This is the tenth part in a series. If you have not already done so, you might want to read Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV, Part V, Part VI, Part VII, Part VIII, and Part IX before continuing.
Angela did a double take when she saw a familiar face flash across the screen. She had muted her TV for the commercial break while she flipped through a magazine, but now she turned the sound back on. Yep. She definitely recognized that voice.
“When were you going to tell me?”
“About what?” Eliza’s voice came out of the phone sounding sleepy and farther away than usual.
“Your starring role in a new TV show.”
“Oh, that,” Eliza yawned audibly. “I’m trying not to get my hopes up.”
“For what? That you’ll get the part? That the show will get picked up by the network? What will it take for you to decide it’s time to celebrate?”
“I don’t know. Decent ratings, I guess. A renewal for next season.”
“That’s bull and you know it. Even if you did get renewed for a second season you’d say you don’t want to celebrate until you get renewed for a third. Then a fourth.”
“The ratings then. What do producers consider to be good ratings these days?”
“Oh, I don’t know, the ratings system is ridiculous, I don’t even know why we use it.”
“The why doesn’t matter. Just the fact that it influences whether a show gets renewed.”
“Yes and no, but that’s all beside the point because there are all sorts of things that influence the ratings, and only some of them have anything to do with how good the show is. Your big success is getting the part and you didn’t even bother to let your best friend know?”
“Like I said, I didn’t want to get my hopes up. Or yours for that matter, but it sounds like it’s too late for that.”
“You’re damn right it is. You’re going to be on TV. Like, for more than a few seconds. When are we getting together to celebrate?”
“That depends on when you’re coming out to L.A.”
Angela furrowed her brow. “I don’t know. It’s not a good time right now. There’s talk of Stevens leaving, which means we all might be under consideration to take his spot.”
“Really? That’s amazing!” Eliza’s voice perked up and she sounded more awake than she had for the whole conversation.
“It’s only amazing if I get it. And if I do, I doubt I’ll be allowed to skip town right away, even if it is only for a few days.”
“I get it. I won’t be able to come out to New York until we wrap for the season, and even then I’m not sure what I’ll be doing for the summer.”
“Filming a blockbuster movie in NYC.”
Eliza snorted. “Yeah, right.”
“I mean it. Think positive thoughts and they’ll happen.”
Eliza sighed. “I miss you.”
“I miss you, too.”
“So,” said Eliza. “Next summer. Filming in New York.”
“Blockbuster,” Angela reminded her.
“Blockbuster.”
To be continued …
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