Page 8 of My Undead Heart

Jai stops making sexy eyes at Jared to raise his brows and glare at Rae. “You want in or not? I’ve got hundreds behind you that would literally kill for the chance.” When she doesn’t answer he nods his head. “That’s what I thought. Now, follow me.”

“Sorry, Mia.” Jared says, his eyes sad as the group proceeds to walk inside.

I shake my head and force a smile in place. “No. Don’t be. Go! And then come tell me all about it!”

“Meet back at the bar?” he says, but he’s already walking backward.

I shoo him with my arms. “Yeah. See you soon!”

He finally smiles, turns to catch up with Rae and Violet and that stupid line picker guy, Jai.

Too pretty. My ass. I spent a good hour this morning painting guts onto my neck that depict decaying flesh better than an actual dead person. Don’t tell me I’m pretty. Please. I’m so much more than that.

I stay in line even though I doubt there’s much of a chance anyone is coming back for more extras. A guy pops open a bag of ranch flavored chips behind me and the smell makes me want to barf, but still, I hold the front of the line. The bottoms of my feet begin to ache, but I refuse to unlace my badass black boots because as torn as I am about not making it on set, I’m not a quitter.

An hour after Jared, Rae, and Violet disappear, another guy with a headset comes to the front of the line. My heart leaps with hope but when I realize he’s holding a bag and not a tablet, it sinks again. He can’t be that important if he doesn’t have an iPad.

“Good afternoon! I want to thank everyone for being so awesome and answering our call for the show. You all are what this is about. Unfortunately, we are at max, but the show and the producers don’t want you going home empty handed. Everyone here today will receive a complimentary lanyard. Thank you so much again. Safe travels home.”

He and a couple of volunteers ceremoniously hand out the consolation prize,a fucking lanyard, but all I can do is recall how that ray of sunshine Violet took my spot. She’s annoying as it is, and had she not come today I totally would have been inside with my best friend and his sis, having the fucking time of my life instead of traipsing back to the bar with nothing more than extra self-pity. Can’t carry that with my new lanyard!

Fucking Violet.

Fucking Jai.

FuckingWalking Dead.