no less than two days later i'm back in that horrid meeting room, in the same spot i was in the last time i was here. dan sits to my right, smiling like an idiot. seeing him happy makes me smile as well, no matter how much i try to resist.

carol and ron walk into the room, this time not flanked by their other coworkers. as always, they're dressed like they're about to walk the red carpet - and based on how many things they've accomplished with the media, that wouldn't surprise me.

"you're back!" carol says excitedly.

dan nods enthusiastically, and, to my surprise, speaks with ease. "couldn't stay away for long."

what?

where did this dan come from? last time he could barely say a word without stuttering, and now he's making friendly banter?

ron sits in the center chair, his unassigned seat at the large table. "and i assume you've made a decision."

i turn to dan, who seems to be the one making important decisions lately. he looks at me, as if for reassurance. i only reluctantly nod before he speaks again. "we'd like to sign with uktalent."

"oh, that's wonderful!" carol says, clapping her hands. wow, someone's perky today.

"that's great!" ron says, pulling out a pen from the inside of his blazer. "let's get started with the paperwork right away."

before i know it they're shoving dozens of packets in my direction, all with large paragraphs in a small font. even with my contacts on, i can barely read it. to my annoyance, dan doesn't bother, signing every blank line without caring to read the fine print.

doesn't he realize that's the kind of mistake they want us to make? for all we know, these papers could give them control to do scientific research on us.

i can't tell him any of my thoughts now, not with carol and ron staring at us so intently. they notice my hesitation, unfortunately, and i can tell they are not pleased.

"is there a problem, mr. lester?"

"n-no. well actually, yes, yes there is." i hear dan's pen stop mid-signature, and i can feel his eyes boring into my head, begging me not to mess this up for him. "what does this contract entail, exactly?"

carol and ron begin laughing, as if i said a joke. it takes me by surprise, and even dan looks confused.

"no need to look so tense, mr. lester. we're here to take care of you, you know," carol says, giving me what i assume is her version of a friendly glance.

i feel idiotic. i don't know why, but something about this whole situation makes me feel so, so stupid. to anyone else their words seem like them being polite, but everything they say feels demeaning to me, as if i'm below them. i don't like that.

ron slides my packet over to their side of the table and begins flipping through it. "these first pages,' he begins, 'are you promising that you'll always pay us and won't sue us. the next ones are more focused on your image, how you'll let us help you in any way we find fit. the last ones are the legal stuff, similar to the beginning, and so on."

his description of the packet is so vague that i can't help but feel more worried than before. my mind is telling me - screaming at me that this is a bad idea, but my heart keeps reminding me that this is what dan wants. i'd do anything for dan.

"phil," dan says, nudging me slightly. "you okay?"

"yeah, i'm great," i say, smiling. i glance at the mirror on the wall, behind dan. i almost burst out laughing, as my reflection portrays my mood so perfectly: i don't want to be here. this is the fakest smile in the world.

i feel everyone's eyes on me.

looking down at the contract, i raise my pen. i turn to dan. the packet. back at dan. he gives me a subtle nod.

slowly, i lower my pen to the first line.

the swish of the pen when i sign my name is like nails to a chalkboard in my head. and to think, this was only going to be the first mistake of many.