CHAPTER 1: We Got In!

COURTNEY

The phone rings. I pick it up. I listen and respond as necessary. I throw the phone across the room. It bounces onto the couch as I scream. If the neighbours actually cared about my well-being, they would have all been running to the door right about now. But, they didn't care, so they let my extreme joy and excitement come out in high-pitched screams. Thankfully, my friend cared what was going on. She came rushing down the stairs to ask me what was going on. Luckily for her, nothing bad was going on! She said she thought I was being murdered or something the way I screamed. But, I filled her in on what was actually going on. I couldn't believe it! They had actually given me the job! Did they not see the line of eligible actresses, probably much better than myself standing there? And yet they picked me. I was going to star in their next movie. I was going to be in yet another movie! I would get to experience the joys of meeting new people, shooting so many different types of scenes, advertising the movie, going on talk shows, and getting to spend that time with what would hopefully be an unforgettable cast! Thoughts just kept running through my head. They kept drawing me back to those movies that I had done already. This movie was going to be so different than all the other movies I had done. This was my first time starring, or even being in, a romantic comedy. I couldn't wait to see those billboards and commercials and what not. "Queens of the City...starring Courtney Eaton". I was ecstatic to say the least.

LAURA

I can't even remember what I was doing at the time. I just remember being way too excited for my own good. I know I was with Vanessa and Maia and Mom when it happened. We were watching Netflix at my place. I remember we had invited Maia over just for the fun of it, No...Mom and Nessa invited Maia over to distract me from waiting for the call. Of course, that was a bad day for Maia to come and distract me because that was the day they actually called. Even when Maia was over, I remember sprinting to the phone and picking it up in anticipation every time the phone rang. I had been doing that for maybe six days now and Mom and Vanessa were sick of it, so bringing over Maia was apparently their solution. None the less, the call came that day and as usual I rushed to the phone the minute it started ringing and picked it up. When I heard the news, I actually almost started crying. Of course, no one could tell they were happy tears, but I kept balling! I was so excited!

"Is everything alright?" I remember Mom asking.

"Everything's amazing!" I remember replying as I skipped back into the living room.

"Why? What happened?" Maia had asked.

"They offered me a part in that new movie!"

"No way! You're kidding!" Maia screamed.

I shook my head. I was completely serious. I was stoked. I was gonna be a queen of the city!

RYDEL

Ring Ring. I can't hear the phone. Living with four boys makes it that way.

Ring Ring. There it goes again. I hear the faint noise stop and Rocky's voice replaces the ringing.

"RYDEL! IT'S FOR YOU!" He yells over the sound of Ross and Ellington screaming at their video game.

"Hello?" I answer

"Hi, is this Rydel Lynch?"

"Yes, it is."

"Hi Rydel, this is Anthony Kentwood. I'm producing the new Paramount Pictures film, Queens of the City, that you auditioned for. I'd like to offer you a role."

"Seriously?" I ask, overjoyed at the thought.

"Yes, we thought you would do very well in the role of Emilia Blackwell".

"Wow...thank you so much!"

"Would you like the role?"

"Oh no, of course! That would be amazing! Thank you!"

"Wonderful! We're really looking forward to working with you, Rydel."

"You too!"

"We'll be having our first table read on May 24."

"That's like next week!"

"Yes, it is. Will we see you there?"

"Oh ya, definitely!"

"Alright! Lovely! We'll see you next week then."

"Absolutely! Have a great day!"

"You as well, Rydel."

He hangs up. I'm still shaking a little from that. I can't even move. My body is too busy processing what happened. When I can finally move, I grab a tall glass of water and sit down on a chair behind our island. I don't even see Ellington walk into the kitchen. I'm in my own world.

"EARTH TO RYDEL!" I hear all of a sudden. I snap out of my trance long enough to notice my boyfriend standing in front of me.

"Who was that? What's going on?" He asks with an equal amount of curiosity and concern.

"Oh that?" I reply, "that was the producer from the movie I auditioned for. They wanted to give me a role in that movie."

"Rydel, that's amazing!" He smiles which causes me to smile along with him. He runs around the island and wraps me in an enormous hug.

"Congrats, babe" he whispers, "You deserve this."

I just can't wipe the smile off my face as Ross saunters into the kitchen to get some food. Apparently, he notices the huge smile plastered across my face.

"How come you're so happy?" He asks.

"Nothing." I reply.

"Nothing?" Ellington chimes in, slightly offended by my last statement, "She got into that movie that she auditioned for."

"Are you serious?" Ross smiles, "Who are you starring with?"

"I'm not sure yet," I reply, "but I hope they're amazing people!"

"I'm sure they will be," Ellington says.

"Well congrats, Dell!" Ross grins as he and Ellington leave again with their food, back to playing their video game. I am alone again. Alone to be overjoyed, I'm going to be a movie star!