I pulled into the soap opera studio where I was told to arrive. After trying out for the part of Emma Steele, the affectionate honey from next-door, the director of Catch Me, the soap opera, wanted me to come to the studio a week later, when they would be filming the new episode. Although my debut would only include about ten lines, maybe less- this may be my break. It was my first break in a long while since those tedious commercials. I thought I had finally ascended to the next level of Hollywood stardom.

My first day on the job had been somewhat lucrative. As Emma Steele, my performance seemed to be quite winning, better than my performances as a high-schooler anyways. I hoped I enchanted the writers just enough to include me on Catch Me as a regular.

EMMA. [SHE’S writing in HER diary, but you can hear HER voice]. Dear Diary, I saw Austin again today. There’s something there, I just know it. We connected. I can’t put my finger on it exactly, but I know there is. [SHE looks up and speaks]. Oh, Austin, catch me, I think I’m falling.

“And cut! That’s a wrap, fellas!” Mr. Middler called the scene to end and gave me a pat on the back as I left the set.

I knew I had to buckle down and be the cast suck-up if I wanted to be the Emma Steele. Harold F. Middler was the director of the TV program. At about five feet-six inches, he stood at over two hundred pounds. So what? Yeah, I guess a diet wouldn’t hurt ole Harold, but his sluggish appearance wasn’t about to stop me. After a few episodes and a few slight bribes, I was finally approached by Mr. Roley-Poley-Oley.

“Lena!” Mr. Middler greeted me with his hands nervously held in his pockets.

“Hello Sir,” I smiled my new smirk. I had bleached my teeth that week. Good idea on my part, I know. “What’s up?”

“I have some news for you,” He fiddled a bit with his hands; a seemingly nervous habit that someone may take hold of when important hearsay is at hand. I desperately hoped it was the news I was looking for.

“Yes, Mr. Middler?” I asked sweetly. Okay, okay, I know I was a suck-up.

“Mr. Goodman, the Head Writer... he told me that he’d like you to be a regular on the show. I agree and so does Mr. Callahan, the producer,” the Pillsbury Dough Boy grinned widely and could tell that his favorite cookie was more than pleased.

“That’s wonderful, Mr. Middler!” I leapt with excitement. Not literally, of course, but this was big news for me.

At this point in my career, I had to kiss some butt to get to the top. Sometimes, it’s just necessary; not just in acting, but in life. I really needed the steady flow of money and the chance to finally move out of my trashy apartment. Being a regular was all I could ask for and more.

I left the studio feeling like Marilyn Monroe, only prettier and less-drugged. I was a regular. How cool is that! I know it sounds lame, but it made my day. You wouldn’t even be going out on a limb if you said it made my life; who I am today.

I skipped home; well, I skipped to the sidewalk where I waited for a taxi. Then, I went home. My name is Emma Steele, it’s a pleasure! I repeated different such sayings in my head. I played it over and over. I couldn’t ask for more. I plopped down on my ugly couch- it was plaid, I hate plaid- but I plopped down and picked up the phone next to me on the mahogany coffee table. I dialed the second number that came to mind.

The first number was my mom. My old home phone number, but I knew I could never call there again. I was such a moron to leave her. She loved me, I should’ve stayed. I mean, I know that now and I’m not saying my childhood was hard. If I said my childhood was hard, I’d have all these random people coming up to me and being like, “I survived the plague!” or “I lived through a famine”. I won’t say my childhood was easy either, but let me put it this way: it really wasn’t a picnic I’d like to attend.

So I eighty-six-ed calling my mom. I called Richie, my boyfriend, instead. Yeah, I know I forgot to tell you about him, but you’ll learn more.

“Hello?” Rich sounded slightly doped, but I continued out of my own audacity and excitement.

“Richie! They want me! They love me, they really love me!” God, I always wanted to say that.

“Who loves you?” Rich yawned and asked in his sarcastic tone.

“Come on! Just guess what happened,” I awaited his answer, but my reply brought dead air. “Rich! Just guess, god darn it!”

“You can say damn, you know. It’s not a forbidden word,” he laughed at me.

“I know, I don’t like to swear. You know that... but since you won’t guess I’ll just tell you! I’m-”

“You’re a regular on Catch Me! Right? I’m probably right-”

“How did you know that?” For some reason that really took me by surprise. Now that I think of it, it doesn’t take a dolt to understand what happened. I’d been talking about being a regular for weeks and weeks. Rich was bound to know.

“Congratulations, baby,” I could sense his adoring smile through the phone. “I just hope you’re still this excited when it comes time to take that long walk down the aisle.”

Oh yeah, we were engaged also at the time. I probably should’ve told you that one. “Of course I will be!” I grinned toothily even though he couldn’t see.

“Of course, of course. Hey, do you want to do something tonight? We have all afternoon and evening...”

“Definitely! Pick me up in like fifteen! Okay?”

“Sure, sweetie. We can go back to my place. I have some stuff prepared here.”

I went along with it since I didn’t really care where we got together. I was still pumped about being Emma Steele. It was so exciting to me. A role of my own to nurture as long as I didn’t die a week later on Catch Me.

He picked me up in exactly fifteen minutes, like scheduled. I slipped on something cute, but sexy. I wanted to be pretty for him. He was one of those guys who was really...

