Page 4 of Begrudgingly Yours
When I step out into the kitchen, I see the familiar red hairof my new friend and roomie. Opal is sitting at the counter with a ball of yarn, her nimble fingers working as she crochets mindlessly and reads her textbook at the same time.
“Good afternoon.” I reach into the cabinet to pull out my favorite mug in Opal’s collection (it’s literally Maleficent’s head) but pause when I see the coke bottle sitting on the counter. My finger points at it. “Um… what is that?”
Opal giggles, watching me as her crocheting comes to a stop. “It’s for you, silly. Stacia told me that you love cherry coke. She also mentioned that it’s something you like to drink before an audition, like a good luck charm. So I got it for you.”
My omega hormones must be a mess because the gesture makes me tear up a little.
Living with Opal these past few months has been a dream. She’s respectful, kind, considerate… she’s also always there when you need someone to talk to or hang out with. She sleeps a lot, but she’s a Taurus so that’s to be expected.
It’s been such a wonderful summer getting to know her. I’m so glad she came up to Stacia and me in that bar all those months ago. Her friendship is one I’ve really come to cherish.
“That’s really nice of you, Opal. Thank you so much.”
She shrugs, but her expression exposes how glad she was to help. “Are you excited for the audition?”
“I’m nervous. Any audition makes me nervous. It’s not until the exact second it starts that I finally get into the zone. Also, I wish our professor had picked something a little less popular, likeThe Taming of the ShreworMuch Ado About Nothing.”
“Oh,The Taming of the Shrew! That’s what inspired10 Things I Hate About You, right?”
I can’t hold in my laughter. “Yes, that is a modern interpretation.” I check my watch. “If I don’t get out of here, I’m going to be late.” I pick up the cherry coke and give Opal a sincere smile. “Thank you again. I owe you something thatyoulove.”
“Oh, soBreath of the Wildon the Switch?” she asks.
I quirk a brow. I know she’s being sarcastic by the tilt of her smirk, but I can’t really process that her words were English. “I’m sorry, what is that?”
Opal scoffs, “Do you not know Zelda?” When I just stare at her, she waves me off. “Forget it. It’s a video game. I was joking anyway. Go to your audition.”
I let out a chuckle. “I’ll see you later.”
“Break a leg!”
I wince. She doesn’t know that those words are an actor’s Achilles heel. Still, I hold onto them as I walk out the door. I’m going to need all the luck I can get.
TWO
Playing: Always Hate Me by James Blunt
I fear too early, for my mind misgives…
Some consequence, yet hanging in the stars,
Shall bitterly begin.
I goover my lines again and again, trying to convince myself that Idoknow this monologue by heart. Despite the amount of studying and memorizing, my mind betrays me with all sorts of insecurities. What if I forget a word? What if I emphasize the wrong part of the sentence? What if I don’t portray the character correctly? What if I’m not worthy of an iconic role such as Romeo?
And, of course, all of these worries only occur right before the important audition.
My steps slow as I come upon the small room where our class is being held. It’s void of all light except for a bright beam pointed at the small stage at the front, black curtains hangingon the walls for an extra dramatic effect. We are a class of thespians after all.
I smell her before I see her. The delicious bitterness of cranberries carries over to me in the doorway, causing my nostrils to flare and my knees to weaken.
When I walked in a few weeks ago and immediately picked out that unique scent, I was on cloud nine. I was so glad we were going to be in another class together for a whole semester.
My scent match.
Of course, she doesn’t know that. I’ve been on scent blockers since I presented in high school, and I never found the right moment to break the news to her. And now, I have no idea how to do it at all.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to keep it from you but my scent is the same as my dad’s who I hate so I thought going off the blockers was worse than connecting with you.
