A Volkevens fic starting from the time they first met. The chapters will alternate between Rita and Katie's perspective.

Rita

When I first walked into the audition waiting room, I had no idea how much my life was about to change. I wish I could say this is a story about my career, but it's more than that. It's a story of how I came to be who I am today. It's not just a story about meeting someone and falling in love, and everything is suddenly beautiful and perfect. Finding her was just the beginning of everything. What came after flipped my world upside down and made me question everything about myself.

I found the audition completely by accident a few days before it happened. In all honesty, I was going to take a break from looking for work. It was exhausting constantly auditioning and never getting any roles. I knew I was talented, I knew I had what it takes, I just didn't know how to get them to see it. My friend called me up before the audition. He told me he saw an ad about it and asked if I was interested. Two girls pretending to be lesbians to become popular sounded anything but tasteful. But for whatever reason, it caught my attention, like there might have been more to the story, so I decided to go for it.

The first day of read-throughs didn't go very well. I decided to read for the part of "Karma" and they didn't call me back into the room once. Part of the reason probably had to due with the fact that I really had to pee, but apparently some girl had locked the bathroom key inside the bathroom. Not really a great start. "Whatever," I thought. "There goes that part." Just as I was getting ready to leave, someone asked me if I could read for the part of "Amy" tomorrow. I figured it would double my chances, so I said yes.

The next day was the day I met Katie. She was auditioning for the role of Karma too, but I tried to be as nice as I could. I wasn't emotionally invested enough in this role to be too competitive. Besides, I was reading for Amy too. I sat down next to Katie as she tried to fan herself. "Man, it is hot in here," she said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead. "Are you sweating? I'm sweating."

"Not really, actually," I said, a smile creeping across my face. She had this energy about her that was contagious.

"Well, I'm sweating profusely. They really need to turn the AC up. God, it's like they're trying to sweat us all out."

I couldn't help but laugh. "I'm Rita," I said.

"Katie. Are you auditioning for Karma too?"

"Yep. Guess you're competition, huh?"

"Guess so. Well, I suppose I'll try to be civil about this," she said sarcastically.

"Can you save my seat?" I asked as I stood up. "I just have to go to the bathroom really quick."

"Sure thing, Rita."

"Did you hear about that girl who locked the key in the bathroom yesterday?" I laughed as I rolled my eyes.

"That… Um, that was me," Katie said before shutting her eyes. "I shouldn't have admitted that right away. I should have waited to hear all the bad things you were gonna say about me first," she smirked.

"It's okay," I laughed again. "I wasn't gonna say anything bad, I just thought it was funny."

We ended up getting called in later for a chemistry test. Turns out I worked better as an Amy. They had the other potential Amys read through the script with Katie before I did. When I finally read through a scene with Katie, we killed it. For two people who had just met that day, we already had amazing on screen chemistry. By that point, it was pretty obvious that Katie had gotten the part, but they asked us both to come back in the next day for another read through. We left at the same time and she walked me out to my car.

"They totally love us!" Katie said excitedly.

"I know! We were so good together! You definitely got the part. For sure. They love you as Karma."

"Oh, stop. You were a great Amy. I really hope you get the part, Rita," she smiled at me.

"It would be nice," I said, approaching my car. "Well, here's my stop."

"Alright," Katie said, turning around. "See you tomorrow."

"Wait, didn't you park over here?" I asked.

"Nah, I parked in the other lot. I just wanted to get to know you a little better," she shot me a toothy smile.

"Well, thanks," I laughed. "See ya."

She waved as she walked over to the other parking lot. I stared a little too long and I couldn't figure out why. There was something about her; the way she spoke with so much energy, the way she always seemed to be smiling even when she wasn't, and the way she made me feel like I've known her for years. It was just so intoxicating.

I had never kissed a girl before, for whatever reason. It's not that I never wanted to, I had always been curious, but it was never a strong enough desire to go out and make it happen. I figured I wasn't missing out on much. Katie and I killed the second read through, and the directors were impressed. They asked us to kiss as part of the second chemistry read.

"Oh, um. Okay," I said.

"What's the matter? Never kissed a girl before?" Katie asked sarcastically.

"No. Have you?"

"Duh. Well, when I was drunk."

The directors continued to watch our banter as they waited for us to kiss. We joked around a little more to break the tension, and Katie went in for it first. It was aggressive and overly sexual, too much for television as the directors would soon tell us. "Stop, stop, stop," we heard one of the directors say as we pulled apart and looked at him. "You need to tone it down. A lot." We started laughing partially out of embarrassment and partially because of how awkward the situation was. Something about it was just really funny. I looked at Katie, still smiling, a jolt of confidence rushing through me. I gently grabbed her face and pulled her in, gently kissing her. Our lips molded together perfectly and I let myself fall into it. I felt a rush of electricity flow through me that I had never quite felt before. She tasted like strawberries and I felt like I could have kissed her for hours. "Good," the director shouted, forcing us to pull apart. I looked in her eyes as we pulled apart and I swear I saw something that wasn't there before.

"Alright, that's all we need to see. Thanks girls," the director said as we looked in every direction but in front of us. She walked me to my car again when we left.

"You're totally gonna get the part," she nudged me with her elbow. "I mean, if I get the part, you're totally gonna get the part. We have great chemistry."

I couldn't stop myself from smiling. "Yeah, we do, don't we?"

"Plus, it helps that you're super hot," she gave me a playful smile. "And you smell like roses. That never hurts."

"Yeah well, you're not too bad yourself," I nudged her back.

"Some of the Amys that auditioned… I could not see myself making out with them honestly. Is that shallow? I just really want you to get the part."

"Nah, it's not shallow. I wouldn't really want anyone else to be Karma either." We approached my car. "Do you want me to give you a lift to your car? It's pretty far away," I asked.

"Yeah, that would be great, thanks," Katie smiled as she got in. She immediately turned on my radio and started singing along as I pulled out.

"Whoa, killer voice," I said. "Ever consider being a singer?"

"I am!" she said proudly. "Ever heard of American Idol?"

"Yeah, you should totally audition for that," I said obliviously.

"I kind of did. Made it to the top nine, it was this whole… thing."

"Wait, are you serious?" I looked over at her.

"Yeah, look me up. I'm kind of a big deal," she joked as I turned into the other parking lot. "Oh, there's my car. Thanks for the ride, Rita. I'll see you soon?"

"Yeah, I hope you do," my face was starting to hurt from smiling so much.

"Bye," she waved as she walked to her car. Her scent still lingered in my car and I lost myself in it for a few seconds. I figured at the time it was an innocent girl crush, but this girl was about to take over every inch of my mind.