BAD ACTING

GIFT

        Monday I auditioned for the VID-TEEN show, worked at Michaels', and met Andrew at the gym. Tuesday I attended my last class at Lynn's studio with Helen. After class, I drove to the DIZ Channel lot in Hollywood to read with the casting director, and then worked at Michaels'. Wednesday, after working out with Andrew, I received the photos from Carrie's shoot. The shots looked incredible. Not only did Sharon send ten nerdy options, but fifteen photos from the rest of the shoot. The shots of Carrie and I together looked like a fragrance ad. Sharon even captured some solo shots of me in the bathing suit without Carrie. I ordered the headshots to be printed and had the Carrie shots printed as well. At the photo store, I purchased a leather photo book the owner, Demetrio, suggested I buy.

        "All the models have them."

        "I'm not a model, these were just taken for a friend."

        "Trust me, photos like these will get you work. Buy the book and I'll print your photos for free."

        "That's like a hundred bucks of prints!"

        "Keep the book with you wherever you go kid."

        "Uhh...Ok."

        "Come back and see me when you land your next job."

        I didn't tell Demetrio I had failed to book any jobs yet.

        I bought the leather book and accepted the box of free photos. I thanked the owner of the photoshop again and left. I drove to Michaels' and added my nerdy headshots to my file. After Michaels', I drove to Studio City for my YA Studio class. Thursday morning Michael called me about an audition for a pilot on TZ. Helen contacted Michael to schedule me a time to read with her the following week. Michael sent me the sides and told me to be ready by Wednesday. I drove to print off the sides and my phone started buzzing again. Text from Carrie.

        Carrie: I'm so glad you came to the shoot! The photos turned out great.

        Sharon sent some over.

        Carrie: What did you think?

        So worth it. And we had fun, yes?

        Carrie: So much fun!

        The water was freezing.

        Carrie: OMG so cold!

        I'm going over to Leah's later. Want to join me?

        Carrie: Yes!

        I'll pick you up this evening?

        Carrie: Ok. See you soon xoxoxo

        I still did not like Carrie. I did not hate her, but I found her to be fake, and I could not get over the jealousy. Carrie continued to prove herself to be a valuable friend. I needed to keep her close to help me with my career.

        That night I picked up Carrie and we drove to Sherman Oaks where Leah lived with her parents. Up in the hills above Ventura Blvd, we arrived at our destination. I parked and followed Carrie through a gated courtyard and up to the front door. Carrie opened the front door without knocking and led me to a room overlooking the backyard. A Pool. Gardens. Guesthouse.

        Leah's parents, both lawyers, stayed in their separate wing of the house secluded from the rest.

        "I've never seen them," Carrie said, walking away from the glass window and down a hall.

        Leah's wing of the house opened up into a sitting area, another hallway and finally Leah's bedroom. Leah stood in a T-shirt and panties, hanging up clothes in the walk-in closet. Four shopping bags surrounded her on the floor.

        "Hey bitches!" Leah called out, noticing our arrival.

        "Nice house," I said

        "Thanks, want to watch something?"

        Leah collected hundreds of TV shows and movies. Her bedroom walls covered in posters of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel. The three of us watched episodes from the show, Lois and Clark the New Adventures of Superman.

        Carrie fell asleep on Leah's bed, snoring next to us. Leah and I finished another episode before saying goodbye.

        Heading home I got completely lost up in the hills and realized I needed gas. Badly. Stressing out I kept driving in circles up and down unfamiliar hills. We made it to the gas station by an act of god and then my debit card declined.

        Fuck fuck fuck.

        Carrie paid for the gas and I dropped her off at her home.

*

        Two days later Carrie booked the show on ABD. I sat in bed reading my lines for the TZ Pilot and my doorbell ding dong-ed. I answered the door, and found Carrie, crying.

        "What happened?"

        "ABD just called."

        "And...?"

        "The role is mine!"

        "Holy shit!"

        I waved her in, and she tackled me into a hug.

       By this point, I began to give up on being anti-hug.  

        "I can't thank you enough!"

        "For what?"

        "You read all of this in the cards! I applied your advice and I've been coaching privately with Karen, and working hard to improve my acting like you told me to."

        "Carrie! This is not the cards. You earned this role."

        "Shut it down. You may not believe it. Or maybe you're trying to hide your gift, but I know the truth."

        I paused and listened to Carrie. I didn't know how to finish the scene. It felt like Carrie and I continued a series of scenes together, but we both viewed the scenes so differently. I could not understand anything about this girl.

        "Tarot cards are mysterious. All of that magic stuff cannot be explained. I don't know what to say about it, but I sincerely am happy for you."

        Carrie started crying again.

        "Don't cry!"

        Carrie hugged me again, and the crying stopped.

       "I have to go, there are so many calls I need to make. I just found out and I wanted to tell you."

        "Congratulations Carrie."

        Carrie skipped out of my apartment and off to her fabulous life.