BAD ACTING

VISINE

        Sunday morning I worked out at Equinox with Andrew. We met in the parking lot in Woodland Hills. I waited for Andrew to bring up Carrie's show, but he didn't. After the gym, I drove to Leah's.

        I could hear Julia and Leah discussing Carrie's show as I walked into the backyard.

        "I can't believe she got it," Leah said.

        "Is the show really that big a deal?" Julia asked.

        "Yes! It will be ABD's biggest show this fall."

        "Carrie has been in a ton of stuff though, right?"

        "Her first lead, series regular. Her character is in all twenty-two episodes."

        "Did you audition for it?"

        "No, too old. She's playing a fourteen-year-old."

        "What is the show about?"

        "It all takes place in the Hamptons. Its a drama with a lot of action and plot twist."

        "Like an action-drama?"

        "I guess. The storyline is hush hush, but I know the basic plot from the pilot."

        "Tell us!" Julia and I begged at the same time.

        "The main character is female. She's in disguise or undercover. There is a hit list and each episode she goes after another bad guy.

        "And so who is Carrie's character?"

        "I think she is part of the family that the lead is trying to take down."

        "Oh my god, is Carrie's character on the hit list?"

        "I have no idea. I don't think so. Her parents might be, or her brother? The guy playing her brother is so hot!" Leah passed her phone to Julia.

        "Damn!" Julia passed the phone to me.

        The actor did not look familiar.

        "He is really attractive" I agreed, handing the phone back to Leah.

        "Are we still going to Tyler's thing tonight?" Julia asked.

        "Unfortunately, yes."

*

        Leah's next door neighbor Tyler.

        Tyler, twenty, tall good-looking black guy in medical school.

        Leah and Tyler grew up together. Their friendship sometimes blurred into something more according to Julia. The two of them messed around a few times but they always stopped before anything serious happened. Tyler lived a few hours away at his university but returned home for breaks.

        Leah, Julia, and I walked next door to Tyler's house later that night. The three of us wanted to leave as soon as we arrived and we stood around the pool drinking beers trying to decide when to ditch.

        Tyler's new girlfriend, Topaz, nineteen, ugly whore bitch.

        Topaz's fake demeanor and overly friendly mannerisms directed specifically at us three set off a trigger in Leah that became exciting to watch.

        The three of us spent the night talking trash about her trying to make the average party better. Topaz randomly walked up to me and asked me to hold her drink for her. While shoving her drink into my hand, she locked eyes with Leah. Then she strutted over to Tyler and started kissing him and licking his face.

        "She knows he likes you."

        "I know...she's trying to mark her territory. "

        "She is lame as fuuuuuuck."

        "Cunt."

        My eyes constantly shifted to red from smoking weed, so I always kept Visine in my pockets. Leah knew this and asked for some. We emptied half of the bottle in Topaz's cup.

        Topaz returned for the drink a few minutes later. She stood there and applied lip gloss to her gross fake lips.

        "Thanks, doll", she cooed, grabbing back her drink.

        "For sure," I replied, mimicking her lame tone.

        Julia and Leah laughed.

        Topaz disappeared for the rest of the night.  

        The mental picture of Topaz shitting her brains out for hours made my heart smile.