In the year of 2129, auditions were being held for a movie about forbidden love between two teenagers all throughout World War IV. One girl, who was named Madeline, decided to audition even though she had zero experience. During every chance she had, she ran over the lines in secrecy. She even rehearsed in her Uncle’s one room apartment. Even though she knew the audition poster by heart, Madeline constantly read the digital hologram. All throughout the month right until auditions, she stopped everything to rehearse, including her temporary job at Happy Helpers Help Desk Online. Due to her parents’ death in an explosion in the Worlds Online Corporation building, she had to work so that her Uncle wouldn’t mind her living with him, yet he still did. Along with work, she also had to go to school. After multiple weeks of rehearsing, the day of the auditions had arrived.

       Madeline left her Uncle’s apartment as early as she could. “This is it.” she whispered to herself as she walked down the empty corridor. “This is my one shot to finally have a chance at leaving this pile of rubble. I must leave before any new wars break out.” Stealthily, Madeline rushed down the stairs and to the parking lot. She caught the bus that travels downtown to West End Studios, where the auditions would take place. The ride lasted about three hours, which allotted her an hour to redeem some of her food credits for breakfast. The Bagel Bag was the closest thing to the studios, so she munched on breakfast there. As soon as she finished, she grabbed her satchel and headed down the street towards the studio. “Welcome in,” the director told her.. “Auditions are being held four doors down and to the right.” “Thank you!” she replied. As Madeline walked through the door, she knew this was her one shot she had to leave her Uncle’s dump, to leave her crummy job, to leave all that she never wanted behind her and start fresh.

     The room was filled to the brim with people. Finally, the director started the auditions. One boy and one girl would go up and perform the selected excerpt from the script. “Madeline and Canaan, please step forward to audition.” As soon as they stepped forward, everything flowed. No lines were skipped, no cues missed, and definitely no blocking missed. “Thank you all for coming, the cast list will be posted on the Worlds Online page. Good luck!” Madeline decided that she wouldn’t go back to her Uncle’s quite yet. She stayed downtown for a few days and accessed her schoolwork and job via the internet, until one day, when the cast list announcement was posted. Madeline knew the second she checked it, anything could happen. She had made it. She was the star.

     The next few months were mass chaos. Contracts had to be signed, scenes had to be shot, and her Uncle was extremely furious about it and didn’t allow her to collect her belongings from his house; however, there was one person that made it worth it. That person was Canaan. Canaan and Madeline had developed a close bond. Although Madeline knew he was born a star and was loved by all teenage girls, she deep down had developed a crush on him. After shooting the biggest scene one day, Canaan took Madeline to his house, which had a lush green backyard, to star gaze. “You know Maddie,” which was the nickname he had given her, “There’s thousands of stars in this sky, but there’s billions beyond here. Sometimes I wish I could join them.” “You know what, I’ve always wanted to be able to leave my Uncle’s place and join them. I believe that somehow, my parents are with them and all I want is to see their smiling faces and feel their embrace just one last time.” Madeline whispered with a steady stream of tears rolling down her face. 

Right at that moment, Canaan leaned over and kissed her on the lips. “Madeline, you are a star. Your parents are so proud of you, and I know your Uncle is too.” Maddie whispered something she had been longing to tell him. “I like you, Canaan.” “I like you too.” he responded. For the first time in a while, Madeline  truly loved someone.

    A few years later, just before the sequel premiered and Madeline graduated from college, Canaan proposed. Finally, everything in the world felt right to Madeline again. Her Uncle forgave her and gave her a pair of her Mother’s ruby earrings, which went perfectly with her dress for the Red Romance Award Ceremony.  At the Red Romance Awards, Canaan and her became an official thing because he kissed her on stage when they found out that they won.

    At this moment, Madeline finally realized that times can and always be lonely and frightening, but rather than be mad and upset, put yourself with the right people and you can make the best of it. 

                                    THE END