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It was Monday again, everyone's least favorite day, and Margot was no exception.

"Please just let me rot here." She moaned and I rolled my eyes, tugging her arm again, trying to get her out of her bed.

"If I actually let you miss your class you'd kill me." I informed her but she ignored it, instead rolling over and facing the other direction away from me.

We'd been at this for at least ten minutes, it was a usual occurrence between us, we both had days where we didn't want to get up but we knew we should. Margot and I had made a deal long ago that it was the duty of the best friend to force the other person to get up and go to whatever they had to do - for me it was usually work, and for Margot it was most likely a drama workshop class.

That gave me an idea.

"Margot," I started quietly, bending down so I was beside her ear, she groaned in reply, "If you don't go to the drama workshop, they might give Rosanne the lead role and not you." There's about a seconds pause before Margot has bolted up from her bed and flown to the bathroom door, her t-shirt thrown behind her as she moved, stripping with every step.

I laughed at her antics and went through to the kitchen, pulling out the smoothie she had made for us last night and pouring it into two cups. I'd already gotten dressed for work - the same black trousers and top as everyday- so all that was left to do was wait for her, her theater was pretty close to my work so she'd often give me a lift on a Monday considering we were both heading that way.

About five minutes later she bounded out, throwing her damp her hair into a messy bun and then grabbed her hoodie that was hanging on the back of the sofa - i was so jealous that she was allowed to just wear sweats and hoodies to her workshops, I was even more jealous that she still looking absolutely stunning while doing it.

"Okay i'm ready, lets go!" She shouted at me, and I offered her the smoothie in my hand which she smiled gratefully at, "I love you." She sighed, taking a swig and I rolled my eyes, grabbing my bag and pushing her towards the door.

"I know, I know, now come on lets go or else i'm going to be late and i have to look dedicated or else that bitch Rosanne is going to get the lead."

We basically ran out the door and I quickly locked it behind me while Margot flew down the stairs, shouting encouragements behind her as I followed which made me laugh. We reached the car in under thirty seconds and we were in it in a blink and pulled away from the apartment, heading down the road and speeding towards the Coffee House.

"Do you know what production is getting put on for the final year?" I asked and she shook her head in response.

"We've have a clue that it might be something Disney, though i'm not keeping my hopes up considering that would be literally a dream come true, I mean since I was little it was always the goal to play a Disney Princess on stage, you know."

I nodded enthusiastically, "My favorite was always Belle."

She rolled her eyes, "Of course the bookworm would be your favorite." I slapped her arm playfully causing her to laugh.

"Well yours is obviously Ariel - dreams way too big and is obsessed with boys." I teased and she burst out laughing along with me.

"That doesn't count, I've told you a hundred times that I love Ariel, you already knew." We pulled up at the Coffee House and I smirked.

"And you already knew that I loved Belle so we're even." I reached across and pulled her into a hug, "Now good luck, I hope it's The Little Mermaid and whatever it is I will be right beside you helping with auditions."

She smiled at me gratefully and kissed my cheek, "Honestly, I really do love you." I jumped out the car and went to leave but she called me back as she rolled down the window, throwing her sunglasses on to block out the intense sunshine. "And good luck to you too, I hope Landon shows."

I stood there frozen in shock at her words as she peeled away and then I shook my head, bringing myself out of the moment. I didn't even think of Landon or if he would appear today.

The thought suddenly made me nervous - what if he was still angry? Or worse, what if he still didn't show, maybe he'd never come back... would I be upset?

Of course I would, I can't really deny that.

I gulped and walked into my work with my head held high as I started unlocking all the doors and setting up the tables. Should I of even told him about my troubles? For being a person who keeps a lot of stuff in and certainly told an unfamiliar person a lot of things... though he was familiar which confused me. I'd only known him a week and i'd only seen him briefly, so why was I so comfortable with revealing things to him that I didn't even express to Margot. I wasn't a person to put on a performance or detail my life issues but yet he'd made me open up without even trying. It frightened me a little.

