Chapter 2 2

"I HAVE PASSED! I DID IT!" cried Jessica excitedly. She looked at the list again to make sure it was her name she saw on the list. "I can not wait to tell Stephen I passed and that I love him," she soliloquized.

With that thought, she fled the office and ran to share the good news. She knew Stephen would be at the fast food place next to his office, where he usually spent his afternoons.

After the long run, she stopped outside the cafeteria to catch her breath and collect herself before going inside and finally confessing her feelings to him. She looked around and peered through the glass windows of the fast food restaurant to adjust her clothes, but her gaze lingered on something, or rather someone.

Fear gnawed in her stomach, betrayal paralyzed her. She stood rooted to the spot as she continued to watch the couple in the café. She watched Unice smile at something Stephen said - her own Stephen.

They were so lost in their world that they did not notice her; so they did not notice what was happening around them.

Suddenly Stephen knelt on one knee and took a ring out of a box. Jessica felt her blood freeze in her veins. She saw his mouth move but could not hear what he said, but she knew instinctively that he had just proposed to Unice.

Unice acted shy at first, but then she brought out her finger. She smiled as Stephen put the ring on her finger. He stoodup and hugged her lovingly with a look of admiration and appreciation in his eyes.

Tears rolled down Jessica's cheek as she realized the magnitude of what had just happened. While she had been there, racking her brains for her interview, Unice had been using her feminine wiles on Stephen.

Unice knew that she loved Stephen. Unice knew she planned to confess to him. She knew of all her plans, and yet she did this to her.

Jessica was about to back away when she saw Stephen turn. He made a gesture to invite her in, but Unice held him back.

She immediately hailed a cab to take her home. The pain was too great when she saw the happy couple again and again as soon as she blinked. When she arrived home, Jessica went straight to her room and cried her heart out. She felt like a big fool, but how could she have known that her best friend had hooked up with the man she loved behind her back.

She cried over the betrayal by her best friend; she cried over the loss of her love;

she wept for her naivety, her shyness, and her stupidity; she also wept for the loss of a friendship she thought would last forever.

And when she was done crying, she felt cleansed. She regained her composure as the burning pain in her chest subsided.

But she'd never forget, never forgive, never get another crush on a man. At least now she had her job. She would just give it her all. Men and friends were the least of her problems now.

_ _ _

Kylie got up from the bed as she wondered who was disturbing her. It literally felt like she had just gone to bed a few minutes ago and she did not like being jolted out of sleep, especially when she was already jet lagged from a long trip.

Whoever it was, hopefully they had a good reason. "Take it easy, I am coming!" She said aloud at the incessant knocking.

"Open up, it's me, Jessica."

Kylie finally made her way to the door and opened it.

"I can not believe you are still asleep when you are already so late for the meeting. You need to get ready, the director will not be happy with you if you are late," Jessica said as she entered the room and handed her the cup of coffee she had brought with her, as if she had guessed Kylie would need it.

"I am sorry, I did not realize it was so late. I really needed it," Kylie said, taking a sip from the cup. "I guess I'll go freshen up then."

She hurriedly took a bath and put on her yellow sundress. She was pretty sure she was not planning anything serious today.

"You are already late, so you will just have breakfast on the way there," Jessica said as they left the apartment.

"Okay, no problem," Kylie replied as she got into Jessica's car.

She took it upon herself to rent a car later, because she did not want to be dependent on Jessica all the time. She planned to see the sights whenever she had the opportunity. They stopped at a café down the street and bought breakfast.

"Why are you in such a hurry anyway? I thought you were not doing anything serious today?" Kylie asked between bites of her croissants.

"The director is addressing the cast and crew; there will also be introductions, and since you have the female lead, you should be there so you can meet the people you'll be working with."

"What are the crew and other actors like?" Kylie asked. "I'd like to get a sense of the people I'll be working with over the next few months."

"Well, I think they are fine," Jessica replied.

