Harlem's POV
I pour myself a cup of coffee and sigh. Drama classes are a lot harder than I thought but I've come too far to give up now or ever. I though I'd have seen Ezra today but he hasn't been here since our meeting last time which was almost two weeks ago. I mean, its not like I'm expecting him or something but I'm always reminded of our last conversation.
Maybe I was too harsh, again. I sigh and barely stop the coffee machine before it overpours my coffee.
What am I even doing? Thinking about someone that will probably never give a fuck about me. Besides, we made a truce, I plan to say out of his way and he plans to stay out of mine. We made a deal. So why? Why am I having contradicting feelings.
"Hey" Renee, one of the other female casts say to me. I like her, she's so nice and pretty. "Hey, how's it going?" I say and take a sip of my coffee with as much sugar to kill a bear.
"Same way it's going for you Harlem." She says amused at the way I'm drinking the coffee like it's my last. I chuckle and drop the cup. "Yeah, it's a long day"
"Yup, but it's our last training day so it couldn't be worse than this" True. We're going to start shooting next week. The play we're expected to do has to be one of the most wholesome, heartfelt plays I've ever heard of or imagined in my head. It's about a woman grows up believing her shadow is cursed, that it brings ruin to anyone she loves. She lives half a life, always running from the light.
But she ends up getting salvation. I feel like it's going to speak to me in ways I can't even comprehend. I'm excited for it.
"Right." I mumble. "But any who, where having a last class party at Briannon's place, you coming?" Oh, another female cast member. "Sounds like fun, I'll let you know if I can make it. Tonight yeah?" I ask
"Yup. I'll send you the address if you decide to come. See you in our final class "she waves and walks away. I down the coffee and return back to class.
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I stand in front of a bungalow with a bottle of Hennessy in my hand and my phone in the other. This has to be the place, right? But it's so quiet. I thought parties were a 'break the roof' kind of situation.
I walk to the front door and knock. I hope I look good in my leather jacket and black heeled boots. Someone opens the door and its Zach. I smile at him and he looks surprised to see me.
"Hey Harlem, come in please." I do and when I walk in, I see a few other cast members inside the living room playing video games.
Briannon walks in from the kitchen and looks shocked to see me. "Harlem, I didn't know you were going to come, if I did, I would have upped my game" she walks up to me and hugs me warmly.
"Why did you guys think I'm not going to come?" I ask and Zach and Briannon look at me like it's obvious. It's not.
"Well, you're more of a lone wolf kind of girl" Really? "Yeah, you always have your head in a book reading or too busy for jokes or just generally very serious" Zach adds.
"Wow, I guess you're right." I state a bit shocked. "Yeah, but it's all good though, and we're glad you came. Come, Renee and the rest are in the Kitchen" she drags me to where the kitchen is.
I walk in to hear laughter and chatting. I see Renee and some others around the kitchen table and butter my whiskers, Lucas as well.
"I see you guys started all the fun without me "I say and drop the bottle on the table. "Yayy! Harlem is here guys" they whoop and hoot and clap for me. I just shake my head smiling.
"Nice of you to join us Harlem, your cast members were trying to get information out of me on who I might be dating and who I slept with last." Lucas says walking over with a cup to my side.
I sit on one of the empty chairs and help him pour some. "Guys why would you be putting our producer on the spot? That's so unethical" I say with mock concern. "But did he answer though?" I add and they start laughing.
"Well, he's not dating anybody and even if he is, he's pretty good at hiding it "Renee says. "Sory guys I know it hurts you that I have no one to go home to" he states sarcastically and takes a sip from his drink.
"Maybe it's just something that we don't believe "I say as a matter of fact. "You're rich, you're good looking, you're rich. I mean I've checked off all the boxes here "I say looking at him incredulously because how though? I mean, if HE'S single, is there even any hope for the rest of us?
"Well, if you want to know so badly. I haven't found the right woman yet" he says shrugging.
"Damn, that's sad" Briannon says pouring herself a drink as well. It really is. "But I'm sure you will find somebody eventually" I say. He looks me in the eyes with a sad smile and something else I can't place.
"I hope"
We joke a bit more and play some games and dance and can I just admit how much fun I'm having? I see why they were all chosen to do what they do. They're real people, and you can never get tired of real.
I sit beside Briannon's pool and stare into my drink. It's only the second cup and that's because I have to drive home. I sit there and think about my life, how it's changing for the best. How some few years ago when I rode to Germany on a train from Poland with just $500 and two bags of luggage, I didn't believe I would make it this far. Especially after what happened at home. When every job turned me down because I had no work experience and they didn't trust where I came from. When I finally stopped at the Beatdown Bar and Gio took me in like a big brother and gave me a small room to stay in till I could get mine. I'm struck by the amount of money I'm going to be making by the time I'm done with this: $50,000 btw. How I couldn't ask for a better set of people to work with for the next five months. I'm filled with overwhelming love and hope for the future. I sincerely believe miracles do happen.
I wipe the single tear that falls from my eye and take a sip of my drink.
"Am I interrupting?" I startle a bit and turn to see Lucas in all his blonde glory staring at me. "Uhm, no, of course not" I say trying to smile.
"You can stop all those fake smiles with me, I'm a play producer, I know acting when I see one. Mind if I sit?" Right, of course.
"Yes, please do" I say shifting a bit. He sits besides me and stares at me concerned. "Everything okay Harlem?"
"Yes, everything's fine" I state and drop my up. No more of that.
"Nobody died?" he asks me. I laugh a bit. "No, everyone I know is still alive" I assure him.
"Hmm, then I wonder what's making you cry? Because you're too beautiful to be crying" I'm momentarily shocked and I wonder if he's drunk but nevertheless that's sweet.
"Thanks for the compliment but I'm crying tears of joy" I say truthfully.
"Oh, that's not bad, mind telling me what it is so I can share the joy with you?" he says turning towards me and leaning his face on his palm like it's gossip time. Yeah, he's definitely a bit drunk. Maybe I can tell him some of it.
"Well, I'm just happy to be around wonderful people like you guys and how far I have come. It's a sweet melancholy experience" I say and stare at the pool in front of me. I'm surprised no one is skinny dipping or something because those folks are pretty drunk.
"You want to know why I picked you?" I look back at him and he's staring into my soul. I nod.
"I noticed you from not too far away when you were walking to the bar at the sponsorship event, and you looked to be present but not so. You seemed to be in a world of your own I was drawn to that, and so I decided to invite you for the interview and you didn't fail. So, my intuition was spot on" he says with a satisfied smile.
"Thank you" I say genuinely from my heart. He opened doors for me I thought I would need to work harder for, by just seeing potential in me from afar. I'm grateful.
He brushes me off." Don't thank me Harlem. You're doing me a favor as well" he says as a matter of fact. "But now that we've put that out of the way, how do you intend on going home? You need a ride?" he asks me and stands up offering me his hand. I take it.
"No thank you actually, I came with my car and I'm hardly wasted. I think it's you actually who needs to be driven" I say amusedly. He looks at me like I just told him I'm going to rate Nexa Stage with just one star.
"I hold my alcohol well mind you. It's just the stress of the week talking. Don't underestimate a producer" I laugh and pat his arm.
"Aright then, I'll take your word for it. But I'll be on my way now, good night" I say and walk away. I wish everyone a good night. Till we see at the start of the shoot. Then, I get in my car and drive off, feeling like a new person.
Oh, how I look towards the future.