Newsies Forever

The Audition

Melina POV:

Today's the day. Time for my audition. Don't screw this up Melina. Don't screw this up.

"Ben, I don't know if I can do this." I said.

"Mel, hey. Take a deep breath. You are going to do fine. You know this song, you got paid to sing this song." Ben said grabbing my shoulders and looking me straight in the eyes. "You got this princess." He said kissing my forehead.

"Melina Cook?" The lady said.

"Go knock em dead." Ben said. I followed the lady into the audition room, my whole body shaking. I handed them my headshot and resume and stood on the marked spot.

"Hello Miss Cook." The lady said.

"Hi!" I smiled.

"What song are you going to sing for us today?" They asked.

"Everlasting from the musical Tuck Everlasting." I smiled.

"Proceed." The lady smiled.

"There are two ways home down one long road." I sang. Don't screw this up Melina. "One clear path to two conclusions. Does the story end, or never end. Does the secret fade...or is it everlasting?" Crap, what comes next. The piano continued to play but I stood there frozen.

"Melina?" They asked.

"I'm sorry I can't do this." I said and turned and ran out of the room.

"Melina?" Ben asked as I burst through the doors. I ran and grabbed him in a hug, tears streaming down my face. "Melina what happened?"

"I forgot the words." I cried. "I can't do this."

"Melina, stop this right now." Ben said kneeling down. "How many Broadway shows have you been in?" He asked.

"I don't know." I said.

"Since you were 8 years old you have been performing 8 shows a week, sometimes 9! In front of thousands of people! You can do this Melina! Go back in there and show them the real you." Ben said wiping my tears away.

"I can't!" I said.

"Yes you can." Ben said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I was going to give this to you after the audition but I think you need it now." He said. I opened the box and pulled out a necklace in the shape of a heart that said 'follow your heart'.

"Thank you." I said grabbing him in a hug.

"Now go give em hell and show them what Melina Cook can really do." He smiled. He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and I turned and headed back into the audition room.

"Welcome back Miss Cook." The lady said.

"I'm sorry, I got really nervous. May I start over?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, we do not allow do overs." She said.

"Please. I've wanted this for so long. And the school I'm currently at is horrible and I'm bullied everyday. Just give me one more chance. Please." I said squeezing the necklace Ben gave me in my hand.

"Well, you're resume is quit impressive. You've been in Matilda, Les Miserables, Everlasting, School of Rock and now Bonnie and Clyde. And you're only 15. You must be pretty talented. I'll give you one more chance. But this better be the best audition I have ever seen." She said.

"It will be." I smiled. I sang the song all the way through and at the end smiled as big as I could.

"That was very impressive Miss Cook." She said.