Troubled One (Wilde #2)

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

       If there was one thing I didn't like about Miss Conte was that she did everything differently. So when it was time for the auditions, she decided not to go in alphabetical order. Instead, she started at the bottom of the list and made her way up.

       There was nobody part of the play with the last name Z, Y, or X. And there was only one W.

       Wilde.

       Not only did I have to audition, but I was first. First. On the bright side, I could set the bar really low so everyone would do exceedingly well compared to me. The perfect opportunity not to get cast in the play. I could just be a set builder and get my artist of a little brother to help me.

       When Miss Conte said it was time for my audition, I grumbled as I dragged my feel in the drama room. Luckily, she was the only one who was running the auditions.

       I got on the stage and looked at her, waiting for her to tell me to go. "What monologue did I give you?" she asked.

       "Jacob's," I replied. "The one where he's talking about fate and stuff."

       Miss Conte nodded and wrote something down. "Alright, when you're ready."

       I took a deep breath before starting the worst audition ever. In a monotonous voice, I began the monologue. "It's funny how fate works. Sometimes you feel as if the world...."

       Miss Conte stopped me. "Munro, I know you don't want to be here, but you can actually try." She stood up and walked on the stage. "Sometimes, the greatest things come in small packages. That's part of what Jacob feels. I want you to channel your inner feelings and use them to portray his character. Find something inside of you that makes you feel how Jacob does. Angry at the world. Pure anger is what's inside of him, but also hope. Try again. Actually try." She got off the stage and sat back down, giving me a small nod.

       I sighed and found myself doing exactly what she told me. I used the anger I had with my mom and dad as motivation. I didn't know why I did. I just did.

       So I tried the monologue again. "It's funny how fate works. Sometimes, you feel as if the world is out to get you, but other times....Other times it gives you a gift. A small one, but one that gives you hope. And that hope is all you need to keep moving on. To ignore all the problems in your life, all the hatred you feel, all the anger. It's amazing how it works. Because that one piece of hop, the tiniest fraction, can keep you....Never mind. You won't understand. Nobody ever understands."

       Miss Conte had an impressed look at the end of my monologue. "I'll be honest," she said. "I did not expect that, but you....You have some talent. That monologue was exactly how I imagine Jacob doing it."

       Oh no. No, that wasn't what I was going for! Why did I channel my inner anger?

       "I can actually see you playing Jacob," she continued.

       "What? I can't play Jacob," I objected. "I'm not...."

       "Munro, you have more potential than you see," she said. "You can really play Jacob and do a really good job. Thank you for your audition."

       I got out of the drama room, storming outside of the door. All the other students were there, talking amongst themselves. "Hey," Kamille said. "How did it go?"

       "I don't want to talk about it," I said before looking at Nick, who was sitting on a nearby bench. "Nick, we're going now."

       He knew something was wrong. He knew I was angry and when I was angry, people got scared. "Munro, calm down."

       "I am not calming down," I snapped. "Go to the car. Now."

       Nick stood up, grabbing his bag. "I'm serious. Calm down or I'm not getting in the car. I'll get Laughlin to pick me up."

       "You know what, do what you want," I said. "I'm leaving in two minutes and if you're not in the car, I'm leaving. Get Laughlin to pick you up, for all I care." I walked out of the school and went straight to my car. I slammed the door before taking a deep breath and resting my head against the seat. I couldn't be Jacob in the play. He was the male lead. I didn't even want to be in the stupid play.

       The passenger door opened and Nick got in. "Are you calm now? I'm not going to let you drive when you're angry."

       "Yeah," I said. "I'm fine." I wasn't fine, but I was trying my best to calm down. When I was angry, I could never concentrate and that wasn't good for me to drive whilst angry. I didn't want to put my little brother in danger.

       The ride home was quiet until Nick spoke up. "Why were you so angry? Did the audition go horribly wrong?"

       "No, it didn't," I said. "I wanted it to go horribly wrong. I don't want to be in the stupid play."

       "So it didn't go wrong?" Nick asked. "What did Miss Conte say?"

        I sighed. "She said that she could see me as the male lead."

        "That's why you're angry?" Nick said. "Why?"

        "You won't understand," I said. "Nobody will."

       ....Good god, I was starting to sound like Jacob.

       I was hoping Keegan did a way better audition with me and got the lead. He was the star of all the plays the school had so far, so there was a good chance. I really hoped he got it. If I got the lead, if I was Jacob, things wouldn't be the same. Everything will change.

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Aw, poor Munro. Things didn't go well for him at all. Well, the did. Just not how he wanted it to.