Chapter 16: Final Audition and Doubts

The following days were a whirlwind for Lucas. After receiving Greg Warner's message confirming that he had made it to the final round of auditions, the reality of what was happening began to sink in. This was no longer just a dream or an opportunity on the horizon—he was in the thick of it now. The final audition was scheduled for the end of the week, and Lucas knew that everything he had worked for, everything he had sacrificed, hinged on his performance.

As the day of the final audition approached, Lucas threw himself into preparation. He ran his lines over and over, dissecting every word, every emotion, trying to find new layers to bring to the character. He spent hours practicing in front of the mirror, trying to perfect the subtleties of his expressions, the way his voice would break at just the right moments. But the more he practiced, the more the familiar feeling of doubt began to creep back in.

Was he really good enough for this? Had his previous audition been a fluke? Could he deliver again under the pressure of a final round, where the competition would be even more intense?

These thoughts plagued him, especially in the quiet moments between rehearsals. It didn't help that his inbox was filling up with congratulatory messages from friends and colleagues who had heard about his callback. The support was encouraging, but it also added to the weight of expectations on his shoulders. Everyone was rooting for him now, and the fear of letting them down gnawed at him.

One evening, after another exhausting day of preparation, Lucas sat on his couch, staring blankly at the script in his hands. The lines blurred in front of him as his mind raced. He felt like he was teetering on the edge of something massive, but instead of excitement, all he felt was fear. Fear that he wouldn't be able to live up to what was expected of him. Fear that he would walk into that audition room and fall flat on his face.

His phone buzzed, breaking the silence. It was Rachel.

"Lucas, just checking in! I know the big day is coming up—how are you feeling?"

Lucas hesitated before responding. He wanted to tell her that everything was fine, that he was confident and ready to crush the audition. But that wasn't the truth. The truth was, he was overwhelmed. The pressure was suffocating, and despite all the praise and encouragement he had received, that old fear of failure still clung to him like a shadow.

"I'm… feeling a little nervous, to be honest," he typed back. "The final audition is so close, and I can't stop second-guessing myself."

Rachel responded almost immediately.

"That's completely normal, Lucas. Nerves mean you care, and you've got a lot riding on this. But remember—Greg and the team already saw something special in you. They wouldn't have moved you forward if they didn't believe in you. Trust yourself."

Lucas stared at the message, letting Rachel's words sink in. She was right—he had earned his place in that final audition room. He hadn't gotten there by luck or chance; he had worked for it. He had proven himself once already, and he could do it again.

"Thanks, Rachel," he replied. "I needed that."

After a few more moments of reflection, Lucas set his phone down and picked up the script again, his resolve returning. He wasn't going to let fear dictate his performance. He was going to walk into that audition room and give it everything he had—just like he always did.

The morning of the final audition arrived, and Lucas found himself once again walking through the sleek halls of Red Oak Studios. The atmosphere was more intense this time. The stakes were higher, and the competition stiffer. The other actors in the waiting room seemed sharper, more confident, their conversations quiet but filled with a sense of purpose.

Lucas checked in with the receptionist and sat down to wait, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel the nervous energy in the room, but instead of letting it overwhelm him, he focused on staying calm. He closed his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths, trying to center himself.

You've got this, he repeated to himself. You've done the work. Now show them what you can do.

After what felt like an eternity, the assistant came into the room and called Lucas's name. He stood, his nerves buzzing, but his face remained calm as he followed her down the hallway to the audition room.

This time, the setup was different. There were more people in the room—Greg Warner, Emily Quinn, Jared Keller, and several others who looked like producers or studio executives. The room felt heavier, more serious, and Lucas could feel the weight of their gazes as he walked in.

Greg stood and greeted him with a smile. "Lucas, good to see you again. Thanks for coming in."

"Thank you for the opportunity," Lucas replied, shaking Greg's hand.

Emily stepped forward next, her warm smile doing little to calm Lucas's racing heart. "We've been looking forward to seeing your take on this next scene. Just remember to relax and bring the same honesty you brought to the last audition."

Lucas nodded, though the word "relax" seemed almost laughable at the moment. Still, he took a deep breath and stepped to the center of the room, the script familiar in his hands. This scene was different from the last—a more introspective moment where the character reflected on his past mistakes, grappling with guilt and shame. It was quieter, more internal, but no less emotionally charged.

Emily gave him a small nod, signaling that he could begin whenever he was ready.

For a moment, Lucas stood there, letting the silence settle over him. The eyes of the casting team were on him, waiting, but he pushed the pressure out of his mind. This wasn't about them—it was about the character, about the story he had to tell.

He closed his eyes briefly, sinking into the character's emotions, letting the weight of the man's regrets wash over him. When he opened them again, he was no longer Lucas Cheng. He was the broken man standing at the edge of his own redemption, desperate to find a way back from the darkness.

The scene flowed naturally, the emotions rising and falling like waves. Lucas's voice was soft, but it carried the depth of the character's pain. Every word felt deliberate, every pause filled with meaning. He could feel the intensity in the room as the casting team watched him, their attention focused entirely on his performance.

"I never wanted it to end this way," Lucas said, his voice trembling slightly. "But sometimes, you don't get a choice. Sometimes, you make mistakes you can't take back."

He paused, his eyes distant, as if seeing the ghosts of the past. "I thought I could fix it. I thought if I just… tried harder, maybe I could put the pieces back together. But now I see that some things… some things are broken beyond repair."

The silence that followed was thick, heavy with emotion. Lucas felt his chest tighten, the character's grief becoming his own. His hands trembled slightly as he finished the scene, the weight of the words still hanging in the air.

When he finally looked up, he saw Emily's eyes shining with approval. Greg had a small, satisfied smile on his face, and Jared, though stoic as ever, gave a slight nod.

"Thank you, Lucas," Greg said softly. "That was exactly what we were looking for."

Lucas exhaled, the tension leaving his body all at once. He had done it. He had delivered.

"We'll be in touch soon with our final decision," Emily added, her voice warm. "But I just want to say, regardless of the outcome, that was an incredible performance. You should be very proud."

Lucas smiled, the weight of the moment finally beginning to lift. "Thank you. I appreciate that."

As he left the audition room, his heart was still pounding, but this time it was with excitement rather than fear. He had given everything he had, and now it was out of his hands. Whatever happened next, he knew he had shown them the best version of himself.

That night, Lucas sat on his balcony, staring out at the city lights. The final audition was over, and all he could do now was wait. But for the first time in a long time, the waiting didn't feel unbearable. It felt like the calm after the storm.

His phone buzzed, and he saw a message from Rachel.

"How did it go?"

Lucas smiled and typed back.

"It went great. Now we wait."

He leaned back in his chair, the cool night air washing over him, and for the first time in months, he felt a sense of peace. No matter what the outcome, he had given it everything he had. And that was enough.