Los Angeles is absolutely breathtaking!
Walking up to the entrance of the hotel, I stop before making my way in. I need a minute to take in my surroundings. I felt visibly relaxed since we got off the plane. While driving through the city on the way to the hotel, I somehow managed to convince myself that I am going to have the best two months, enjoying the musical and this gorgeous city. I am going to meet new people, get to experience new places and everything is going to be great! Nothing is going to ruin this once in a lifetime opportunity for me. This is MY time and Mark? Well, I have decided that Mark can go fuck himself.
London is 8 hours ahead of California, so I guess that means we kind of traveled back in time. It's 10 am on Sunday morning and I have to be at the theater in 4 hours to meet the producer and maybe a few of the actors as well. To be honest, I am a little nervous. A little? Who am I kidding? I am extremely nervous. We have been traveling for 11 hours straight and even though I slept through most of it, I still feel so tired. Mark just finished checking us in so I rush up to our room ignoring his grumpy comments.
"Honey, will you slow down please?" he asks, while climbing the stairs behind me. 386Please respect copyright.PENANAxXA71XTUKa
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"Please, do not embarrass me." 386Please respect copyright.PENANARtWFhmwFos
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"Fuck off Mark!" I say almost too loudly. 386Please respect copyright.PENANAcLeG7zJMrV
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Ignore, ignore, ignore! This will be my strategy to get through the next two months or I might just end up in jail for murder and Mark might just end up in a body bag. Please don't judge me!
I get to our room and opening the doors, I am instantly overwhelmed. Oh. My. God I think to myself, unable to take another step. Of course, Mark booked the biggest penthouse in the most luxurious hotel he could find. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful but it also makes me want to throw up. The luxury life always made me feel ill-fitting. That is one of the many reasons why I haven't moved in with Mark yet. His house is so big, colourless and cold. I love my small, warm and cozy apartment. He keeps on bugging me to move in but even though we are engaged, I simply don't feel ready to give up my apartment and independence yet.
Mark probably notices the surprise on my face because as soon as he walks in, the first words to come out of his mouth are, "Did you really expect anything less?"386Please respect copyright.PENANARQDgU97EWP
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I look over at what appears to be an indoor balcony and wait "You got a penthouse with an indoor swimming pool? Isn't this a little too much?!" I ask loudly. 386Please respect copyright.PENANATBGDDYZsXa
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"Honey, don't sound so surprised. We're going to live here for the next two months. I don't know about you but I want to enjoy it." he says, not even once taking his eyes off his cellphone.
Now I really need more sleep! I think to myself as I take the first steps into the massive lobby. I make my way into the living room and leave my suitcase next to the brown leather couch. I need to find a bedroom. Why does this feel like walking through a maze? I think to myself irritably. 386Please respect copyright.PENANAkXhok47irM
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Finally, I am facing two white doors. "I'm going to lay down for a couple of hours before heading to the theater." I shout at Mark.386Please respect copyright.PENANAoxEPKUHpVz
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"Great, you do that honey." I hear his voice echo through the house. "I need to go meet an old friend of mine. We have very important business to discuss. I will probably see you tonight." he says. Why am I not surprised? I hear his phone buzz and he answers almost immediately.386Please respect copyright.PENANAgMlnc7UI9b
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"Hi... Yes... I am on my way..." I hear him say while walking out one of the rooms. Suddenly he is right next to me.386Please respect copyright.PENANABUUcir95Se
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While listening to the person on the other end of the line he gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and walks towards the living room. It's not that I want quality time with him but there was absolutely no reason for him to tag along if he wasn't planning on spending a little time with me. Why even bother?
As I hear the front door close, I open the double doors to the main bedroom, closing it behind me.... It's so big!
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I am standing in front of one of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen. I did a bit of research about the theater before I had the online interview. The Mark Taper Forum is a 739-seat thrust stage at the Los Angeles Music Center, designed by Welton Beckett and Associates on the Bunker Hill section of Downtown Los Angeles. The Building is surrounded by water and in the middle of the center is the most beautiful fountain shaped like a cross. It's so peaceful yet so majestic at the same time
I am so grateful I managed to find the centre by myself. Thank goodness it was only a few blocks away from the hotel. At the moment I am walking up and down the stairs in front of the entrance of the music Centre. I am a nervous wreck and you can probably see it all over my face.386Please respect copyright.PENANAy7Nhk1bOpP
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Breath Leah, this is what you've been working so hard for. Do not mess this up! I quietly preach to myself.
