Backstage Pass

Better Than Words

"Now we've never had a freshman officer before, so hopefully we'll have one this year," Will explained. I stood in a line in the front of the room. All the nominees were supposed to say a short speech about why we should be elected. I was nervous about which part of my personality I was gonna sell. Funny? Crazy? Confident? I couldn't do any of those for long. My self-esteem was horribly low, nobody likes a loud mouth, and I got my most of my jokes from VlogBrothers videos. Besides my out-going demeanor was fading in the presense of the Officers. They were only the coolest people on the face of the planet and I was exceedingly lame in every possible way.

The boy to speak first was another freshman, Fletcher. "Oh, hi. I didn't see you see you walk in," he stiffly said while stroking his chin. I put my face in my hands and groaned. He's trying to be funny, I thought. He went on about how people should vote for him because his Batman impression was great. It was alright. I didn't really like him for a couple of reasons. Reasons that made me wanted to eject my lungs out of my face.

"Hi, I'm Melody! I'm a junior and I really like Improv and so I think I'll make a great publicist," a girl said. I didn't know there was another Melody. It was really uncommon to meet someone with the same name as me.

The line got shorter and shorter until it was my turn to speak. Everyone was staring at me, which for a theater person is normal. I tend to internally freak out when I'm onstage but I use my energy for my acting or speeches. Everyone had tried to sound funny in their speeches which, for the most part, failed horrendously.

"Hi, I'm Melody, but seeing as we have another Melody, you guys can call me... Mel," I began. No one ever called me Mel. It was something I made up on the spot because, after all, we were in Improv. I turned to other Melody, made my voice sound raspy, and said, "There can only be one."

The room laughed at my attempt at a joke. 

"I was in the Drama Club in middle school and I really loved Improv then and I love it now. I think Improv is awesome and I play theater sports all the time." Which was true. Theater sports were basically games where people had to make up a scene on the spot, hence the name Improv Club. "Even if I don't win, I'm still gonna spread the word about Improv because I love it... okay, bye." I speed-walked to the side of the room where the rest of nominees who finished their speeches stood. It wasn't like it was a scheme to win. Everything aside from the nickname was true. A chorus of aww's broke out and two other nominees brought me into a hug. It was other Melody and another girl.

"Awww... even though I'm gonna win," other Melody cooed. I laughed nervously in response. My low self-esteem got even lower. She was probably joking but I still felt kinda bad about it.

"Alright, so nominees, please take your seats," Dallas announced. I did as he said and plopped down in my chair next to Ranee and Paige. They babied me, telling me I was super adorable in speech.

"That was so cute!" Paige giggled at my scowling face. It wasn't like I was angry, I was just confused. My speech wasn't meant to be cute or heartwarming or whatever, so why did it appear that way?

The Officers began to call out all the nominees's names. My name should be towards the end, I thought. I decided to vote for other Melody because we Melody's have to stick together.

"Vote for Fletcherrrrr.... Vote for Fletcherrrrr.... Vote for Fletcherrrrr...." I heard Fletcher whispering. I wanted to punch that boy in his throat.

"Votes for Melody...?" Jack asked. I heard movement. 

"Alright, hands up for Mel?" More movement. 

"You guys can open your eyes. We have a tie between Melody, Alyssa, Xiaver, Jenny, Finn, and Mel," Jack was looking down at a notepad. I internally screamed.

Alyssa looked disappointed. Although she accepted her nomination, she didn't want to be Publicist. She looked up and grinned at me and I gave her an apologetic smile. I turned to find other Melody and she was with her other friends. The other nominees still in it seemed really excited. I didn't expect to get that far.

Dallas called out names again and I couldn't tell who was voting for who simply by trying to listen. I voted for other Melody when her name was called. 

"Voting's over guys," Jack said. I uncovered my eyes and the Officers were standing in a neat line. I imagined myself standing at the end of that line. 

"Drum roll, please," Dallas smirked. The room erupted in a drum roll, "The new Publicist for the Strongfair High School Improv Club is... Mel!"

My eyes nearly fell out of my head. I wasn't supposed to win. The story goes the more experienced upperclassman gets the position, the completely delusional freshman cries in a corner, and they all live happily ever after. Paige and Ranee were laughing in astonishment and they were shaking me around as if I had won an Oscar or something. I gaped at the Officers as if they had made a mistake, as if they wrote "Mel" instead of "Melody". Don't get me wrong, I was beyond happy but it just seemed too good to be true.

"You're an Officer now," VP Will half smiled. I stood up and cautiously added myself to the end of the line of Officers, as if the whole thing was a sick joke.

"Let's get have an applause for the first freshman Officer in the history of the Improv Club!" Dallas clapped and everyone followed after. My face was getting numb again. 

I was the new Publicist. I got to work with the other Officers every week. I had to work with them as a part of my job. I had to talk to Dallas, Rachel, Will, Vanessa, Will, Jack, and Devin. Though this news gave me butterfies, it felt like they were doing death spirals in my stomach. It never occurred to me just how I would talk to the Officers.

Well, shiznit, am I fudged or what?