𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒔 ~ 𝑿𝒐𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒕𝒍 𝑮𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒛

Faltering Steps

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BE-

"Screw me" I murmured, hitting my phone to turn off the alarm that was blaring in my ears.

When I realized why my alarm was on, anxiety washed over me and a nauseous feeling filled my stomach. This always happens. I thought I would get used to it by now, I thought wrong.

I grabbed my phone from the bedside table to turn off the of the alarms that I set, just in case if I didn't hear the first one. Putting on some music, I got out of bed, making it in the process. I brushed my teeth and washed my face and put on very light makeup, since I'm going to an audition.

Now the only thing left to do is pick out what I'm going to wear. It's not that hot today, so I think I'm just gonna wear some jeans and a graphic shirt tucked in a little. I brushed my hair and was ready to leave. Grabbing my phone and bag, I left the hotel room, locking the door behind me.

Harrison was waiting in front of the car when I came out of the hotel. "Good morning Miss Bennett." he said formally again as he opened the door of the back seat. "Good morning Harrison, please call me Lana" "My apologies." he got in the driver's seat and started the car.

My nerves were really starting to get to me and my chest felt heavy. I tried to breathe as normally as possible so that I wouldn't have a panic attack. "How was you night?" Harrison asked trying to take my mind off the pain in my chest. "It was good, I was out in like an hour" "Oh, I bet. How long have you been acting?" "Um, I started when I was very little, and I got parts in commercials and stuff. I got a big part in a show, but it was canceled because of quarantine and they never got around to starting production back up for it." "Oh, I'm sorry about that." "It's okay, it's kinda for the best to be honest. I got a better opportunity now." "Well I'm glad everything worked out in the end." he said smiling slightly while he was looking in the mirror before looking back at the road.

"What about you. How did you come around to becoming a driver?" "Well I used to do professional boxing and that type of stuff during high school. It was actually what I wanted to pursue in life. But I had a very bad spinal cord injury when I was 17 and my doctors advised me not to fight anymore if I didn't want to be stuck in a wheelchair for the rest of my life." That's actually really sad, I feel really bad for him.

"I'm sorry" "No need to be sorry, I actually like this job. Plus working as a driver for famous people, I double as their bodyguard, since I'm qualified." "That's actually really cool. Who is your favorite celebrity you've driven?" He took a moment to think of his answer. "I don't know actually, but probably RDJ." "That's so cool. Sorry if I hit a sensitive spot with my questions earlier." "It's totally okay, I don't mind talking about it."

Before I knew it, we were in front of the building where the audition was being held. "We're here Miss Lana. I hope I took your mind off the audition for a bit, I could feel the anxiety radiating from you." "Thank you so much Harrison, you really did help me. I do have one request for you, if that's okay." "Anything Miss Lana." "Could you please drop the Miss and call me just Lana, I feel very weird and uncomfortable about you being that formal with me." "Of course, if that's what you wish." "Thank you. I should get going, it's going to start soon." I said looking at the time on my phone. "You will do great in there, good luck. I will be waiting for you outside." He got out of the car to open the door for me before getting back in. "Thanks Harrison, bye." With that, I took a deep breath and entered the building, praying to God that everything goes as planned.

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I'm sitting in front of the casting room, waiting for my name to be called. My legs are bouncing like never before and my heart feels like it's going to jump out of my ribcage. I can't remember the last time I went to an in person audition. Everything has been done online for a few years now.

"Number 107." My train of thoughts was cut off when a director came out to call the next person to audition. I looked down at the number on my script and saw that I was up. "That would be me" "Great, follow me please." I stood up and followed the woman into the room.

"Good morning" I said to the directors after walking to the middle of the room. "Good morning! How are you?" The man that sat in the middle asked. "I'm good, thank you for asking. How are you?" "Splendid. Please say your name and start from scene five."

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After about twenty minutes in the room with the directors, they stopped me. "That was great, thank you very much Miss Bennett. You may proceed to the stunt test in the back of the building." "Thank you for your time, have a nice day!" "You too!"

I left the room and walked towards the back of the building where blue screens were set up with a fight scene prepared. I tied my hair up so it wouldn't get in the way and walked onto set. Another director was sitting in a chair on set, talking into a walkie-talkie. "Yes, for sure Roger. She's coming on set right now, I'll update you when I'm done." He said in a hushed voice with a strong British accent. "Good morning" "Good morning dear, shall we get started?" "We shall" "Okay, great, please stand on the hill and do some barrel rolls please."

I did as the director said after which I stood up. "Great, now run into the camera from the end of the set, looking angry." I made my way toward the back of the set, put on an angry face, clenched my jaw and on the directors count started running. "Okay, that was all we needed, thank you." "Thank you, bye" "Bye doll." the director said before going back on the walkie-talkie.

Something wasn't right. That was too little for a stunt test for a Marvel movie. There's no way I got the part, they would make me do a lot more than just some barrel rolls and running.

When I left the building, Harrison was waiting for me by the car. As always, he opened the door for me and started the car. We drove in silence for a few minutes before he broke it. "So, how did it go?" he asked intrigued.

"I think I blew it."