Page 30 of A Little Bit Extra

“Don’t worry, I’ll be on my best behavior.” I wink at her.

“I don’t know why I deal with you sometimes,” she says, heading toward the door. “Just don’t do anything stupid while I’m not here, okay? You know you’re not allowed to date anyone that works at the studio. She’s not an exception.”

I just nod in response. She doesn’t need to know how excited I am for more time at work with Cassie, even if it is just seeing her more often. Her schedule is so busy this week with acting classes and working at the diner, I was already annoyed that I wouldn't see her at work. Marcy always has her doing some dumb activity on the other side of the studio, or being on set when I’m not.

Now, she can’t do anything about it. I have no intention of taking things with Cassie beyond friendship. I just want to talk with her and hang out with her like I do with everyone else. Of course, all of that is subject to change. I don’t have a hard rule on no dating or anything, I’ve just avoided it.

I wanted someone with whom I could be myself around, and that never happened. It was always Emmett, the actor, that they wanted. They didn't want Emmett, the writer who had a soft spot for romance movies, the guy who always chose a cozy night in over a night out.

When I was at the diner with Marcy last week and I saw Cassie, I felt this pull between us when our eyes met for the first time. I had just had a string of bad first dates and didn’t know why I was feeling different about Cassie when I didn’t even know her name. I know she knew who I was because I saw her talking with her friend. They kept whispering to each other and looking in my direction. I barely even knew her, and I asked her to sit and eat with me.

When I saw her the next day, I took it as another sign to talk to her. She’s never tried to keep me in the box that I live in everyday, and I think that’s what I like most about her.

Every time we talk, she sees me. She doesn’t see the mask I put on for everyone else, and maybe that’s because I’ve let her be close enough to me already to see that side of me. It’s why I’ve already shown her my writing. Whenever I see her, my heart races and my feet automatically gravitate toward her. I get nervous. I don’t get nervous about anything.

Maybe seeing her more will be bad. Or, maybe, just maybe, it’ll curb this infatuation. Only time will tell.

9

Cassie

The next few weeks are a blur. I have a few auditions for smaller supporting roles, but no callbacks. I have another today after work, and I’m trying not to lose hope, but it’s hard when I can’t get past the first audition to save my life.

Plus, between working days at the studio, picking up a few shifts each week at the diner, and acting class once a week, I’ve hardly seen Emmett. Alone, that is. Marcy is still off-site and I’m stuck at the studio. I help Ed make sure the principal actors are on set on time, assist Tyler when he needs an extra hand with inventory, and deliver mail to the trailers for Carla.

I stop by Emmett’s trailer sometimes and stay for a few minutes, but in my defense, it’s the only time I’m able to talk to him. When I have a free moment outside of work and acting class, I’m hanging out with Lucy or talking to Annie on the phone. I know I should do less, but I can’t. Keeping myself busy is the only way I’m able to keep my mind off Emmett.

The less I’m able to be alone with him, the more focus I have. My romance scenes are giving me a hard time, but I still have a few weeks to perfect them before the showcase. I just have to practice more than normal. I have to do well at that showcase. If we’re lucky, a few directors and scouts may be in the audience. It's my chance to prove my talent and show them they can cast me in something worth watching.

It’s not even eight in the morning when my phone buzzes. I’m sitting at the island, drinking a cup of coffee. While scrolling on my phone, Emmett's name pops up.

Emmett

Think you could stop and get me coffee on your way in? I have a question to ask you.

Not knowing how to respond, I leave him on read. We have been texting a bit, but I can’t think of what he’d want to ask me. Could it be to go out on a date? An actual date? That’s not likely, since the studio forbids us from seeing each other. What else could it be? Do they need someone to be an extra again? Does he want me to read more of his writing?

I should just text and ask, but I thought maybe not knowing would be better than knowing. Who knows if he would even tell me if I asked.

I stand up from the stool and push it under the island. I text Lucy to let her know I’m leaving for the day. We’re planning to eat dinner together when we get home from work later. I walk to the front door and grab my bag off of the rack, slinging it over my shoulder before heading out.

From the apartment to the coffee shop and from the coffee shop to the studio, I cannot silence the thoughts in my mind. Sure, Emmett and I are friends now, I suppose, but I don’t know what he could want to ask me. Also, he’s already been asking me a ton of random questions over text. He’s asked questions like what my favorite color is (blue), how I best like my eggs (scrambled), and which romance movie is my favorite (The Holiday). What could he possibly want to ask me that he couldn’t text? Is it that secretive that he needs to do it in person?

Apparently.

When I reach Emmett's trailer, it’s as if I step into an alternate version of myself, one who is cautious and on edge, more than I typically am around him. It’s been a few days since our last moment alone in his trailer. I haven't been to his apartment since we shared a fleeting moment of intimacy. It was in that moment of blurred judgment that I realized I could have kissed him without any hesitation. But right now? I’m doing what I do best, building a 10-foot tall wall around myself to hopefully protect myself from Emmett being, well, Emmett.

He must have been expecting my arrival because the door to his trailer swings open just as I approach the stairs.

“Hi, Sass.” He winks and the 10-foot wall I tried to build up cracks enough that my cheeks get warm. I would blame it on the sun, except it’s awfully cloudy this morning.

“Here’s your coffee.” I shove the coffee cup and a bag that has a bagel in it in his direction.

His smile reaches his eyes. “Thought about me enough to get me breakfast too?”

“Don’t overthink it.” I glare as I move past him into his trailer.

I’ve been here enough times that I could close my eyes and still find my way around. It helps that the trailer is small and there isn’t much to it besides the main sitting room and the kitchen. Even so, it’s familiar.

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