stupid-nickel: Glad you're enjoying it!
Amy90: I'm sorry for making you wait so long! I hope this chapter is worth the wait though!
flyingmole: Thanks!
ooo a jellybean: I think it's weirder auditioning for yourself and not knowing whether you'll get the part! lol hope you enjoy this chapter!
KaterinaPetrova-Winchester: I'm glad you thought so. Here it is, and sorry for not updating in forever.
ebonylovesdeanandsam: I don't understand why you keep coming back here if you think this fic is bad. If you just didn't like the story then that's understandable, but you keep harassing me about the names even after I've already said I'm not going to change it. After that, I figured you decided to leave it, and stop reading. If you really have such a big problem with it, you can just copy and paste it to Word and then change all the "Dave"'s to "Dean" and all the "Zach"'s to "Sam". Otherwise you are just wasting your time when you leave a review because nothing you have to say is actually constructive.
XKaterinaNightingaleX: Yayyy! A new reader! How exciting.
Okay Okay... so I've been particularly horrible for not posting anything up in two whole weeks. I'm sorry! I've been so caught up in other things, I hardly got a chance to come on and post up the chapter :[ Hopefully you guys can forgive me once you read this chapter, and I promise I won't ever make you guys wait that long again! Enjoy!
18
I immediately went back on the other line and told Carrie everything.
"He called you personally?" Carrie asked as if even the thought of it was absurd.
"Yea, I don't know why though." I said. "But he did say something about me being the most memorable or something."
"That's great news!" Carrie exclaimed even though I was pretty sure that was just something he said to everyone who got callbacks.
She advised me to wear the same clothes and do my hair and make-up the same way as I did when I went to the first audition. They liked the consistency.
"And do whatever it was that you did last time." She urged. "Whatever you did during your last audition was what made them invite you back, but that doesn't mean don't have fun with it."
Why did acting have to be so complicated?
The next day at work, there wasn't anything I was thinking about except for going to callbacks. If I went and got the part, maybe that would send me back to the other universe. I supposed it was some sort of strange logic, but I thought that it really could work.
I read over the copy of the script I got, and tried remembering everything from the moments that I had experienced. It was no use. Even though I did remember everything, it didn't really make me a better actress. What did Matt mean when he said Ed and Sarah loved me? How could that be?
Instead of telling myself what I failure at this I was, I decided to just go in there, nail my second audition, and hope to get the part.
So came the day. I took off from work so I could devote my time to this. I got up at 8 a.m. and showered. I got ready making sure I was an exact replica of myself from the first audition. I called Carrie and my relatives who all wished me luck (except Emily who again threatened me to get the part or else it was college for me!), and went on my way to the bus stop that took me to callbacks.
Nervously, I had crumpled up the paper, and I could feel my palms beginning to grow sweaty as I walked down the corridor. Maybe there was still a chance I could just turn back and go home without anyone finding out. I would just tell Matt I got sick, and Emily that I didn't get the part.
When I turned down the hall to where the auditions were taking place, I found at least six other girls there who all looked a year or two younger, muttering lines to themselves. They were all so much prettier than I was, and probably had more experience under their belts. I was just standing there still wondering how I managed to get this far in the first place. Luckily there weren't any other girls to join, which meant it was only us. That didn't mean I didn't still have some major competition.
I should have just stayed home.
No. I had to be determined. I had to if I wanted to go back. Too long I had waited for a chance to go back, and here was the best chance practically being handed over to me and I wasn't just going to let my lack of talent get in the way. I didn't wait a good three a half years for nothing.
So I confidently walked into the room when my turn came, only to find a significant increase in the audience. This was going to be a failure.
The casting director (who I found out was Sarah) introduced me to the three main directors of the show, and another producer who worked with Matt. Edward Konz was still there, and so were a couple of other people who I assumed were just there to read along with me.
They gave me a new script, which was a little longer. Oh boy. I looked up to see that whispers were going around the room, and one of the directors leaned in to whisper something to Sarah. He pointed to his head as though he was talking about hair. Not my hair. Please God not my hair.
"So to give you a little background our character Jane," Sarah began. "She's this young 18 year-old who is in love with the books and TV show, and she gets transported to this alternate universe where it's all real."
I nodded hinting that I was prepared.
"Okay, go." Sarah said.
"Dave," The reader for Zach started.
"Are you serious?" I read off the script. This was so bad. "I'm pretty sure I just saved your asses, and now you're pointing a gun at me? How many times has that been within the past hour? Like six?"
This was after we had saved everyone and Dave had still distrusted me, and then proceeded to shoot me. But that was obviously not written in the script.
"Dave," Zach's reader said.
