To Kiss a Girl

Adulting for real

AN: Thank you so much to @captain_black_magic for voting <333 you are a wonderful human and this chapter is dedicated to you! Also, I promise it will be less lame as the story progresses. I just want to get through all the beginning intro stuff, so the story comes together a little better. Please stick with it :)

As I shoved my shit into the back of the uber, the knots in my stomach became increasingly tight. What if my family never forgives me? I wondered to myself.

"Alright, where are you headed ma'am?" The uber driver asked.

"The train station, please." I muttered, praying he would hear me so I wouldn't have to repeat myself.

I really wasn't in the mood for small talk, let alone repeating myself a hundred times.

He seemed to feel the vibe I was giving off, and was quiet the entire drive.

We arrived about 30 minutes later, and as I got my shit out of the car, called me to the window.

"I hope whatever it is you're going through gets fixed." He told me with a smile.

I grinned in response. "Thank you. I really needed to hear that."

I shut the door and made my way up to the ticket booth.

"Hi! One ticket to Grand Central Station please!" I asked with a small smile.

The lady complied, not saying a word; she just handed me my ticket and I was on my way.

I made my way down to my platform and sat on the empty bench, putting in my headphones and listening to the new cast recording of Newsies until the train came.

20 minutes late, of course.

I was the first on, but was still shoved relentlessly.

And I thought people on the subway were rude! I thought to myself with an eyeroll.

The train ride was uneventful, lucky for me. I was too swamped in my phone and my thoughts to really feel like dealing with anyone's shit.

As "Watch What Happens Reprise" played through my headphones, I wasn't able to concentrate; I was too busy texting Katie.

Me: Dad calm down at all??

Katie: I don't know, he was quiet all of dinner. Any time mom tried to say something, about you or otherwise, he just made a "hm" noise and continued pushing his food around with his fork.

Me: Well. How is mom holding up?

Katie: She went upstairs crying after you left, but mentioned to me how proud of you she was. T be entirely fair, she did the exact same thing when you left for college.

Me: I'm gonna call her when I get to the hotel tonight.

Katie: Alright.

Erupting me from my thoughts, the conductor came over the loudspeaker.

"Attention passengers! We are entering Penn Station, prepare to exit momentarily.

I pulled one of my earbuds out and started to grab my stuff out of the compartment overhead. 

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About an hour later, I gave Elisabeth a call to see if there were any nearby hotels to where I would be auditioning.

"Hello?" Elisabeth answered, picking up after 2 rings.

"Hey Elisa, it's Brooklyn!"

"Oh hi! Did you make it in okay?"

"Yeah, yeah, just got off the train actually. I forgot how quiet it gets around 8:30 pm. Speaking of, are there any hotels you recommend near where I will be auditioning?" I asked, hoping she didn't think I was trying to get a leg up in the audition process.

"Oh yeah! You'll just be auditioning in the Nederlander, so the Hilton down the street should be a good fit. Also- you already have some reservations there."

I didn't call in reservations though...

"I do?"

"Oh yeah! I forgot to tell you earlier... We, Kara and I, figured that since you're already coming up from Pennsylvania and auditioning, we'd do you a little favor and rent you a room!" I was completely speechless.

"Oh my- Oh my god! Thank you! I cannot express my gratitude!" I exclaimed, feeling tears prick my eyes again.

"Ah, it's no problem! Say, let us know when you get here, just text me! We can meet up and maybe do a little impromptu interview? In person, that is." She added with a small laugh.

"Yeah, of course, no problem! See you soon!" I felt as though I couldn't breath.

The casting director offered for me to meet Kara Lindsay TO INTERVIEW FOR KATHERINE.

I could scream.

I sprinted up the stairs and hailed a cab faster than I ever had before.

"Hilton in Times Square please!" I said breathlessly to the irritated cabbie.

The ride, again, luckily was uneventful.

Although, my day was getting progressively better.

We arrived faster than I thought we would, and a lot more expensive.

I huffed and handed the dude the cash and made my way across Times Square, entering the lobby of The Hilton.

I put my suitcases and stuff down and gave the front desk kid a smile.

"Checking in under Booker?" I said, leaning on the small counter.

"Yep, here's your key. Enjoy your room." He replied monotonously.

Must have the night shift or something.

I ran over to the elevator and got my phone out, callin Elisa.
"Hey! I'm in the elevator headed up to my room!" I told her, still breathless from excitement- and the stairs.

"Great! Kara and I just finished up at the theater, we'll walk down and meet you in the lobby in 15."

"Sounds great, see you soon!" I hugged my phone to my chest, and decided to call my mother so she wouldn't have a heart attack from worrying.

After 5 rings, she finally picked up.

"ARE YOU OKAY?!" Were the first words out of her mouth.

No hello or anything.

"I'm fine, i'm headed up to my hotel room."

"Oh, okay." I could tell she was a little calmer now.

I could hear her talking, as if she pulled the phone away to talk to someone else.

"What did you say mom? I couldn't understand you." I asked, as if I didn't already know the answer. She was talking to my dad.

"Oh nothing sweetie, just talking to your father. Hon, I am VERY proud of you." I could hear in her voice that she was giving my father a pointed look. "You are going to do great!"

"Thanks, I gotta go now. I'm meeting the original Katherine and the casting director for drinks. Love you!"

"Oh my god... Okay, enjoy sweetie. Love you too." As she hung up, I could hear her choking back tears.

Admittedly, I did feel a little guilty, but now that I was here, the only thing I felt was excitement and slight nervousness. What if I didn't cut it?

I shook the thought out of my head as I entered my room.

I threw my shit in the corner and took off my jacket, revealing my flowy tank top paired with my ripped jeans and converse underneath.

There was a full body mirror and as I admired myself, for the first time in my life, I thought;

Wow. I'm really an adult now. This is the greatest feeling i've ever had.