Newsies' Daughter [Rewrite]

3 - One Year Later

"Elisabeth, let's go! You're going to be late!"

"I'm coming! I'm coming!"

I grabbed my bag off of my bed, further scattering my unkempt sheets. Flicking the lights off on the way down, I scampered down the stairs, snatching a granola bar from the counter and bursting outside.

"Holy guacamole, it's a lot colder than I thought it was out here!"

Ashley raised an eyebrow. "It's November in New York. No crap it's cold. Get in the car. You're going to be late."

I did as she said, scampering to buckle quickly. "Let's go, let's go."

She backed out of the driveway and into the street.

"Do you have everything you need?"

"Yes."

"Sheet music?"

"In my bag."

"Jazz and tap shoes?"

"In my bag."

"Better dancing clothes than those?"

"In my bag."

"Water?"

"Bag."

"Snacks?"

"Mhm."

"Phone charger?"

"Yup."

"Something to do while you wait?"

"I have everything I need, I swear. This isn't my first audition."

She sighed. "I know, I know. Sorry if I came on too strong. I just. . . I know how much you want this part, and I want to make sure you have everything you need."

"I got it. Who's picking me up: you or Jeremy?"

"Jeremy. Then he's taking you back to the theater. You'll come home after the show."

"Got it."

The rest of the car ride was filled with meaningless nothing, anything we could come up with to get my mind off my nerves.

"Break a leg."

"Thanks, Ash."

I shut the door, swinging my bag over my shoulder. With one last wave, I turned and hurried into the studio. It wasn't a small space by any means, but it didn't take me long to figure out where I was going.

The area was nearly full when I got there, but I managed to squeeze my way into a corner. I dug through my bag for my sheet music, pulling out my water bottle with it. I took a drink, humming a bit of the music to warm up my voice.

The boy next to me looked over. He couldn't have been much older than me, probably 16. His golden curls shone in the studio lights as his awe-struck ocean eyes flickered to me.

I smiled at him. "Hi."

"Hi. I'm Ben."

"Lissy."

"I assume you're auditioning for Katherine?"

"Yes indeed. You?"

"Race." He scratched the back of his neck nervously. "So, are you and actor first or a dancer first?"

"Both. I started both when I was 3. What about you? Dancer or actor first?"

"Dancer. All the way. What genres do you do?"

"Tap. I used to do ballet and jazz too, but I lost interest pretty quick. And you?"

"Ballet, tap, and contemporary."

"Respectable. Where are you from?"

"Virginia. Born and raised."

"Not too far then."

"Nah." He blew his hair out of his eyes. "What about you? How far away did you come from?"

"About 15 minutes."

"Oh, a New Yorker. Maybe you can show me around sometime."

"Maybe."

"Elisabeth Jordan!" called the attendant.

"That's my cue."

Ben smiled. "Break a leg."

"You too."

I took a deep breath and stepped into the room where it happens.

Word Count: 531