Lights! Camera - ; Tyrus

Scene 3

Cyrus

"Okay, thank you Miss Roberts, very well done of you. You'll hear from us soon." Nick smiles at the dark haired girl standing out the front of us. She's gripping the draft script like her life depends on it, face flushed. She does a little bow and bounds off the floor, gushing a thank you.

I turn to Nick and take a sip of my coffee, "you're too nice."

He looks offended, "I am not! She was good!"

"It doesn't matter if they're good or not, you have to make it look like you don't care, that way you can see the strong ones, the ones that can win or lose but still try their absolute best. Now we won't know what her calm demeanor is, if she has one." I finish my drink and look at him pointing-Ly.

"Okay lets take five, I need to get another coffee, you guys want anything?" I gesture to the rest of the table, Nick, two guys we met at school who will be handling lights and budget, this girl we hired to edit our script. They all shake their heads. "Suit yourself."

I head out and think about where my confidence is coming from, as I never act like this. Nick knows it, but those guys don't. No one else does. Thats good, I think. It's been a while since I've let my guard down to new people.

Outside the room there are a couple different groups of twenty year olds milling around. Some are nervous and fidgety like the girl we just had, others act cool and professional, but I can still see them twitching.

I don't know why they are all so worried, this is a student film, its not like it will go to cinemas, but still, despite me being on the other side of the camera, I get it.

I spot the group of men playing Teddy, Andrews competition, and later, heated lover. Among them I take a step back to see Jonah Beck standing around them.

"Jonah!" I exclaim too loudly, all heads turn my way, I try to brush it off and walk towards the smiling man.

I clap him on the back, embracing his hug, "I can't believe you came!" I can't stop smiling.

"Yeah well, I can't exactly miss your movie debut, plus this script sound docious." Jonah points out and points to the pages in his hands. I feel myself relaxing. Jonah's still Jonah.

"I really appreciate it J, hey we should catch up after this." I watch as the other actors around us look suspiciously at my friend.

"Oh course Cyguy! Me and Walker are currently in an apartment near campus, he's finishing his art degree while I scope around for music and acting..." I let Jonah ramble on about his life as my eyes scan the room. Seeing all these faces, feeling all the emotions, is a feeling I can never explain.

And that feeling suddenly drops. 

No no no no no no. Not him.

I look down to avoid any eye contact. Why now? Why here? Why me?

"-and now we're planning to move out soon, maybe settle down. We haven't really talked about marriage, but you know. And Andi is doing great with her art, maybe we can even meet up with Buffy again!" Jonah continues.

I pat him on the back, "Thats great J, I'l-I'll see you in th-here." And rush off without letting him conger another vowel.

I close the door behind me and the crew looks up. I let my shoulders slump. I'm cool. I'm fine.

Except I'm very, very not.

"Wh-Hey guys!" My voice cracks, "I think we're ready to go! Let keep going with the girls, we have a lot to get through!"