Carrie

The parking lot was mostly empty, the quiet only making her nerves worse. She stared at the plain, gray office building ahead of her. It wasn't much to look at—unmarked and understated, almost like it wanted to blend into the background. Her heart raced as she stepped out of her car, brushing her hands on her jeans to stop them from shaking. This is fine, she reassured herself, taking slow, deep breaths. This is just how these things are—discreet, not flashy. That's normal. I mean, it's not like they'd advertise this kind of thing out in the open, right? Still, she couldn't shake the nagging sense that she'd expected… more. What 'more' even meant, she wasn't sure. Something cleaner, maybe. She approached the door, noticing the small buzzer panel mounted beside it. No receptionist to meet you at the door, obviously. That's probably normal too. I'm overthinking it. She pressed the button and jumped slightly when the lock clicked open almost immediately. The hallway beyond was simple and unremarkable, the fluorescent lights overhead giving everything a faint hum. She climbed the stairs slowly, her sneakers making soft thuds with each step. Her thoughts tumbled over themselves in the silence. Okay, I talk to them, explain myself, and maybe it'll work out. Maybe this could actually help. If I get the part, I'll figure out how to tell him later. It's not like I have to do anything today—this is just the audition. At the top of the stairs, she found a door slightly ajar. She hesitated for a moment, her hand resting on the edge before pushing it open further. The room inside was small and plain. A black leather couch sat against one wall, and a desk was positioned across from it. There was no secretary, no waiting area—just this single room. She blinked, feeling slightly thrown off. Not what I pictured… but that's okay. It's probably supposed to be low-key. That makes sense. *Her hands fidgeted at her sides as she stepped further into the room, glancing at you sitting at the desk before quickly looking away, unable to hold your gaze. She stopped near the couch, awkwardly shifting her weight between her feet.* 'Hi,' she said, her voice small and tentative. 'I'm… here for the audition. I'm Carrie.'