"What is this guy, a fricken' shrink or something." I mumbled to myself and then frowned, thinking about his defined muscles and confident attitude.

Definitely not a shrink.

.

He didn't show on the Monday, or Tuesday, or even Wednesday, in fact I didn't see him all week. I didn't let it get to me too much though because Margot was constantly keeping me distracted with audition techniques and line reading.

Turns out the play was The Little Mermaid, much to her delight, and she was completely and utterly determined to get the lead role, so much so she bought a red wig and kept wearing it around the house. The new thing she had to practice however, was the heelies. And so of course I had to do it with her too.

"Remind me again why you're wearing these?" I asked, chuckling as I helped her steady herself again while trying to balance on my own feet.

"Because, " She huffed, "I'm going to be a mermaid, and so we're following the Broadway set up and using heelies to make it look like we're floating through water - they're much better than roller skates and a lot easier to control, I need to float, Li, float!"

I chuckled and shook my head in laughter, she was absolutely insane. "Do not laugh at me." She growled as she wheeled across the room successfully and I clapped in congratulations while she grinned, completely beaming. "I did it!"

She squealed and rushed at me but forgot about the wheels and instead of moving gracefully, her arms flew up wildly and she went flying towards my body, knocking into me, and throwing us both down to the ground.

We both groaned while trying to sit up and then when I look at her I start laughing, "I don't think that was floating, I think it was drowning." Her hand shot out and pushed me, making me roll away from her.

The phone suddenly rang and I looked at her but she just shrugged and motioned to it, an annoyed expression on her face and I sighed.

"Okay, I'll get it seen as I was mean." I effortlessly made my way over to the phone in one stride and she let out a shout of frustration at my actions, I felt a little bad, she was struggling with her balance, but I also found it funny considering she was still trying to get up off the floor.

She sticks her tongue out at me which just made me chuckle and I turned to the phone, picking it up and clicking the green answer button. "Hello?"

Margot made her way over to me and stuck her finger into my side, causing me to buckle over with a gasp.

"Hello, am I speaking to Miss Liana Reese?"

I shoved Margot away from me, fighting off her advances as I try to hold the phone between my ear and my shoulder. "Yes, who is calling?" I kick my leg out and catch her calf which makes her move slightly and then she does it back to me in response.

"My name is Michael White, i'm calling on behalf of Green Apple Publishing in regards to your request to have a book published with us."

I slapped Margot's hand as she tried to tickle me, focusing on how not to get hit.

"Oh yes?" I replied, preparing myself for the rejection I've been receiving constantly for the last year, i'd tried different books, different styles, I didn't really mind what piece was published, I just needed to get my name out there or I was doomed.

"Yes, we'd like to speak to you about signing a book deal with us."

I froze.

Margot took the opportunity to hit me again and the phone flew to the floor, bouncing off of it as it hit the slabs. I blinked and quickly dived for it, throwing it back to my ear and shushing Margot who was watching me in alarm.

"I'm sorry, what was that?" I whispered, not believing my own ears.

The person on the other end chuckled at my breathlessness, "Miss Reese, we are interested in publishing a piece of your work although I would like to meet to discuss it further. Are you interested?"

"Yes, yes, of course!" I replied in a second and then tried to control my volume and heartbeat, "When would you like to meet?"

"I was thinking tomorrow morning, at the Coffee House? I'm in the area tomorrow so I thought it would be the perfect time, how does that sound?"

I couldn't comprehend that this was happening, "Yes that sounds great, ten o'clock?" I offer and he agrees and then says goodbye and hangs up.

Slowly I pulled the phone away from my ear and stared at it, my mind whirling with the events that just happened, not being able to process them.

"Li, what just happened?" Margot asked, watching me carefully, waiting for a reaction from me but I stay silent, the wheels turning in my head.

I couldn't believe this, it couldn't be real, after months upon months of getting rejection calls, letters and emails, had I finally managed to be successful? Was I actually going to be given the opportunity to be a successful author, or was this some sort of sick joke?

