FACE TO FACE [ ruel van dijk ]

three

ruel

"you're throwing your life away to become a statistic on U. S. fucking A. today; that's about the least private thing i can think of.."

little miss ginger says.

there was a pause.

"what?" justin says blankly.

ginger finally snapped,and says,

"veronica sawyer,hello?oh im sorry,was i too soon?i could start over if you want.maybe even a different character?" she even insisted.

"who are you?" justin asks.

but it was her dark haired friend who caught my attention.

yeah,who are you?

"my name is krissa jane wallis,i am 19 and i would love to audition,please."

i meant your friend,krissa jane.

"and your friend?" justin continues.

"oh,this is jade."

jade.

jade..who,krissa jane?

"we're both here for audition.we're not late,are we?"

"yes,yes you are.but,i like your enthusiasm.have we met?" justin asked.

oh my god,justin.not again.

what is it with you and gingers?

"i don't think so,sir.i have good memory." she shrugs.

"okay,then um..krissa, let's take it from the top,yeah?oh and.."

justin looked up to me,

"another five minutes can wait,yeah?"
he says.

i just nodded my head.

i saw both girls glancing at me from the corner of my eye before they climbed on stage.

i glanced back, specifically at the dark haired one.

you.

who are you,stranger?

i like your mascara. it fits perfectly with your eyes.

both are dark, seemingly cold.

you're looking at me as if it was me who barged in the room.

what are you thinking?

what are your eyes saying?

"so can you maybe try a Heather McNamara?i just think it suits your energy better."

justin sat back on his chair.

"i most definitely can,sir.hit it,music man!"

pshh, music man.

call me whatever you want krissa jane,but do not ever call me, that's for sure.

i started playing some background music.

she started singing and saying her lines.

experienced you are,krissa jane.

experienced you are.

i'm guessing your friend here is too,huh?

or is she the complete opposite?

she does look a little-

"ruel?" something snapped me out of my thought.

"someone's on the phone..for you."
leslie says.

"okay,i'm coming."

i followed her to the office,and left me with the phone.

"hello?" i say,leaning on the wall,playing with the telephone wire.

"ruel?"

that voice.

that very familiar voice.

i fucking know you.

what do you want from me?

i knew instantly who it was.
i quickly hung up.

i can't think straight.

i gotta get out of here.

i brisk walked out of the office,then down the hall,almost running.

how did you know where to find me?

i thought you-

"ouch!" i hear a girl cry out.

i looked behind me and she was on the floor.

i realized it was me who hit her,so i tried to help.

"im so sorry..are you.."

jade?

"..okay?"

she looked up and gave me her hand.

"uh,yeah.i am.im sorry,i was trying to-"

no, you're not jade.

"it's fine, it's partly my fault too,so.i gotta go,bye."

what's happening,why did i think it would be jade?

i quickly made my way back to justin.

"yo man,what the fuck? where have you been?you missed the whole thing."

"sorry,phone.where are they?"

"who?oh,those girls.they're done.they just left."

shit.

im too late.

why did you disappear too soon,jade?

did you get what you want when you left this room?

'cause i didn't.

i didn't even get your last name.

i need to know who you are,stranger.

i need to know you.