Big City Seduction

Chapter One

The stage lights shone on my face as I walked onto the stage and stood nervously in front a panel of six. "Give us your name and why you think you would be good for this part." The same statement rang through, as I stood in front of a group of directors and producers, each staring at me. They stared at me like I wasn't good enough.

"My name is Elisha Lornal. I'm right for this part, because I worked three years to get to this point and you won't find anyone more dedicated than I am. I am Ms. Priscilla Wesley and I will play her as if I was born to. You won't be disappointed." I smiled and beamed out at the audience. I nailed the line of questioning. I was confident and poised to believe that this was my destiny and I finally was going to have the chance to prove that to everyone, including myself.

They looked at each other and I could almost hear the laughter, even though if a pin would have dropped, we would have all heard it. "Alright, Ms. Lornal..." a woman started, sounding unsure. "If you will please begin at the top of page eight? Thank you." The female director lifted up her pen to take notes of my audition and I smiled and looked down at the words in front of me.

I had to blink a few times as they seemed blurry before I closed my eyes, adjusting my sight to look them over before starting. It was just nerves playing with my mind, I told myself. I opened my mouth and for the ten minutes I stood in front of the room, I could barely hold onto what was being said. I swallowed the lump in my throat a few times, and mentally wish I had a glass of water, but I pushed on.

When they stopped me, I was relieved, as a minor panic attack was on the verge. I lifted my head and smiled. "Thank you!" I said. I knew what was coming next, the wait, and I prepared to walk off the stage and wait a few days to learn if I had the job.

"Excuse me, Ms. Lornal." I was halted before I could even get off the stage. "Ms. Lornal. That wasn't bad, but unfortunately we don't feel that you're the right fit to play this character."

My heart fell to the bottom of my chest when they told me I didn't get the job, and it took everything not to cry and beg them to give me a chance. It was another failed acting gig that I thought I'd be a shoo in for. But the same lines, the ones I keep hearing after every audition, of 'you aren't the right fit' seemed to play throughout my mind. I took a deep breath, thanked them again, as I always did, turned, and walked out of that studio.

"This is ridiculous," I mumbled as I got in my car and started the engine. I had been in Los Angeles for ten months now, and before that I spent three years studying acting and modeling and thought that I would get a chance and my foot in the door once I got to LA. What I didn't account for was the countless amount of auditions I would go to, only to discover that I was failing and there wasn't anything I could do about that. I didn't know if it was nerves or the fact that I was literally a nobody, but with the exception of a few small roles, the ten months had proven futile.

The drive back home, left me thinking the same thing. Maybe I'm not cut out for this. Then I would curse myself and put on a smile and remind myself that there were more opportunities out there for me. And somehow, that always kept me pushing on.

I turned into the parking lot of my apartment building and noticed my flat mate's car was missing from its regular parking spot. Lucy was always home at this time. I pulled into my normal spot, and as I got out of my car and headed towards the building, I saw her turn into the parking lot and nab her spot. She got out of her car, then reached into the backseat and removed a yoga mat and a duffel bag from the car. She threw the bag over her shoulder and turned around and for the first time looked like she had actually seen me.

Looked at what she was wearing; tiny black shorts, and a bright green crop top, her hair pulled up into a loose, messy bun. Although her hair looked messy, there wasn't a strand out of place. Lucy always said that even the messy bun needed to be perfect. I knew that hidden beneath the mess of brown hair, there were hair pins and a little spray.