Chapter Text
Jennifer struggled to open the back door with one hand, while she worked hard not to drop the stack of mail in her other arm. Pushing into the kitchen with her hip, she dumped everything onto the counter before going back to shut the door. She moved quickly and quietly. Jennifer set her mug down by the coffee maker before going back to sort the letters and ads. She recycled all the junk before letting herself examine the single package of the day.
For the last several weeks she’d been receiving a small package every few days, sometimes more than one on a given day. Jennifer let her fingers trace the edges of the bulging yellow envelope, skimming over packing tape and the labels she knew Ilene had affixed herself. She did this almost reverently, yearning for the right person to fall from the sky and into her lap.
It had been almost exactly a year since she’d gotten down on her knees in the woods and begged the universe for a love story. Part of her hated to admit how much time she’d spent visualizing what it could be. Now it was so close to becoming a reality. She was going to make this happen no matter what; she just had to find her other half.
With most of the candidates so far she’d wondered what Ilene was thinking. There was absolutely no way she’d go for the lanky, athletic brunette or the short, curly-haired comedian. One woman had been promising, she thought. Tall and slender, her long blonde hair swishing gently against the back of her arms, Jennifer was pulled in until the very last moment, when she looked back at the camera over her shoulder with such obviously-faked seduction. She couldn’t take it. Jennifer wanted to feel moved. She wanted it to feel real. Real enough to get lost in.
Perching herself anxiously on the edge of a stool, Jennifer began opening the packet. She tore at the stubborn tape and eventually ripped it open. The VHS and a notecard with rounded edges fell out. Jennifer read the hastily scratched line as she righted the thick, creamy card: Let me know what you think -IC
She took the tape straight to the family room and popped it in the machine. Sitting back on the couch, she slid her chunky glasses on before turning the TV on. Jen took a deep breath and pushed play.
She watched as the woman onscreen introduced herself, and she immediately felt the light and love emanating from her smile. She wore a red tank top and her hair was cut short, just above her shoulders. It fell in soft waves, and she had a habit of tucking the front few pieces behind one ear every so often. When she said her name, Jennifer found herself repeating it in her head - Laurel, Laurel, Laurel… It was unique… It was beautiful.
Her eyes were drawn to the small leather choker with metal beads around her neck. Then to her expressive lips, and her eyes, as she delivered the sides earnestly. Jennifer had this feeling like she already knew Laurel. And not just this Laurel on her screen in front of her now, but also a teenage Laurel staying up late to tell secrets with her best friend at a sleepover, and Laurel as a young child when she first learned to do a cartwheel. All the joys of girlhood; she could see them on her face, like she knew her all along.
By the end, Jennifer felt a complicated mix of emotions. There was so much there to pick apart. She found herself wanting to know more, wanting to jump in the sandbox with this girl. To play together, like they were those friends braiding each other’s hair and throwing popcorn into their mouths while they stayed up late watching movies, their parents telling them to keep the noise down. Like they were those kids running through sprinklers with bruised knees and sun-kissed cheeks. Like they were just trying to figure this all out together - life, family, identity. All of it.
Jennifer paused the tape and went to the kitchen to get her flip phone. She dialed Ilene’s number and they didn’t even need to have a lengthy conversation. Jennifer simply said, “She’s the one.” and that was that.
She’d been committed from Day 1 on this project, back when her agent first brought the solicitation from the production company up to her. Jennifer remembered that initial meeting with Ilene and how surprised she’d been when she realized all her convincing was just wasted breath. It wasn’t often that complex, nuanced parts for women came along, and Jennifer had not only been in love with this complicated and flawed character from her first read-through of the script, but she also wanted to be a part of something larger. She wanted her work to mean something. She saw instantly how telling this story could change a young girl’s life somewhere in the middle of the country - how she could portray hope in the darkness. This level of commitment and her already-solid Hollywood star status gave her some measure of power that she hadn’t found elsewhere. Jennifer liked that her input was taken seriously. And she liked knowing that her soon-to-be acting partner was going to be her choice.
Jennifer made herself a fresh cup of coffee and went back to the couch, where she watched the tape through several more times. Laurel made her smile; she was intrigued by her. She could feel the anticipation of their first meeting begin to prickle the skin on the tops of her arms.