Extra's Rise In Hollywood: I Can Gain Character Skills-Chapter 25: First Driving Lesson, New Role?

As Liam approached his apartment building, something caught his eye—a black Porsche 911 parked right in front of the complex.

He stopped in his tracks, his eyebrows furrowing slightly.

’A brand-new 2025 edition? Since when did anyone in this neighbourhood have the kind of money to afford that?’ He looked around, wondering if he’d missed something. "This has to be some rich visitor," he muttered, his tone slightly sceptical.

Then another thought struck him, and his frown deepened. ’Where is Selena going to park? This guy took her spot.’

With a determined huff, Liam decided to address the situation. If the owner wasn’t a neighbour, he’d make up a story about needing the spot himself.

"I’ll just say I live here and I’m parking my car. Simple," he muttered to himself, even though the bus he took was the closest thing he had to a transport vehicle.

He walked over to the car, noting the tinted windows that completely obscured the driver. He bent slightly, peering into the glass and seeing nothing but his own reflection.

"Of course, it’s tinted," he muttered, shaking his head.

Raising his hand, he hesitated for a second before knocking gently on the window. His knuckles barely made a sound against the surface—he didn’t want to risk scratching it and incurring the wrath of what he assumed was some rich snob.

To his surprise, the window rolled down almost instantly, and the face that greeted him left him momentarily stunned. Selena’s radiant smile beamed at him from the driver’s seat, her sunglasses perched casually on her head.

"Selena?" Liam blurted, blinking rapidly as he processed what he was seeing. "That’s your car?"

Selena tilted her head slightly, her smile widening into something playful. "No hello? No ’hi, Selena’? That’s rude," she said, her tone light and teasing.

Liam’s face flushed slightly as he scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Sorry," he said, looking a bit sheepish. "I wasn’t expecting—well, this."

Selena chuckled, leaning one elbow on the doorframe. "What, did you think I was driving a station wagon or something?"

"No, I just—" Liam gestured vaguely at the car, his words stumbling over each other. "I thought you were going to come in the g-wagon."

Selena laughed softly, leaning against her Porsche as she looked at Liam. "Well," she said casually, "I don’t think what you’re going to teach me really suits the G-Wagon."

Liam nodded, glancing at the black Porsche. "Yeah, this car definitely makes more sense for what we’re doing.."

Selena leaned in to open the driver’s side door, motioning for him to get in. "Alright then, let’s get started. Hop in, and you can direct me to where we’re going."

Liam nodded before walking around to the passenger side, he opened the door and slid in. He adjusted his seatbelt as Selena started the engine.

"There’s a spot not too far from here," Liam said, giving her quick directions. "It’s open and quiet. It should be perfect for your lesson."

Selena nodded, her focus shifting to the road as she pulled away from the curb. "Sounds good. Let’s head there."

The drive was smooth, Liam glanced at Selena briefly, mentally noting how comfortable she looked behind the wheel.

’She is confident in her driving...that’s good. If she were too nervous, I would have cancelled the lesson.’ Liam thought, her actions made him feel confident she’d pick up the skills quickly.

As they approached the practice area, which was a wide-open lot at the edge of the neighbourhood, Selena slowed the car and turned in.

She parked and glanced at Liam, her expression eager but calm.

"Alright," she said, turning off the engine.

"What’s the first step?"

"First, let’s go over the basics of control and handling at higher speeds. Then, we’ll work on some basic manoeuvres. It’s all about getting comfortable with the car’s responsiveness."

Selena nodded, stepping out as well and walking around to meet him. "Alright, I’m ready when you are."

Liam smiled faintly, gesturing toward the driver’s seat. "Let’s get started."

"Alright, let me just fix my shirt."

"Of course, be comfortable," Liam said, with a smile.

As she moved, a loose strand of hair fell across her face.

She paused, brushing it behind her ear casually.

The small, natural motion caught Liam’s attention, and he found himself momentarily distracted before quickly snapping his focus back to the task at hand.

After she was done, Liam directed her.

"Alright," he began, clearing his throat to mask his lapse in focus. "First, let’s start simple. Get a feel for the car—nothing too fast yet. Just ease into it."

