I pulled my car into a free parking spot when I arrived at the theatre and jammed the gear stick into park. My car was... special. Paint was peeling off the sides and the right blinker didn't work among other issues. She was absolutely falling apart, but she was mine. She had been my car since I was a junior in high school and was one of the few possessions I still had in my life that I felt was mine.

The apartment was mine and Zach's. The furniture inside was his, too and even the phone plan that we had together was ours although Zach paid for it. But my car, she was mine.

And her name was Lola.

I stepped out of my car, my heel making contact with the rough asphalt underneath with my photo headshot and resume in hand as I walked up to the theater.

The Miriladge Theater was breathtaking in my honest and usually looked over opinion. Sure, it was an older theater but that aspect gave it charm and character. The entire building was made of cobble facing brick that gave a rustic sort of ambiance to the place that I was absolutely in love with and had been since I was a teen.

The click of my heels echoed on the pavement as I walked my way up to the theater's entrance and through the double glass doors with gold framing around the edges that told the buildings wear and tear history. As I stepped foot inside of the tattered, yet regal theater, the nerves that I had been pushing off for days began to bubble in the pit of my stomach.

It had been over two months since I had been in my last play and every day that passed without performing, every day that passed just sitting in that apartment waiting for Zach to come home, was a wasted and pitiful day.

I continued to walk further into the lobby of the theater and almost immediately saw a woman who looked just about my age or a bit older, sitting behind a table that had a sign that said 'Closer Auditions' taped to the front of it.

Subconsciously, I smoothed my dress out and timidly walked my way closer to her, praying that she would look up from her computer and see me before I made my way entirely up to the table.

Thankfully, my prayers were answered.

Kind eyes popped up and met mine, shining with welcome.

"Hi!" The woman perked up, her face bright with an energy I immediately envied and her short black hair bouncing with her enthusiasm.

"Hello," I replied, already feeling intimidated by her sunny personality.

"I take it you're here to audition?"

"Uh, yeah- yes."

Get it together, Lee.

"Perfect! I'll take your headshot and resume now and get it back to the director."

I handed her over my manila folder that contained my resume and headshot. Embarrassment swirled in my stomach as I noticed my hands shaking slightly, my nerves and socially unbearable personality getting the better of me.

I prayed that she didn't notice but by the small, supportive smile she sent my way, I knew that I had used up my prayers for the day.

"You'll be great. There's no need to be nervous."

She smiled at me, her eyes seemingly smiling at me too and then, she her hand reach out towards mine.

Oh no.

Every muscle in my body constricted, my stomach flipped and crashed, and I ordered my hand not to flinch away as she placed her soft, cold hand on mine and gave it a supportive squeeze.

Inside, I was focusing on not outwardly combusting. It was basically just a handshake. I could do am unexpected handshake from a friendly woman without having a panic attack. I could.

Right?

The dark haired woman gave me one last smile, which I returned with a stiff smile of my own before she removed her touch from mine and disappeared into another room where I assumed the auditions were being held.

The moment she left the room, I felt the air rush back into my lungs, not realizing that I was even holding my breath in the first place.

I concentrated on breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth like I'd taught myself, trying to calm my wild mind and erratic heartbeat.

I was fine.

I can do this.

"I can do this." Feeling a bit less shaken, I walked over to sit in the chair closest to the door that the woman exited through.

I set my purse down on the floor and closed my eyes, resting my head back against the brick wall behind me.

I knew there was nothing to be nervous about. I had my monologue for the audition down pat and I had auditioned a dozen or so times since high school. I knew what I was doing but the clenching feeling in my chest told me that there was something different about this audition. I hadn't wanted a role this badly in quite some time.

Before I could over think it too much, the door leading into the audition room opened again, causing my eyes to fly open in surprise. Bringing my head up and away from the wall, I forced my eyes to widen, making them look brighter and more alive and I pushed my shoulders back for a perfect posture.

Yet, before I had the chance to place my stare on who I assumed would be the director walking through the door, a large foot came through the door way and kicked my purse over, the contents of it spilling out across the expanse of the floor.

"Oh, shit," a deep voice cursed out above me and I immediately dropped to my knees, grabbing for my belongings.

"It's really fine," I replied as casually as I could manage.

I grabbed for the mascara bottle that was rolling away from me and went to grab for my wallet too when a large hand went for it at the same time, our hands bumping against each other's in the process.

I let out an awkward laugh and let him grab it for me, his long fingers picking it up and holding it out to me.

I shifted myself up onto my knees to grab for my purse, shoving the few things I had grabbed back in before reaching for the wallet.

"Sorry, I have a lot of-"

"Crap?"

His deep voice cut me off just as I felt my fingers touch the pleather material of my wallet.

