Beauty & A Beat • Jelena

Two

My face dropped as the bell rung throughout the corridor. Irritably hitching my backpack up on my shoulder, I realised it was time for my Performing Arts class. I swept my way along the corridor alone, deciding to ditch Maria after her small annoyance with Justin. The thought of him urged me to slap her for ever dating him.

I entered the classroom with the impression of strangeness, glancing at the circle of chairs arranged in the centre. Apparently I was late - only by a minute or so - but I still felt guilty. Quietly, I seated myself on the only empty chair and darted my eyes across the staring classmates. My vision landed on a shock opposite me. I had completely forgotten Justin was in my Performing Arts.

His gaze caught mine instantly and he sort of smirked, noticing my irritation due to his presence. I rolled my eyes and focused on the grey-haired teacher. Her voice rose as she acknowledged the attention she was getting.

"Guys, guys," She began. Her underage use of words made me cringe. She was constantly trying to relate on a student level, although it wasn't helping her gain any respect. "I have big news. And I might as well tell you all now, so we can prepare."

We all shared worried expressions before she continued.
"Wayward High is producing a modern-day version of the beloved Disney film, Beauty And The Beast. In this casting, there will be no wild creatures. Instead, the lucky person to play The Beast, will be a school nerd who must find true love before he returns to school the next year. They are holding auditions at 12.25 in the Auditorium." She takes a shaky breath in, and continues with, "Although I am hopeful that most of you are willing to turn up on your own... I have taken the opportunity to set this as an assignment. You must all audition for the show, or you will receive an F on your end-of-unit grade. And, if you are certain about your refusal, you must attend three weeks of community service in the town centre."

Everyone shot up in their chairs, straightening their spine. The only expectant reaction was disbelief. I'm pretty sure everyone thought this was a joke.
"But, Miss, I have Basketball practice at lunch-" said Jordan, who happened to be hanging off the edge of his seat.
"Don't worry, I'll contact your teacher. Anyone else who thinks they have an excuse, see me after class. None of you can escape this one, you hear me? I'm serious." She stated passionately at us.

There was a silence before Justin inevitably spoke up.
"This is ridiculous, Miss. I ain't doing three weeks of service just to pay up for a missed audition of a kids' play. You can see me in all types of detentions, but you ain't seeing me cleaning up everyone else's trash at the town hall just because I chose not so sing in front of the entire school." He protested. In some aspects, I agreed. I was bound to show up to the audition no matter what, anyway, but I could understand the unnerve of the situation.
"Justin, you're doing that audition." The teacher argued persistently.
"When I say no, I mean no. I ain't wearing glasses; I ain't singing; I ain't prancing 'round a stage. Hell, I won't even show my face in that auditorium." He said, managing to keep his volume on an even level.
"I get that you don't wanna go, but just do the audition. It's not like you're definitely gonna get the part, although it would be nice." She replied calmly.
"And what if I don't? Do I still get my grade?" He asked.
"Tell you what - if you turn up to that audition, I'll let you off with two upcoming detentions. Deal?" She offered.
He hesitated before nodding and finally accepting. By this point my mind was crammed with confusion. I couldn't think straight. All I could picture was a nice big A+ for the end of this semester.

After lunch, I headed down to the Auditorium alone, vowing never to let Maria find out. It was almost an embarrassment to want to perform in this play. But I guess it's not like I have a choice.

When I arrived, I realised it was the second time I was late that day. There was a queue of about 25 of my classmates, unenthusiastically waiting for their turn. I sprang onto the end of the line, happy, until I spun round and found myself behind Justin. It felt as if the amount of times I had ran into him today were countless.

The queue shortened slowly, until Justin was sent on stage. He swore under his breath, groaned, and dragged himself to the centre. They asked him for his name, and told him to read a few pages from the script. Aggressively, he murmured, "Ugh," but he carried out the audition effortlessly. He was nearly acting like he enjoyed it.
Suddenly, the lady sat to judge the performance, stood up and asked him to try a singing part. Obviously, Justin refused. The lady insisted that everyone must at least perform a line of vocals during the audition. He glanced back at me, noting that I was the only student in the room, and considered.
"Alright. Just a line, though." He muttered to them as they handed him a different section of the script. He began to sing. Surprisingly well, actually. My eyes widened as I watched him perform, his hand placed on his chest. The three 'judges' all rose to their feet and applauded him. But he just quickly made his way offstage.

And then it was finally my turn to perform. A helper handed me a script before I stood assertively on the marked 'x' pasted onto the stage floor.
"Aw, look, Justin! Maria must have done this about you." I joked to him in a cutesy tone, referring to the black cross.
"Aw, sweet." He replied sarcastically before leaving the auditorium.

I swung back around and faced the three people sat on the chairs below. They must have been the audition-holders.
"Your name?" One asked restlessly, not even caring to glance up from her clipboard.
"Uh, Selena. Selena Gomez." I answered quietly.
"Do speak up, dear." She told me with an exhausted sigh. She finally raised her head to meet my gaze and then said, "Read from pages 4-6. Just the highlighted sections. Go, now."
I flustered, my hands shaking whilst I tried to steadily hold the script. I coughed, placed a hand on my stomach to help me breathe, and did what they asked. I was certain I tripped up at least three times, although the seemingly very camp man on the right of the lady assured me that the performance was spectacular.
"Now, try a singing part." The woman told me, handing me another script. I nodded, realising my vulnerability on stage. I sung the line with a powerless confidence. My heart pounded like the beat of a drum under my flesh but I conjured a delighted grin and nodded before exiting the stage when I was finished.