The Invisible Silver Lining [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

Chapter 20

This chapter is dedicated to one of my best friends, Colette.  

Girl, you are always SO willing to read my stories, SO willing to give feedback , SO willing to talk to me about it!!!!! 

<3 you!!

-CFF 

_________________ 

About thirty minutes after our final production of "It's A Wonderful Life" Xander finds me in the prop room, putting away the props we used during the show. "Emilee?" I hear him ask. "Yeah?" I say with my back to him as he continues, "I need you to come upstairs."

"What, right now?"

"Yeah. Its really important!" I turn to look at him. He's still dressed in his tan army costume, which he wore as he played Harry Bailey. Xander's thin black tie is straight, his army hat sits slightly crooked atop his head. His pressed shirt sleeves are rolled up his arm to his mid-bicep. His deep blue eyes are watching me. I can feel a shiver run through my body as my eyes take in his physique. Oh. Emilee--Now's NOT the time to be thinking about him!

Oh who am I kidding?! I think about him a lot more than I used to. And sometimes I hate it. Ever since I realized that I had--a now major--crush on him, he's possessed my thoughts whenever he's near me. Not to mention when he's away.

And lately its been kinda scary. This is exactly how it was with Dylan. And even thought I know Xander is nothing like Dylan, I still don't want it to turn out the same way.

I ask Xander, "Really important?" He nods rapidly. "Yes! Now come on, or you're gonna regret not coming!" I smile and follow him up one of the side staircases. I see that there is a lady sitting on a bench near the stairs once we finish climbing them.

She stands up and smiles at me. The woman is beautiful. She appears to be in her low to mid-twenties. The lady has dark raven hair that is pulled into a low bun at the base of her neck. She also has side bangs that sit over her forehead perfectly. She is wearing dark sunglasses which she quickly picks up with ivory hands and places on top of her head. This woman is also wearing a smart-looking pinstripe skirt-suit and black closed heels to match.

Xander steps forward and says to the woman, "Here she is." The woman gracefully extends a soft hand to me. "I'm Colette Duran." She says in a sweet and friendly voice. We shake hands. I smile at her as she hands me a small business card. Her eyes are twinkling as I read the card which says,

Colette Duran -- Talent Agent. Los Angeles California.

as well as a couple of phone numbers and an email address. I look up at the beautiful woman. Before I can ask any questions, she begins to speak. "I've been watching you since Romeo and Juliet. Alexander begged me to come to your other performances and I was impressed. Highly impressed. I want to offer you my services." My jaw drops as she continues, now smiling widely. "You've got what it takes to become big. You have the star potential. I want to help you get there." Xander's chuckling as he watches my stunned face. I can't speak.

This has to be a dream. I'm getting an agent?! And Xander set it up for me?!

I try to respond to Ms. Duran but the only noise I make is a fail. "Uh...um...uh..." Xander brings my hand up to shake Ms. Duran's extended one. He tells her, "She accepts." I nod vigorously. Of course I accept!!!! "Thankyou so much Ms. Duran!" She shakes her head. "Oh please, that's my mom. Call me Colette." I grin, "Okay. Colette. Thankyou so much." A loud beep rings out. Colette holds up a tiny black object that looks like an iPod and reads it.

"Oh. Okay. Looks like I'm late for an appointment." She looks at me. "I appreciate your acceptance." She smiles widely at me. "I'm really looking forward to working with you Emilee." I nod, "Same. Thankyou so much!" "Thank you. Its going to be a good ride." She leaves, waving her fingers at me.

Xander looks at me, the girl who is in shock with a massive jaw drop. "What do you think?" He asks me. "What do I think?!" I say back in a happy voice. I lean forward and hug him. "You are amazing Xander!" I can hear the smile in his voice as he responds. "I was glad to do it." I look up and smile back at him. "Thank you. Thank you thank you thank you!"

He smiles, "Em, you are so welcome." Xander pauses and says after a minute, "What are you doing tomorrow?"  

"Tomorrow?" 

"Yeah." 

"Well, its the 25th. you know Christmas? So I'm going down to my parents house. What are you doing?" 

"Nothing. Unless you count eating a TV dinner and watching football re-runs." 

"That's no way to spend Christmas!" I exclaim loudly. And then it comes to me, "You want to come with me?" 

"To your parents?" 

"Absolutely!" He looks at me skeptically. "You sure?" He asks. I smile. "Duh! Would I be asking if I wasn't? I'll pick you up at about 7:00 a.m. okay? I want to leave early so we can get there for Christmas lunch." Xander smiles happily at me. "You got it."