"I think..." I trailed off, looking down at the phone in my hand before looking at Margot, wide eyed, "I think I just got offered a chance to have a publishing deal."

She stopped moving and just stared at me for a second before we both exploded at the same time, our arms wrapping around each other as we jumped in sync, screaming our heads off.

"You did it!" She shouted, squeezing me and I laughed eccentrically. "You actually did it! This could be it! This could be your chance!"

I pulled back from her and just tried to speak but nothing came out - i was speechless.

"You can do this." She assured me and I nodded still trying to process everything, "What material do you need to take? A certain story, or a collection?"

I suddenly started to panic, "I have absolutely no idea, he didn't say, he just said we needed to discuss it... maybe he wants to pick, maybe I should take all my pieces and see which one he likes best, maybe he'll pick more than one!" I rambled and Margot laughed, stopping my bouncing with her hands on my shoulders.

"Okay deep breath, we're going to pick out your best work and you can take them, okay?" I nodded in reply, "Right, lets do this Li."

.

"You've got this."

I'd been saying this to myself for at least fifteen minutes as I stood outside the cafe, looking at the sign above it and trying to force myself to step inside, so far I hadn't been able to, i'd stood there petrified and probably looking like an idiot.

I glanced at my phone to see the time read 09:59, time to go in then I suppose. Taking a deep breath I opened the door and walked in and immediately I wanted to run back out. I straightened out the skirt of my outfit, pulling at the black material so that it sat perfectly on my hips - i'd worn a blouse and skirt combo with a cardigan and flats, it made me feel good and professional - something I definitely needed to seem.

Looking around, I immediately knew who Michael White was, he sat with a professional aura about him, sipping on a mug of coffee with his perfectly coiffed hair and grey suit, across from him there was an iced tea and I grinned in anticipation, I needed it.

This is it Liana, don't fuck it up.

Trying to walk over to someone while seeming confident is difficult and I was really conscious that I might look like I was constipated with how stiff my movements were, luckily his back was turned to me so he didn't see my embarrassing attempt at being an adult so I just quickly appeared at his side and stuck my hand out.

"Hi you must be Michael, i'm Liana." The man jumped a little at the suddenly invasion of privacy and I cringed slightly, okay ten seconds in and already regrets have been made.

"Oh hello, right on time Miss Reese, please have a seat." I quickly sat down, reaching for the iced-tea, "The waitress said that you'd want this, are you a regular?"

I debated one whether or not to tell him but finally I decided it's probably better to get everything out in the open, "I actually work here during the week."

His surprised expression doesn't go unnoticed, and neither does the slight crinkle of disapproval between his eyebrows and immediately I feel like I need to explain myself or gain his approval back.

"It's good money, and it gives me a lot of time to write..." He still doesn't seem convinced, "The only reason i'm here is because I had to drop out of university to look after my little brother." This catches his attention.

"What were you studying?"

"English literature and creative writing... at Ohio State." I brought the cup up to my mouth, sipping the iced tea, trying to keep my emotions in control and my actions calm.

His eyebrows shot up at my words, "Why on earth would you drop that... What caused you to need to look after your brother?"

My hands began to shake as I slowly put the cup down, my mind reeling with the events of my past and my heart rate accelerated with every memory that surfaced.

My mothers face as it slowly went from being full of life and happy to the pale, skeletal figure that still haunted my memories, anytime I thought of her, her viscous words circling my head and playing on repeat like a spinning record.

The images of the syringes lying around the coffee table that used to occupy our warm front living room, the loud strange men who would loiter around our kitchen, preventing me from entering or sometimes eating for a few days because I was too scared to approach them.

I coughed and shook myself out of the memories, giving him a tight smile. "There was no one else to do it." I answered bluntly and his expression showed that he was displeased with my answer, "But this is about my writing, not my life story." I added lightly, trying to steer the conversation back to my goal, I wasn't here to end up in a pile of mush and tears or pour my heart onto a stranger - I was here to start achieving my dream.

