Broken

Four.

I didn't bother to bring up how annoyed and jealous I was with Jake about his flirting with Rebecca during the entire meeting with Chris. During the car ride home when I asked Jake about it, he laughed it off and said he was talking about her son and his love for Spider-Man.
He assured me there was nothing to be jealous about and after four years of marriage, he wasn't stupid enough to ruin it over a "dumb chick that works at a cafe".

Chris and I kept in touch with phone calls, texts and emails during the process to get the script pitched to production companies.
It was barely a week before it was already purchased by Focus Features and numerous producers wanting their name on it. Chris made sure it was still going to have the effort put into it from everyone behind the camera before we would start casting.
Chris worked on everything the best that he could since he flew back to Boston to continue the filming for a tv show, Defending Jacob.
We set up a meeting at Lemon Cafe when Chris got back to Los Angeles about a week later. We would start auditions the next day. We agreed that casting the lead role, John De Luca, was going to be the most grueling part. I had Jake in mind the whole time I wrote the part but Chris insisted we give other actors an opportunity. It would be challenging for me to see other actors attempt the role.

I had a quick cardio session at the gym since Jake would be meeting us at the cafe after more interviews he had to do for Spider-Man. I raced home to shower then made my way to Lemon Cafe.
Chris texted me that he would be sitting outside since he brought his dog with him. I anxiously parked my car and walked up to them. Jake had two dogs, Boo and Leo, but I was such an insane dog lover that meeting any dog was exciting. Chris' dog greeted me first as I lowered myself to his level to say hi.

"This is my boy, Dodger." Chris said, sitting at the table and releasing the tension in the leash. His dark sunglasses reflected us. Dodger started kissing my face after only sniffing me for a few seconds.
"Hi Dodger! Such a handsome boy! Yes, you are!" I scratched at his ears and gave him kisses back. Dodger trotted back to Chris so I joined them at the table. Dodger's head appeared between my legs from under the table. Chris and I laughed at him. "Oh, my god. I love your dog."
"He already adores you."
"That's always the best feeling when someone tells you that their dog likes you, right?" Chris laughed and nodded his head. I continued to scratch at Dodger's adorable face, looking around us. "Where's Jake? He said he was here already."
"Yeah, he said he wasn't feeling good so he went inside." Chris blew at the hot liquid in his cup. I could smell the herbal tea. I pouted my lip at the thought of Jake not feeling good. I noticed his phone on the table. "Did you want to wait for him?"
"Nah, it might be awhile." I raised my eyebrows from behind my sunglasses. Chris chuckled, bringing his script to the table along with headshots of actors and actresses.

"Here me out on something.." Chris started. I winced at him. "I know, I know. Trust me on this." He pointed at the headshot of Anne Hathaway. I dropped my jaw.
"No..no way..not for Alice De Luca!?"
"I think she would bring an innocent side to it!" Chris said, trying to defend his decision. I shook my head.
"Alice isn't innocent! She's hardcore!" I laughed. "Anne Hathaway is too..." I searched my brain for the word. "...princess." Chris' contagious and explosive laugh had always brought a smile to my face. "I know she tried with being Catwoman but honestly, that didn't go very well." Chris exploded in laughter again. I lowered my head to Dodger, still being spoiled under the table by my scratches.
"You might be surprised with a screen test so just give her a chance."
"Alright, I guess I—"
"Hi honey." I turned to Jake's voice from behind me. I watched him sit in the chair next to me and kiss my forehead.
"Hey, you okay? Chris said you weren't feeling good." I wiped a few beads of sweat from his forehead then rubbed his back but kept one hand on Dodger.
"What? Oh, yeah. I think it's that Mexican place we went to last night."
"You left your phone..." I commented. Jake nodded his head and sipped a glass of water.
"It was an emergency." He snapped back, smirking and rubbing his stomach.
"Ewww." I mumbled. The three of us laughed and quickly changed the subject.

***

Even after many years of Jake being an actor, he was still nervous before an audition. I had already been at the studio where the auditions had started to watch them with Chris. A few of the producers were with us too.
We got through the first few auditions and screen tests for the role of Alice De Luca before Anne's audition. She was good, no doubt about her acting, but I still was hesitant. I didn't mention anything to Jake since they had been friends for years. He would more than likely push for her to get the role.

Jake entered the room for his audition and shook hands with everyone. He gave me a kiss on the forehead before walking back to his mark. Chris asked him to begin at any time he was ready. A woman sat off to the side to read the lines with him. Jake glanced at her then back to the table.
"Actually...can I please have a stand in?" Jake asked, holding the script.
"Oh..umm..we don't have anyone, I'm sorry." Chris replied.
"I can do it." I whispered to Chris. He nodded and handed me a script before putting it back down on the table, laughing. I laughed and joined Jake.
I was in Drama class every year of high school then continued to take acting classes after but I never considered myself an actress. I crossed my arms and nodded my head for Jake to begin the scene.

"Scene." Jake said to the table. Jake and I wiped the tears from our eyes so we could see the reactions. We were only met with silence. I cleared my throat, nervously. Chris appeared from behind the camera in front of us to stop the recording. He walked up to us with his hand covering his mouth.

"You both have it." He said, silently.
"Have what?" I asked, frowning my face in confusion.
"That was absolutely mind blowing." Chris said to us. "You are John and Alice De Luca." The words made me giggle. I looked at Jake then back to Chris.
"I'm not an actress."
"Yes. You are."
"I told you." Jake leaned in and whispered to my ear. I shook my head.
"No! I can't!" I raised my tattooed arms. Jake and Chris laughed. I crossed my arms tightly.
"We can hide them." Chris said to me. My eyes met Chris'. "You have to be in this movie." I sighed deeply, dropping my eyes to the floor.
The producers joined us. One woman wiping her eyes with a tissue. I listened to them as they also told me I had to be in this with Jake. I lifted my eyes to again meet with Chris' eyes.

"Only on one condition..." I finally began.
"Name it." Chris crossed his arms.
"I'm not cutting my hair." Everyone laughed as I hugged my long blonde locks.
"Deal!" Chris exclaimed. Jake pulled me into a hug before I shook hands with everyone.