressed with your audition. We'd like you to come back to New York for a callback. Can you make it this Thursday?"

The words sent made me feel excited. A callback. They wanted me back. The possibility of stepping into Mariana's world again made my heart race.

"I'll be there," I said, the words tumbling out before I could even think about the logistics.

The next couple of days were a whirlwind. I swapped shifts, packed a bag with the essentials. I luckily just changed my schedule to have Thursdays off. I had also been working on the accent just for fun not thinking I would get the part.

Landing in New York again felt different. The city was unchanged, but I was not the same nurse who had left it last time. I was here with a purpose, with a dream that I never thought would come true.

The studio for the callback was in an old theater. There was a stage set with a simple table and chair, a phone and a desk. I walked in, my nerves hidden beneath a smile of confidence and the subtle 90s outfit I was told to wear. I stepped into the room, and a few other girls were there. I noticed Lily across the room and went up to her.

"Hi, you got a callback too?" I ask excitedly

"Alex! Hey, yes I did, they want me to read for Maria. Mariana's best friend."

"I was just asked to read for Mariana. I was told in the email they are also doing the chemistry read for Maria and Carlo. They already have an actor for Carlo."

"I heard about that. He's a famous actor in Italy. I saw him he's really attractive" she smirked

We then began to catch up and talk like we were old friends. I noticed a few casting directors saw how easily we got along.

"I see you are both back. I was asked to read for Maria. What about you two?" Rachel approached us with a competitive edge in her voice

"I was asked to audition for Mariana only" I replied

"I'm also up for Maria" Lily calmly responded

"We'll see-" She was cut by Johnathan Meyers making an announcement.

Lily and I exchanged a knowing look, the kind that old friends share when they sense a phony in the room.

The casting director stepped forward, clearing his throat to address the room. "Alright everyone, we are going to get started. Now with technology, we could have had you send in an audition tape, but we felt it made it more real to have you here. We are still needing to cast Mariana, her best friend Maria, and Mariana's son Lorenzo. We have found it hard to cast Lorenzo without our Mariana."

He gestured to the stage, a space that suddenly seemed much larger. "We will be doing the auditions here on this stage. This will show us how everyone interacts. When we film, we will be filming where the extras don't always know what is happening. We want this to show in the auditions. I'll call you up one by one."