The Audition – Chapter 5
Zoey made it to the studio for the audition with 20 minutes to spare. While she waited to be called, she went over the script again to make sure she knew the lines. Loren arrived 5 minutes later, and they agreed to go through the lines together while they waited. Fifteen minutes went by quickly, and they were called into the room together for their second audition. They hadn't seen anyone else around for a second audition, and thought it was odd but they put it out of their minds. The casting directors chose the scene that would test their chemistry as an onstage couple. It was the scene where the male and female leads declare their love for each other.
Taking a moment to put themselves into character, they started the scene gazing at each other as the script said. In those few moments the casting directors disappeared, as did the room. To them it seemed that the room was empty and they spoke the lines and performed the scene perfectly. The scene ended in a kiss, and again, it was perfect. To the casting directors there was obvious chemistry between Zoey and Loren. To Zoey and Loren, the heat of the kiss was more than they thought it would be. The casting directors made their decision right there, and told Zoey and Loren that they were the male and female leads.
They thanked the directors profusely and walked out together, Loren holding the door open for Zoey. As the left, Loren told Zoey where they were going to Osteria Del Circo for lunch. She told him she'd never been there, but had heard good things about it. As the reached the front door of the studio, Loren held the door open for Zoey again. Since the second audition had only taken 45 minutes total, Loren suggested they walk through Central Park before going to lunch since it was still early. Zoey agreed and they crossed the busy street to Central Park. As they walked, they talked about what they'd been doing for the past 10 years. Before they knew it, 45 minutes had passed and both were hungry. They headed for Osteria Del Circo which was four blocks from the south side of the park on W. 55th Street.
When they got to the restaurant, they were greeted by the maitre d' and seated immediately. They spent a few minutes looking over the lunch menu before deciding that they would split an order of arugula salad with endive, apples, bacon, and blue cheese, and Tagiatelle alla Bolognese (wide pasta strips with meat sauce). Loren ordered a bottle of 2006 Castle Rock Cabernet Sauvignon to go with their lunch. They talked while they waited for the lunch which came quickly, for which they were thankful since they were rather hungry. They lingered over the salad while they continued to talk. Shortly their entrée arrived and they ate without saying much more. After lunch, they decided to have dessert, and chose the Crème Brulee La Cirque. After praising the chef for the fantastic meal, they left hand in hand and walked back through Central Park to the parking garage where they had parked. Loren walked her to her car, kissed her hand and departed for his own car.
Zoey wasn't sure how it was happened, but she was falling head over heals for Loren again. He was the most sweet and sexy man she'd ever met. Her head was swimming with thoughts of them together as she drove home. Loren drove to his condo on e. 78th street near Orwasher's Bakery. His head swam with ideas about seeing Zoey again. Since his drive home was short, he arrived home before Zoey. Before he even made it into his condo, he turned right back around and went to his car. On a whim, he drove to the nearest flower shop and had the florists make the most beautiful bouquet of purple flowers for Zoey. He knew that purple was her favorite color, and that she would love it. Using his BlackBerry Curve smartphone, he looked Zoey up in the white pages, and drove to her place on 80th street in Jackson Heights.