Curtain Call

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

       Since I decided not to audition for the school musical, I don't have to go to the auditorium after school. I still decide to at least walk there with Alan and Orchid, who are both in my fourth period class. I'm interested in seeing who's going to be auditioning, though most of the time it's basically the same people with the loss of those who graduated and the addition of freshmen. 

       I'm not going to stay here, though. I feel like if I do, I'll be even more tempted to audition and I really don't want to. Okay, so part of me still wants to but the other part is still terrified of rejection. 

       To save time and gas for everyone, I'm going to wait until auditions were over so I can go home with Ryder. There's no point in asking one of my parents to come pick me up. Besides, I'm used to staying after school, even if it's for the play most of the time.

       The other place I like staying after school is the art room, so that's where I head after wishing all of my siblings good luck. Whenever the art teacher isn't in the room, we're still allowed to use the supplies there as long as we sign in to let her know who was in the art room if anything went wrong. Luckily, everyone is respectful of the supplies, otherwise we probably wouldn't be allowed to be here without her.

       She isn't here right now, so I sign in before sitting down at one of the easels. I take a small canvas out of my backpack; I always keep a blank one with me just in case I want to come to the art room to pain. Canvases are one of the things we normally have to bring from home since they can be quite expensive.

       Not too many people are in here. It's either those who are working on an art project despite this being the second day of school, or those who, like me, want to do some art just because. 

       I stare at the canvas for a bit, trying to decide what to paint. I don't really have any inspiration right now, but I also don't have anything else to do. I do want to paint; I just have to think of what to do.

       Eventually, I decide to just pick a colour and start randomly painting on the canvas, hoping that something will come out of it. That method has worked in the past when I haven't felt particularly inspirational. Sometimes, I even end up painting something without fully being aware of it. It's like I enter some sort of artistic state.

       That's what ends up happening right now. I don't exactly know what I'm painting; I'm just letting my hands do the work. After who knows how long, I decide to take a break, stepping away from the canvas. I notice that those who were in the art room with me had left, so it's just me in here now. Despite the people not being disruptive at all, I'd rather be in the art room alone. I don't know, there's just something calming about it.

       I get back to painting, but I'm not able to paint for that much longer because I soon get a text from Orchid, telling me that auditions are over. I tell her that I'll meet them at Ryder's car once I finish cleaning up in the art room.

       I put my phone in my pocket before taking the canvas off the easel, putting it on a table where we're allowed to leave them to let dry. Better than attempting to take them home or putting them in our locker, only to mess it up in the process.

       As I clean up, I end up having Grease on my mind, finding myself singing Hopelessly Devoted to You. It's probably my favourite song in Grease, and with the auditions going on, it's only natural that I would end up singing it just for fun.

       I get so lost in singing, and cleaning, that I don't notice someone is standing by the door until I finish cleaning the paintbrushes and turn to grab my bag I left by the easel. I stop singing immediately once I see Ms. Salazar standing there. Before I can even say anything, though I don't even know what to say, she says, "Wow, you have an amazing voice, Nolan. How come you've never auditioned for any of the musicals?"

       I walk to the easel and pick up my backpack. "I... like set designing. It's my passion."

       "A lot of people who are cast in the play still help with set designs if they want and if they have time," Ms. Salazar says. "I know Orchid does all the time."

       I don't reply right away. Should I tell her the truth? I mean, there won't be anything wrong with her knowing. 

       So I end up saying, "This might sound stupid but the thought of auditioning scares me. I don't think it has to do with stage fright. More of... I'm scared of rejection."

       "That's not stupid," Ms. Salazar says. "Is it rejection that you won't get the part you want?"

       I shake my head. "I know it's impossible for everyone to get the part they want. I'm just scared I won't get any part in the play. I really do like set designs though, so it's not that big of a deal. Maybe I'll eventually convince myself there's nothing to be scared of."

       "So if it was guaranteed that you would get a part in the play, you would want to be part of it?" Ms. Salazar asks. "No matter what the part is?"

       "Yeah, of course," I say. 

       "That's good to know," Ms. Salazar says before she walks off. 

       I stand there for a few moments before I sigh heavily and leave the art room, heading to the parking lot. I really wish I can just get over my fear and audition, but it's never that easy. Maybe I can work myself up to eventually getting over the fear. Maybe one day I'll be part of a play but right now, I don't think it's going to happen any time soon.

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tee hee you're wrong nolan.

at first, i was going to have him audition but as like NAH i want it to happen this way. and i know it sounds a bit unfair nolan gets a part without really auditioning, but there's a reason for that which will probably be explained next part.

ANYWAY, i know there are a few different versions of grease that can be performed, so i'm just stating here that this book is going by the grease live version. quick explanation why: in the play specifically written for high school performances, hopelessly devoted and there are worst things i could do are taken out but like... i want them in here lol. also the pregnancy storyline is taken out but i don't see anything wrong with a high school portraying that soooooo we're sticking with the grease live version. and the grease live did modify it to make it appropriate for live television, so that version is perfectly fine for high schoolers to perform.

also sandy doesn't go to the dance in the play buuuut i really enjoy that part of grease live so that's also staying.