Looks like I won't need that extention after all!
Assignment 4
After the disaster that was Mr. Stein’s set my confidence had hit an all-time low. If I hadn’t been sure before that I didn’t belong, I was positive by the end of that day! I called my mother to talk before class the next morning. In my mind I think I was secretly hoping she would tell me that I needed to come home. I wanted that free pass telling me that it was ok to admit defeat and quit while I was still in one piece. She didn’t tell me what I wanted to hear however. Nope, instead she laughed at me. “It’s not funny!” I yelled into the phone. “It was awful! I think I may have been emotionally scarred! Why would you laugh at me?”
“The story you tell me makes me proud of how far you have come Kitten.” She sung in her ever sweet Greek accent. “I am proud of how quickly you acted. Who knows what would have happened if you had not been there.”
“Stein would have been happy that I hadn’t destroyed his set.” I muttered.
“Stein would have lost his set either way. At least this path did not end in tragedy. He knows this Kitten, even if now he is still too emotional to realize what you have done for him.”
“Mamma I don’t think I can do this.” I sighed.
“I know darling. But neither did I think I could leave my life long home to begin again in a different world. I conquered my fear, as can you Kitten. The only thing separating you from your dreams is your own fear. Do not let it defeat you Kit. Not when you are this close to victory. You can do this! I know you can.” I sighed softly into the phone before telling her goodbye. She was right, I knew she was. I had to push on…and I’m glad I did.
A few days after my conversation with my mother we were all told that we had been granted access to an exclusive party in the coming week. This was going to be our big chance to get our faces seen, and to make connections. It was going to be a charity event to boot, so we could even do a little good while getting numbers. I couldn’t believe it! There were going to be so many big names there! I almost missed this by trying to quit! Finally, things were starting to look up.
I spent the entire day of the event getting ready. We were told to make an impression, and my new found determination was leading the way. I spent hours on hair and make-up. My mom bought me a dress that I was sure cost her a month’s wages! By the time the cars pulled up to take us to the party I was ready to make an impression.
The Party was being held at the Governors Palace Hotel in the center of the city. The room was all decked out in flowers and lanterns. It was a garden them, paradise in the city. From the balconies and windows the entire city shined. It was beautiful. I couldn’t believe I was there.
It didn’t take me long to start spotting famous faces. I tried to introduce myself to a few but most only smiled and turned their backs. A few even asked the dreaded “Do I know you?” Question. After one such incident I was beginning to feel a bit deflated. That’s when I heard the giggling drifting towards my ears from my near right.
I turned my head towards the laughter. Part of me was taken back to that first day when the entire class was laughing at me. I was expecting to see some of my class mates pointing and laughing as I turned to face them. Boy was I wrong. “Ginger Faro!” I exclaimed excitedly as I met her eyes. I couldn’t believe it. It was her! It was really her. She was standing there laughing, looking even more beautiful than she did on the cover of Vanity Fair…if that was even possible. My entire body went stiff as panic set in. What do I do? What do I say?
“You look miserable.” Ginger grinned as she walked towards me. “You remind me of myself at every one of these stupid events. Welcome to the world darling. I’m…”
“I know who you are!” I blurted out loudly. I felt my face going red immediately. “Sorry” I quickly added. “I really don’t know how these things are supposed to work.”
“Don’t feel bad.” Ginger smiled. “I’ve been doing this for years, and I still don’t know what‘s going on half the time. Just try to relax. They might have big names but they aren’t big people…They just think they are.” She winked at me and gave me a little poke in the ribs. “So where are you here from?”
“I’m actually here on an assignment.” I said. It was the beginning of a long conversation that lasted all night long. I told her about my scholarship to the school, my failed first day and of course my terrible experience with Mr. Stein.
“Oh my God!” She laughed. “I remember the first time I worked with him. It was awful.” We carried on talking about music, movies and modeling. Eventually we began talking about actors we thought were attractive. I would rattle off a name and she would tell me some terrible or hilarious story about them that would instantly turn them into a real person instead of a star. When I mentioned I had a huge crush on Mason Warner from the Vampire Estate movies she stared laughing hysterically.
“Why is that so funny?” I asked embarrassed that I had even told her.
“Because he’s my baby brother silly!” She exclaimed still laughing loudly.
“What?” I asked confused.
“Yeah, we have different fathers, but he’s still my little bro. I actually got him his first gig you know. He owes me.” She winked as she jabbed me in the rib. “Hey he’s here tonight. Do you want to meet him?
“Seriously?” I whispered hoarsely. “Yes!” Ginger put up one finger instructing me to wait where I was. She wandered off for about twenty minutes before returning with Mason strolling beside her.
“Mason” She sang. “This is Kit Kerrigan, the girl I thought you would like to meet.” I looked at her confused and she winked at me. “I really think you two have quite a bit in common.”
“Nice to meet you.” Mason smiled extending his hand to me.
“Hi.” I whispered softly, reaching to take his hand.
“You know we should all go out for diner some time. Get to know each other better away from all of this.” Ginger said.
“Sounds fun.” Mason smiled. He never took his eyes off me as he spoke. I felt my entire body getting hot.
“Give me your number Kit.” Ginger chirped.
“No” Mason grinned. “Give it to me.” I glanced over at Ginger and she was laughing again. Just then a photographer approached us.
“Photo for the Times?” he asked holding up his camera.
“Sure” Ginger said. I tried to back out of the way to give them space, but Ginger grabbed my arm and pulled me up next to her. “Say cheese darling!” She chirped.
The rest of the night was quite the adventure. Ginger and Mason dragged me all over the Banquet room introducing me to ever name and face they came across. I felt like a princes being escorted around at the Ball. It was the most amazing experience of my life.
By the time the evening ended I had made a pile of contacts for future projects. I can’t say if Ginger will ever talk to me again, let alone whether or not Mason will call me, but I can say that I got my face out there, in fact I got it more than out there! It’s on the front page of the Times, right next to Ginger and Mason, smiling brightly.
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