"The other crew members are pretty relaxed and friendly, which is more than I can say for the other actors. But you do not have to worry, you'll be fine," Jessica reassured her.

"Okay, if you say so."

Kylie then concentrated on her food. They reached the set and saw that people were already gathered and a man was speaking to them in the middle, the director, she guessed.

"... I want you all to do your best to make this film a success. We need to finish this in time to start shooting in a week. You should be ready by then to ..." the director said as people continued to listen intently.

Kylie looked around the crowd and noticed some of the actors she recognized from the

TV commercials and her gaze lingered on one person.

From where she stood, she could not see his face clearly, just his silhouette, but she could tell by his striped triceps that he was well muscled. He had coffee-brown hair that looked disheveled, as if he was constantly running his fingers through it. She only wished she could see the colour of his eyes, too, but she could already tell he was handsome in a masculine way.

She had to avert her gaze before she was caught staring, and by the time she readjusted to what the director was saying, he had already finished his speech.

"That will be all for now," Mr. Edward said, dismissing them.

Just as Kylie was about to turn around, he called out to her. "Miss. Devon, just a moment, please."

"Trouble," Jessica whispered to her with a grin on her face.

Kylie simply ignored her and followed him into his office. He closed the door and offered her a seat.

"Good morning, sir," she greeted politely.

"Good morning, Miss Devon. I trust you found your accommodations?" he asked.

"Of course, it's lovely."

"Good, I hope you do not intend to make a habit of this?" he said sternly.

"I am sorry, sir, it will not happen again."

"Fine, but that's not why I called you here." Kylie was surprised at this. "There has been a slight change in your script, so I expect you to adjust accordingly," he said, handing her said scripts.

Kylie opened it and went through it. "Sir, more scenes have been added," she said, startled.

"Yes. The executive producers ordered it, and you know you have to give the big bosses what they want," he explained.

"But you have to dance for those scenes, and I can not dance for shit."

She had a third leg when it came to dancing, and now she was going to do it on screen.

"I am sorry, my dear, but it's already too late to look for a replacement, so get to work. I am sure the choreographer can help you. You can not be that bad," he finally said with a laugh.

"You have no idea," she muttered.

She was worried, but she had not come all the way to New York to just give up. She would learn the steps, even if it killed her. Kylie said goodbye to him and left the office.

The director seemed nice, not too domineering or commanding, as people in his position tend to be. Even when he had admonished her, he had not been too scary.

Kylie was just standing at the door waiting for them. "Hey, what did he want?"

"There were some changes made to my script. Now I have to learn how to dance, waltz, tango, the whole damn thing," Kylie whined.

"Okay. So what's the problem? I mean, it's just dancing."

"You do not get it! I do not know how to dance."

Jessica burst out laughing, "You are kidding, right? You can not be that bad." Kylie gave her a look that said she was serious. "So you have never been to parties, prom, or anything else?"

"No to prom and I did not dance at the parties I went to," Kylie explained.

"Okay, girl. You know I got you," Jessica assured her. "I am going to set you up with someone who will show you the ropes."

"You are a lifesaver," Kylie said gratefully, pressing a kiss to her cheek.

"It's nothing," Jessica said with a smile. "But you need to hang out with the crew."

"No, that's okay," Kylie said. "I need to catch up on my break."

"You'll have a whole week to do that before filming starts. At least hanging out will help you get to know the people you'll be working with. I'll even introduce you to your new dance instructor, and believe me when I say he's hot," Jessica said with a wink.

"I have no interest in getting involved with anyone while I am here, Jess, so I do not even want to know if he's hot or not."

"Okay, but just say you'll be there,"

"Fine, but I am only staying for a while."

"That's all I ask," Jessica said excitedly. "Then let us get started. I'll come by your apartment later and pick you up."

"You do not have to stress about it, just send me the address and I'll get there myself." Kylie did not want to be a burden.

"It's not a problem at all. I am happy to help," Jessica assured her.

"I insist," Kylie said.

"Okay, if that is what you want."