two young hearts | ej caswell

The Auditions

Ricky Bowen had been distant from his sister the next day.

Addison wasn't complaining. Her guard was up, and it was up high.

She was trying to ignore all the looks, all the snickers and points she was recieving the second day, but it was all getting to be too much.

"Hey." She whispered to EJ, who was sitting next to her in their study hall. "Do you know why everyone and their mother is staring at me right now?"

"What?" EJ asked, not looking up from his laptop screen.

"People have been staring at me since I parked my car in my spot this morning." EJ finally looked back up at her.

"I don't know, Ads. Your makeup is blended, no mascara under your eye, hair is actually pretty tame for this time of day. Usually it's already all frizzy-"

"Okay, I get it." She chuckled. She put down her copy of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. "D-Did something happen at the party?"

"I don't know. I too did not go." EJ told her. She smiled, feeling better that she wasn't the only senior not there. 

"Hey Addison." Addison looked over and saw Kourntey standing next to her, fidgeting with her phone. "I-I think you need to see this."

She held her phone out to the senior. Addison's smile dropped when she saw a video playing on her screen. It was very obviously taken at the party out at the Shack. In the video was Jason and Alyssa Tribbey making out in the middle of the dance floor. 

"What is it?" EJ asked, craning his neck to see the video.

"I-It's the answer to my question I just asked." She began to pack up her backpack.

"Ads-"

"So, auditions? No, I will not be audtioning for anything other than ensemble." The bell began to rang and she stood up.

"Ladies and geneltmen, reminder that audtions for the musical will begin in the auditorium in five minutes."

"See you there." She sighed, pushing passed the two to leave the library.

The stares continued as she went to her locker to grab everything she needed.

"Hey, baby. You ready?" She stopped putting her calculus book in her backpack when she heard her voice.

"Sorry wrong locker." She said, resuming what she was doing.

"Um, what?" Jason laughed.

"Alyssa's is down the hall." She finally looked at him, shutting her locker. "I have to go, auditions start soon."

"I thought we agreed you weren't going to audition?"

"That was before there was a video posted of you sucking face with my teammate."

"What?" His face reddened as he tried to lie to her.

"W-We're done." She straighed up to look at him as she spoke. 

"You don't get to breakup with me."

"I do. And I am." She said, turning on her heel to walk towards the auditorium. 

"Fine! It wasn't the first time anyway!" He yelled. She shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes.

How could she have been so stupid? So naive?

She walked into the dressing room of East High, seeing others already warming up. She was grateful she decided on wearing leggings today. 

"Name?" Carlos asked.