"ROLE OF A LIFETIME" - Chapter 27

Reminder/Disclaimer:

I do not own the rights to Divergent or it's characters, etc. This is just my fanfic.

Also, as mentioned, this story is rated M/MA for language and sexual content. So please only read if you're of an appropriate age.

Author's Note will be at the bottom of this chapter.

The past few days have gone by quickly, but New York has been great to us.

We've spent our brief early mornings together before Tobias has to go off to work on his preparations for Saturday Night Live. He'll have to go in every single day this week leading up to Saturday for the big night.

Since Tobias has been busy during the day, I've bene spending most of that time hanging out with Christina, since she's in town to launch her new make-up line.

I'm glad I still get to see Tobias in the evenings for a couple of hours. Not only to snuggle and be with him since I've missed him so much, but also to hear how his day of rehearsals went. He's always so excited to tell me about his day and to hear about mine. He likes to catch up on what we've missed out on while we're away from each other and I love it.

On Monday, Tobias met up with the SNL writers and cast members for a pitch meeting in Lorne Michael's office. They brainstormed ideas and came up with some fun sketches that would suit him well and the guest celebrity host.

Tuesday was a longer day as they were writing the skits into the wee hours of the night. We'd been warned about that. So, Christina decided to keep me busy by taking me to my first fashion show, which is not normally my scene, but it was fun to dress up and attend on at least once. It's not that I don't like fashion, I just tend to prefer fun everyday-wear rather than the ridiculous things the stick-thin runway models are wearing, like oversized plastic poncho-looking outfits (off the shoulder of course). They almost looked like unrecognizable Halloween costumes or possibly something seen at the Met Gala. But I wasn't the only one entertained by the weird outfits. Christina was such a crack up as usual and had me laughing so much, I now understood why she insisted I wear waterproof mascara.

The following day, Wednesday, Tobias was gone most of the day as well doing read-throughs. Despite them running through about 40 sketches and having to cut and condense a lot, he was home at a fairly reasonable hour, at least early enough for us to have a late dinner together.

We grabbed some delicious gyros to-go and brought them back to the apartment to eat out on the balcony together.

While we ate, he asked me again when I would visit him at SNL studios.

All week, he's been encouraging me to go and meet everyone, but I told him I didn't want to get in the way, especially since he wasn't so sure if that was allowed as nobody else there seemed to have people visiting or eating lunch with the. But he said since he's the guest celebrity host, they would probably allow it.

Now it's Thursday afternoon and I'm just finishing up my photo shoot with Style magazine, while also pimping our new movie. They had me start early so they could get some sunrise shots outside. Even after shooting the entire movie, the whole situation is still a bit surreal to me.

I'm used to doing photo shoots, I've done a good handful over the past years, but it's still bazaar to me that I'm not going to be featured on the covers of major magazines. I'm so accustomed to being a 'behind-the-scenes' kind of a girl that I'm still adjusting to the idea.

I'm relieved to get out of the uncomfortable outfit they had me posing in last and instead slip into a knee length floral skirt and green t-shirt that not only pair well together, but also feels more like me. After adjusting it, I slip on my sandals, grab my bag and say goodbye to the photographer and crew before making my way to the NYC subway, which was a little intimidating the first few times I went on my own. But now I'm a pro.

Before I even board the subway, I feel a vibration in my bag, signaling a new text on my phone.

[TOBIAS]: Almost done with your photo shoot? How was it?

Come tell me about it in person? Lunch is at 1:30.

I smile to myself, loving that he still wants me to and be a part of his big SNL week.

Although, he's a bit nervous, I can tell he's mainly been enjoying the experience and likes doing comedy for a change. He says everyone is great and keep him laughing, which is apparently all the more reason for me to go and meet everyone.

So, at dinner last night, he said he would ask Lorne first thing if I could visit for lunch. By the looks of his text, I guess he got the answer he wanted.

I glance at the time to make sure I can make it before texting him back.

[TRIS]: I think I can make it in time. I'm about to get on the subway now.

[TOBIAS]: Sounds good, see you soon! Just go to the main desk and tell them you're here for me (Studio 8H). They'll be expecting you.

[TOBIAS]: I love you!

