Watch What Happens

Chapter Two

+ Rachel +

A few seconds after I knock the door swings open and there stands Stephanie Styles.

"You must be Rachel," she claps her hands.

"Yep," I smile.

"Well, come in," she says while pulling me into the dressing room. "I am so excited for you to take over for me," she squeals. "Jeff showed me your audition tapes and you are crazy talented," she gushes.

"Awe, thank you," I blush. "I've seen clips of you as Katherine and you've really set the bar high," I say.

"Don't worry you are going to be amazing," she smiles. "Also you are incredibly pretty, just so you know."

"Thank you," I say staring at the floor, that's the second time I've gotten that today, score.

"Okay, let's go up to the stage," she says and tugs me out of the dressing room. "Are you excited to meet the cast?" she asks as we walk through what seems to be an endless string of corridors.

"Yes, though I'm a little nervous," a say, playing with my hands, a nervous habit.

"Don't be," she says putting a hand on my shoulder. "They'll love you."

We make it to the wings and I can hear Jeff talking to all the boys.

"Today we are going to meet our new Katherine," he announces and the boys cheer. He looks into the wings and sees Stephanie and I. "And here she is now," he says.

Stephanie and I walk out and go over to Jeff.

"Everyone, meet Rachel Bailey who will be taking over as Katherine starting opening night in Chicago," he says.

There's a chorus of 'Hi Rachel' and I kind of just do an awkward little wave.

"Everyone start getting warmed up," Jeff says.

"Come on, let's go over to Melissa and Meredith," Stephanie says and leads me over to two girls sitting and stretching on the other side of the stage. 

"Now I know Josh said he's going to be late, but where are Sky and Ben?" Jeff asks.

"We're here," a blond boy says while running onstage.

"Dumb and Dumber finally showed up," one of the girls laughs. "I'm Melissa," she says holding out her hand to me.

"And I'm Meredith," the other girl says.

I smile and shake both of their hands and start stretching.

"Where's Sky?" Jeff asks.

"I'm right here," a familiar voice says. I turn around to see the boy from earlier today.

My jaw slightly drops and I turn back around.

"Someone's got eyes for Sky," Melissa wiggles her eyebrows.

"No," I blush. "I just... ran into him earlier," I shrug.

"Okay, everyone," Jeff calls out. "We are going to go in order of what needs the most practice based on the last two shows." He explains. "Starting with Once and for All. Everyone take your places, Rachel watch from over here with me and Chris."

Everyone starts to take their places while people are setting out a printing press and some papers. I start to walk over to where Jeff and Chris, the choreographer, are standing. When I'm halfway there I run into the boy from earlier today, Sky as I just learned.

I almost fall over but he grabs my elbows and keeps me up. Once again I find myself pressed against his chest.

"We need to stop meeting like this," he laughs. "How come you didn't tell me your the new Katherine?" He asks.