Selena nodded, gripping the wheel lightly. "Got it," she said, her tone steady. She pressed the accelerator gently, and the car moved forward smoothly.

The purr of the engine filled the cabin, and Selena’s movements became more confident as she got comfortable.

"Okay," Liam said, watching her closely. "Now try keeping your speed steady as you go into the next turn. Don’t fight the wheel, let it guide you."

Selena glanced at him briefly, her lips curving into a small smile. "Alright, teacher." she teased lightly.

Liam chuckled, leaning back slightly.

Selena focused on the turn, her hands steady as she followed his instructions. The car glided smoothly through the manoeuvre, and she let out a breath of relief once they straightened out.

"Nice," Liam said with a nod. "That’s what I’m talking about. How’d that feel?"

She turned to glance at him, her smile widening slightly. "Pretty good," Selena replied, her voice tinged with satisfaction.

After a few more laps around the lot, Selena attempted a tighter turn.

This time, the car jerked slightly, and she came to a sudden stop, her cheeks colouring faintly as she laughed. "Okay, that wasn’t great," she admitted, brushing her hand through her hair again.

"It’s fine," Liam said, his tone easygoing. "You just misjudged the angle. Let’s go over it again, slower this time."

Selena nodded, gripping the wheel again. "I can do this," she muttered under her breath, more to herself than to Liam.

"You’ve got this," Liam encouraged, his voice soft but steady. "Just relax your wrists a little—don’t tense up."

Selena followed his advice, her movements more fluid as she repeated the turn. This time, the car moved smoothly, and she glanced at him with a triumphant smile.

"Better?"

"Much better," Liam said with a nod, meeting her gaze.

Their eyes lingered for a moment longer than necessary before Selena quickly looked back at the road, her cheeks faintly flushed.

Later, as they practiced controlled stops, Selena misjudged the braking pressure, and the car lurched forward slightly.

Liam’s hand shot out instinctively, brushing against her arm to steady himself.

"Sorry!" Selena said quickly, glancing at him with wide eyes.

Liam laughed lightly, lowering his hand. "It’s fine. At least you didn’t send me flying into the dashboard."

Selena let out a small laugh, though her cheeks remained flushed. "Well, I guess I’m keeping you on your toes."

"Something like that," Liam replied, a faint grin on his face.

By the time they finished the session, Selena had grown visibly more confident, her turns smoother and her stops more controlled.

"Thanks," she said, glancing at Liam with a genuine smile. "I actually feel like I’m getting the hang of this."

"You’re doing great," Liam replied, his tone warm. "Seriously. It’s impressive how quickly you’re picking it up."

Selena’s smile softened as she met his gaze briefly. "Well, it helps to have a good teacher," she said lightly, her cheeks tinged with a faint blush.

Liam looked away for a moment, his own cheeks warming slightly.

...

The Porsche came to a smooth stop in front of Liam’s apartment building as the sun dipped low, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.

Liam unbuckled his seatbelt, turning to Selena with a grateful smile. "Thanks for the ride," he said, his hand on the door handle. "And the lesson. You’re really getting the hang of it."

Selena returned the smile, her fingers drumming lightly on the steering wheel. "Thanks for putting up with me," she replied, her tone light but warm. "You’re a surprisingly patient teacher."

Liam chuckled. "Don’t spread that around. I have a reputation for being impatient to maintain."

Selena laughed softly, but before Liam could step out, she hesitated, her expression turning more thoughtful. "Hey, before you go," she said, glancing at him, "there’s something I wanted to ask you."

Liam paused, curiosity flickering in his eyes. "What’s up?"

Selena shifted slightly in her seat, turning to face him more fully. "There’s this role... well, it’s not a lead or anything, but it’s a decent supporting role in an indie project a director friend of mine is working on. I think you’d be a good fit."

Liam blinked, her words taking a moment to sink in. "Wait, an acting role? What’s the project about?"

His posture immediately straightened as he leaned slightly toward her.

Selena nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she saw the spark of enthusiasm in his eyes.