19. Casting Call

Decided to post another chapter today. At the end of this one, there's going to be another 1989 flashback, BTW. I haven't done those in a while because I had felt like there's no need for them now that we know the truth about what's happened in their past anyway, but I kind of missed doing the flashbacks tbh just because they were so cute in them lol.

Anyways, the flashback would take place in one of those happier times BEFORE Nikki learned about Marshall's no good ways and they were just happy together.

Nikki's P.O.V.

2003

"Yes, that's her, speaking," I reply to my mystery caller frowning slightly and rubbing my still throbbing forehead, God no more drugs for me ever, leave it to rappers and rock stars or something.

"Well, hello there Ms Jacobs, my name is Monica Jenkins and I am with the #1 Actor's League agency. We have your old resume and your headshots on file here, and we were wondering are you currently available to participate in an audition? There's a current open casting call for a movie role..."

What?!

"Um..." is all I can say because I am just so shocked right now, I have to say, this phone call here wakes me up immediately, knocking the rest of my hangover right out of me instantly.

Maybe not all of it thought, because I say something completely stupid next.

"Well I um... I don't know if you guys realize this or not, but I am currently blacklisted in Hollywood, and I can't attend any auditions anyways..."

"Ms Jacobs, whatever issue you used to have before, it has been taken care of actually," the lady on the phone politely replies. "Which is exactly why I am currently reaching out to you. We've got a role here for you that we think you would be perfect for, so if you are available..."

"Shit!! Yesssss!! Of course I'm fucking available!!" I blurt out then catch myself so as not to sound too eager. "I mean um... yeah, I'm available, I don't have anything else lined up right now, so yeah..."

"Perfect... The only thing is that the audition would be held in Detroit, and I know that you are currently located in LA. Are you okay to travel to Detroit for this?"

Ugh, back to fucking Detroit again...

"Yeah, sure," I say happily.

"Perfect," Ms Jenkins repeats again, sounding satisfied. "So I will see you in exactly two weeks then, I will text you the address to our agency and the time to meet up with our team here so we could prep you for the audition."

"Um... okay, thank you so much!!" I exclaim, again unable to stop myself from sounding way too eager.

"Wait, hold on, what is the movie even about?" I ask curiously, even though honestly? I could care less at this point, I would literally audition for anything, unless it was like a porno or something.

"I am sorry, Ms Jacobs, bit as of right now, I cannot reveal any details to you over the phone," the lady then replies as though it's somw type of top secret information.

Oh well though, I'll take it. Like I said, it doesn't really matter to me what it is, as long as it's not a porno.

After we hang up, I promptly take my butt to the bathroom, brush my teeth and force myself to take a shower, my whole body aching the whole time, but I do feel somewhat better afterwards. I fix myself some breakfast and sit in the kitchen area eating it, when all of a sudden I hear the door to the apartment unlock and then I hear three distinct voices coming from the living room. One female and two males. I immediately recognize Kianna, of course, then one of the male voices is DeShaun, and the third one...

Oh, hell no!!

I quickly grab my oatmeal bowl with a spoon sticking out of it and everything and run into the living room.

"Marshall, get the fuck out of here!!" I exclaim and then immediately wince due to me still having a terrible headache.

I'm immediately met with three sets of equally hangover looking eyes staring back at me.

"Yo girl chill," DeShaun mutters, rubbing his head, he must be all ficked up too.

"Nikki, listen," Marshall says sheepishly at the same time and I just throw my palm in his face.

"I ain't trying to hear it, Marshall!! Get the fuck out of my apartment, right the fuck now, before I fucking call every single paparazzi in LA in here!!"

"Oh, it's like that then?!" He immediately pipes up, having the nerve to sound angry ad fuck with me.

"Exactly like that!!" I cross my arms over my chest for dramatic effect, completely forgetting the fact that I still have that damn oatmeal bowl in my hand and it almost spills all over me, but luckily I catch myself in time.

"Nikki, just hear him out first, girl," Proof chuckles, but I just shake my head.

"I've got nothing to say to him," I say stubbornly, stomping my foot like a child. "Marshall, get the fuck out!!" I repeat myself.

"Nikki, girl, just..." Kianna starts to say and I give her the look of death then sigh.

"Look, we are going to give you two a minute," Kianna then adds and drags Proof inside her room with her by his hand.

I roll my eyes and set my oatmeal on the nearest table with a loud thud. Can't even have breakfast in peace, apparently.

"Fucking explain yourself, Marshall," I then narrow my eyes at him and watch him shift his weight awkwardly from one foot to another as he sticks his hands in the pockets of his oversized jeans, right before adjusting his red Shady cap on his head.

"Look yo, I apologize, aight?" He grumbles. "I was fucked last night. I was fucking twisted, I wasn't thinking straight, I... Shit, I don't know, aight, I hardly even remember any of it, but I sure as fuck ain't mean to kick you out like that, Nikki. When I woke up this morning, I asked my security where you went and when they told me I was the one that said to them to put you out, I was like what the fuck..."

