Glossary

Te reo - Māori language

Wahine - Woman

Kuia - Grandmother

Dairy - Convenience Store

Hangi - Traditional Māori style of cooking underground

Whanau – Family

Piece of Piss - Easy

Boot - Trunk of car

One

Josh

“You’ll hear from us.”

Usually famous last words, but this audition has been something special. I’ve got a good feeling about this one.

Although, I’ve been wrong about that before.

Something has to come through before the end of the year. That’s the target I’ve set, and there are only a few months left before I have to pack up and go home to Florida.

I’ve managed to pick up small jobs here and there, but nothing that’s going to keep paying my rent for any length of time. My savings are nearly non-existent—I worked a year to fund the pursuit of my dream. It’s not been long enough, and time is running out.

Fuck it. I’ll treat myself to a decent coffee and go home. I deserve it for the long day I’ve had, and I just want to curl up in front of the television and chill for a while.

I walk to the coffee shop, enjoying the short stroll past Tiara Street Park on the corner.

The coffee shop can get quite crowded in here sometimes, but it’s the middle of the afternoon and I timed this trip perfectly from the empty tables that greet me

A brunette I haven’t seen before is standing behind the counter, and I approach her, digging through my wallet for spare change.

“Latte, please.”

“Sure thing.”

I look up at the sound of a foreign accent, and into the deepest blue eyes I’ve ever seen.

“Let me guess. Australian?”

She scowls, narrowing her eyes at me, but still taking the money I’m offering her. “New Zealander.”

I fist my hand in annoyance. “Shit. Sorry. You guys are real sensitive about that, right?”

She rings up the coffee on the register, and hands me the change before moving across to the coffee machine. “I don’t sound Australian.”

The machine whirs as it grinds the beans, and I breathe in the fresh scent of coffee.

“I’m sorry. I only had two words to make a guess.”

“Do better next time.”

I lean on the counter to get a better look at her. She’s got long, chocolate brown hair that hangs in big curls just below her shoulders, and her light makeup doesn’t hide her flawless complexion. I’m in love, and she’s literally said … twelve words to me.

“Are you new here? I haven’t seen you before.”

She nods. “I started last week.”

My eyes drop to her name badge. Dee. “Live around here?”

She pours the milk into a metal jug, and starts frothing it. “You’re just full of questions, aren’t you?”