Disclaimer: They are not mine, they are NOT mine, they are SO not mine! Sigh.
Dedication: This story is dedicated to Lady T for filling in for me, for putting up with my oddities and for going above and beyond the call of duty. The girl is a saint! ; )
I stand on shaking legs, fidgeting with my bracelet and desperately attempting to appear confident. My heart is pounding so loudly in my chest that I barely notice the pretty young woman before me, speaking politely and motioning me in.
Remembering my mother's words, I stand up straight and tall and lift my chin as I swallow the huge lump in my throat and enter the conference room. The pale, lifeless design of the room's interior is a sharp contrast to the tension that nearly crackles in the air above the heads of its emotionally charged occupants.
They are all there... and my mind is bouncing off the walls as I quickly glance around the room. Ian McKellon, Patrick Stewart, Bryan Singer... Good Night! They are ALL here! Halle, James -- Snort! Rebecca... Guess she decided to WEAR something today...
My mind is a whirlwind as my eyes search the room eagerly. YYYESSSSSS...! He is here -- off to the side, sitting alone in a small, unpretentious corner of the room! Perfect! I look away immediately, attempting to focus on ANYTHING but him.
HUGH JACKMAN IS HERE!!! IN THIS ROOM!!!! HE IS HERE, IN THE VERY SAME ROOM THAT I AM!!!
My mind is screaming madly and I am going completely nuts as I walk to my chair pretending as if this sort of thing happens to me every day. Crikey! I deserve an Oscar for this!
Bryan introduces me as the writer who came up with the original concept behind the script for X2. Everyone nods, and despite the smiling masks on most of their faces, I can feel the intense anger, like daggers coming across the table from the majority of them.
I barely have time to think before Jean is on her feet... not Jean... Shit! I can't remember her real name, but she is furious! Her hands are on her hips and she is tapping her foot angrily. It's obvious that they have been debating this at length and I am just here to witness the conclusion.
She shakes her head and her beautiful red curls bounce angrily as she struggles for the right words to say...
"Do you REALLY mean to tell me that your idea for XMEN2 involves nothing more than 2 solid hours of no one but Hugh !?"
She motions sweepingly around at the actors and actresses surrounding her. "WHAT about the REST of us?"
I lick my lips and open my mouth but, before I can speak, Patrick Stewart raises his hand half-heartedly and answers in his deep bass voice, "I have small parts in several scenes..."
"And don't forget about the four new characters we will be introducing, and of course, the extras in the town." Bryan chimes in optimistically. "Maybe we could disguise some of YOU and give you their parts."
She turns to him, mouth agape and rolls her eyes before turning back to me. I face her confidently (I hope).
"Answer me!" she spits, stomping a shapely heel into the floor. "Do you HONESTLY believe that a two hour movie involving ONE MAN wandering about in his bedroom, drinking, being completely miserable and reading a stupid old book will be of ANY interest to ANYONE?" Toward the end her voice rises to a pitch that I can only describe as a shriek.
Like a magnet my eyes are drawn to him, I cannot stop myself.
He has a hand in front his mouth, but I have every INCH of that face memorized and the little crinkles at the corners of his eyes tell me without a doubt that he is smiling broadly. I bite my bottom lip and smile back, he is absolutely beautiful.
He winks a sparkling eye and my heart soars up and out of the room. I've just been handed a one-way ticket to the stars.
"In a perfect world?" I ask absentmindedly in a trembling voice.
I sigh wistfully, turn back to her smiling and nod my head with renewed confidence. "Absolutely!! "
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Fasten your seat-belt, Logan... 'cause Kansas is goin' Bye-bye.
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