I clutched the script like my life depended on it. No kidding, it truly did actually.... my livelihood depended on it. I was in Hollywood actually, auditioning for the role of Madison Ray on a popular TV show called 'Swapped Up'. At least that was the information, my boyfriend, Johnny, gave me. I sat silently in the waiting room, waiting for my name to be called, trying to memorize a few lines while waiting.

So, I had no idea about the show I was currently auditioning for.

I have always had the looks of a star and I had what it takes to make it in Hollywood. At least that was what the mailman across the street, my parents and my boyfriend, Johnny - who had managed to get the audition- and the rest of my neighborhood complimented me and I believe them. You can't blame me for believing them though, all my life back in my hometown of Utopia Hills, I had been a theater kid for as long as can remember. I have starred in over a hundred plays in elementary school and high school including the very few I had been cast in at the community theater at the heart of our little town.

Suddenly, about a month ago, I had an epiphany. If I wanted to be an actress, there was no way Utopia could offer me that. So I packed my bags, hugged my brother and parents goodbye, and moved in with Johnny. He already established himself in the industry as a backup dancer in Hollywood.

According to him, being a backup dancer was a highly rated profession and he was still rising the ranks one movie and TV show at a time. Johnny left the hills a few years before I had the guts to leave myself. He complained daily about life in Utopia Hills. I mean, who could blame him?

Utopia Hills was ...... how to put it in a nice and accusing way but Utopia Hills was a backward city with a bunch of old people with huge bank accounts and a town of slow internet access and horrible cell service. The town of old money was a place where after working all your life you pack up your life and spend time with nature and it's beautiful scenery. Due to this, the locals that is people like Johnny and I barely knew anything about the internet or barely used phones. Everyone we knew lived in this small town, kind of like neighbors so the internet was never a necessity but it looked so nice and pretty in their frizzy and sparkly phone cases when tourists used them to take pictures.

The door where the auditions were held creaked open, revealing a cute guy holding a clipboard with a pencil at the back of his ear. "Ruby Daniels, you're up," he said with half of his body outside the room, looking around the room for the name recipient, Ruby took a deep breath and raised her hand. The guy signaled her to come in before closing the door behind him.

Probably due to standing quickly, all the blood rushed to my head making her almost fall to the ground immediately. A group of girls bickered behind me. I closed my eyes tightly as a wave of embarrassment flooded into my soul. I wasn't even wearing heels and managed to make a fool of myself.

Great!

Ignoring them as best as I could, I inhaled deep breaths and walked into the room. The room was blank. No pictures nor portraits, the walls were plain white and smack-dab in the middle of the room, four people sat there, assessing my appearance. Half of them with disinterest and the others with curiosity.

And there I was, shifting my weight from one foot to another as I will my fingers not to shake and praying to God not to let me be a blubbering mess. I had on my favorite ripped jeans and a simple crop top with sneakers. Well, it was too late because my finger had started to shake.

"Oh God! I was losing their interest," I thought bitterly to myself. I was already losing them and their interest. I couldn't help but see the looks on their faces wishing I could just do whatever nonsense performance I could. Go home, burrow myself in a tent of blankets, and never show my face anywhere without cringing at the memory of my audition every ten seconds. Then I would have to leave the city and volunteer at some remote island.

"Go on sweetheart, you may begin," One of the women said, beaming at me and I gave a tiny smile at her. At least, she was a friendly face.

Panicking, I sneak a glance at the door or I could just go back to Utopia Hills, and pretend this episode did not happen. Never.

"Ruby, it's too late to run back to Green Bank," I muttered, snapping back to reality.

I turn to face them again, trying my best to smile widely at the lady earlier. My drama teacher had always advised when we were nervous, we should find a familiar face in the crowd, audience, or co-actor. I would look at her face and run through the lines. "Hi, am Ruby Daniels, here to audition for the role of Madison Ray, the main character of Swapped Up."

"Okay, you can use the scene on page twenty-two." The man sitting next to the kind lady said. He looked a little older than fifty, his black hair roots were grey but that didn't stop the hair from being styled to perfection. He was wearing a scowl one look at him, you could tell he used to be handsome. Now his once handsome face was wrinkled. He looked troubled and very unhappy to be here.

"Okay....errr....sure," I say, unsure of what am doing.

★★★★★★★

"Hey, Johnny," I called as I entered his small beautiful apartment. It was a medium-sized brown-painted condo. Designed with a tiny kitchen, a bathroom, and one bedroom. It was situated on the tenth floor of the building, pretty cozy for both of us. My unpacked boxes were littered around the small space.

Giving him a quick peck on the lips, I step into the kitchen to get a bottle of water. "Hey honey, how did the audition go?" He said, flipping through an entertainment magazine. He was seated on the small red couch in the living room. Dark strands of hair hovered over his eyes still fully concentrated on whatever he read, he raised a hand and pushed away unconsciously.

Man! I think I just swooned. But maybe I did. I raised a hand in the corner of my mouth and there was the saliva.

