Page 6 of First Impressions of You

At least, that’s how every actress before me has played this scene.

When the kidnapper barges into the wedding, grabbing me by the wrist to take me away, I have a split second to decide if I’m going to follow the other actresses’ lead or my gut. I’m Robert Frost looking at the roads diverging in front of me, hoping I won’t regret choosing the one less traveled by.

As I’m being dragged out of stage by my kidnapper, I let my feelings of despair and fear tangle with one extra emotion no one dared to tackle: relief. At this moment, I’m Princess Melina, and I’m feeling her relief at escaping a loveless marriage. When I cast one last glance at Cameron’s Prince Leon, what I show him is not a plea for help, but an apology.

When I reach the wings, I feel equally proud and uncertain. My heart is thumping so loud in my chest I fear the sound might reverberate in the huge, empty theater. My head feels light, and I realize it’s because I’m not breathing properly. I have to force myself to count up to eight while inhaling and down back to zero while exhaling. I do this twice more before I walk back to center stage.

I’m alone now. Cameron’s already confirmed in the cast, and so is the actor playing my kidnapper, whose name I can’t recall now. I’m the last one here, and I’m scared of looking up. I already learned that Emily is the type of person that doesn’t hide her feelings. If she hated it, I’ll know it in a glance, and I’m not ready for that yet.

The silence in the auditorium is suffocating, and I dig my nails into my palm as I examine my shoes, unable to look up.

I don’t know how long it is before I hear someone clearing their throat, and I know I can’t avoid this anymore, so I meet Emily’s eyes.

Then I chance a quick glance at the two people by her sides.

They all look at me with wide smiles on their faces and start clapping as soon as I give them my attention.

I let out the breath I was very aware I was holding, and thousands of kilos are instantly lifted off my shoulders.

Emily didn’t hate my performance. None of them hated it. In fact, it seems like they even liked it.

“This was amazing, Luiza.” It’s Emily who speaks first.

“Truly out of this world,” the stage manager confirms. I’m almost sure her name is Mia, but I’m not confident I’m remembering it correctly.

“I mean…” Emily starts, then looks at the two people next to her. They all smile and nod in a silent agreement. “We still need a chemistry test with Winter Davis because most of your scenes will be with him, but I’m really happy you said yes to this audition. We’re going to get him, and we’ll get started in half an hour.”

I don’t have time to register the name she just mentioned. I don’t even have time to celebrate being called back to the final round of auditions. As soon as I walk offstage, I hear two other actress who’ve also auditioned for Melina talking in loud whispers.

“You know if they cast her, it’ll only be because she’s Latina and fat, and they need to show diversity in the cast,” one of them says.

“For sure. God, it’s getting hard to get a job now if you’re pretty. It’s like we’re being punished for being white,” the other one complains.

They don’t even look embarrassed that I hear them talking. They actually stare at me as I walk past them as if they can make me feel embarrassed for getting called back for another audition.

The worst thing is that they can. As I walk through the corridors of the theater to make my way outside, I try my best to shield my brain from letting their comments sink in, but I don’t know if my shield is strong enough for that.

I’m the first one called for the chemistry test. It’s a whole ten minutes before Winter comes on the stage. All this time, I’ve been awkwardly standing here waiting for his royal highness to grace us with his presence.

He approaches me without ever looking up, the phone in his hand holding all of his attention.

And then he stops. Right next to me, he lifts his head, and our gazes meet. Under the warm stage light, his eyes look even more mysterious than they did outside. It’s like looking at a forest in the middle of the night. You know it’s not pitch black, but you can’t see past that veil of darkness if you’re not brave enough to keep looking.

A beat later, his brain seems to catch up, registering what he’s seeing. Registering me. Noticing it’s me who’s standing next to him.

He turns his body to Emily, but his eyes linger for a second longer before leaving mine.

“I thought you were calling me for the final round only.” His words may not seem so rude to everyone else, but I’m all too aware of the message left unspoken.

“This is the final round, Davis,” Emily answers coolly. He cuts her an annoyed look and gets a mere shrug as an answer. “Luiza is in our top three. Barring not having any chemistry with you, she’s our Melina.”

What?

My jaw drops. I figured I was doing well if they asked me to stick around, but… I hadn’t realized I was among their final selection. And now that I do, I also realize that the only thing standing between me and my dream is Winter fucking Davis, the gatekeeper of all talent.

I feel his gaze burning me before I turn to meet his eyes. He’s as surprised as I am about this new development, but while I’m beyond excited about the opportunity, he looks like he’s been sentenced to death.

Who the hell does this guy think he is? Does he really think he’s so superior that having me as a costar would get this reaction off him?

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