✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧

I honestly didn't mean to burn the whole room.

It was only meant to be a small fire. You know, for the drama.

"I am so sorry sir, " I start to say as Mr. Takeuchi rushes out of the door. I reach for his arm but he moves out of reach. The two of us are being dragged away by some security guards and the room is being closed down.

"Sorry? Son, sorry is not going to undo what has already been done." He says when we make it out of the room. He receives a towel and hands it to me.

I just drape it over my shoulders as Mr. Takeuchi wipes his head of wet hair with a second towel. "Well, there must be something I can do." I plead with him, desperate for forgiveness.

"You can pay for the damage and never come back here again."

I choke on air. "Wait, never? But sir, this is the biggest theatre in town. I've been waiting forever to land a role here. I even came to the summer acting cam--"

"I don't care. You carelessly lit a fire--"

"--it was only meant to be a small one. It was controlled."

"Well, clearly not  because look at the damage it has caused." He points to the room we just exited. 

The walls and the floors on the inside were stained by the fire and the judging table was reduced to ashes while the chairs were only half destroyed but still fully useless.

"But I--" I started to speak but Mr. Takeuchi gave me a sharp look that extinguished my bravery. "I understand sir. I will-- I will never come back here again."

Mr. Takeuchi sighed and put a sympathetic hand on my shoulder, "Fine. I'm going to tell you right now, you didn't get the role. You have potential but you don't feel genuine enough. Come back after a year, improve yourself, and maybe the theatre will have forgiven you for this incident."

Without waiting for a response, he leaves me alone in the lobby of the theatre. A guard with shocking green eyes and huge hands comes up to me to ask me to leave the building because it was unsafe.

"Yeah, sure," I tell him and leave the theatre hanging my head and holding my broken dreams in my stupid fire-creating hands.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧

The good thing about having busy parents is that you get the house to yourself. The bad thing about having busy parents is that you get the house to yourself.

Loneliness is a peculiar thing. I never thought much of it growing up. But now that I'm older, I find loneliness in a lot of things.

After that failed audition I tried to fill the hole of sadness with popcorn and The Matrix. 

It was kind of working.

My brown eyes were locked onto the large screen hanging from the ceiling where the movie was being projected from our projector. Neo was just about to make the decision that would change his life. The blue pill, or the red pill.

I often wondered what I would take, but the answer would always be the same. I would take the red pill.

Maybe, by truly understanding the world and in turn myself, I could become a more genuine actor.

"Pfft, genuine, I can be genuine." I mutter out loud as I think of the words the casting director from 'The Valley Theater' told me.

Suddenly my phone begins to vibrate like crazy. I glare at it from my seat on the couch. Resting my head on my fist, I contemplate whether or not I should take it or just ignore it and enjoy the movie.

The vibration becomes unbearable and with a loud huff, I pick up the phone.

There is a long line of texts from none other than my theatre camp buddy, Gabriela Angel.

Along with that, at the very top of my notifications, is a text from my cousin.

I decide to answer my cousin first because, priorities. As well as because I know from experience that once I start talking to Gabby, she won't shut up.

Hey

Callum! finally, you answered. what were you doing?

watching a movie, what do you want?

what? can't I just want to talk to my lovely older cousin who's been like a brother to me?

I can't help but roll my eyes at this.

what do you really want?

I need help

with what

there is this girl I like and I want to ask her out. but not in a super obvious way

aww does little Tyler have a crush ~

shut up. and yes. now, what do I do

just ask her out, what's the worst that can happen?

literally everything. besides I want to ease into asking her out, I haven't actually talked to her yet

wait- you haven't even talked to her yet?

yeah that's what I said, didn't you read that text. now answer the question, how do I non-creepily ask her to hang out

I have no idea, Ty, if I did know I'd have a girlfriend too

oh come on, there has to be some good line from those cheesy movies you like to watch

.... I don't know any good lines. but why don't you just ask her to hang out in a group? that way it's not just you two

I don't know...

My phone vibrated again as Gabby continued to send me texts.

look, I gotta go Ty. hope things work out

I didn't wait for an answer from Tyler and go to my texts with Gabby. She was probably the least patient person I had ever met. If it weren't for acting camp, I never would've become friends with her, let alone even approach her.

what do you want

geez someone's a little grumpy

I am not. seriously tho. what do you want

what, am I disturbing your little cheesy-movie-viewing session?

