Warning: There will be some m/m content later on.
*
March 2014
"Do you have anything coming up soon?" Ashley asked.
Tanalei shrugged her shoulders, though her friend couldn't see her. "I have a readin' in New York on Friday. It's Archer's weekend with the boys." She pulled out ingredients for dinner.
"I wish it worked out with Chaske."
"Ash, we've been over this. Ke and I are just friends. We work better that way."
"But the sex was good, right?"
Tanalei laughed. "Yes, the sex was good. Listen, I've gotta go get the boys in a few minutes. I'll call you later."
"Okay. Love you."
"Love you, too." Hanging up, she glanced around her kitchen. With a sigh, she grabbed her purse to join the line of cars at the school.
While waiting for her sons to get out of school, she reflected on her life. After high school, she left home and attended the Atlantic Theater Company Acting School. There she met her best friend, Peter Facinelli. Throughout the years, she played guest roles in movies and TV alike. She got to meet a lot of different people and became friends with most of them. She was even in the Twilight movies, thanks to Peter. Now she was involved with CullenWolf Pictures. She wasn't upset that she wasn't a household name.
She leaned her head back with a groan. Torn Apart, her first lead roll, came out at this year's Sundance Film Festival. It didn't get that many reviews and went straight to DVD. She had fun writing and acting in it. Not only that, she got up close and personal with her co-star, Chaske Spencer.
"Hey, Mommy!" her youngest son, Eli, yelled when he opened the door.
"Hey, baby. Where's your brother?" The 7-year-old kissed her cheek.
"Hey, Mom." Her ten-year-old, Alan, slid into the car.
"Y'all ready to see your dad this weekend?"
"Yep! He said he was takin' us to a Hawks game," Eli exclaimed.
"Hmm. I hope y'all have fun. I have to go to New York for an audition."
"Really?" Alan perked up. "What's the movie about?"
"I don't know yet. It's bein' kept secret."
"Are we gonna to be able to go with you?" Eli asked. "Will we be able to be in it?"
Tanalei smiled. The boys had walk-on parts in Torn Apart. It seems as if they caught the acting bug too. They've been bugging her to get them parts on The Walking Dead since it filmed in Atlanta, their backyard.
"If I get the job, we will see."
"Aww man."
*&*&*
Tanalei took a deep breath before knocking on the door. Soon a young woman with a clipboard opened it.
"Yes?"
"Tanalei Granger. I have an audition today."
"Oh, Ms. Granger. Come right in." She was led into the room to a table of three men. "Tanalei Granger."
"Ms. Granger, please have a seat," the middle gentleman said. "I am William Elliott, the producer. We just have a few questions before the audition."
"Of course." She discreetly wiped her damp palms on her skirt as she sat down.
"What is your natural hair color?"
"Dark brown."
"Is it current colored?"
"Yes it is. I haven't varied from it since I was a teenager."
"Is it naturally curly?"
"Very."
"And your natural eye color?"
"Hazel, but my eyes change color dependin' on my mood and clothin'."
"Would you be adverse to wearing contacts?"
"No."
"I see you can speak with a Southern accent?"
She laughed. "I was born and raised in Georgia. No matter how much my speech teacher tried, I couldn't exactly get rid of it."
"Good. Can you be on location for two months?"
"When exactly?"
"If you get the part, we will film in South Carolina during April to the beginning of June."
Tanalei bit her lip. "I prefer not to, but I can."
"What would you require from us?"
"An apartment would be fine. Three bedroom. Also I will have to go back to Atlanta mid-May."
"May I ask why?"
"The apartment is for when my children come with my brother or parents. They may not be able to stay with me for the whole time, but my family will bring them to visit. My youngest son's birthday is the weekend after Mother's Day. I want to celebrate it with him."
"Alright. You'll be reading with three gentlemen today to figure out who you will be best suited with." She nodded. "Ms. Granger, I saw Torn Apart at Sundance. I really enjoyed it. The passion that you portrayed is what led to your audition today."
She smiled. "Thank you. My friends pushed for me to step into the spotlight." She looked down, remembering Peter encouraging her to do that.
"Hello. What do we have here?" A hand landed on the back of her chair.
She glanced up at the new voice. The men at the table in front of her were looking behind her. Turning slightly, she looked over her shoulder and found a pair of bright green eyes staring back at her. Ah fuck, she thought.