"We've killed all those damn zombies, so we have time. I want to know how she knows about us." The reader for Dave said.
"Anything I say will just make you want to kill me." I said.
"Damn right. So you better get your story straight, lady."
"Look, if I'm going to tell you anything, I'm gong to tell you with out a gun pointed at my face."
"Seems fair."
"This is a TV show."
"That's enough." Sarah said gesturing for me to stop.
Again the director leaned in to say something to her, she whispered a reply and then turned to me.
"Let me just start by saying that this a role will only last maybe an episode or two at most." Sarah said. "There are going to be a few changes to the script, we only have an idea of who we want this character to be, and what her significance is to the storyline. We do know that most likely whatever changes we make, her hair is going to be one colour."
I knew it. I wasn't going to get this role because of my hair.
"Don't get me wrong," Sarah told me. "We all think it's really interesting, but if we do cast you, we would need you to dye it."
"I was just telling Sarah," The director that was sitting next to her butt in. "I really think it's neat, and we wouldn't usually have such a problem with what actors do with their hair especially since there are so many characters that come into the episodes. But unless we could somehow write the significance of your hair into this episode, you wont be able to keep it."
"Right." I said.
"Sarah mentioned that you are a little reluctant to revert to whatever hair colour you had before, so if we were to hire you it'll just be another challenge for us."
I nodded, and looked to see Matt scribbling something down in his notes, examining me to an uncomfortable point, and consulting someone who sat next to him. They looked to be agreeing on something and growing very excited by it.
"We have your information so we'll give you a call if you end up being what we're looking for." Sarah said.
If I end up being what they're looking for? That sounded like code for "if we don't find anyone better, we're stuck with you." How nice.
"Thanks for everything." I said heading out.
That was disastrous. I had completely ruined whatever small fraction of a chance I had in getting that stupid role. That was me. I was supposed to get that role.
My train of thought was interrupted as soon as I heard Matt call my name from behind me. I turned around to see him hanging onto his notepad with a pen tucked over his ear.
"Uh, did I forget something?" I asked thinking what a moron I was already proving to be.
"I just wanted to talk to you before you left, just to let you know that I'm working something out with a co-worker." He said.
I made a face.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't really say much else, because I don't want you to get your hopes up, but when Chuck said that thing about writing your hair into the storyline, I got a good idea, and… Well, like I said, I can't really fill you in on all the details, but you'll find out if it works out." He explained hurriedly.
"O-kay…" I muttered not quite following.
"I'll see you later." He said running in the opposite direction.
I couldn't help feeling slightly more hopeful.
This was easily killed within the next week due to the lack of phone calls telling me that I got the part, and since there were no such phone calls, I figured I would get sent back to school immediately if I didn't think fast.
So much for Matt's plan.
At this moment there was probably a much prettier, and younger girl playing who I was. She was probably doing a much better job than me as well.
Carrie was a little more optimistic than I was. She kept insisting that it would take time, and to just have a little patience. After a few weeks of zero phone calls had passed, however, she would get angry at me for not dying my hair back to normal, saying I would've had numerous jobs by now, including this one.
She thought she was upset? What about me? Someone else was doing a better portrayal of me than I could do myself. That kind of thing was a little frustrating. Not to mention the fact that I had just lost all my chances of getting back to Zach and Dave. All these years of waiting and it was for nothing. All of those salon visits to damage and re-damage my hair just so I could hang on to that single shred of sanity I had left, that I was sure would help me get back. It was all for nothing.
Now I would never hear Zach's reassuring voice, or see Dave's concerned eyes, or give Bobby a big hug like I had done before. Now, I could never go back.
At least that was my impression before I got a phone call during work. Thinking it was Emily disturbing me during my shift I grabbed the telephone angrily.
"What is it?" I barked.
"I'm sorry, is this Elyse Adams?" A familiar voice asked.
"Oh my God, I'm so sorry," I apologized quickly.
"It's alright," He said chuckling. '"It's Matt Philips,"
I knew the moment he said his name that the part was mine.
"I've got some fantastic news," He told me. "You landed the part."
"You're shitting me." I accidently blurted. "Sorry." I muttered.
He only laughed.
"I wouldn't have expected anything else." He said. "We're going to be shooting in Toronto, if that's no problem, but we'll do most of your preparations here. The great news is that it will be a three-episode part and the third episode is going to be the opener for season two. That is if there is a season two. There were also a lot of drastic changes to suit you, so you won't need to be dying your hair."
Dream come true.
"We just need you to come in to our studios here later this week, and the sooner the better." He said. "Sorry it took so long by the way, we've been taking away and adding so much, and on top of that still trying to manage preparations for the other episodes in Toronto."