“Rich!” I called, “I’ll be there in a second!” It annoyed the heck out of me when he rang the doorbell to no end. Of course I was there and I’d come in a minute. Jeez, talk about high maintenance. I opened the door and practically fell into his loving arms.

“Hi honey,” he kissed my forehead and escorted me to his car. His car. A freaking BMW with leather interior and power steering. It was the most beautiful sight I’d seen in awhile. You don’t see many cars like that around here. Less BMWs than you’d think since I live in a place like Hollywood, California.

We talked some small talk until we arrived at the Carter estate. I don’t know how I ended up engaged to a millionaire- pure luck, I suppose. We were settled in and he had already prepared spaghetti. He always had something Italian. I guess it was sort of important. I am Italian, everyone knows it, but I do eat other foods. Ugh. I accepted the food politely anyway. There was a silence in the middle of our meal. I stopped eating and made eye contact. Then, he spoke.

“I love you, Lena,” he grasped my hand over the dinner table. “With this new job and everything lately, I just...”

“What is it?” I was really trying to reach out to him. Any doubts about spending forever with someone should really be addressed. Forever is a long, long time.

“I don’t want to be someone you’re settling for, Lena. Marriage is hard enough. You haven’t really been the same ‘you’ recently.”

Okay, what the heck? was the first thought that popped into my mind. Then I remembered that this was serious talk and I should remain calm. I stayed evasive by saying, “What do you mean?”

“Ever since you landed the job on Catch Me a few weeks ago. I don’t want you to get wrapped up in a silly soap opera and forget about me and move on to bigger and better things in Tinsel Town.”

Ugh. I hate it when people refer to Hollywood as ‘Tinsel Town’. It makes it sound like I live at the North Pole and I’m constructing toys all year long. I just hate it when people use that expression. What did he mean by silly soap opera? “Honey... sweetie...” I smiled as a delay to comfort him and calm my jumpy nerves, “I-I love you too. I wouldn’t be marrying you otherwise. Me and you are forever. Soon, after the wedding, we’ll be living together. I won’t leave you.”

“Oh baby, I love you too, I really love you. I’m sorry I ever doubted you,” Rich rose from the table as I did and we were caught in a passionate embrace. The tenderness featured kisses and deep hugs. I can’t believe he thought that of me; at such a critical point for me, to boot!

After that night, he drove me home. I explained I had to study my role. His face was puzzled by this. I don’t know what he had in mind, but I couldn’t give up my new role. Not without a fight anyway.

EMMA. Austin... hi... [SHE smiles and blushes slightly by the way HE is looking at HER].

AUSTIN. Emma, please come here. [HE directs for her to sit down next to HIM].

EMMA. Where’s Charity? [SHE looks as if she’s going to get up, but HE directs for HER to remain seated].

AUSTIN. She’s at Hope’s house. We had a fight... [HE takes HIS face and almost buries it in HIS hands].

EMMA. [soothingly] Oh, Austin! [SHE puts HER hand on HIS back to calm HIM]. I’m so sorry! What happened?

AUSTIN. We broke up. [HE puts HIS hand to HIS forehead]. It was bad. Too much miscommunication. [HE cocks HIS head and looks into HER eyes, sexily]. Emma...

EMMA. Austin... [SHE rises]. I can’t, I’m Charity’s friend. I couldn’t do that to her...

AUSTIN. I understand. [HE looks away].

EMMA. But, that doesn’t mean... [SHE doesn’t finish HER thought]. I have something to tell you. It’s really important. [SHE goes to HIM].

AUSTIN. Me too... [HE goes to HER]. Emma, I love you. I’ve loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you. From the day you moved back from Harper Valley. I never believed in love at first sight. At first, I wasn’t sure, but now I know. Every moment we’ve shared I’ve been replaying in my mind. [Holding HER head with HIS hand, HE kisses HER softly, but passionately]. I love you, Emma Marie Steele.

“Oh! I have a middle name now!” I highlighted the Marie in my script and continued reading; I was so excited, I was brutally gripping the pages of dialogue.

EMMA. [SHE looks deeply into his eyes]. Oh Austin! I love you too!

Austin and Emma were each other’s love interest on Catch Me. He was originally dating Charity, Emma’s old friend from elementary school. I, or Emma Steele had moved away because her mother and father won the lottery. After a fight with her parents, Emma moved back out to Porter, Michigan where she fell in love with Austin Jackson, and he fell for her.

I fawned over the beautiful pages of dialogue that were presented before me. That was my big break; I was holding it in my hands. After intensely studying the script that one night, I found I could recite all the lines forwards and backwards in my sleep. This was the most riveting point for me. I knew it when I saw the pages of my libretto folded and ripped- I was highly anticipating the day of taping.

It took me several hours to fall asleep that night. The thought of kissing Jack Bennett, the guy who plays Austin, was inciting me in a strange way. Not that I had stronger feelings for him, but god. He was a handsome man; his looks would make any ordinary girl cry. I wasn’t like that though. Jack and I were buds. Nothing more and nothing less. It still felt sort of funny. Hey, wait... it’s just acting, right? We’ll probably just do a stage kiss or something, I thought to myself and laughed awkwardly aloud.

As I drifted off to sleep, my eyes suddenly jutted open. Wait! I’ve never done a stage kiss before... I thought before I finally fell asleep.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Did you like it? I did. Hehe, unlike the other story, my heart is really in this one. Please give me some feedback! :)