Selene~
I couldn't even remember the last time I was on a set. With lights and scripts, hours of retakes and the adrenaline that coursed through my veins whenever the director shouted 'Cut!'
I had missed it.
But this felt too good to be true. As I had imagined, I was trending on social media, my almost crying face was on camera and it was obvious that I was being harassed yet not one comment took my side, they were all tearing me down.
So why would they choose me to play a role?
I could've been mistaken and they didn't want to give me Lena's role but a small role instead but it was still too risky for their project. There were millions of other actresses without a target on their back so why me?
People hardly ever got second chances in this industry.
Maybe it was a joke, a setup. Maybe some random person texted me just for laughs, a prank. But I still had hope, it was small but it was there. What if this was real?
With shaky hands, I grabbed my phone and typed a response.
"Hi, Mr. Morales. Thank you for reaching out. I'm available to talk anytime after noon tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing more about the project."
This didn't seem too desperate, right? And if it was a prank, I would just go on with my life.
My finger hovered over the send button for a while before I finally gathered the courage to send it. I quickly set my phone down and covered myself with my blanket.
Morning came peacefully, I didn't know when I slept off, I didn't even know I could sleep off with all the anxiety I had felt the previous night. There were no birds chirping outside my window, this wasn't that kind of neighborhood. I blinked at the ceiling for a long time before remembering why I was so anxious in the first place.
Oh my-
I grabbed my phone in a hurry to check for any new messages from Mr. Joe Morales but there was none.
It was a prank. I knew it.
I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up, now, I was left with the bitter taste of disappointment. What was I thinking? Why did I think anyone would be willing to give me another chance to step into the spotlight? The industry wasn't that generous and even if it was, the audience would tear me apart.
It was my fault for thinking they would want to cast me just because Lena wasn't around and there was a vacant spot.
I needed to get to work. I had the afternoon shift once again, and I had Cass to be grateful for. It was like she knew I was not a morning person, like fate. It was either that or the hundreds of times I was late to work whenever I was on the morning shift.
I dragged myself out of bed and shuffled into the bathroom where I saw my reflection.
Puffy eyes, dry lips and frizzy hair. This was who I was now, I could barely even recognize myself so how come these people were able to recognize me…
By noon, I had showered and gotten dressed for the day. I was eating my breakfast when my phone buzzed. Without expectations, I picked it up.
Joe Morales: 'Hi Selene. Thank you for getting back to us. Would you be open to meeting up in person at the coffee shop you work in the next fifteen minutes?'
It was probably still a prank but my heart still dropped and rose all on its own. I stared at the message like it might change, like I was hallucinating it. But no, this was real. It was almost as if I had forgotten about the disappointment I felt just a few hours ago.
'Yes, that works. I'll be ready.' Send.
It was the way I didn't even stop to think about how they knew where I worked. I had just gone along with it. I changed out of my hoodie into a shirt, I didn't want to seem too serious about it just in case it did happen to be a prank. But I didn't want to be too lax about it either, also, in case it was not a prank.
I dressed up in a flowery shirt, a pair of jeans and heels. It was not too serious but it was not overly casual, also, it looked like I was not trying too much, which was exactly what I wanted.
I quickly dashed out of my apartment to the coffee shop without thinking twice. I had only five minutes left to get there and get myself settled before I met with Mr Joe Morales.
The sun was unforgiving as I walked down the familiar street. I didn't know if it was the nerves or the weather but I was already sweating through my shirt when I reached Moonbeam coffee.
I slowed down before opening the glass door as I tried to compose myself. I took in deep breaths and smiled, as if I had not just spiraled over a single text message.
The bell above the door jingled as I let myself in. Cass noticed me from behind the counter and she raised an eyebrow in surprise. I walked towards her.
"You're not supposed to be here till two." She said but I didn't reply. My eyes were too busy scanning the tables.
There, near the window. A man in a navy suit, with one leg crossed over the other. He looked out of place in this small neighborhood. He was younger than I expected and looked nicer than I expected for someone in the show business.
But I could be wrong and I might not be him.
He looked up at me as if he'd felt me looking then he smiled.
I turned my head back to Cassidy when I realized that I left my house without a face mask. This had never happened since my scandal. Thankfully, there were not much people in the shop and they all seemed to be enamored in their own world.
"A date?" Cassidy asked as she looked between me and the young man.
I didn't respond and made my way to the man. He stood from where he was sitting and stretched out his hands.
"Nice to finally meet you, Selene."
I took his hand, trying not to visibly shake. He looked genuine, he didn't look like a scammer at all or like he was trying to prank me. He looked real.
"Mr. Morales?"
"Joe, please." He released his hand and took his seat. "Thank you for meeting on such short notice."
"Of course." I said and sat across him.
"I understand this might feel sudden but we've been watching you for a while."
I blinked. "You have?"
Well, that was just creepy.
"Not in a stalking way, just in case you got the wrong idea. No, we think it's time for you to make a comeback. You were one of the most promising young talents in the industry and we think it's a shame that your light had to die out so early."
I looked down briefly, laughing awkwardly. Of course he brought up my past, it was normal. We were talking about moving forward and it wasn't like he was particularly judging me or looking down on me, it actually seemed like he genuinely wanted to give me a chance but I couldn't help but feel the way I felt.
It was suffocating.
"Would you like to work with us on She Who Lives?"
I swallowed.
"You would take up the role of Amara."
Amara, that was the role Lena was supposed to play. It was the lead role for such a big drama and they were giving it to me? Just like that?
"Do I have to audition?" I asked, biting the bottom of my lip. I wanted to take the role, I really did. It was like a once in a lifetime opportunity, one that I couldn't pass up.
But this step was dooming the movie. Choosing me as the lead would lead to nothing but drama for the movie, it could even bring about criticism. Lena had been so excited about playing the lead that she promoted the movie like her life depended on it, before she met her unfortunate end.
And they were just giving it to me?
A lot of hotshots were supposed to star in the movie. Like Sophia Patel, Victor Ravenwood, Luca Grant, Ruby Styles and….
Oh.
Luca Grant.
That's right. He'd also been promoting the movie. He was one of the actors.
Were they doing this on purpose? Was this why they chose me to come back with this movie? It was a smart marketing tactic, I should've expected no less from the industry. They were setting one of us up for failure.
This whole situation was sure to cause a buzz on the media.
I had been so caught up in getting a role that I had completely forgotten about him also potentially being one of my co actors.
Now, there was only one choice for me.