Beautiful Monster 2(36)

 
I folded the sides into my back pocket and went out the door, pausing on my way to class to knock on Sarah’s door.
 
“Sarah?” I called through the door.
 
There was a pause, and then she answered it, opening it up to let me in as she went to get her school bag. Her eyes looked red rimmed, and she looked exhausted.
 
“Are you ok?”
 
“Sure,” she replied, shrugging. “Morning sickness.”
 
“Ah, Sarah,” I said sympathetically, reaching out to rub her back as we went out the door. “You going to be ok?”
 
“Of course, Amy,” she snapped.
 
I was taken aback. I had never heard her snap at me before.
 
“I’m not the first woman in the world to be pregnant.”
 
“I didn’t mean that,” I said, hurrying to catch up with her. “Have you thought any more about what you’re going to do?”
 
“What is there to do?” she replied. “Connor comes from a time when men take care of things and women stay home and pop out babies and all that. Problem is, first of all, this is 2013, and second of all, he’s already got a wife who I suspect is catching on rather fast.”
 
“You’ll figure it out. You always do.”
 
“Yeah,” she replied quietly. We walked in silence for a few moments before she changed the subject. “So, are you all prepared for your audition?”
 
“Think so.” I nodded, patting the sides I had slipped into my back pocket reassuringly. “I mean, it’s a huge TV show and there are a hundred parts or something, which means like ten thousand people are auditioning. Seriously, Sarah, even getting one part means I should consider joining the actor’s union    . Really, I’m just looking at it as practical experience.”
 
“Ranger’s such a… gritty show,” Sarah said, as we made our way to the main lecture hall. “Do you think you could do it? I mean, there’s some pretty heavy content in it.”
 
“Hmmm,” I replied, thinking of some of the episodes I had seen. “I’m sure I’ll figure something out.”
 
The truth was some of the content on Ranger was so heavy that I wasn’t sure I could even act it. The actresses there were intense, pouring tears out of their eyes on the drop of a hat. Also, the show wasn’t exactly rated for children. It had never occurred to me to consider my boundaries of sexual exploits on camera, but if I got any part on Ranger, I would have to think about it.
 
“Hey, I’m going to see Liam for a moment. I’ll catch up with you.”
 
“Sure.” She turned to the side to say goodbye to me.
 
I winced as I could see the bulge in her belly. If you were looking for it, you could tell she was pregnant for sure. She headed off down the hallway, and I could tell that she was already beginning to walk differently, her hips widening already.
 
Liam’s office was open, still too early for the secretary to be in, but he was there, changing from his nightly struggle and grabbing something to eat. To my surprise though, Nina was sitting in his desk chair.
 
“Oh,” I said, hovering by the doorway.
 
Liam turned, giving me a tight smile. “Amy. I didn’t expect you so early. You should be on your way to class.”
 
“I uh…” I glanced from him to Nina, who gave me a frosty look. She was leaning back on his chair, idly flipping through some papers like she was comfortable and belonged there. “I just thought I’d stop by and chat with you. My Ranger audition is today.”
 
“Oh.” He turned from the mirror where he was making sure all traces of fangs and dark eyes were gone. “Sure. Are you nervous?”
 
“Um…?” I glanced to Nina again, and met Liam’s eyes. “Do you think we could talk alone?”
 
“Sure,” he replied. “I’ll be right back, Nina.”
 
Once we were in the hallway, I reached up on my tiptoes to kiss him. He drew back, looking around.
 
“Not in the hallways, Amy, ok?”
 
“Why?” I asked, a little miffed. “Everyone knows.”
 
“Sure, but we can still maintain an aura of professionalism,” he replied. While, on occasion, he tried to keep a bit of professionalism, it was usually me trying to fight to keep Liam’s hands off me.
 
“Right. This doesn’t have anything to do with Nina? What is she doing there anyway?”
 
Liam raised an eyebrow at me. “I think the answer’s obvious, Amy. I’m just trying to help her out, you know she’s been having a hard time.”