He cleared his throat and put his drink down, not looking me in the eye and immediately alarm bells start ringing in my head at the cautious way he is acting.

"Miss Reese you have talent, there is no denying that." He stated and I grinned with pride, my worries flowing away. "But to put it simply, your work is flat and boring."

What.

I gaped at him, not believing my ears, why was I here if they didn't like my work? "I'm sorry?"

He sighed, finally reaching across the table to pick up some of the work I had brought for him and began shuffling through it, his eyes scanning different paragraphs and lines as I tried to calm down my erratic breathing. He kept mumbling under his breath and shaking his head and that was doing nothing for my stress levels or my heart.

"This is exactly what I mean," He started, lowering his hands so that I could stare straight into his eyes, shining and unforgiving behind the frames of his glasses, "This is some beautiful technique, astounding really." His compliment does nothing to improve my mood, "But it's as if this isn't a story - it's almost like a report, or an article in a newspaper - there's no emotions."

I shuffled through my mind, thinking of all my different pieces and I shot out my hands, desperately raking to find the passage that would prove him wrong, "This!" I exclaimed triumphantly, basically shoving it into his face, "This has emotion." He took it from me slowly and apprehensively looked at it. It was silent as I watched him read it, my eyes following his from across the table as i tried to figure out what he was saying by the movements of his mumbling mouth. "It's emotional isn't it." I half shout once he had lowered it and he took off his glasses, rubbing the spot between his two eyes.

"It has emotion, but not your own - anyone could give those feelings. You're friend has depression and you write about everything she is going through and what she must be feeling, but you don't know what she is feeling." He stated and I looked at him in shock as he bombarded me with his points, "You don't say how you are feeling, we don't get a sense of pure emotion, just some that someone has tried to create to make a good story."

I felt like I was going to suffocate - my lungs were no longer functioning properly and my throat had closed up like an anaphylactic kid in a nut shop, making my mind struggle to understand what was happening, couldn't he of said this over the phone? Why meet with me?

"What's the point in this?" I whispered, averting my eyes from his, this was one of the most embarrassing experiences of my life, could this man not see that he was crushing my dreams right in front of me?

"Liana, you are a good writer, an amazing writing in fact, and we want you to be a part of our team." I froze, was I now hallucinating? Had there been so much oxygen cut off to my brain that I could no longer understand what people were saying and was having illusions of my failed dreams?

"But y-you just s-said-"

"You can join our team," He stated and I felt the clouds in my mind suddenly disappear as the sun broke through, shining down on me. "If you can come up with something with real emotion."

There's that rain cloud returning again.

"Real emotion? I gave you real emotion! How am I meant to give you emotions about something I haven't experienced before, how am I meant to produce that?" He stood up, brushing of his trousers before gently picking up his coat from the back of the chair, laying it across is arm in a professional manner.

"It doesn't have to be from you, but find raw emotions, find peoples deepest, darkest secrets and still dig deeper - find out what makes a person tick and what can make someone spiral out of control or haunt them for the rest of their lives." My breath hitched, "Find out what it really means to be human." His words struck something in me, a horrible fear that I had tried to ignore all the time - the fear of failing, of being unable to feel emotions that I had denied myself for so long.

How was I meant to open myself up to people and in return have them open up to me? I could hardly talk to my best friend or my own brother, let alone someone who was just as fragile, if not more, than I?

"Wait but I-" I reached for him, copying him by standing up but he had already begun to walk away.

"You have six months to send me a pitch and at least a few paragraphs of work - if you don't then i'm afraid we'll have to discard your offer. Good day Miss Reese."

I watched in silence as Michael White, the man who had just offered me my retribution and my downfall on the same plate, walked through my boring place of work, and out the front door.

I had no idea whether that would be the last I would see of him or not, but one thing was for certain:

I had the worst writers block in history.