It's Hard to be Lee

11. Mr. Julius Morgan

Lee tried out for the play like Mr. Bennett ordered her to and surprisingly she got the lead role. Acting was still new to her, but like her modeling, she planned to give it her all. Hard work paid off.

"No way!" Joe said as he read the cast list.

"No way!" Lee repeated. She was shocked that she had gotten the lead of a major school production and she was only a freshman. She thought she would play a small role.

"Hey, congratulations Lee," Heather said to her as she read the cast list too. Lee knew Heather wanted the lead.

"Thanks," she said to her.

"All that sucking up to Mr. Bennett worked, huh?" Heather stormed off after she said that.

Lee stood there shocked, and a little angry at her words.

"Joe, do you think that as well?" she asked him. "Mr. Bennett is my manager now and maybe he felt I was ready. That I earned it."

"Lee, I watch how hard you grind, you did what needed to be done. Heather will get over it." Joe studied the cast list again. "Me? I'm only an extra. I guess I better grind harder."

They were standing in the hall by their drama class when Yvette walked by.

"Hi Lee," Yvette said and walked off without even a glance Joe's way.

Joe watched her go by and did not say anything about her ignoring him.

"Yvette looks good," he finally said.

"Doesn't she."

"Lee, I want you to know I did not cheat on Yvette. Honest!"

"I believe you," she said.

"I really liked Yvette, but if she doesn't trust me, why bother," Joe said. "I just hope you and I can still be friends."

"Of course, Joe. You're my partner in crime! My ace! My homey!" Lee said, putting an arm around him. "Come one, let's get to class."

And then there was Julius Morgan. After many late nights texting him on the phone, she finally was able to go on a real date with him when she had some free time.

Julius was a dream guy! Gorgeous and smart! Nice and sweet. With everything going for him, he was not arrogant or anything. He liked talking about his dreams of working in the movie business, and not in front of the camera, even though he had the looks for it. He was so humble.

For their first date, he took her to Swing Around Fun Town, an entertainment center where there were lots of games to play and mini golf. They were there for mini golf mainly. He was so good at it, and she was not so athletic. It was fun for her hanging out and being a normal teen.

"So when you make it big time, and soon, bring me along," he said with a smile at her as they shared ice cream at the mall afterward.

"What?" She giggled at him. "Let me build some clout first. I'm a nobody in this big town."

"Not for long," he said to her.

They held hands and walked around the mall a bit, neither buying anything, just talking more. This was the man of her dreams and she was so happy.

Then work got in her way again. After the first date, she was booked solid she did not know when she would get to see him again. The only time she would see him was while at school, in between classes, stealing moments with him.

Here she was, arguably dating the hottest guy on campus, well, the hottest sophomore according to the Hottie List, and she was not being a good girlfriend.

"It's cool Lee, as long as we get some time together," Julius said to her while they hung out near his locker.

"Why do you have to be so perfect!"

"I'm not." He stole a quick kiss from her while they were in the hallway. "Can I come to play rehearsal, see you work after school? I think that would be cool."

"It's closed rehearsals," Lee said with a groan. "But wait! I'll sneak you in and you can hide."

Sure thing, when Julius texted her he was at the theater door, she made an excuse to go open the door for him to come in and stay in the back, hide out where it was dark in the back row.

She shouldn't have agreed to that. She was so nervous having Julius there she could not get her lines straight. Mr. Bennett kept yelling at her and pulling her to the side. She was super embarrassed Julius witnessed her at her worst.

She even cried about it after rehearsal. She went into one of the dressing rooms, locked the door and cried. Even though Julius texted her to meet him outside, she was too embarrassed to.

A knock on the door startled her. When she opened it, there stood Heather.

"Girl, don't get so worked up over one bad day! Sheesh!" Heather grabbed her arm and pulled her out. "I don't even like you. You stole the lead from me and now you're showing you're not ready for it."

"But..."

"I saw you snuck Julius Morgan in. Now you see why rehearsals are closed?" Heather pulled her along, out to the door leaving the theater department. "Now go, and stop having a pity party and do better tomorrow, or I will come for your spot."

She wiped her face and tried to look presentable before she found Julius. He was sitting near the front of the school, head down in his phone when she walked over to him.

"Hey."

He stood up and pulled her in his arms. "You did good today."

"Stop lying! You know I didn't. I forgot all my line and..."

"But you looked good doing it." He kissed her cheek.

Was that why Mr. Bennet gave her the lead? Her looks? Could she not act? Why was he handing her something she did not deserve.

"Come on, let me take you home and then we can talk."

She did not want to talk about it. She wanted to prove all her doubters wrong.

Hey readers!

Lee had a meltdown after rehearsal. Do you think she got the lead in the play because Mr. Bennett is acting as her manager now?

And Julius Morgan is that guy! He will get a book on the Larkin High series as well.

Thanks for reading and don't forget to hit the star! ❤️