The Werewolf Chronicles - Traci Briery, ebook
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WEREWOLF CHRONICLESByTraci BrieryChapter OneRoxanne used to make jokes about how she and her roommate, Phyllis, were an "odd couple" because she liked ballet, and Phyllis liked jazz dancing. She only stopped making that joke because it grew old real fast. Still, they made an "odd couple" in other ways. Phyllis did tend to be neurotic, and Roxanne was more in control. Phyllis also preferred men, but Roxanne did not. At least, not romantically. As friends they could be acceptable. Phyllis's boyfriend Michael was acceptable, for instance, even if Phyllis wouldn't admit to herself that she was probably better off without him. It wasn't that he was an arrogant twit or a jerk, but he tended to take his time making certain important decisions. Phyllis was probably too patient for her own good.She had first met Michael after a dancercize class one night, when she had stopped into the cafe where he waited for his big break while waiting on tables. In between acting auditions, of course. Performing artists require understanding bosses when it comes to time off for auditions.An advantage to the performing arts is its extraordinary variety. A disadvantage is its extraordinary diversity in salaries. One can either live in several mansions, or barely pay rent, if at all. The roommates and Michael fell into the latter category, and Phyllis was the worst off of them all.Roxanne's claim to fame was that she had once been the understudy for Jennyanydots in Cats, but lately she was able to find enough small dancing jobs to just make ends meet She could also sing and had that advantage whenever musical auditions came up. Phyllis could only dance, and she was only making rent because she taught "dancercize" part-time at a health club, not to mention her other part-time job waiting tables.Their latest audition was for a music video. Both of the roommates were going. They were in competition, but not really, for they never wanted a job at the expense of the other losing it. So far they had worked only once on the same job. Occasionally one would get it, but the other would not, but usually neither of them did."How's this?" Phyllis asked, pursing her lips. Roxanne looked up from tying her shoelaces to glance at Phyllis's lipstick."Too dark," she said."No, it isn't; I wear this all the time," Phyllis said."I know," her roommate said. "But I've never liked it. You're not supposed to wear a lot of makeup to these, anyway.""I'm meeting Mikey like right after it, though," Phyllis said, working on the mascara now. "I don't wanna mess around with this afterwards.""It'll be running all over the place.""Uh-uh," Phyllis said. "This is the stuff that stays on during a shower. I don't think it's too much. You've seen some of the other girls there. Swear to God, you'd think the mannequins were out dancing.""Yup," Roxanne said. "You never see them at callbacks, either, do you?""Hmmmm," Phyllis said, frowning at her reflection. Finally she grabbed a Kleenex and wiped off the lipstick, then replaced it with a lighter color."Okay, so I'll keep it light," she said. "But I'm not going naked. This isn't so bad. Just the eyes and lips.""You look beautiful; we're going to be late," Roxanne said, and grabbed her roommate's arm to drag her kicking and screaming from the room.Nobody walks in Los Angeles, even if their cars are screeching junk heaps like Phyllis's old Datsun. It had worked its way past three tries to get it started, and was threatening to get to six soon enough. The finest mechanics in the county had looked at it long ago and had advised her to shoot "Old Yeller," but she refused to part with an old friend.When they got to the audition the director wanted "Angry" from all of his hopefuls. It was all part of his statement, of course. Phyllis knew she was angrier than Roxanne, and gave him all her pent-up rage and frustration at the world. She was good, dammit; why wasn't anyone opening their eyes for once and seeing this? She showed him "Anger," and threw in a little sex for an extra wallop."Thank you," the director said in that same, unfathomable tone she seemed to be hearing a lot of lately. Phyllis hated the kind who never let their decision show in their voices. "We'll call you," he said, but they never did. Not as often as they should, that is.Phyllis wanted to stick around and watch Roxanne, but she really did have to take off to meet Michael. She was a stickler for punctuality, even if he was not. That was another sore point she had with him."Well? Did you split his pants open?" Michael asked after he'd greeted her appropriately."What?" Phyllis asked. "Did I what?""Sorry, just a joke," Michael said. "How'd you do?""I dunno," she muttered. " 'We'll call you.' He said it the