Offence rushed through my mind and my eyebrows strung together in surprise at how blunt this man was.

God, I hope he's not the director.

I opened my mouth to retort and raised my chin up when any and all thoughts were lost as I made eye contact with the crass man who held my wallet.

Crystal blue eyes filled with unmistakable mirth stared down at me. His midnight black hair looked impossibly thick and had a bit of unruly curl to it, but was styled in such a way that it seemed to be that way on purpose; perfectly untamed.

His body was so evidently muscular and built; his shoulders broad and his frame taller than mine by what seemed like almost a foot. He was dressed in black slacks and a deep blue dress shirt that showed off his ample muscle exquisitely.

His face was clean shaven but incredibly chiseled; his jawline dominant and cheekbones high. And his lips, they were full and... quirked up into the smuggest of smiles.

Horror shot through me when I realized that I had been staring at this man for an unacceptable amount of time, both of us still clutching my wallet in our hands.

My mouth popped open, readying to spit out a cohesive, proper reason as to why I had been staring.

"You're really big."

The man's eyes widened along with mine once the words stung both of our ears.

"I meant, um, tall. You're really... tall," I muttered out, steering my gaze away from his cocky expression as my cheeks burned with shame and embarrassment as I snatched my wallet out of his hand.

I felt like smacking myself over the head with the wallet in question.

The man's deep chuckle resonated through the lobby and seeped into my pores, warming my insides with its rich quality.

"I'd look tall to anyone sitting on their knees in front of me."

His playful words struck me at once, making me realize how incredibly inappropriate this position would look to any onlooker.

I immediately went to stand, taking my purse with me. The only issue being that due to my sheer humiliation and my desire to get out of here as fast as humanly possible, the speed that I stood up at was far too fast for my feet to handle while wearing heels.

I felt my ankle buckle and my stomach lurch as I stumbled backwards, my hands whirling out to the sides to try and grab hold of anything to catch my fall.

Unfortunately, they did.

Two strong arms came swooping around my waist, bracing me against a solid body.

A rush of air escaped past my lips as panic surged through my mind at the proximity of his body to mine, his warmth and power overwhelming my body like fire ants erupted from beneath my skin and were now everywhere. I needed him off.

Now.

I pushed at his arms, brushing him off of me as quickly as I could, my skin crawling with that rushing fear every second his body was still touching mine.

I stumbled back as he released me, my eyes wide and my chest heaving.

"You okay?" The man asked, his eyes etched in concern, his hands holding out to me for support in case I needed to grab them again.

I didn't.

"I'm fine," I snapped, my breathing still coming out in short spurts.

His head reared back with my sudden harsh tone, his eyes filling with what I could only identify as annoyance.

"Okay," he bit out sarcastically, holding his hands up in mock surrender, producing a sliver of guilt in my mind.

I kept my mouth shut though, the urge to apologize not nearly as great as the urge to hold in the anxiety flowing through my body.

I watched silently as he bent over to retrieve something else from the floor.

"You forgot these." A confusing amusement lined his words as he stood up and held his hand out to me.

In his hand was my bag of peach candy rings, my favorite pass time snack.

The blood burned beneath my cheeks as I pushed a curl behind my ear with one hand and reached to take the candy filled bag with the other.

"Thanks," I mumbled under my breath.

"Guilty pleasure of mine," I offered up as an excuse to why I had candy in my purse of all things.

He shook his handsome head, his eyes shining with something playful yet dark wrapped into one.

"I get it. Guilty pleasures are hard to resist."

I watched him as he spoke, noting the slight curve of a knowing smile that was gracing his lips.

"Break a leg on your audition. I hope to see you at the callbacks."

So, he's auditioning too.

"Thanks," I muttered again as he side stepped me, preparing to take his leave.

Yet, just before he left my line of sight entirely, he stopped, his broad shoulder barely brushing mine.

"And you were right the first time," he said in a low voice. I turned my head to him, fastening our stares. The atmosphere around us seemed to come to life, charged by our connection and surged even more so as he parted his full lips and spoke.

"I'm huge."

My mouth popped open in shock and he sent a sinful wink my way as he took in my reaction.

Then he left, leaving me an astonished and somewhat flustered mess, standing there with my mouth agape and peach candy rings tight in my hold.

My head snapped up to attention as the audition door opened once more and the welcoming woman from before peeked her head out with excited eyes and a smile.

"You ready?"

Not a chance.

"Sure." I nodded and stepped my way into the audition room, my mind still reeling from my mystery man experience.

I walked further into the room and put on my game face staring at the two men sitting in front of me, behind a table. I hadn't a clue which one was the director so I smiled and greeted both.

Well, here goes nothing.