Mr. Big Shot
Chapter Two: 4 Years Later, Still a Broken Heart
A camera was sitting on the dresser of the man's room. It wasn't running, but it was there. He used it sort of like a virtual diary. He was 21 now. He was a movie Director. He was happy. But why did he feel so empty? On the left wall of his apartment were all the pictures. Her and Miranda, Him and her, Miranda, Lizzie, and him…The bracelet was still on his wrist. Even after four years, he never took it off.
Today was the day he started casting for his movie: "The One That Got Away". He dressed in a tee-shirt with a shirt over top, a pair of pants, and sneakers. He wasn't in the movie; he didn't need to look fancy. He took a locket off his dresser and slipped it around his neck.
He headed down the block to the stage area. Casting was around 9:00AM, so he knew for a fact that he was early. He took his seat near the front of the stage. Even after 4 years, he still looked like he did at graduation. David Gordon directing…only it was D.G. Directing Agency's. No one watched Credits, so it didn't matter.
The first person was up. She was a bubbly blonde girl who was going for the part of Lizzie. "Ok, can you say the lines you were given?" asked Deana, his secretary.
"Sure." She cleared her throat. "Oh. I. LOVE. The. LOOK. You. HAVE!"
"Next!" she yelled. The next girl up was a red-head with many years of acting behind her. In adult movies, that is.
"Oh, I just don't think I want it this way." She said in a sultry voice.
"Listen, this is a movie about TEENAGERS, not an office affair. Next!"
A blonde girl took the stage and almost knocked Gordo off his feet. If he were on his feet. She was almost like an exact replica of Lizzie. Brown eyes, blonde hair, everything! But it couldn't be. There was no way.
"Listen girl, we've been through almost 685 different girls, please just do the lines as stated." Mumbled Deana.
"Listen Daniel, I can't stand the fact that she took over the high school any more then you do. Ok?" Gordo was shocked. She even sounded like her.
"What's your name?" asked Gordo who was now on his feet before Deana could say anything.
"Eliza McGarrison." She answered.
Her name was even close to Lizzie's. Gordo was in love. He had his leading role.
"Eliza, you've got the part! You'll be playing Elizabeth. I'll have Deana show you to your trailer." Eliza stepped off the stage, and went over to Gordo to shake his hand.
"Thank you. I really appreciate this. It's my first time acting, though."
"It's ok Eliza, you'll do fine." He shook her hand and let her go with Deana.
When Gordo got back to his apartment, there was a message on his machine. He didn't recognize the number, but he played the message anyway.
"Hey Gord-on. It's Ethan. Ethan Craft. Kate and I were hoping you could come to our wedding. I mean, our other wedding. Well, whatever. If you can, call back at 777-9880."
Gordo picked up the phone, and called to him. "Ethan, its Gordo. No."
When he was done, he went to his camera, turned it on, and told it of his day, then went back down stairs and onto the town.
That was the good thing about living in Manhattan. There was always something to do. He figured he'd talk to his secretary and tell her to brief all the cast on what to do. He stopped by Deana's office, left a note, and headed out to a small diner just down the street from his apartment. When he got there he was amazed to see Eliza. She was on the phone with someone so he didn't want to bother her. Instead he sat close and listened in.
"Miranda, its ok, I'm sure Larry didn't mean it." She whispered.
"I know, but still!" she answered.
"Look, girls will be girls. I'm sure Lena didn't mean what she said."
"I know, but even Larry told her not to do it." Miranda mumbled.
"Larry wasn't always persuasive. Look, I have to go, just tell her happy 3rd birthday, ok?"
"Yeah, ok." Miranda hung up, and Eliza slipped the phone into her pocket. That's when she noticed Gordo was there.
"Oh, Hi Gordon." Eliza said.
"Hi Eliza. Can I sit here?" Gordo looked around.
"Sure. What's up?" Eliza took a sip from her tea and handed it over to Gordo, who casually waved it off.
"Nothing really." He looked over at the wall behind her. "You have kids?"
"Uh, no," she answered. "That was my friend. She has a problem with her daughter."
"Oh. Hey, can I get you some more tea?"
"Sure. How long have you been a director?" Eliza looked out the window at the view of the city. It was amazing; she'd never seen it before.
"Well, I dabbled into it when I was about 10 or so, but I've been in the business for 3 years. How long have you been acting?" he asked after he ordered another tea.
"I think I told you, but for the record, only a month. This is my first real job." She looked at him and noticed something strikingly familiar, but said nothing. "I prefer singing."
"Singing, eh. Are you good at it?" He asked.
She routed through her purse, then pulled something out and slid it to him. "My first CD. No one wants to sell me a contract, but I have all I ever wanted."
"How come no one wants to give you a record deal?"
"Something about not having any prior experience."
"Have you ever been in love?" Gordo blushed a bit, but waited for her answer.
"Once. Turned out he was a dimwit. You?"
"Yeah. I had a crush on my best friend in high-school. Though I found out later that she didn't like me."
"She probably did. Some people have trouble actually saying it, though. Like me for instance. I can't say something like that."
"Oh. Well, I should probably leave you alone. I'm sure you wouldn't want me to bother you. You need your sleep. We start filming tomorrow. You'll be going first." Gordo got up and walked away.
"Yes Sampson, I'm sure you have better luck with the girls then old "Strike-Out-Gordon". Sure you do Sampson. Everyone has luck." Sampson was a small husky that lived next door. Gordo frequently watched him. He had black and white fur, and a blue and red eye. "Sure has better luck then me," I'm still heart-broken Lizzie. I hope you know that. I hope you have a long happy life with whoever you're dating. Forget me.