There was never a doubt, that Johnny was handsome. He had dark brown hair, a few face piercings, and the boyish smile that could get girls drooling and embarrass themselves on the Street or sidewalks...sometimes. His green-blue eyes were a girl's major weakness— or just mostly mine since childhood.

The day he asked me to be his girlfriend in senior year was a day I could never forget. I was beyond ecstatic. He was my best friend throughout my life. I loved secretly him since we were both eight-year-old but I was too shy to confess to him. Back then, he promised to build a castle and take me far away, to be his Queen, and to never make me cry. And from that day forward, my heart belonged to him.

We have been together for seven years, I couldn't be happier. So all those who think long-distance relationships don't work are sadly mistaken.

I covered my face in shame, a tear leaking from my eye. "It was terrible. I was so nervous, the producers would laugh at my audition tape for the rest of their lives."

He rushes over to my side, pulling me into his chest. I instantly relax, inhaling his musky cologne. He was just so perfect.

"Honey. It's okay, there would be other roles, no need for you to back out just yet ... okay?" He said, raising my chin to look at him.

I nod at his words, they were true. It wasn't going to be the end of the world if I didn't get the role, there would be others like if my audition tape got out by mistake to the entire public. Volunteering in a foreign country or a remote island where no one could ever find me was the next option. He presses his lips to mine, kissing me slowly and tenderly. I sigh, oh! How I love his kisses. I close my eyes, giving in to the kiss. The tender kiss deepened, his hand reaches down to grab my ass and I quickly swat his hand away.

"Johnny!!! Now is not a good time, I am mourning right now." I say, pushing away from him and trotting into the bathroom. I slam the door behind me, ignoring his loud groans.

Days later, I walked over to the bathroom. Days passed and I never got a call Johnny heard Madison had already been cast by a huge famous actress. I moved from slobbering all over the apartment before I started to feel sorry for myself. I stand in front of the sink in a corner of the bathroom, I scooped water in my palms and splashed it on my face. I hardly wore makeup, natural was more my style. I stare hard at my reflection as the water drips slowly from my face. "It's alright Daniels, there would be other auditions," I say to my reflection, call me crazy but that works well for me. I wasn't giving up yet. I would wait for new auditions; which might take up to months or weeks. I might as well do something with my life, probably get a job or something.

A knock snaps me out of my thoughts and the staring contest with my reflection. Picking a towel from one of the drawers, I dab on my face as I open the door to see Johnny pressing his phone against his palm. He hands it to me, mouthing "It's a call for you" and heads back into the living room.

I take it from his hands, confused. It had been weeks since my arrival in Hollywood and I had yet to get a phone or friends so hearing I had a call was kind of creepy. I had only given the producers Johnny's number.

Raising the phone to my ear, I raised an eyebrow at Johnny who shrugged. I clear my throat, "Hello, this is Ruby Daniels."

"Hi Ruby, I'm Melissa Lone one of the directors of Swapped Up."

"Ooh! Okay?"

"I am pleased to inform you... you and another actress were been shortlisted for Madison Ray for Swapped Up but the other actress refused to audition return for the action. So, congratulations! You are now Swapped Up your very own Madison Ray!! Congratulations once again, your audition was beautiful."

I gasped at the news. I opened my mouth to thank her but no words came out. Hell, I looked like a fish coming out of the water for the first time. "B_u_t but I heard a huge actress got the role?"

"I leave you to soak in the news, it is crystal clear you didn't expect it. Anyways, we would love to have you with us on Thursday to introduce you to the other cast and draw up a contract. Have a good day. Miss Daniels." Melissa said ignoring my question, she hung up the call.

I walked out of the bathroom and into the living room in a daze. I sit on the chair. I was still about shocked. I still could not believe it.

"Ruby, what was the call about?" He said, standing up immediately when he noticed me walking into the living room. He crouches to meet my face.

"It was one of the producers of Swapped Up. She called me to tell me I am their new Madison Ray. That I got the part," I say finally getting over my shock. Excitedly, I clapped my hands in glee. A wave of unsureness passes through Johnny's face as I tell him about my role he then covers it up with a smile. I decided to let it go. I was happy and absolutely nothing or no one was going to ruin my mood today.

"Wow, Honey...You...got the...part" he said, his voice cracking at every word. I nod vehemently, tears pouring freely from my eyes. I grab his face in my palms and kiss him hard, showering all my love into it.

We break apart as he stands to his full height. I jump from my chair and around the apartment. "They want to meet me on Thursday, that's two days from now—"

"— I just want to thank you, Johnny. For believing in me. If I hadn't gotten the role, I would be on the first train back to Utopia Hills. So, thank you," I say, walking back to him. I stopped right in his face, his green-blue eyes watching me with a proud expression on his face.

I laced his fingers in mine. "Yup...that's what could have... happened," he says with a nervous laugh.

"So, are you in the mood?" I said, biting my lips as I touched his t-shirt-covered chest, suddenly wanting to toss it away.

"Well, of course, honey," he said grabbing my waist as he lifted me easily from the ground I squealed. "I am always in the mood," I smirk at him.

I couldn't wait for the brand-new life ahead of me and with Johnny by my side, I knew could make it through