The Crew | On Hold

Chapter 18

Karmen's beautiful blonde curls bounce around her face, as she approaches me with a curious expression on her face. "Hey! I know you."

I feel my face light up at the sight of her. Though we aren't friends or even acquaintances really, we still bonded over my failure at the audition. The memories of it stings me a little bit, but I swallow the unpleasant memories down, and get up from the table to greet her. "Hi, Karmen! I hoped I'd see you around the studio, but I never could find you." 

Karmen's eyes widen at the mention of the studio. "Did you get a part in another movie?" She moves closer to me, and pulls me into a hug. Though I would hesitate before hugging her, since we barely know each other, Karmen seems to be completely open to hugs, so I hug her back and we stand like that for a second.

"I did, actually! Not a role, though." I pull away from the hug first, since I'm not really used to hugging people, especially strangers, which Karmen mostly is to me. I wonder why she's so friendly and interested in my employment. Is she like this with everyone, who comes to the audition, and gets rejected?

A tiny 'v' appears between her brows, so I explain that I'm employed for the movie "Simple". 

Before I can say anything more, Marcus stands up, and I realise how rude I've acted, leaving him alone, without even introducing them. 

I cough in embarrassment, and quickly introduce them. "Sorry, Marcus. Karmen, this is Marcus - an old friend of mine. Marcus, this is Karmen. She's also employed by the studio." I avoid talking about the failed audition, just because I don't want to tell all of that to Marcus, and relive the memories again. Karmen eyes me for a quick moment, as if asking why I didn't mention the audition, but, when my lips set in a thin line as an answer, she quickly gets my message, and turns to Marcus to shake his hand.

"Nice to meet you!" She smiles, as Marcus says "Pleasure."

When all the introductions are out of the way, Marcus invites Karmen to join our table, where the  waiter has just brought our fries, but she declines, pointing to a table in the left corner, where another girl sits. She looks very shy, and doesn't look anywhere but her intervened fingers on her lap. 

"Sorry, but cousin is in town. She's very shy, so I'm sure she'd hate to be around strangers. And I can't abandon her, either." Karmen smiles apologetically, and I rub her shoulder in response. She really seems sweet and I'm actually glad that we met here. I wonder where she is while at the studio. The casting place isn't that far from our set, but, somehow, I never seem to see her around.

"That's okay. But why don't we exchange numbers? I'd really love to grab lunch with you sometime." I offer. Karmen nods enthusiastically, as if she had thought the same thought, so we both pull out our phones, and exchange numbers. Though I love saving people's numbers with their name and surname, but, since I don't know her surname yet, I just save her as Karmen, making her stand out in my quite formal number list.

We hug again, and she shakes hands with Marcus, who looks at her a bit too long a girl would like, but I remind myself that we're not together, that we're old friends. I have no ownership over him, and jealousy is just stupid. If he finds Karmen attractive, then it should be a good thing. I'd ask him, but it would be just too awkward at the moment. 

As Karmen walks away, I look after her as we sit down at our own table. Her cousin's face immediately changes, when she sees her cousin. The frown on her face disappears, and a happy smile takes it's place. Though she looks happy, I can't help but notice, that she is really pale. Almost like vampire pale. Is she really that shy of going outside? Even if it's to catch some vitamin D?

Marcus's voice brings me back from my thoughts. "So, do you think the fries still taste the same?"

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