Chapter 2: Seizing the Future

Nate sat at the edge of his bed, running a hand through his thick black hair as he absorbed everything. The reality of his situation was sinking in fast. He had truly reincarnated into the body of Nathaniel Carter, an 18-year-old high school senior with a fresh start. But unlike his previous life, he wasn't walking into the future blindly. He had knowledge—knowledge of movies that would break records, actors who would rise to fame, directors who would revolutionize cinema.

This was his chance to get ahead. To become the actor he had always dreamed of being.

But first, he needed to understand where he stood.

A quick scan of the room told him a lot. The posters on the walls—Quentin Tarantino, Martin Scorsese, Christopher Nolan—confirmed that this body's previous owner had been a movie buff. That was good. At least his interests aligned. His eyes landed on a stack of scripts on the desk, most of them printed-out screenplays of classic films. One stood out—Good Will Hunting.

Nate picked it up, flipping through the pages. He smirked. This kid had taste.

But that brought up a crucial question—had this version of Nate ever tried acting before?

He needed more information.

He got up and walked over to the desk, turning on the laptop. As the machine hummed to life, muscle memory guided him. A password prompt appeared, but before he could panic, his fingers moved instinctively, typing in a combination.

The screen unlocked.

Looks like the old me was predictable.

He immediately pulled up the files and browser history. A few things stood out—emails from what seemed to be an amateur acting group, audition listings, and bookmarked pages on Hollywood casting calls.

So, the previous Nathaniel Carter had some aspirations of becoming an actor, but he hadn't made any real progress. That was fine. It just meant Nate had a clean slate to work with.

His next move was simple—figure out where he was in life and what resources he had.

---

As he made his way downstairs, the scent of freshly made pancakes filled the air. His stomach growled in response.

The Carter household was modest, neither rich nor poor. It had a lived-in warmth to it—family photos on the walls, mismatched furniture that somehow fit together, and the faint sound of morning news playing on the TV.

His mother, a woman in her late thirties with auburn hair and tired eyes, was flipping pancakes in the kitchen. She glanced at him as he entered.

"Look who finally decided to get out of bed," she said with a small smile.

Nate forced himself to act natural. "Yeah… rough night."

"Well, eat up. You need your energy."

Lily was already at the table, scrolling through her phone. She glanced at him briefly before snorting. "You sure you're okay? You look like you had an existential crisis in your sleep."

Nate smirked. "Maybe I did."

He sat down and took a bite of the pancakes. The taste was heavenly—warm, buttery, with just the right amount of syrup. It was a stark contrast to the cold takeout meals he had survived on in his past life.

For a moment, he let himself enjoy it.

But reality quickly settled in. He needed a plan.

---

Step One: Understand His Financial Situation

After breakfast, Nate excused himself and went back to his room. He pulled out his phone—a slightly outdated model but still functional—and checked his banking app.

His jaw tightened.

$214.35.

That was all he had.

Not exactly ideal. If he wanted to break into Hollywood, he'd need money—for acting classes, networking, headshots, and even basic necessities. He had no interest in struggling like he did in his past life.

That meant he needed income. Fast.

He considered his options. His parents weren't rich, so asking them for money was out of the question. A part-time job was an option, but that would take too much time away from his real goal.

Then it hit him.

Stock market.

He had knowledge of the future. He knew which companies would explode in value. If he played his cards right, he could turn his meager savings into something substantial.

But the stock market wasn't instant money. He needed something else in the short term.

---

Step Two: Get His Foot in the Industry

He knew the entertainment industry inside out. He had suffered through it before. But this time, he wasn't walking in blind. He needed to start small—commercials, indie films, student projects. Anything to build up his resume.

A quick search on his laptop brought up casting calls. Most were low-budget projects, but that didn't matter. What mattered was getting experience and connections.

Then, something caught his eye.

An open audition for a small supporting role in an upcoming indie drama. It wasn't much, but the director had a reputation for spotting raw talent. More importantly, the film's lead actor would later become one of the biggest names in Hollywood.

This is it.

Nate's heart pounded. He quickly took down the details. The audition was in three days.

He had three days to prepare.

And he was going to make sure he nailed it.

---

Step Three: Leverage His Future Knowledge

Movies weren't his only advantage. He knew pop culture trends, upcoming tech booms, even viral internet moments before they happened. If he played it smart, he could position himself as a trendsetter, someone always ahead of the curve.

But first…

He needed to make a name for himself.

And that started with this audition.

---

Later That Night

Nate stood in front of the mirror, staring at his reflection. He had been given another chance, a fresh start. The universe had handed him an opportunity, and he wasn't going to waste it.

His eyes hardened with determination.

"This time," he muttered, "I'm going to make it."

No more struggling. No more failures.

He was going to be a star.