“You’re sure you haven’t got any kind of performance experience? Didn’t even, like, go do drunk karaoke with friends?”
“Nope, nothing. Sorry.”
“Ugggggh.”
I watch as the blonde-haired woman in front of me on the Zoom call leans back and groans in frustration. The similarly looking woman next to her, wearing a UCLA sweatshirt that I doubt was comfortable in the LA summer heat, rubs her shoulder sympathetically.
“Come on Rylee, you knew whoever got your body wasn’t likely to be an actor. At least we’re lucky this young, uhm - ”
There’s a slight pause as Clint is just as uncertain as I am about what gendered term to use for me when in private.
“ - man at least wants to try and help. From what I’ve read on the blog things could have gone a lot worse.”
“I know, dad, was just hoping maybe I got lucky and some celebrity got roped into all this Inn nonsense. I mean, it’s happened before, right?”
“Sorry to be a disappointment,” I reply.
“Oh, no, I didn’t mean it like that! Dad’s right, at least I got someone right out of college, even if there are, uhm, complications.”
Her assurance I was not a disappointing replacement for her was not very convincing.
“Sure, you probably won’t get any on stage roles in the semester productions, but you should be able to keep my grades up. It’ll be totally fine, right?”
She looks between myself and Clint. It was then that Kaitlyn leans in from beside me to get her say in.
“Don’t worry Rylee, I can promise you that you and your dad’s lives are in good hands. While we maybe aren’t the first choice of replacements, we’re both well-meaning and intelligent people and I’m sure we can keep things stable enough for you two to come back to your lives intact.”
“Thanks Kaitlyn, I appreciate it,” Clint says. “I’m sorry you’re getting roped into Shannon and I’s issues, but hey, maybe you can use some of that psychology stuff to get her off my back,” he says with a weak laugh.
“I can assure I’ll try and keep things as amiable as possible for all our sakes,” Kaitlyn says flatly.
“Best I can ask for under the circumstances. Anyway, we got to head out. Rylee and I got work to get to.”
Clint was not exactly enthused about this, the two of them having picked up waitress jobs till the semester started and they could get something on campus. I was sympathetic to his discomfort in having to “flaunt” what the Inn gave him to get more tips just to scrape by in LA.
We’ll keep in touch, and if you got any questions just email us.”
I close the laptop and sigh.
After the chaos of these first few days as Rylee and Clint, and getting some of our own affairs in order, the two of us had thought it a good idea to try and get in touch with them, give them some peace of mind about who was now living their lives. In the process, we also got the rundown on what had happened to the two of them.
Rylee had become Hailey Holder while Clint had become her sister Natalie. The two of them had been college students at UCLA who had went to Maine to escape the summer heat of southern California for a little while. Rylee had gotten lucky, with Hailey being a junior and therefore close in age to the real her. Her only real complaint was that Hailey was a business major, though at least there were courses about the entertainment business she determined could be helpful for her own future career. It was clear that Clint was still adapting to being a hot young co-ed, though, if the baggy clothes and constant squirming and uncertainty about where to place his arms so as to not push up his breasts were any signs.
Not that I can exactly blame him, though, as about the only reason I wasn’t doing the same is that Rylee had packed for summer beach weather. Tank-tops, shorts, and sundresses were pretty much my only options, and figuring out how to wear them without the bra straps showing was a battle I had yet to win. The one bright spot for him at least is that a materials engineer major is a smidge closer to his previous work as a carpenter than being a theater major is to mine as a data analyst. Just needs to be a careful talking about how much of an expert in “wood” he is around guys…
“So, now that that’s over with, why don’t we get out of the room for a bit?” Kaitlyn says as she stands up. “Shannon’s going to want some pictures of us enjoying our vacation, so I figured we could get lunch, hangout on the beach, go see that show ‘Rylee’ just had to see so badly.”
“I’m not sure I’m up for the beach. Only swimsuits she brought were bikinis,” I say, glancing warily over at that lavender colored suitcase. Considering my usual outfit consisted of khakis and polo shirts, even the tank-top and shorts I was currently wearing were showing more skin than I ever had before.
“You do know girls can go down to the beach in normal clothes, right?”
“Fair enough,” I say, standing up. “Let’s get this father-daughter date over with."
- Caleb/Rylee
No comments:
Post a Comment