~unedited! I'll re-upload it tomorrow in a better quality~

"Come in,"I cry when I hear the knocking at my door. I'm expecting Paul so I'm not surprised when I see him opening the door then approaching my desk and taking a seat across from me.

I immediately untangle my legs and sit up straighter. If I could come in jeans and trainers to the office I totally would, but for as long as I have to work here I need to look professional and sophisticated if I want people to take me seriously. When I'm alone in the office I roll up my skirt and sit more comfortably but the moment someone comes in, I'm a lady once again and not a teenager.

"Good morning, Miss Tachibana,"he says between clenched teeth.

"Good morning, Paul,"I greet him with a slight bow.

I was born and raised in England, but Grandmother has made sure I keep the Japanese traditions alive. Everyone in TP is used to Father and his manners so it is not weird for me if I greet them or bid them goodbye with a bow.

"We've completely finished the script and I've come to showed it to you as the casting is today. We figured it'd be necessary to know the final product before selecting the actors to play the parts,"he explains handing me the script and I smile at him.

"How was it working with Terry? Did her input help?"I question next because I'm confident the script is much better now, but I still want to know if my decision to include Terry in the writing team helped or not.

Paul looks away and I notice a vein in his neck getting thicker. "She helped. She really had some scenes that weren't in the book and that help the view of the film we want to accomplish."

"Fabulous, Paul. I'm sure this time it'll be a perfect script. Thank you very much for bringing it. I'll read it over before the casting,"I inform him trying to use my better tone. I don't want him to hate me but taking in consideration the way he glares at me I don't think my best smile will make him tolerate me.

He nods once before standing up and leaving my office and I start reading the script immediately. I notice the differences, the modifications in the existing scenes, the addition of new ones and exclusion of others. It's not the book, but it is a good adaptation and what I think is most important: the characters are true to themselves and don't betray their nature that fans have come to know through the books. And I'm delighted to know that Rana is back in the story. I figure Terry managed to convince Paul that the character is actually pretty important in the storyline.

Once I finish reading the script, I go to meet with the casting team, especially the leader. We've been talking already about the lead actors for the main characters and all the supporting roles. For what Teru has informed me, eighty percent of the actors we contacted, inviting them to take part in the project showed enthusiasm to actually take part in the film. I hope they show up today for the auditions. They started first thing in the morning but I wasn't able to join them. I do after my lunch break and by then Ryan, the leader of the casting team hands me the portfolios that have been selected so far as possibilities. They have also recorded all auditions to make the final decision later on.

Up to now, none of the main characters have been selected. Although there are some possible options, nothing is settled yet.

The first person to come up in front of us after lunch break is a girl and I look at the portfolio. Mare Johnson, I read. She's a new artist and I think I've heard one of her songs, which is actually catchy. I can't remember the title but I know I had it stuck in my head for almost a week. She's prettier than I remember, with a contagious smile and bright red hair.

"Hello, my name is Mare Johnson and today I'm going to audition for the role of Rana,"she introduces herself before taking a deep breath and starts a monologue.

I don't recognise the piece she's performing but I smile when I realise why she picked that particular monologue. Even if it's not from the book, it shows a range of emotions that are exactly the ones Rana shows during the first book: happiness and loyalty, fear and uncertainty, friendship and worry. In a piece that last no more than two minutes, we can see she can actually project the emotions and feelings we need for Rana. I look at the other seven people in the team and try to read their expressions. Some smile, but most of them are impassive, yet I see them scribbling something on her portfolio. I narrow my eyes to read and I bite my lips when I realise they also agree with me that Mare is actually a good option for Rana.

"Thank you very much, Mare. We'll be in touch,"Ryan tells her and she smiles brightly at us before nodding her head and leaving the room. "She's good,"he then says to us. "I think a good option to discuss later."

"I totally agree,"I say and Ryan smiles at me. "She picked a monologue that could show all Rana's emotions in the story to show us that she could play the part. I think that's very clever of her."

"Indeed she did,"Rachel, another member in the team agrees. "Shall we call the next?"

We all nod and hold the next portfolio. The next actor is called and like that, we spend almost all afternoon. Not many leave an impression and just a few give me the feeling of the characters I read in the book and script. We normally say a little about them after they exit and put the portfolios in different piles: the Maybe Pile and the No Way Pile.

At some point, Zoe Miller auditions and my eyes widen when I see her. Ella recommended this girl for Lana and I guess she fits the description, kind of. Her eyes are very blue and big, innocent somehow and she looks nervous. I know she's a model and if she gets this part it'll be her first film which means she has no experience and that can play against her.

"Hello, my name is Zoe Miller and I'm auditioning for the part of Lana,"she says with a sweet voice and I notice her hands are trembling.

She is going for the most important role in this film, she is the main character and I guess that's pressure enough to make anyone shiver. She takes several breaths trying to calm herself before tears start running down her cheeks. She opens her eyes and they are red and show so much pain that I think she's having a panic attack or something. I'm about to go forward and help her when she starts talking.

