Lori Stewart: The Acting Designer

Chapter One

*Chapter One*

I woke up startled by my alarm clock sitting mockingly on my bedside table. I threw it out of my window, again, and then realised that was the fourth alarm clock that I threw out in the past week. Very slowly I got up out of my single bed and started to get ready for work. My red hair was a mess as usual and so I walked to the one bathroom of my apartment trying to get the knots out. I quickly brushed my teeth and went to my closet. I picked out a short white dress with navy polka dots and a bow in the front, and made my way to my other room, which was converted into a meditation room and a seperate closet for my Converse shoes. As I opened the door to the meditation room, a blast of coffee and avocado incense came through and I smiled to myeslf. This Wednesday might not be so bad after all.

I parked my BMW X6 at the parking lot of the salon where I work part-time. I am only 19 but I also only took this job to have a distraction from all the auditions I have been doing in the last year. I still want to be an actress. My job consists of doing the nails of dogs and monkeys. Real dogs and monkeys, which was a little strange for the majority of people. Only the most rich and extravagant people come here, apparently.

"Aahh the famous Lori Stewart! I didn't think you would come in today." said my boss, Steve. "Not yet, Steve. I almost didn't come in today. I got home at 2am!" The audition I did yesterday didn't turn out so great. One of the judges fainted and was rushed to the hospital, with me in the back of the ambulance. The judge fainted from heat and I was the closest person to her so the paramedics assumed I was family. Long story short, she thought I was a nurse and had to do everything for her until I escaped. "Better not make a habit of it, Lori." He said, wagging a finger at me. "When I started I warned you it's gonna happen." He just rolled his eyes and went to do some old lady's poodle's hair.

As soon as I got home, there was a very expensive envelope waiting for me at my door. I didn't have to worry about it because I knew who it was from. My parents always invite me to these monthly family dinners by sending me a letter instead of an email. You would think they don't know how to send an email, but my mother loves to go all out with these things. I sighed and eventually opened the letter. "You are formally invited by the Stewart Family for dinner," I read out loud. "Feel free to bring a partner. Date: Saturday. Time: 18:30." Oh great. I don't understand why she has to write it by hand when she can just print it. We have a large family so it had to take alot of time to write. The envelope is a cream and salmon color and a light salmon letter. I put the letter on the TV stand and went to the fridge. I haven't eaten all day. Finding some chocolate chip cookies, I tore the bag open and ate about 4 before drifting off to sleep.

I suddenly woke up by a loud noise in the kitchen. I sat upright and looked at my new alarm clock. 20:41. Extremely terrified and pumped with adrenaline, I picked up one of my scented candles, strawberry, and smelled it first. If this will be my weapon, I better enjoy the smell first. I got out of my bed and tip-toed to my living room. I stepped further and saw a shadow cross me. I froze and saw something quickly approach me before I was knocked to the ground.