"Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men, it is the music of the people who will not be slaves again," The words flowed out of Mariette's mouth, sweet and liberating like butterflies bursting out of a cage and flying into the sunlight. She finished the melody and her friend, Sarienna, squealed and clapped in delight, "Ooh! You'll definitely get the role!" Mariette frowned, "You really think I'm any good?" She was auditioning for the play, Les Miserables. Every year, her high school performed an astounding presentation. The actors here were fantastic, but that meant Mariette would have quite a lot of competition. She practiced whenever she could.
"Of course!" Sari insisted, "But are you sure you don't want to play Cosette?" "Ew no! She's too goody-too-shoes," Mariette automatically responded, "But Eponine is tough and tragic, but good-hearted... Perfect!" Sari rolled her eyes, "Yeah, yeah, she's dreamy. But if I were in that play, I would try out for Cosette, she's cute!" "So are you," Mariette commented. They were both cute, though Mariette preferred to be called elegant.
Some of Mariette's freckles had disappeared with age, so they were just a light dusting across her cheeks on her olive skin. Her feathery, wispy light brown hair was tied into two buns atop her head, as always. Her eyes, though, were her most defining feature. Azure, with specks of gold and a spark of knowledge. "You're so pretty," was said whenever Mariette complained about her looks.
But being pretty wasn't what Mariette wanted, she craved to be different and exceptional, which is why she wore her buns in the way of an anime character. Mariette would rather be hideous and magical, rather than beautiful and average. "We're both cute," Sarienna decided. Mariette shrugged, "Meh."
The last period's bell chimed over the school speakers. "Well, bye! Good luck!" Sari called over her shoulder and sped-walk to her class. Mariette gave a slight nod in her direction, then considered skipping class. She really didn't feel like going to Theatre Arts, where her classmates were ready and poised to critisize her performing abilities. Alas, if Mariette didn't go, her teacher would consider not giving her a role in the play. So she hopelessly paced to the stairwell and slouched her way upstairs.
The theatre room was in the attic. Whenever the wind blew, the floor boards would creak and the walls would shudder and groan with stress. It seemed dangerous, and not worth the risk. But one wall was completely glass, giving the beholder a marvelous view of city-scapes and clouds.
Mrs. Zania, the theatre teacher, loved clouds. She was fascinated with them. She was already a drama queen, but when it came to clouds, hours of class were wasted with her babbling. Fluffy, pillowy clouds, clouds that looked like strokes from a paintbrush, clouds speeding through the sky, clouds lazily bumbling around, clouds with ripples spreading in all directions, clouds that seem to form shapes. Mrs. Zania was inspired by clouds, and built a stage out of black wooden planks right in front of her window wall. Mariette liked to joke that while classmates were acting, Mrs. Zania just looked behind them at the clouds to keep from getting bored to death.
Mariette entered the classroom. She was the last one, and all eyes were glued on her as she calmy strode to her seat. "Good evening class..." Mrs. Zania announced dramatically, "Velcome to Theatre Arts." She was using a 'Count Dracula' accent. Mariette rolled her eyes at the corniness, Halloween was in two weeks. She still hadn't thought of a costume, and the invitation to Sarienna's Halloween Party still lingered on her dining room table, untouched. Pretty soon, all the class clowns would be playing horrible pranks. Oh joy.
"Today ve shall all get in one line, so i may vuck your blood," Mrs. Zania continued with a pompous laugh. Mariette sighed, today her theatre class would be auditioning for parts in the play, which Mrs. Zania proceeded to explain after assuring the class she would not be sucking any blood. A pit formed in Mariette's stomach as she imagined standing in front of the clouds while everyone judged her hashly.
What would she do if she didn't get the part? What would she do if she did get the part? Gloominess clouded Mariette's thoughts and she chanted quietly, "I will get the role, I will get the role, I will get the role..." Mrs. Zania put all the names of her class onto wooden sticks and shook them around in a cup before picking one.
Samuella's name was called and she walked up to perform. She had curled her bleach blonde hair into ringlets and put on enough makeup to look like a porcelain doll. Mariette hoped this was just an awful interpretation of what her character might look like, and Samuella wouldn't dress like this forever. "I'll be trying out for the role of Cosette," She said in her prissy voice.
When Samuella sang, it was squeaky and high like a mouse's voice. It was somewhat impressive, but after a few minutes, Mariette's ears began to ache. She decided to sing Castle on a Cloud and A Heart Full of Love. When she finished, the classroom was startled into silence for a few awkward seconds before politely applauding. Mariette groaned in distress and cupped her face in her palms.
Up next was Demarco. Thankfully, he was dressed casually, and not prepped into an awful costume like Samuella. "I'll be trying out for the role of Marius," He said proudly and sang Red and Black. Mariette almost sang along, but managed not to. "Gregor," Mrs. Zania read a stick. Gregor, a rather large boy, was trying out for the role of Gavroche. Then Synthia, auditioning for Fantine. Fallien, Janish, Griffin, Florence, Gracious, Savette... The performances all blurred into one another. And then, "Mariette," Mrs. Zania called.
Mariette swallowed, gulping down her fear. She rose to her feet and was uncomfortabley aware of the class watching her. Without thinking, she positioned the buns on her head self-consciously, before shuffling up to the stage. She gazed at her audience: Florence was looking bored already, Demarco seemed eager, and Mrs. Zania smiled reassuringly. "I'll be trying out for the role of Eponine," Mariette heard herself say. Samuella blinked. She took a deep breath and began to sing:
Do you hear the people sing
Singing the song of angry men
It is the music of the people who will not be slaves again
When the beating of your heart
Echoes the beating of the drum
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!
She finished the song and opened her eyes to gaze at her class. They delightedly cheered and applauded. Mariette couldn't help smiling as she returned to her seat. The rest of the auditions zoomed in flickering images across her eyes, and she was astonished to see Demarco gesturing her over after class.
"Your singing was amazing," he informed her. "Thanks, I must be a siren," Mariette grinned. "I can't wait to hear more songs from you," His bright ivy green eyes searched her face. "Really?" Mariette asked, disbelieving. "Of course! Are you coming to Sarienna's Halloween Party?" "Uhh, I don't know," She admitted. "You should," he insisted.
"You two love birds, move along!" Mrs. Zania barked, "No flirting in my classroom!" Mariette blushed, "We weren't-" Demarco interrupted and mumbled, "We might wanna go..." "Smart," She agreed. After making their escape from the Theatre Room, Demarco turned to face Mariette again. "I'll see you at the party," He hinted and walked away with a kind of swagger that girls would fall for. Mariette had only ever had middle school crushes, and never really had a real boyfriend. She wasn't sure how to proceed with Demarco, or if she even should.