He stops talking then, and I patiently wait for more, bit nothing else comes out of his mouth, so yeah, that was apparently his version of an apology.

"Seriously, Marshall? That's it?" I ask, raising an eyebrow at him.

"I mean... what else you expect yo..." He spreads his arms wide like he really IS confused.

"Wow," is all I can say. "That was really the best you could do?! You know what, get the fuck out, Marshall!!" I then exclaim.

And then he practically explodes.

His whole face turns red, veins begin popping out of his neck, the whole nine.

"YOU KNOW WHAT, NIKKI?! FUCK YOU, CAUSE I DID FUCKING APOLOGIZE!! I WAS WRONG FOR HOW I DID YOU LAST NIGHT AND AT LEAST I CAN ADMIT THAT!! ALSO, IT SEEMS TO ME LIKE THAT'S ALL I EVER DO WITH YOU EVER SINCE THE DAY WE GOT BACK IN TOUCH AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, ALL I DO IS TELL YOU I'M SORRY FOR SOMERHING. I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY, I'M SO FUCKING GODDAMN SORRYYYYYYYY!!" He adds in this like weird mocking voice. "Well, I'm sick and tired of it, ain't never apologized to no other bitch this much, as a matter of fact, I don't apologize to motherfuckers ever, so screw you, suck a dick, bitch!!" He throws his middle finger at me, and I flip him right back.

He just shakes his head and storms out.

Something occurs to me then, and I call out to him.

"Marshall, can I ask you something?"

"WHAT?!" He practically bellows turning around.

I can't lie, he is kind of amusing sometimes with his anger issues and mood swings. I fight with myself not to smile.

"Well um... I had received a call today about an audition for some movie role, and I was wondering, is it because Paul has taken care of my Hollywood problem for me after all, even if I haven't kept my end of the bargain?"

Marshall breaths loudly down his nose and drags one of his hands down his face.

"Yeah, I uh... I had told Paul to take care of that for you anyway," he admits emotionlessly.

"Why?" I ask, genuinely confused.

"Cause Nikki," he squints his eyes at me. "I know it was always your fucking dream to act and be in stupid ass movies and shit, and I don't see why it should get all fucked now just cause of some bullshit, you know what I'm saying?"

Wow. Wasn't expecting that.

"Well, thank you, Marshall," I shrug.

"Don't mention it yo," he replies awkwardly.

I don't say anything to him after that, so he prompts me.

"So, they called you to audition then, huh?"

"Yeah, in a couple of weeks," I reply but don't tell him that it's in Detroit because honestly? I have no intentions of having any contact with him in there.

"Shit, that's dope. I hope you rock that shit yo," Marshall nods approvingly, but I still don't say anything to him.

Once he realizes I really don't intend to speak to him anymore, he sighs.

"Aight, Nikki. I'll see ya around."

"Okay see you, bye," I shrug and watch him walk out of my apartment.

***

1989

"So what you want me to do?" Marshall grumbles, pretending to be super annoyed. I know that he's secretly kind of liking this though. He's a perfect lil supportive boyfriend.

"I want you to help me practice by reading the other parts of the play with me," I reply, flipping my long hair off of my shoulder and shoving the thick stack of papers into his chest.

"I swear to fuck, Nikki, you are too much, sweetheart," he grumbles back, scratching his head.

"Me too much, how?!" I feign ignorance.

"Well first of all, we ain't never even used to have no damn drama class here at Lincoln before, but you sure as fuck had bullied Mr Wright into opening one, and now you wanna play the lead in the play that's getting staged to?"

"Why, of course," I reply, "Because why the hell not?! Anyways, Marshall, you are helping me audition for it and that's that."

"Yo, since when you became so bossy?"

"Boy, shut up, I ain't bossy at all!!" I laugh.

"Yeah, coulda fooled me," he rolls his eyes. "Aight, what you want me to read with you?"

"This hear," I point his lines to him.

Marshall squints his eyes at the text, and he looks downright offended by it.

"Yooooooo, what the fuck, I ain't saying all that!!"

"Why not?" I giggle.

"Uh, first of all, I can't even pronounce somw of these words, like who the fuck talks like that?!"

"It's Shakespeare, Marshall. Just how people used to speak back in those days."

"Yeah, and it's fucking whack as fuck..."

"Oh, common, you are supposed to be good with words, boy."

"Aaaaand, it's also some sissy shit," he continues, looking absolutely appaled. "I'm not about to..."

"Oh my God, Marshall!!" I roll my eyes playfully at him as I giggle. "Look, I'm not asking you to audition for the play with me, just read with me for right now so I could practice, please? Pretty please??" I make puppy dog eyes at him.

"Aight," he looks at me all so annoyed and angry but concedes.

"Aw, thanks babe, you are the best boyfriend ever!!" I throw my arms around his neck, kissing him everywhere.

"Fuck outta here," he grumbles, but I can see that there's that unmistakable crooked half grin currently fighting it's way to appear on his face...