Beautiful Monster 2(47)
“Um… would… mornings, five days a week work for you?” I asked. “I mean, I’m in school, but I’m potentially free every morning,” I said, even though it meant that I would be killing myself with my independent study. And how was I going to go to class for the lectures I needed?
“Potentially. I’m sure we can work something out, Amy. I’m going to email you all the details, since it says you’re unrepresented?”
“Liam,” I blurted out. “I’m at Leopard Academy, so Liam is the one who represents us, the headmaster.”
“I’ll speak to him. But do you accept the role?”
“Yes!” Now the excitement was flowing through my body. “Thank you.”
“Great, Amy. We’ll see you on set later this month. Congratulations.”
“Thank you!” I squeaked again, and then hung up, turning to Liam. “I got the part! Oh my God, I’m going to be on Ranger!”
He grinned at me. “For how long?”
“For at least 7 episodes. But oh my God, what am I going to do about school?”
“Do your independent study on that,” he said.
I was confused. “What?”
“You haven’t chosen a topic yet, right?”
“Uh, no,” I replied. “I thought maybe doing it on the history of triple threat performers or…”
“Do it on your experience in general,” he suggested. “Homeschooling to theater schooling, to returning to school after a summer in professional theater, and now, trying to maintain an education while being on a hit TV show. Write it like an essay, with anecdotes and all the things you’ve learned, tips and tricks, things that were hard, things that weren’t.”
I took a deep breath, leaning back in my seat. “How would I propose that?”
Liam laughed. “I’m sitting right beside you, and I am the proposal committee. I approve 60,000 words and you have until June.”
“Deal.” I grinned, playing with my phone. I wanted to text everyone I knew, but Liam had taught me to wait until things were real, until I had the paperwork and everything. “Oh my God!”
“Tell me about the part,” he prompted as we cruised down the road.
I thought back to the audition. “She’s uh…” I laughed then. “She’s an angry cop, I think. A tough girl. And I was pretty damn angry with you at the audition, so it all poured out. I guess, convincingly.”
“I really hope we don’t have to fight every morning before you film,” he replied.
“Do you think you can work something out with them?” I asked. “So that both rehearsal schedule and school and filming work out?”
“Yes.” He nodded. “Although it won’t be easy, I’ll make it work.” He gave me a look then that confused me.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m proud of you. And a little jealous. I miss all that life.”
“I should call Deon,” I said, referring to my ex-costar who now had a long running part on another show.
Liam laughed at that. “Deon kind of did the opposite of what you want to do. He quit school, remember, to be on the show?”
“Right.” I remembered vividly the moment he got his call, how it seemed his life had changed forever. And now those emotions were mine.
We pulled into the parking lot of the school, and Liam locked the car, taking my arm as we walked into the dorm entrance. We only had a few hours until the sun fully set, and I felt light and free. Liam was by my side, we had hours to spend together. I had missed class today and didn’t die, so clearly I could work something out with Ranger. Everything was going to be alright.
I unlocked my dorm room and kicked off my shoes. I flopped down on the couch and switched the TV on.
Liam disappeared for a while to allow Connor out of the office, and then rejoined me, allowing me to snuggle into his arms, as we waited for the show to come on. I shifted and shifted again, trying to get comfortable, until he commented on it.
“Ants in your pants?”
“I can’t focus,” I replied. “I mean, I’d be restless without the day we had. I’ve never watched myself on TV before.”
“I can cover your eyes if you want.”
I laughed. I was glad that it was just us watching alone in our own private world.
“Up next, catch Sites as they visit Leopard Academy, headed up by a former Hollywood superstar, and hosted by his lady love.”