While debating whether I should give myself a few more minutes to calm down or just suck it up and open the doors, I am startled by an unfamiliar male voice.
"You know the doors are transparent right?" the unrecognisable voice murmurs. I turn around and notice a guy walking up to me.. Is he talking to me? I ask myself. Don't act stupid Leah! Does it look like there is anyone else around?
"I'm sorry?" I mutter.
"You might not be able to see inside but whoever is on the other side of that door looking out is probably thinking wow, that girl is crazy." he says amusingly and let out a quick chuckle. "You know, because you're walking up and down the stairs, talking to yourself?" he adds, properly noticing the befuddled look on my face.
Shitballs!I am overwhelmed with immediate panic. I stare at the doors trying to see if anyone is looking at me from the other side but all I can see is my own reflection. "Right... I'm not crazy... I'm..." just before I can finish my sentence he interrupts me while leaning on the banister with his right arm.386Please respect copyright.PENANAmEwWP4vA46
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"Nervous? Let me guess, you're the new actor in Blue Moon?" he asks.386Please respect copyright.PENANAS8A1desmrd
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I look up and it's as if I am seeing him for the first time. Standing in front of me is the most gorgeously intriguing man I have ever seen. He looks in his early twenties. He's tall with broad shoulders, his dirty blond almost blown hair is beautifully managed and he's staring at me with the most intimidating blue eyes. 386Please respect copyright.PENANAF2qrLtlzgN
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"Hello?.. Earth to whatever her name is?" he says 386Please respect copyright.PENANAPq7JczzSjS
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He's wearing a white t-shirt paired with black skinny jeans and he is holding a black leather jacket hanging over his left shoulder with one finger. Holy shit.386Please respect copyright.PENANAaTpp5FBTqH
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"Hey, crazy girl?" He shouts.386Please respect copyright.PENANAFwNQt0oRuu
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Oh my god. What has gotten into you Leah? I scold myself. I immediately snap out of whatever type of psychological state I was in when I hear him calling me 'crazy girl'.386Please respect copyright.PENANABKSCpe79DD
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"Excuse me? My name is Leah and for the second time, I am not crazy." I snap at him.386Please respect copyright.PENANA0bwaIGU72T
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"Sure... sure." He mutters sarcastically. "Are you the new actor in Blue Moon?" He points to the poster on the glass door of the theater. Blue Moon in the name of the musical I am going to be working on.386Please respect copyright.PENANAPyNf535iXS
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I can see the amusement on his face, he's enjoying this. I don't even know this guy and I can already tell his one of those badboy, heartbreaker type of guys, yet his so damn beautiful.
"No, I am the new songwriter. I have a meeting with the producer today." I reveal. He nods his head in what I assume is approval. "I see, so you're the reason why I'm here."he murmurs. I'm the reason he's here? What is this dude talking about?386Please respect copyright.PENANAxEnQ7XsQri
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"Is that suppose to be a pickup line?" The words fall out of my mouth almost too quickly. He looks at me confused, raising one eyebrow and then all of a sudden bursts out laughing. "If you think that was a pick up line you really are crazy." he chuckles. "What I meant was Larry, our producer invited all the lead actors here today to meet you."
Oh my God Leah! You really need to think before you speak! I think, scolding myself again.
"Oh..." Is all I manage to say. I can feel my cheeks burning up and probably turning red as we stand in silence for I few seconds too long. 386Please respect copyright.PENANAbSmSYdr0wG
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"Gotta run. See you inside." I hear him say. He walks past me and as he is opening the door he stops for a moment and looks back at me "Nice talking to you, crazy girl."386Please respect copyright.PENANAJfTvlbkkoL
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Unable to process what just happened, I stand outside the theatre for a few more minutes until I finally decide it's time to suck it up, put my big girl panties on and enter the theater.
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So he's one of the lead actors in the musical. The jerk never told me his name. I guess I'll find out soon enough.386Please respect copyright.PENANANBAoj74Ai3
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