Page 68 of Beyond the Fame

Age 17

It's the first day of filming for Metal & Mayhem. A day I should be looking forward to since I'm one of the leads. This role is going to be great for my career. Except, my character’s introduction in the pilot, the thing audiences will know me by, is me getting fucking bullied. Not only that, but I have to kiss someone. I looked up my co-star on the internet, and shit, she’s beautiful. She’s my age and was in some sitcom before this series. Tiffany Spars always gets cast as the blonde popular girl or the cheerleader. I'm going to get a boner in the middle of filming, I just know it.

I keep my head down as I walk to wardrobe. Even though I sent them my measurements, they never seem to stock clothes that fit me. It’s embarrassing and production sometimes gets held up because they’re rushing to make alterations or going to the nearest clothing store to find an outfit that works. I’ve learned to bring my own clothes as backup.

Thankfully, since I’m in a main character role for this show, and it’s based in the 80s, the clothes have to be accurate. The costume designers were prepared. They dressed me in a pair of whitewash jeans, a Van Halen black t-shirt, and a pair of Chucks.

After wardrobe, a production assistant directs me towards hair and makeup. I’m growing my hair out for the role, but until I can have my own mullet, I'm stuck wearing a hideous wig.

An hour after arriving on set, I'm officially transported through time to represent an 80s teenager. My character is one third of a metal rock band made up of high school outcasts, started by the new kid at school who had to leave his old band behind when he moved. I've only read the scripts for the first two episodes because the show runners are trying to avoid leaks and spoilers, but the first season focuses on our band gaining popularity and how the three of us deal with the sudden success and the temptations that come with it.

“Yo, Jensen,” a scratchy voice behind me says.

I turn to find Mylan Andrews walking up. We met during table reads but didn’t really get a chance to talk. He’s slightly taller than me with his black hair styled in a pile of curls all around his head. He’s dressed in torn jeans, a black graphic t-shirt, and a leather jacket.

Mylan swings his arm over my shoulder. “You ready for this?”

I shrug. While I'm excited about the role, I'm nervous about shooting the scenes when my character gets bullied.

I’ll be playing a nerd named Crash—he’s called that because he’s so big he crashes into everything. I hate it. Fucking Hollywood, I swear.

Mylan is playing Boomer, the new kid with a bad streak who heard Crash playing the drums in the band hall one day and decided they should start a metal band together.

“Crash! Boomer!” a deep British voice calls out to us.

Rey Michaelson walks up, playfully punching Mylan in the arm then me in the chest.

“Your bassist has arrived.”

Rey is playing Ryder in the show, a character who’s silent and mysterious and barely talks but still makes panties drop with just a look. He’s sixteen, Mylan’s age, and he told us he just moved to the states with his twenty-year-old sister a couple of months ago. He did some acting in the UK, which helped him get an agent here. This show was his first audition. I wonder if his good looks secured this role.

Like Mylan, Rey is the type of actor you’d see splashed across those magazines for teenagers to swoon over. Aside from his alluring accent, he’s handsome with perfect light brown hair, perfect teeth, and in shape. I'm not jealous, but envious. I've always been a big kid. I even loved myself until society told me I shouldn’t.

“This show is going to be so much fun,” Rey says.

I smile and agree, despite the growing anxiety. Mylan Andrews and Rey Michaelson will have an entirely different experience on this show than I will.

“Cut!”

Making out with Tiffany Spars was a dream. Thankfully, I didn’t get a boner. There were too many people on set, too many eyes on us. We did at least ten takes before the director decided the scene was good enough. Tiffany didn’t seem affected by our kissing. Me, however, it was my first ever kiss, and I was smiling like a fool.

“Okay, everyone, that’s a wrap on day one,” the director announces after reviewing the last shot.

“Thank God,” Tiffany grumbles.

She walks away from me and joins a couple of other girls cast as her friends on the show.

“If I had to kiss that fat ass one more time, I was going to puke.”

I freeze and ball up my fists. I don’t think I was supposed to hear that. Though she said it loud enough that me, Mylan, Rey, and two crew members standing next to us heard.

“What the hell did you just say?” Mylan asks, his voice dark and dangerous.

“Mylan,” I warn, but he’s already walking towards the three girls. Rey stays by my side but sends death glares to our cast mates.

“I... um... nothing,” Tiffany stumbles.

Mylan stands in front of her with his arms crossed. He’s pissed but surprisingly holding his composure. “What the fuck is wrong with you? Do you hate yourself so much you have to put others down to feel better?”

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