Ebony Falls

1: Not 'Edgy' Enough

"I'm sorry darling, your just not edgy enough for this role. You're a good girl, take that as compliments on your behavior. But, you're one of my most prized actors, I'll find a role for you, trust me." I stared in shock at my drama teacher. 'Not edgy enough,' what's that supposed to mean?

Instead of nodding and leaving the stage, letting the next person audition, I stood my ground and fought for my role. "With no disrespect but I'm always the lead. This is my part." Miss Collman shook her head, "I'm sorry Ebony, some roles aren't for you. I'll be sure to find a spot for you." I shook my head, refusing to accept her pity. "I want another chance to audition." This time miss Collman shook her head. "I'll rehearse and build up my character. I have to have another chance. Please, I've had the lead role in every play for the past three years, I can't just stop that now. This year's just begun."

My drama teacher opened her mouth to protest, but someone stopped her. That someone happened to me Willow Torrance, the girl who wrote the play that I'm auditioning for. "Let her have another chance." She turned to Miss Collman, "I wrote the play anyway. I want nothing but the best to play the lead, and if she is the best then she's it." Willow turn to me after getting a small nod from the teacher. "We'll give you three weeks to prepare for this role. If you don't wow us your second audition, we'll just give it to the person that deserves it."

My heartbeat quickened. I get another chance! Not only that, but I get three weeks to prepare and get my game face on. I looked at Willow and nodded before exiting the auditorium. Before I left, she stopped me, "We're still rehearsing, so while you're getting into the character, make sure that you read most of her lines. I expect you to have as much as we have memorized." I nodded again and walked out. Game on.

***

"You didn't get the part?" I looked at my best friend with annoyance. "As in the drama teacher, who adores you, turned you down." Leave it to him to make me feel worse. Even though it pained me to think about what he was saying, it was true. If Willow wouldn't have come in, I would have been stuck being friends one or extra number seven. Was I really that bad at playing that one role? I couldn't have been that bad if the writer of the play gave me a second chance, right? Like how hard was it to play a troubled, bad girl? "Are you there, Ebs?" I pulled out of my thoughts only to scowl Cyrus for calling me by that repulsive name.

"Yes, Cy-Cy, I'm listening." Cyrus rolled his eyes at the mention of his childhood nickname. "Hey, you can't roll your eyes at me. You started it." I threw a curly fry at him from my lunch tray. He rolled his eyes again, making sure that I was watching. He kept rolling his eyes over and over again. "Anyways," I began, "I still have a chance at the part."

But when I said that, Callie and Mia sat down at our table. "Are you talking about the audition? How'd it go?" Mia asked. I was about to open my mouth, when I was interrupted once again. "What are we talking about?" I turn my head to see Cooper taking a seat. "Is anyone else going to interrupt, or can I continue?" I huffed. No one said a word and I open my mouth once again, but... "Just one more intruder babe." I rolled my eyes at the inappropriate nickname. I didn't even have to turn around to know who it was. The only person left in our group, and the only person that calls me pet names like 'babe,' Owen.

"Don't call me that!" I scolded him. After I was sure I would have no more interruptions, I begin again. "So, like I was telling dearest Cy-Cy over there before I was so rudely interrupted, three times, I didn't get the part-" Cue the dramatic and shocked gasps. "I didn't finish yet!" I placed my hands over my face feeling annoyed by everyone's intrusions.

Owen placed his arm around my shoulder. "Don't cry babe, its their lost." Typical Owen. I playfully (not really) elbowed him in the chest. "I wasn't finished!" The entire table chuckled at the pain I placed upon our friend. "Smooth move O, smooth move." I turn to glare at Cyrus for his comment and then shot a glare at the rest of the table.

"Continue Ebony." Cooper gestured with his hands. I gave him a fake smile and continued. "Like I was saying, I didn't get the part... Yet. Miss Collman told me that I wasn't 'edgy' enough and was about to make me some unimportant extra, but Willow stop her. She gave me a chance to prepare for a second audition, since she did write the play, and now I have three weeks to embrace the main character."

I waited for a response, words of wisdom, words of disapproval, something. Anything! But nothing came out of my five friends. Growing impatient I slammed my hand on the table. "Well?" They all shook their heads. I sighed, disappointed at the lack of feedback.

"That's great Ebs, I know you can do it." I looked up to see Cyrus giving me two thumbs up. I smiled, at least he thinks I can do it. And with his enthusiasm, everyone else at the table cheered me on. I rolled my eyes. "You guys are so supportive," I said sarcastically. They all smiled and nodded before turning their attention to their unfinished food.

***

"This is the exact opposite of you Ebony. How do you expect to pull it off?" Callie asked me as we made our way through the halls. She had asked me what the character was like, and me being too lazy to explain, handed her the script. I shrugged, I haven't actually thought of a plan yet. I was thinking of just like watching some movies with some badass girls as the main character something. I shook my head, "I have no clue. I really need to think of something if I'm going to get this part."

"Tell you what. I'll try to think of something and report back to you if I think of anything." I looked over at Callie. "You don't have to do that. I know that you have your own things to worry about with school and your parents and stuff, you need to focus on that. Not my problem."

She shook her head. "You're one of my best friends, I'm going to help you. End of discussion. I have to go now, see you later E." Well that was rather nice of her, that's Callie for you. I hope that she doesn't forget about her other responsibilities because of my little problem. That's the last thing I want to do.

I watched as she disappeared into her classroom before going into my own. The class was rather quiet when I walked in. At first I thought nothing of it and took my seat in my usual spot in the middle of the class on the far left. I was too caught up in my thoughts that I didn't notice some people's  whisper. I looked up to see that our teacher, Mr. Quinn, wasn't in the class yet. As usual everyone was doing their own thing as we waited for our always late teacher. Then I started to take notice of my surroundings and what was going on, I found myself very confused. Drama Club members where staring at me and whispering to others shamelessly.

To be honest, I'm completely clueless when it comes to this kind of stuff, so I was trying to figure out if I had something on my face from lunch or something like that. It wouldn't have surprised me if I did. Seconds later, I felt my thigh vibrate. New message. I quickly fished out my phone and opened it to see a message from Cyrus. I read the message, slightly confused.

Cy-Cy: Ebony, I hear your name everywhere.

What could that mean? More whispers enter my ear, more people glance at me every five seconds. Finally, it clicks. The audition. As I was starting at the screen in shock, the phone vibrate in my hands. Then again, again, again and again.

Callie: Why are people talking about you E?

Owen: Someone from your Drama Club is talking shit, should I kick their ass?

Mia: What's up with your Drama Club?

Copper: Did something seriously happen that involves you?

Cy-Cy: Are you okay?

I was not okay. People where judging me, not just any people, my own Drama Club. 

The rest of the day was spent with me hearing my name being whispered every time I passed someone. Who knew that me not getting a part right away would impact me so much? Not me.

***

A/N: Another story. Let's see how this one works for me. If you read this, thank you! Means a lot!