"It's fine," I replied. Who cared? I got the freaking part! I could go back to Zach and Dave! "I could probably make it tomorrow afternoon." I told him.
"That's perfect." He replied. "It's just that there's so much going on, and if we could just get a table reading with you and the boys, that would be a huge relief."
I paused for a second in confusion.
"I'm sorry," I said. "Boys? What boys?"
"You know, Clay and Grayson." Matt said.
I almost choked on my own spit.
"They flew back here for now just to sort out some stuff here. This will be your first time meeting them, so you guys could get familiar with each other." He explained. "I mean they're already so close, so you might feel like the odd one out for a little bit, but you'll get comfortable in no time."
I highly doubted that. I mean this was Clayton Smith and Grayson Shields! I couldn't believe how their existence completely blew over my head! I had been so caught up in getting back to Zach and Dave that I completely forgot about Clayton Smith and Grayson Shields. How'd that happen?
After I hung up with Matt, I called Carrie right away who started screaming in excitement, and rushed to my house that night to give me roses and a overbearing hug—two things I would have never expected from her. She of course found it necessary to break the news to my relatives right away.
Emily was probably the most thrilled to here about this, but her face looked like she was slightly unimpressed.
"At least you got something." She said.
When I walked in the next day, I expected to see two men who were eight years older than who I had seen in that alternate world.
When I had been transported, I was somehow stuck in season one, and at the time there were four seasons, so I had already been with a much younger Zach and Dave. With the additional four years having passed, they were supposed to be in their early thirties (and still super sexy, mind you).
But when I walked into the room, I didn't see two grown men—technically speaking I didn't see anyone because they weren't there yet, but when they did walk in—I was confronted by the very same kids I had started off the series with.
Clayton was still that scrawny twenty-two year old, and Grayson was still the twenty-six year old with the spiky hair. Had I really changed this universe by that much?
I supposed in some weird way it made sense. I mean, if the whole thing was to be wiped off the face of this earth just so that it could be rewritten to be based around my trip to that universe, it made sense to have there be a younger Clayton Smith and Grayson Shields to fit.
When they first walked in they didn't really acknowledge me. They were arguing over the importance of having soy sauce with sushi.
"No, no," Grayson said. "You can't have good sushi without some soy sauce. It's like having French fries without ketchup."
"I don't always have my fries with ketchup." Clayton argued.
"You are officially dead to me." Grayson said before noticing me.
I probably looked so stupid just gawking at them like a ridiculous schoolgirl who was just caught stuffing tissues in her bra. I immediately stood up from my seat, but was so enthralled by their presence I forgot to extend my hand for a shake. Freaking Clayton Smith and Grayson Shields.
"Hi," Clayton said doing the hand extending for us. "I'm-"
"Clayton Smith." I muttered, taking his hand and enthusiastically shaking it. I was embarrassing myself to a whole new level.
He gave me a funny look and then subtly wiped his hand on his shirt (probably to get rid of the sweat that had somehow managed to accumulate on my palms within the short period of them walking in).
"Right," He said with a slight smile. "Well you could just call me Clay."
"I can?" I asked.
He only scowled again, as if he wasn't sure I was joking or not.
"I'm sorry," I said, because I was. "It's just that I'm a big fan."
"Really?" Clay asked. "From what?"
"Some of your stuff." I vaguely replied still completely mesmerized by their presence.
He squinted at me as if to ask "what stuff?"
"Oh!" He said coming to realization. "You've seen me in Stratford Sisters."
I made a face, and then quickly recognized the name as one of those old "small-town" dramas meant for teenage girls who were into that kind of stuff (i.e. not me). Luckily I did thorough stalking of Clayton Smith (and Grayson Shields) when I first got into the show and knew that he had been in more than a few episodes of Stratford Sisters.
"Yea, I mean, I wasn't really that into the show," I started. "But I saw you in it and thought you were great, and it's just so awesome that they chose you as Zach." I said with a big smile. "I think you're perfect for the role."
"How'd you know I'm playing Zach?" He asked.
"Are you kidding?" I wondered. "You're ridiculously tall, and so is Zach Savage."
"Not a lot of people take note of that." He said with an impressed look on his face.
To be honest I was the impressed one. I had no idea these guys actually read the books. I mean they said they did in their pre-existing interviews but I had always thought that was just for appearances.
"Yea, well, like I said; I'm a big fan." I told him.
He gave me a genuine smile, revealing those adoring dimples.
"Well, thanks." He said.
I turned to Grayson who was also just staring at me. I probably made him feel so uncomfortable by not saying a word to him.
"I'm Grayson," He said extending his hand out.