"They told us we helped everyone and we were free to choose. That's all what I believed me in and I actually looked forward to be one of them. Be a guardian. I wanted to join the Earth Forces and now all those dreams are shattered. What do I do now? Where do I look forward? Whom do I trust when the people that are supposed to look after us are only using us to conceal and kill? I don't want to be a weapon but what else can I be? I don't want to drown people from within if they order me to do so! But I want to help!"she shouts and I recognise that's a passage from Typhoon. She's actually acting that part when Lana finds the truth behind the manipulation of the Earth Forces. "Tell me, what do I do now when all I waited for isn't an option anymore? Who am I but a potential killer?!"Her screams are heartbreaking and her voice is filled with desperation and self-loathing, which is exactly what I felt when reading that part. Zoe sounds lost and confused and her tears are real. "What do I do now, Sasha?"she whispers and looks at us with so much emotion that I can only blink. I really didn't expect that.

Then she takes a deep breath and starts wiping the tears away, which is the clear sign she's done but she keeps tearing up and I actually offer her some tissues. I look at her and I don't see Lana, I really don't, but when she was acting, she captured the character in that moment and I think she could do it. And if she doesn't look like Lana now, makeup artists can actually change a person.

"Thank you very much, Zoe. We'll be in touch,"Ryan tells her as usual and she smiles at us sadly. When she leaves, I immediately turn to him to hear him comment, "Well, that was surprising. I didn't think she could act."

"Ditto,"says Marianne, another member in the team. "She's probably the strongest option for Lana that we've seen so far."

I can only nod, agreeing to their statements. Her acting was good but there's just something that can't convince me about her for Lana. I don't know what is though. And I don't have much time to keep thinking about it because the next actor is called and we're back to watching auditions. It's almost at the end when a guy walks in and when I see him, I immediately think of Sasha. Two seconds later I recognise him as Gareth Maddox.

He's tall and with olive skin, as I have seen, but there's something more glowing about him, an aura that takes my breath away. His hair is raven black and shaggy, his eyes are almost hazel and his features are chiseled and attractive. He moves with confidence and certainty. It's like every step is controlled. Then he faces us and I can't look away.

I knew he was attractive. Almost every actor is annoyingly attractive, but when he stands in front of me I realise the screen lies because he is far much more good looking. Even in simple clothes like jeans and a white V-neck tee and black trainers. He doesn't smile, he doesn't even show any sign of emotion as he watches us eight in front of him.

I don't even look at his portfolio, I know quite a bit because I suggested him for this film.

"My name is Gareth Maddox,"he introduces himself. His voice is deep and controlled and it lacks emotion. Exactly how I saw him in a few interviews. "I'm auditioning for Sasha."

He barely nods and I'm actually feeling cold from seeing him. His face shows nothing, no nerves or excitement, not even boredom or arrogance. He is a blank canvas.

And then he closes his eyes and gets into character. His face lights up, his smile is wide and contagious and encouraging. Even his eyes smile this time and it's like I have a different person in front of me, a happy and positive guy.

"What else can we do?"he says, even his voice is softer and cheerier. How is that even possible? "We won't accept what they want us to do. We've discovered so much already and if we lost our dreams and plans for the future, then we look for a new one. We are different, Lana. We are bound to this planet and we won't let anyone use us to cause harm. I won't let them take my soul away and change me to make me a puppet. I won't kill anyone for them,"he declares and I realise that's exactly the speech he gives Lana when she breaks down. He's replying to Zoe Miller's audition. Impressive. "We have to join the resistance, Lana. That's what you do now, Lana."

He doesn't say much but he gives the perfect smile, that one that reassures you and makes you believe there's hope and everything will be all right. That smile full of positive energy and strength. The smile that makes Lana realise she's in love and that he actually helps her to stay on her feet. That's the smile that helps her put herself together and make a decision. That is Sasha's smile, there's no other way to describe it.

"We make new plans and fight for our own path. We work together, all of us. You're not alone, Lana. I'm here with you, okay?"

It's going to be hard, Lana replies in the book, I remember that clearly.

"It'll surely be hard, almost impossible, but it's the right thing to do and now is when the fight begins. We can't even let them keep doing to other like us. We need to find out the whole truth and warn everyone around. The manipulation and deception stops here. Will you fight with me?" The way he looks makes me want to scream yes! I'll fight with you. I trust you and that amazes me because it means he is really Sasha and that's exactly what Lana feels at that part of the story. "Let's do it," he finishes with that signature smile and I take a deep breath in amazement.

And then it's gone. Sasha is gone in less than a second. All emotion is gone, those eyes are ice cold once again and the smile is nothing but a memory. Gareth, the Ice Prince, is back and he gives us a courteous bow.

"Th-thank you for that, Gareth," Ryan says and I notice the stutter at the beginning. This time he looks as impressed as I feel. "We'll keep in touch."

Gareth nods once and turns on his heels, exiting the room in the same controlled and confident strands. My eyes follow him until he disappears behind the doors and only then I notice how my heart is racing in my chest. I'm awestruck and I can't articulate coherent thoughts. I never saw someone who could change that easily and that extremely. I swear I feel like I saw two different people that looked exactly the same but completely different at the same time.

How is that even possible? Is he even real?

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A/N: Gareth makes his appearance yay! And I noticed that Zayn Malik actually fits the profile so for those of you who wanted One Direction fan fiction (which is not and it doesn't fit 'cos actor not singer) you can imagine Gareth as Zayn. If you don't want to, then follow my suggestion with Luke Pasqualino (babe!) It's your choice. I just make suggestions according to the physical characteristics of my characters. That said, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Dedication to @Guasoni. Yes, Ann is a lot like Chang. You are very right there. Clever!

Bel, xx