On the day of the audition.

Ian walked inside the built set as he was requested to join the other actors so that there could be an audition. It was more of a screen test, but another actor was fighting for the same role.

Although first, the director had chosen Ian as the one who would be doing the lead, later, Ian had to take some time off because he was busy with Inception, but during that time, the directors had to change their focus to another A-listed actor.

As Ian walked inside, he had a nervous feeling in his gut about the audition. Although in his previous world, he was an actor, it had been too long since he last got into a character.

"Hello, Ian! Nice to see you here!" Brad said loudly as soon as Ian walked inside.

Everyone in the set turned their heads to look at Ian. For a moment, it was almost as if everyone stopped what they were doing.

Ian didn't leave a beat but replied to Brad.

"Good to see you too, is everything ready?" Ian asked and walked in with Niko.

Although Ian insisted he would come alone, Niko wanted to be with Ian and support his first audition, and Niko was the only one who knew that Ian was going to an audition.

"You got this!" Niko whispered and walked in the opposite direction Ian was going.

Although several people started going back to what they were doing, a few other people continued to stare at Ian.

"Here's the script. Both of you will have your own turns, and without wasting any more time, we'll get to it in, you say what? Thirty minutes?"Brad asked.

"Yeah, sure," Ian asked and walked closer to Brad. He was focused on his phone right after he talked. So when Ian walked closer, his attention automatically changed. "Who's the other actor?" Ian asked.

"Oh, you might know him. It's Aaron Holden, who won an Oscar last year."

Ian suddenly remembered who the actor was. Aaron Holden was an A-listed actor whose first movie itself became a huge hit, which made him win an Oscar for playing the antagonist. Although many people had said countless things about how the movie won several awards just due to the main lead, some others admitted that Aaron is a decent actor who knows how to do his job.

But thanks to both the actors and the rest of the cast, the director got quite the reputation with the movie, Silence; a thriller with a hint of humour.

"Oh, it'd be such a bummer if I didn't get a word with him before the auditions," Ian said, implying that he wants to meet Aaron in person.

Brad smiled. "He's in the dressing room. Where you should be right now. Add up a little touch-up so we can decide who fits the role perfectly. Before that, let's talk a bit about the movie, shall we?"

Ian paused for a moment. As he was ready to talk to Aaron before anything, he thought for a minute.

"Okay,"

After Ian's approval, Brad continued to talk about the movie further. What he expected from the actors, and what sort of background he wanted the actor to have. He continued to take the script and explain the context while giving a fair amount of ideas about the movie.

Lover was a romantic comedy, and the premise of the context had changed a lot since the previous day Brad and Ian discussed the movie.

"We had to change a lot," Brad said after noticing Ian's confused look.

Ian who stayed put and listened to Brad waited patiently and kept a close ear to everything he said.

Lover was going to become one of the movies that shadowed a hint of classic romance yet was very modern and interesting. The most interesting part of the movie was the character of the lead. His personality, and how Brad explained his entire effect on the movie made the character special.

And Ian knew one thing, he wanted the role; one way or another.

"...And, which is why I want the character to look calculative, and the seriousness."

"At one point, I felt as if this was going to be another romcom, where the guy would die to make the girl happy and fall in love. But with how things have changed, it would be pretty explanatory if I say I just fell in love with the character. So, I'm definitely in."

Brad nodded. "There's still an hour to go. Go talk to Aaron,"

Ian walked away with a brief nod.

-

As soon as Ian walked inside the dressing room, he saw Aaron, who was tall, lean, and good-looking, looking at himself in the mirror. It was the moment that Ian felt as if maybe this guy truly deserved to play an amazing character.

With all the information he had in mind and the way he imagined the story, it could be another masterpiece that this world gets to see.

And for how he knew Brad Crutchfield, he was a man of his word. In the future, his imaginations are most likely to come true.

But, in front of another man like Aaron, Ian had the urge to not let any insecurity cloud their first meeting.

"Hello," Ian said and he walked in.

"Who are-" He turned to see who it was. Quickly, a cloud of realisation hit his eyes. "Ian, nice to meet you in person, finally," Aaron quickly stood up and walked closer, extending his arm to shake.

Ian sat in the nearest chair, which Aaron followed right after.

"I can't believe I'm going to audition with a superior like you. I already know I've no chance at this…" Aaron said with a slight smile, completely ignoring Ian's eyes.

Ian chuckled.

"This is not the kind of competition I expected in my first audition. And, you should know, acting and directing have a thin line which separates both. And if you think about it like that, I guess we both would know who did more acting."

Aaron couldn't help but look at him when he said that.

"I don't wanna disappoint you, now would I?"

He said in a challenging tone.

Both the men knew what was yet to come. One of them would get the role, and no one knew who would.

-

The room's intensity was at its maximum. It was, after all, a competition, for the same role. Much to everyone's comfortability, Brad decided to take both auditions separately.

"...Action!"

Aaron looked to his right. His eyes were filled with tears. His nose sniffled at the emotions he was going through. His mouth quivered a little, and he looked at the ground with a defeated sigh.

"....And yet, you lied!" With sudden anger, he yelled. "You lied over and over! I told you to stop! Just stop! Stop it!"

His hands went to his hair as he tugged them with anger running through his veins. His right hand came and met with his lips, painfully grasping his chin.

"This has got to be a fucking joke! You said you loved me, River! You said it over and over! I trusted you! I trusted you so fucking much… And you….!" His expression changed quickly. With tears forming in his eyes, he let out a chuckle. The change of emotions was truly appreciable.

"You wanted to die? Do you feel bad? Fuck! Think about me! For God's sake! Go die!"

He yelled, making everyone in the room gasp.

"Cut!"

Brad stood up from his chair. He was surprised, shocked and mind-blown by how good the performance was.

In fact, it was something he truly wanted with the lead. To show emotions when he shows, because his character was shown as someone strong enough to bottle up emotions.

-

Right after, it was Ian's audition.

Brad's stunned expression spoke out for Aaron's performance.

"When you're ready," he said to Ian. The latter immediately nodded, signalling that he was prepared.

"Okay, cameras rolling!.. Action!"

Ian's eyes met with the camera. His eyebrows relaxed, but his eyes spoke.

"Tired? Tired of what? Building something I've always wanted? Losing people when I have no more people to lose? What then? What then?!"

Ian walked away from the camera and looked at the ground, to his left. His eyes focused on the thin black floor.

"Don't fucking assume things that you want! This is not your fantasy little life!" His eyes were building with agony as he spit the words out. His hands were formed into a fist.

"Cut!"

Brad looked at Ian who immediately loosened up.

"We'll let you know."

Brad said and smiled as Ian smiled back. He paused a minute before walking off the set with Niko.

-

Niko drove the car back to the studio as Ian had things to do.

"I bet they'd let you know in a day or two. How do you think it went?" Niko asked Ian.

Ian shrugged. He sighed before continuing, "I gave my best. I'm a director, not an-"

His phone in his hand chimed signalling that it was a text from Brad Crutchfield himself.

"What is it?" Niko asked, noticing Ian's face change immediately.

-

A/N; I'm getting to writing again after a whole vacation. Give me powerstones!