I managed to shake it like a normal human being.
"Elyse." I replied.
"It's nice to finally meet you." He said with a smile, causing those crinkles in his eyes to appear. "Matt would just not shut up about you."
"All good things, I promise." Matt said gesturing for us to sit down. "Now, back to work."
We opened the scripts and before we could read anything Matt gave me a bit of a debriefing.
"Now, one thing I have to mention is that we did a lot of drastic changes because, well to be honest, because a lot of us really wanted you for the role." He started. "So, we kept your hair how it is, and thought it would be clever to change the name to Cru Ella to go with. Obviously it's only as a nickname because the character isn't able to actually remember her real one. In the episode, though, your character wakes up in this world, thinking it's a dream, and the moment she sees her hair she's not happy."
I smiled. Just how I remembered. At least now things were starting to make some sense.
"Another thing," Matt said. "Your brands took me away from day one, and my colleagues and I thought it would be cool to write them into the episodes, but we didn't want to set anything in stone before consulting you and making sure you don't have any complaints. We do have alternate scripts prepared for each episode in case you say no."
"No!" I cried, taking myself aback. "I mean, you should keep them." I insisted. "I think it would be so cool."
"I'm glad," Matt replied. "But those symbols don't have any exact meanings do they? I mean if they are from sort of book or pictures from the Internet or something I don't want to face any future liabilities."
"Honestly," I said. "I made them up. I drew it out for the guy who was branding me, and he stenciled in a better version of it on my skin."
"Okay, good." Matt said giving out a sigh of relief.
He scribbled a few things in his notebook and from across the table, Grayson asked to see my brands. Clay also leaned in, intrigued by what I was going to show them. I showed them the candle on the side of my left hand and star on my right wrist and as much as I could of the scroll by my right ear on my neck.
"Those are the only three I can actually show you right now." I said. Except for the scratches, but they didn't have to know that yet.
"Where are the other ones?" Clay asked.
"Uh, on my shoulder blade and ribcage," I answered rather embarrassed.
"I gotta say," Grayson added, "that's pretty badass."
"Very cool," Clay said leaning back in his chair.
I grinned. Pretty badass, and very cool. This was a dream come true.
Matt got us focused back on the script and as we read it, I learned what happened within the time before I had showed up in the Savage brothers' lives. They had just done a count of everyone in the storage closet and had them lock it. They were doing a sweep when I had suddenly appeared in the dairy section.
"Zach," Grayson whispered. "Zombie?" He asked.
"She's too still." Clay replied, preparing the gun regardless. "She could be something else."
Gosh they were so good at this. I couldn't possibly do this in front of them. I would make an even bigger fool of myself than I already had.
"Who are you?" Grayson asked in a demanding voice, his character's gun clicking.
After a pause Clay continued.
"Who are you?" He repeated in the same threatening manner.
And—Well, you know the rest, because it was exactly down to the T. Every single word we each said, minus the profanity, was spot on. Even though I sounded like a complete idiot, I remembered everything I was reading about.
Matt seemed pleased, insisted on us practicing, and couldn't wait for us to start shooting.
Afterwards I walked aimlessly around the offices, until I saw a coffee machine, thanked heaven and earth, and began making myself a great cup of Joe. From behind, I heard footsteps approaching and saw that Grayson too, was headed for the caffeine.
"You sounded really nervous," He told me also starting make his own coffee.
"That's because I was." I replied honestly.
"You know," He said leaning against the counter. "You don't really look like an Elyse to me."
"What does an Elyse look like?" I wondered.
"I dunno," He replied. "I think of a ballerina and a girl whose favorite colour is… purple or something. Not you, though. I mean with your hair, and your brands, and all."
"Yea, well, to be honest with you," I said. "I don't really feel like an Elyse."
"See?" He said. "You're definitely not an Elyse."
"Are you not going to call me by that name then?" I asked.
"I will," He told me. "But only until I can think of something that suits you better."
"Oh, hey," Clay said walking by and stopping. "What's up guys?"
He always seemed so friendly.
"Nothing much." I replied taking a sip of my coffee.
"You did great," He told me. "Even though you sounded nervous."
"I was really nervous." I told him.
"You don't need to be nervous around us," Clay assured me. "We're pretty ridiculous."
"Speak for yourself," Grayson said. "You're completely ridiculous for not having your French fries with ketchup."
"It's not that big of a deal," Clay tried arguing.
"Of course it's a big deal." Grayson said heading in the opposite direction with Clay following him. "It was nice meeting you," He said before disappearing behind a corner.
"Bye, Elyse!" Clay called as he followed Grayson.
This was going to be the absolute best.