[TRIS]: I love you too!❤️

Once I arrive at the one-and-only 30 Rockefeller Plaza, I look down at myself to ensure I look presentable. I didn't have time to go change or freshen up, so this will have to do.

I glance up at the famous building that I've only ever seen on TV and take a deep break as I head inside. After being directed to the correct floor, I take the elevator up.

As I'm greeted by a uniformed Page, I can't help but inwardly giggle to myself at seeing the similarities to the show '30 Rock'.

What surprises me even more, though, is when the elevator beside me opens and who steps out of it? None other than Lorne Michaels himself!

He walks calmly but with purpose, an air of both kindness and intimidation surrounds him.

It may be a stupid move, but I catch myself clearing mythrough as if by reflex and I'm sticking my hand out in greeting as he nears me.

"Hello, Mr. Michaels. It's very nice to meet you. I'm TrisPrior, here to meet Tobias Eaton for lunch. Thank you again for agreeing to have me…and, of course, for having Tobias host this week. He's really enjoying it all so far and I know he's going to be great. But I'm sure you already know that."

After realizing I'm rambling and that I likely sound like a proud parent or crazy overzealous girlfriend, I attempt to hold back more of my word-vomit, and decide to just smile and wait for him to something (or for someone to interrupt this awkwardness).

After a moment, he speaks up. "It's nice to meet you too, Tris, and please, call me Lorne," he says simply, but I still notice the slight amusement in his eyes.

The Page hands me a visitor's badge to wear around my neck and stands ready to escort me in the right direction. But Lorne speaks up again. "I'll take Miss Prior. I'm heading that way, anyway."

The Page nods. "Yes, Sir," before turning to me. "Let us know if there's anything else you need, Miss Prior." But Lorne is gently leading me away, so I look over my shoulder, smile and thank him.

Wordlessly, Lorne leads me down the hall. At one point, a door opens and a girl, whom I recognize as a regular SNL cast member but can't remember her name at the moment, heads our way. She's looking down at the papers in her hand rather than where she's going.

Right as I'm about to slow and step behind Lorne so she can go by, she glances up and startles herself at being so close to bumping into me. She giggles and shuffles to the side, but it happens to be the same side I was going to too, so we end up doing that awkward little dance of trying to pass each other, but we are not successful.

Hearing her laugh is an encouragement, and I take her free hand and lift it up to do a little twirl under her arm as I dance past her.

But being the comedic silly girl she is, it turns into her not letting go of my hand and instead continuing the little improve dance of us twirling around together twice more in a little flowerchild/hippie-like dance, like the dance of Luna Lovegood and her father at the Weasley wedding in Harry Potter.

One might have seen us and thought we'd practiced it before or maybe that we were stoned. Either way, she was quick to catch on and play off it. It was just so natural to take advantage of the moment and improvise something spontaneous. Being an SNL cast member, she's obviously great at that and doesn't mind being a bit ridiculous.

Once we're actually past each other in the hall, she curtseys, "See you in a while, My Lady," she states, making me laugh.

I curtsy back and turn to continue following Lorne down the hall, hoping I didn't lose him. But instead, I notice he's just standing there, paused to watch our little run-in turned silly dance. Even though it only lasted a couple of seconds, the way he's looking at us makes me wonder. He almost looks impatient, but more so entertained and thoughtful. Still, he doesn't say anything.

Feeling myself blush a bit, I give him a nod and smile. "Sorry about that, is it this way?" I ask, gesturing ahead and hoping to brush off any anxiety of making a good first impression with all these people. He simply nods and continues walking without saying another word.

This is going to be an interesting lunch.

I'm greeted as I enter the room with Lorne, automatically being given hugs and handshakes, and hellos. Everyone is very welcoming, but I'm still a bit intimidated. It seems to be both the cast and some writers, all of whom seem outgoing and friendly already. But I have to have my excited geek-out moment to myself, because I watch these people on TV every week, always so casual at being hilarious. They make it seem so easy to be funny and improvise when needed. Even when they break and laugh on live TV, they make it seem charming.

Tobias gives me a sweet greeting of his own, giving me a hug and kiss before we take a seat at the large oval table that has a centerpiece display of deli sandwiches and large bowls filled with some sort of mixed green salad. Once Lorne reaches to start filling his plate, so does everyone else.