same way for everyone.""I know what kind you mean," Michael sighed. " 'Don't call us,' etc. That's why you need to get away right away once you're done.""You'd think they'd just tell you right away if you're hot or if you suck," Phyllis said."Not when they have so many people to see.""I know," she said. "I'm just bitching.""I love it when you bitch," Michael said, pressing his face into hers. Phyllis laughed, but turned away. He nuzzled at her neck while she giggled, until he kissed it and leaned back again. Their cocktail waitress brought their drinks. Phyllis always had her diet Coke; Michael ordered a beer, as usual. He had one of those metabolisms where he could eat anything and just barely make his ideal weight. This, too, was another sore point with Phyllis, but then, this would be a sore point with almost any woman.Their waitress took their orders, and Michael settled back, happy to be served instead of serving others. Roxanne had been trying to convert Phyllis to the ways of vegetarianism, but she had yet to resist the turkey slices of the chef's salad. But no beef or pork anymore, so off went the ham slices.Michael watched her eat for a while, then touched her hand. Phyllis glanced up and smiled, but quickly resumed her eating. She looked up again when she felt him staring at her."You okay?" she asked warily."Am I okay?" Michael asked. "Yeah, sure, I'm okay. I was just? I have good vibes about you.""You do, huh?" she said. He patted her hand, then held it and squeezed it once."I think good things will happen to you," he said. "That's all.""Since when are you a psychic?""I didn't say I was a psychic. I just think you're gonna make it someday. Maybe it'll be in this latest job. You'll get picked, then get discovered by the star. Janet Jackson, right?""I wish," Phyllis said. "Come to think of it, I'm not even sure who it's for. I didn't even pay attention to that. Usually I only know where the auditions are, not who they're for.""Same with me sometimes," he said. "Maybe you'll get all the closeups.""I wish," she said."Just trying to make you think good thoughts," he said."I know," she said, pulling her hand away to hold her bowl steady. "I'm sorry, Mikey. I'm in my 'pity me, pity me' mood. I could use a break. Hell, we all could.""We'll all get it somewhere," he said. "So when I get my starring role, you'll have to be the costar.""Not until I get acting lessons," she said."Ahh, you don't need lessons," he said, waving her off. "We're all just bullshit artists."That made Phyllis laugh while she had a mouthful of food. Michael grabbed his napkin to catch what came out, but most of it ended up on her chest. Fortunately the waitress came by in time to fetch a wet towel to wipe off the stain and Phyllis resumed eating in a much better frame of mind.?Phyllis tried to be happy for her roommate, but she was never good at lying. She wanted to strangle Roxanne for getting yet another job when Phyllis had nothing. She had showed the man "Anger." What did he want? Uncontrollable rage?"Look, I don't know what was so great about my stuff," Roxanne said. "Maybe he just likes redheads or something.""I'm not mad at you," Phyllis said. "It's me. I don't know what the hell's wrong with me. I haven't gotten anything in three months! If I didn't have the classes, I'd be out in the streets tap-dancing for quarters!""You're just in a slump," her roommate said. "Everyone's had 'em.""You haven't," Phyllis pointed out.Roxanne held out her arms. "Do you see me on Broadway?" she asked."Broadway's in New York.""Okay, have you seen me in anything bigger than as an extra in a Pepsi commercial?" she asked."At least I was in that, too.""Anyway, my point is that we're both just barely hanging on," Roxanne said. "And don't think I haven't been dead flat broke before, either. You should have seen me just before I did Cats. I was flopping around from friend to friend, with no money at all. You'll get over it, darlin'. You gonna use the phone?""No," Phyllis grumbled. Roxanne smiled and patted her cheek, then dialed up her girlfriend Linda to relay the good news. She hung up on the machine that answered. Roxanne never talked to them, even if everyone on earth seemed to have one, except for her and her roommate. They couldn't afford one.Phyllis reconsidered, then called up Michael to talk to his machine." 'Well, Michael's not here, but I am. I'm his machine; tell me everything, and I just might let him know you called, Hoo hoo ha haaaa! Beeeeeeep.' ""Michael it's me call me back," Phyllis rattled off, then hung up."You know what I hate about these jobs?" Roxanne asked while poking around in the refrigerator's veggie drawer."What?"Roxanne found a carrot, and worked at cleaning it off."They always work your butt off all da...
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