Page 4 of A Little Bit Extra

Lucy corners me at the register as I’m closing out the tab.

“What was that about? You looked like you were going to pass out,” Lucy says.

I give her my best side-eye and murmur, “It was nothing.”

I continue to close Emmett’s tab. When I raise my eyes to the dining room, I’m met with his intense stare, a surge of electricity rising between us. If my cheeks weren’t red before, they sure are now. I turn around to grab the receipts out of the printer and feel Lucy at my side.

“That is not nothing.” Lucy is back to whisper-yelling at me.

I turn to her. “Shush. I’ll tell you at home.”

I return to Emmett in the dining room and hand him the check.

My back straightens, trying to maintain a professional stature, as I smile and say, “Here’s the check! Thank you for dining at Dave’s.”

Emmett casually hands me a crisp one-hundred-dollar bill, more than enough to cover the meals they ordered.

“I’ll grab change,” I say.

I take two steps before a grasp tightens on my left wrist.

With a quick pivot, I redirect my attention and cast my eyes downward, only to discover that the hand that had clasped on to me belongs to none other than Emmett.

“I don’t need change,” he replies.

My cheeks are now tingling and becoming increasingly hot. Wonderful.

I don’t respond, but I also don’t move. He shimmies out of the booth, still holding my wrist, finally letting go when he’s inches from me. Standing next to him, my head would fit right in the nook of his chest.

A car flashes its lights on and off, the light radiating off the front windows and into the dining room. Emmett turns his head for a moment to look behind him at the door.

“That’s my ride,” Emmett explains, averting his gaze momentarily to the floor and then back to me. “I’ll see you around, yeah?”

He most definitely will not see me again, but I nod anyway. It’s the least I can do after it seemed as if we were feeling the same attraction to one another. Emmett stalls for a moment before nodding back and giving me a slight smile. He turns around and walks out the door, turning his head to look at me once more before finally exiting the building. For a moment, it felt as if none of this was real and he was about to run toward me and profess his love.

Except this is real, and I have to get back to work. It’s rare for a celebrity to dine with us, especially when every American household knows their last name.

Tomorrow I will start a new job at the film studio, continue avoiding distractions, and land a major role. Those are my only goals for this year. I know it’s June, and that’s six months late for New Year’s resolutions, but I can do it. One day at a time. Stick to the course, dedicate more time to acting, and don’t fall for anyone who works in the industry. Yeah, I can do that. What’s the worst that can happen?

2

Cassie

January Studios is one of the best film studios on the west coast. It just so happens to sit across from Dave’s Diner and right down the street from my apartment. It felt like fate when I first moved here, to live so close to a place that could be where I act in my debut film. Well, that was many years ago and now I’m questioning if I even want to be an actor.

Have you ever had a dream that you’ve been chasing for a while and nothing seems to happen with it? No matter how many times you wish for it or try to manifest it, it feels like the world is working against you? Well, that’s how I feel. I’ve landed a few smaller parts and a few commercials, but I haven’t found a role that fulfills me. A role I can look back on and feel grateful for because of all the opportunities that came from it. Instead, my resume contains low-budget films and my acting showcases.

This job at the studio may not lead to anything, but at least it will be something different. I love working with Lucy, but the late-night shifts at the diner are not my favorite.

I pull into the studio, drive to the employee lot, and park in the designated area for production. Carla included exceptionally detailed instructions in the email. I’m 30 minutes early. When I woke up this morning, a wave of anxiety washed over me, clouding my thoughts about my first day. I hoped arriving early would help ease some of that.

I get stopped by the doorman when I enter the building. I find out his name is also Dave. Dave the doorman. Cute. Although I already know where to go based on the email, I explain that I’m new and trying to find Carla, and I let Dave point to where I need to go for reassurance. He tells me I should pass through the door, head up the stairs on the right, and Carla’s office is the first door on the right. If I continue going straight instead of up the stairs, it will eventually lead me to the set, he says.

I put on a fake grin and say thanks, trying to hide the fact that my chest is tight and my fingers won’t stop fidgeting. I try to only focus on my excitement as I step into the studio.

I find the office easy enough. The door is wide open and there’s a woman sitting at the desk at the back of the room.

Her mocha hair, curled to perfection, drapes over her shoulders as she leans over the desk. She’s flipping through pages attached to a clipboard.

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