The Hudson Boys

Chapter seven

I wake up the next morning at 5:55 with the desire to go for a run.

Getting out of bed, I go to the bathroom and brush my teeth. Next, I walk into my closet and pull on a pair of Nike running shorts, one of my old high school t-shirts and a pair of socks and running sneakers. I grab my iphone and my headphones and start to leave my room.

As I'm closing the door to my room I hear another door in the hallway close. I turn my head to see that it's Mark.

"Are you going for a run too?" he asks. I nod. "Cool, let's go together."

Mark and I make our way down the stairs and into the kitchen to grab a couple waters. Then we go outside and stretch for a couple minutes.

We start off with a jog and begin to pick up the pace as we go. Running with Mark is nice, we both listen to music as we run and occasionally say something to one another when our songs are changing.

After about another ten minutes, we begin to slow down and eventually stop for a water break.

"California really is beautiful" I comment, looking around.

"Yeah, this is your first time here right?" Mark asks, taking another sip of his water.

"Yeah, this is actually my first time off the east coast" I admit.

"So what's New York like?"

"Cold" I reply. "And hot. I live in New York State so we have brutally cold winters and really hot summers. We get the best of both worlds."

"Okay, Hannah Montana" Mark jokes. "Ready to go back?"

Mark and I run for another fifteen minutes and race each other as we get closer to the house. Mark would have won if his shoe wasn't untied, causing him to trip when we made it to the front gates of the house.

We walk into the house together, laughing at Mark's fall and grab some breakfast. Mark shows me how to get up to our rooms again and we go our separate ways.

I get into the shower and wash all the sweat off of my body. After my shower, I change into some leggings and a t-shirt, I'm not planning on going anywhere today.

In fact, I've decided that I'm going to spend the day preparing for my audition that's in two days.

Hours go by and I finally have the monologue memorized. I then decide to focus on the song they chose, On the Steps of the Palace. I spend the next couple of hours focusing on the song to make sure I have it down and realize that it's 5:50. Today's Thursday so we have mandatory dinner in ten minutes.

Knowing that I'll probably get lost, I decide to leave now.

David and Dylan are leaving their rooms at the same time so we all go down together.

Jason and Claire are already sitting at the table talking to each other while Willow brings out food and places it around the table.

Vince and Parker come down shortly after us and then Steve enters from the front door, still in work clothes and joins us, giving Claire a kiss on the cheek before sitting down. Claire then declares that we can eat. Each of us start to add food to our plates.

Claire and Steve talk about both of their days at work and some of the other boys talk to each other.

"So Jess" Claire begins. "What did you do today? Anything exciting?"

Everyone at the table turns to face me, waiting to hear what my answer will be.

"I don't know if I would call it exciting" I chuckle. "But Mark and I went for a run this morning and then I spent the rest of the day preparing for my audition."

"Audition?" Steve questions.

"Yeah, I'm auditioning for a musical on Saturday" I respond.

"Oh this is so exciting!" Claire beams. "What musical? Do you have headshots? Can I see them? Ahh I can't wait to see you in this! We'll all come, right boys?" Her sons just stare at her, probably thinking that they would rather do anything other than to go to a musical.

"The show is Into the Woods" I laughed. "And no I do not have headshots, well not any new ones."

"What?" Claire looks horrified. "Oh honey, no! You need headshots! You'll just have to come to work with me tomorrow so we can get you some."

Everyone, including myself, turn our heads and stare at Claire in shock, checking to see if she's joking.

"It's okay, Claire, I'm fine-"

"Nonsense" she interjects. "Evan, one of our photographers will be in tomorrow shooting one of our fashion lines anyway. I'm sure he'll be able to fit you in! We leave tomorrow at 9 am! I'll meet you tomorrow morning by the front door!"

I guess I'm going to work tomorrow with Claire Hudson.