The New Boy: Phan High School AU

Chapter 54-Phil's POV

"Chim-chimney, chim-chimney, chim chim cheroo," Jamie's voice is almost haunting as it twines around Danny's, harmonizing perfectly. "Good luck will rub off, when he shakes hands with you."

"Or blow me a kiss...and that's lucky, too!" Danny adds.

"Bert!" Jamie says, admonishing, yet somehow still flirtatious.

Dan and I are sitting outside the door, listening to Jamie and Danny's callback; something we're probably not strictly supposed to be doing.

"They're perfect," Dan groans, and he's right. From what we've heard so far, they have impeccable timing with each other and the kind of chemistry that even the best actors can't fake. 

They've been in there longer than anyone else, too; their solo callbacks finished earlier, Mr. Vanderbilt's had them reading scenes and singing with each other for the better part of the last hour.  Both Jamie and Danny have gone in with other Berts and Marys, respectively, but Vanderbilt keeps coming back to these two.

Jamie finishes her last line, then after a few moments, she and Danny come out of the room, flushed and laughing.  Jamie sort of surprised everyone by auditioning— she hasn't been in one of these school shows in years, apparently.

"Anyway, Ethan and I were going to go get some soup—"

"Soup!" Danny and Jamie chorus, cracking each other up.

"—you should come with us!" he finishes.

"I...can't. Today. Or, I mean...I can't," she says, her wide grin fading.

"Oh."

"I'll see you later." And with that she rushes off, not even seeming to notice me and Dan.

"Weird," I comment, as Dan and I leave.

"Maybe," he says. "I mean, this would definitely follow the pattern of Jamie and Danny breaking up then getting back together again, except normally she's not like this. She'll either flirt back or just straight up ignore him as if he doesn't exist. And Danny definitely seems to be making more of an effort to like reach out. "

"And isn't Jamie dating that girl? The one we built snowmen with?" I ask as we board the bus.

"Maybe, but I'm not sure how serious it is. They went out last time Jamie was single too, I think."

"There's no use ever trying to figure out Jamie's love life," I decide. "Anyway, how do you think your callback went?"

"Honestly, not too bad, I think! It was a little hard.  I've never really done any sort of villain before, and I know that this isn't like a villain but it's still way darker than anything I've played in the past. I think Mr. Vanderbilt liked it though!" He pauses. "I mean, it would have been awesome to get called back for Bert, but after hearing Danny, no one else has a chance, probably. Plus, it's a pretty dance-demanding role, so it's probably for the best I wasn't called back anyway. "

"Who else was in callbacks?" I ask.

"Um, when I got there, Ethan was there for Bert and Neleus, and Laura was called for Mrs. Banks. So was Jessika, actually. "

"Seems like a lot of backstage people are auditioning. First Jamie, and now Jessika and a few of Will and Saoirse's people," I add.

"I think Mary Poppins was everyone's childhood so they want to relive it," Dan agrees. "Plus, we need such a big cast, but there's so many small ensemble roles that probably a lot of people can be onstage as well as backstage."

He sighs. "God, I'm glad callbacks are over but now the waiting for the cast list is killing me."

"Callbacks have only officially been over for 20 minutes!"

"I know! And I've been stressing for 30! And now you have to put up with me stressing for the next 24 hours!"

"I'm a lucky guy." I grin and lean in for a kiss.