Everyone makes small talk for a while, but I notice that a lot of the conversation is directed toward Tobias and I. They seem excited to have us here. They also fill me in on some of the sketches they've narrowed it down to.

At one point, I'm taking a bite of my turkey sandwich when I notice they're discussing a James Bond style sketch. I always pictured Tobias making a perfect James Bond, but the version they're talking about has me cracking up in laughter. When they mention the little bit of stunt work that will be needed, my ears especially perk up.

"How is Cecily going to do that stunt with him if her sprained ankle is still healing?" one of the guys asks.

"Someone else could play my part instead." Cecily chimes in as a thought.

"Tris could step in." Melissa says, "I saw her moves out in the hallway." she adds, giving me a silly wink, which makes me chuckle.

"I'm used to stepping in for stunt-double work." I say with a shrug to let them know I'm open to idea if they're serious.

"Or you could just play the part altogether." Lorne says, speaking up for the first time.

The first thing I notice is Tobias' huge grin from where he sits beside me, and I feel his hand squeeze my thigh gently. As if he couldn't be more obvious, he then nudges my shoulder while giving me an encouraging, "Hm?"

"You can't be serious..." I say, wondering if I'm actually understanding what he's suggesting.

"That's a great idea!" Cecily all but shouts. "Don't you agree?" she asks, looking to Mikey who sits beside her. He nods in agreement before they both look at me, then to Lorne.

"When we wrote this sketch, I knew I had to portray Mina as a tough girl since she's apparently a secret spy. But I think Tris can totally handle that. And the crowd loves when there's a surprise celebrity guest." Cecily adds.

Crossing his hands in front of him with his elbows on the table, Lorne looks at Tobias, then at me. It's hard to read what he's thinking, but I feel like he's analyzing if I'm actually interested in this and have what it takes to be LIVE. For some reason, my only reaction is to shrug at him.

Of course, I'm interested, but will I really be able to pull this off? I'm not used to LIVE TV.

I look to Tobias to read his reaction full on, and he's not holding anything back. He's still smiling widely, almost a little smugly, like he knows the decision is already made and he's happy with it.

"She'll do it." he chimes in.

My eyes widen at him, "Tobias!" I whisper scold, playfully swatting at his arm.

"What? Am I not right that you want this, and that it will be totally fun?" he asks, raising his eyes as well, but he's still grinning.

"I..." I begin, not knowing what to say.

"She'd be great in the classroom sketch too. She's got to play Sally Mae." Leslie suggests with a boisterous laugh. "God knows I'd like to play her if I weren't the teacher already." She eyes waggles her eyebrows at Tobias suggestively, but then winks at me as if to confirm she's only teasing us. Although I'm not entirely sure the meaning behind it all, since I haven't heard any details on that sketch yet.

Lorne eyes Leslie, then looks back to me. The situation is extremely tense and has my heart pounding, despite the jovial atmosphere.

Finally, Lorne speaks up, which everyone quiets down a bit more for.

"Tris, would you like to be our celebrity surprise guest?"

Once more, I feel Tobias give my thigh and encouraging squeeze. With his excitement on the matter evident, I decide to just go for it. So, swallowing my nerves, I look directly at Lorne and give him a firm nod and a smile of my own. "I would be honored."

With a subtle smile and nod in reply, Lorne looks over his shoulder to a girl standing nearby with a clipboard. "Katherine, would you get Tris set up to get measured for costuming." Then he looks to the writers, "And get her printed scripts."

"Everyone else, let's get her up to speed. We only have about 48 hours until show-time. I don't want anyone leaving until she feels comfortable with her parts. I'll see you tomorrow."

Lorne stands and leaves, Katherine following behind him just after she tells me she will come find me in about a half-hour.

I look to Tobias and he looks ecstatic.

"We're doing SNL together..." he sings.

Author's Note:

I apologize for the glitches with posting, they should be fixed now!

Thank you for catching up on the chapter(s) updated! What did you think?

Are you excited for Tobias & Tris' big Saturday like I am?

Don't forget- you can check out some PHOTOS that I used for inspiration on these chapters! PINTEREST: madisonrose1129

As for CHAPTER 28... I unfortunately do not have it ready yet. But I should have it ready very soon!

💕Madison