'Does everyone think my movies are cheesy?' I think to myself, annoyed.

if you don't tell me what you want, I'm leaving

okay, okay, chill...

I need a favour

ugh what

Why does everyone suddenly need things from me? First Mr. Takeuchi needs me to be more genuine. Then Ty needs me to give him advice. And now Gabby needs my help. Why can't I just do what I need to do: watch the Matrix to heal my broken heart.

okay, so, I have this friend

and she's, like, little miss goody two shoes - never does anything bad or risky - and is kinda boring but I can't tell her that 'cause she's my friend

what's your point Gabby?

I need you to date her

I choke on air and cough for a couple of seconds. My fist pounds on my chest until I finally calm down. What kind of a favour is that?

what?

I. need. you. to. date. her

why?

okay, let me explain. I don't want you, Callum, to date her. I need Cal to date her

who the heck is Cal?

you, silly. but like not you. the cool you. I need you to play a character named Cal and date my friend 

I still don't get it

you know what, I'm just gonna go to you and explain to you in person

no wait you don't need to do that

too late I'm already on my way over

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧

Not even ten minutes later, the doorbell rings impatiently. I sigh and force myself off the couch so that I could greet Gabby. 

I walk across the large foyer and I listen to my echoing footsteps. Before I can even open the door fully, Gabby pushes her way in and smiles brightly at me. 

"As I said, I need a favour."

"Hi Gabby, it's nice to see you too. How have you been? I've been fine, thanks for asking." I say sarcastically. 

Gabby rolls her eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Manners and stuff to you too."

I heave a sigh and lead Gabby into the living room. She jumps onto the couch and lies there comfortably. 

"Alright, Gabby. Now that you're here, can you properly explain to me what you need me to do?"

"Callum, I need you to play a role." She says sitting up and hugging a pillow.

"Oh, really? At what theatre?" I feel myself getting a little excited. After that last rejection, I was dying to get another audition. 

"It's not at a theatre Callum. I'm talking about real life."

"...You've lost me."

"I need you to act like 'Cal', who is a persona I've made up for you. He's basically got to be a dreamboat, charismatic, bad boy who will bring my friend out of her shell and into the real world." Gabby rants and smiles deviously. 

"But is it the real world, if a fake person is bringing her into it?"

Gabby chucks a pillow at me. "I'm serious. My friend, Mimi is her name, does literally nothing risky. Before she knows it all of her teenage years are going to be gone and she will regret doing nothing but studying. 

I crinkle my nose. "I don't think so Gabby. If this Mimi girl wants to study, then let her. It'll definitely benefit her future more than 'bad stuff'."

"I'm not talking about stealing or murder!" Gabby exclaims. "She doesn't even use her phone in class--"

"Good for her." I deadpan.

"Please, Callum. Just pretend to be Cal and show her a good time."

"Has it occurred to you that I don't even know how to do that? I'm not Cal or a bad boy, I'm just the drama geek Callum."

"Exactly. You're an actor. Act like you're bad boy Cal."

"No."

"You owe me, Callum." Gabby stands up and comes towards me, prowling like a predator does before pouncing on their prey. "Do this or I'll tell everyone what happened at acting camp."

My heart stops for a second as I consider her words. I try to stay strong. "Gabby, you wouldn't. Besides, even if you did, it wouldn't matter. No one you know knows me. I go to a totally isolated private school."

"I know," she says, "which is why if the news reaches your school, it'll travel fast. Then, everyone will know that you---"

"Don't stay it out loud!" I hiss at her. She smirks. "So, do we have a deal? You be Cal for a couple of months and I'll continue to keep your secret."

"A couple of months!?"

Gabby's eyes turn desperate. I had never seen her like this before. "Please, Callum."

I contemplate. If I act like Cal, then I would have two identities which would be a major inconvenience. At the same time, I could prove to dumb Mr. Takeuchi that I am an actor that can express genuine feelings. If I could fool a bunch of people into thinking I was 'Cal', then everyone would take me seriously as an actor...

"What do I have to do?" I ask Gabby my brown eyes fixing intently on her. 

She squealed and had a mini victory dance, before turning back to me with a serious look.

"First off, I need you to be at a party tonight."

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧*:･ﾟ✧ ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* ✧