Chapter 02 DYLAN
Why didn’t anyone tell me that majoring in Theatre would lead to absolutely zero job prospects after graduation?
Spoiler: everyone told me.
All I know is I need some freaking headshots, and Sadie, the photographer, said she’d snap a few during this couples shoot.
How hard can it be?
I shove my work uniform in my duffel and restyle my hair for the eightieth time. I hate getting my picture taken. I’m cute-ish now, I guess.
At least that’s what dudes on Grindr say…
But the self-conscious little boy who preferred watching movies with a tub of H?agen-Dazs says otherwise.
My garment bag is bursting with outfit ideas. There have to be thirty different V-neck sweats in various shades of blue to bring out the color in my eyes.
When you’re an actor, choosing headshot attire feels like a life-or-death situation.
If I don’t look approachable yet alluring but with just a touch of something unique, then I’ll be stuck serving at Fridays forever!!!
And, honestly, the thought of working at Fridays for even another month feels like a fate worse than death.
If I die and go to Hell, it’ll be covered in red and white stripes and loaded potato skins.
I haul the duffel and garment bag over my shoulder, nearly throwing out my back in the process—there’s 200 pounds of sweater in this fucker—and lug it to my car.
I will say, it’s freaking gorgeous out right now. Autumn is in full effect, and the drive to the studio is a kaleidoscope of red, orange, and yellow.
I pull into the lot and lug the garment bag into the studio, where the photographer meets me.
“Hi! You must be Dylan,“
she says as he shakes my hand.
“Guilty. Sorry, I’m late. I had several meltdowns in front of the mirror.”
Her smile is warm as she waves her hand. “You’re fine! Your session partner hasn’t been here very long. I’ll introduce you to him.”
Sadie leads me through the studio and down a little flight of stairs to a sitting room.
“Dylan, this is Peter.”
The man sitting in the chair facing the floor-length window, looking out onto the beautiful forest, turns around.
“Oh, my gosh! Professor Duncan!”