The morning sunlight poured through the windows of the coffee shop, casting a golden glow on the bustling interior. Keisha was back behind the counter, the routine motions of brewing coffee offering her a semblance of normalcy. Despite the steady rhythm of work, her mind kept drifting back to the night before—the glamorous party, Mr. Blackwood's elaborate plan, and, most notably, Adrian Kane's piercing gaze.
'Keisha, are you even here right now?" Hazel's voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Keisha turned to see her best friend standing by the pastry display, her arms crossed and an eyebrow arched in mock exasperation. Hazel had the kind of presence that demanded attention, her bold fashion choices and sharp wit making her impossible to ignore.
'I'm here," Keisha muttered, wiping down the counter.
'Physically, sure. Mentally? You're on another planet," Hazel said, handing a customer their change before stepping closer. 'Let me guess: another late-night gig? Or was it an audition you finally decided to go to?"
Keisha hesitated. She hadn't told Hazel about her side job—not fully, anyway. Hazel knew she occasionally worked events but believed it was as a generic hostess or waitress. The truth was far messier, and Keisha wasn't ready to unravel that knot yet.
'It wasn't an audition," Keisha admitted.
Hazel sighed, her disappointment palpable. 'Keisha, you're wasting so much time. You've got talent, real talent, but you keep hiding behind this…this fear. Why?"
Keisha bristled at the question. 'It's not fear. It's reality. Do you know how hard it is to break into acting? It's not just about talent. You need connections, money, time—none of which I have."
'You think every actor out there started with connections? Some of them just worked their butts off until someone noticed." Hazel leaned closer, her voice softening. 'You're scared because of what happened before, but that was years ago. You're better now."
Keisha bit her lip, Hazel's words cutting through her defenses. She hated that her friend could see her so clearly, even when she wanted to stay hidden.
'I'll think about it," Keisha said finally, hoping to end the conversation.
Hazel rolled her eyes. 'You've been thinking about it for years. When are you going to do something about it?"
Before Keisha could respond, the bell above the door chimed, signaling a new customer. Hazel shot her a pointed look before returning to the register, leaving Keisha alone with her thoughts.
---
That evening, Keisha found herself replaying Hazel's words as she sat on her couch, flipping through channels on her ancient TV. Her best friend's frustration wasn't unwarranted. Keisha had spent years avoiding auditions, convincing herself she wasn't ready. But deep down, she knew the truth: she was afraid.
Afraid of failing again. Afraid of proving her doubters right.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her out of her spiral. She picked it up to find another message from Hazel:
'There's a casting call tomorrow. Local indie film. No big names, just a chance to show your stuff. Don't flake this time."
Keisha stared at the text, her heart racing. The idea of auditioning terrified her, but the thought of disappointing Hazel—and herself—was worse.
She typed back a quick reply: 'I'll think about it."
A moment later, Hazel's response came through: 'No thinking. Just go."
Keisha sighed, tossing her phone onto the couch. She knew Hazel was right. It was time to stop running from her dreams, no matter how scared she was.
But as she sat there, staring at the flickering TV screen, doubt began to creep in. Was she really ready to face the industry that had once rejected her so harshly? Or was she destined to remain stuck in her dead-end job, clinging to a dream that would never come true?
---
The next morning, Keisha woke up with a knot of anxiety in her stomach. She had barely slept, her mind racing with possibilities. The audition was at noon, and she had the morning off, giving her just enough time to prepare—or to talk herself out of going.
She stood in front of her bathroom mirror, practicing lines from the script Hazel had sent her. Her reflection stared back at her, unsure and unsteady.
'You can do this," she whispered, though she didn't believe it.
By the time she left her apartment, her nerves were threatening to overwhelm her. She clutched the script in her hand, the pages crumpled from her restless grip. The casting location was a small studio downtown, and as she approached the building, she felt the weight of her fears pressing down on her.
Inside, the waiting room was filled with aspiring actors, each of them exuding confidence—or at least faking it better than Keisha could. She found an empty chair in the corner and sat down, her heart pounding as she scanned the competition.
Some of the other hopefuls were chatting, exchanging tips and stories. Keisha remained silent, her focus on the script in her lap. The words blurred together, her nerves making it impossible to concentrate.
'Keisha Jones?"
Her head snapped up at the sound of her name. A casting assistant stood in the doorway, clipboard in hand.
'That's me," Keisha said, her voice shaking as she stood.
The assistant smiled politely, motioning for her to follow. Keisha's legs felt like lead as she walked down the hallway, her mind racing with every possible outcome.
When she entered the audition room, she was greeted by a panel of casting directors seated behind a long table. A camera was set up in the corner, its lens trained on the spot where she was meant to stand.
'Whenever you're ready," one of the directors said, his tone neutral.
Keisha took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus. She glanced at the script one last time before setting it aside, trusting herself to remember the lines.
As she began her monologue, her voice wavered, but she pushed through. She could feel the weight of the directors' gazes, their expressions unreadable. Her nerves threatened to consume her, but she clung to the words, letting the emotions carry her forward.
By the time she finished, her hands were trembling.
'Thank you," one of the directors said, his tone giving nothing away. 'We'll be in touch."
Keisha nodded, her throat dry as she exited the room. As soon as she was back in the waiting area, she let out a shaky breath, her heart still racing.
It wasn't perfect. She knew that. But she had done it.
She had shown up.
---
Back at the coffee shop that afternoon, Hazel was waiting for her, an expectant look on her face.
'Well?" she asked, leaning against the counter. 'How did it go?"
Keisha hesitated, a small smile tugging at her lips. 'It wasn't a disaster."
Hazel grinned, pulling her into a tight hug. 'See? I told you! Now, don't stop. Keep pushing."
For the first time in a long while, Keisha felt a flicker of hope. It wasn't much, but it was enough to keep her going.
