Lights, Camera, Action!

Chapter 3

"Adam, give it back!"

"No way, the Colts are playing in 5 minutes!"

"But Titanic is on!" I exclaimed.

"Too bad, sis." Adam teased,  flipping the remote in the air and catching it. "I have the remote now."

I folded my arms against my chest and sighed. There's no way I was going to be able to get the remote back from him, so I decided to go upstairs and refresh my memory on the piano for awhile.

I walked upstairs and flipped the switch to turn on the keyboard that was stretched over my desk. Next to me, my laptop was on my bed with a group chat notification.

Beth Douglas sent a message to the group chat.

I clicked on my group chat and looked at the conversation.

Ivy: Can't wait for auditions to see the cute new photographer again! <3

Olivia: I know right???

Ivy: Do you think Ashley's going to get Ariel's part?

Beth: Probably. If daddy's going to keep making his donations to the theatre lol

I smiled. Ashley McFarland,  Queen Bee of Juniper Grove since she was 5 years old. She's also played a leading role every year since. I wasn't quite sure what her parents did for a living, but they made a lot. A whole section in the balcony was named after them for their generous donations throughout the years. It wasn't that Ashley didn't have talent, she was a great actress and singer. However, every part of the show had to go her way or she would convince her parents to drop the donations. Poor Doug and Abigail couldn't lose the theatre.

I shut my laptop and turned to the piano, stretching my fingers. Slowly I began letting my fingers run up and down the keyboard, playing scales in different keys. After my warm up, I looked up some sheet music and played some songs for "The Little Mermaid." Nothing wrong with a head start.

I hummed the tunes softly. I'd loved this movie since I was a little girl, and once I watched it, the songs would get stuck in my head for days. I sang softly along with the piano music, trying to harmonize. That wasn't too bad.

A sharp pain in my stomach made my fingers and voice freeze. The cramp quickly went away, and I was able to restart the song.

Another cramp.

I slid my fingers off the shiny keys, stood up, and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind me. Sure enough, my period was here to torment me once again. I groaned, then rummaged through the cabinet to find my box of tampons. I opened it up, and...

One left.

"Adam!" I yelled, knowing I would never leave myself in this unprepared position. I heard my brother turn the TV volume down and jog up the stairs, appearing by my side.

"What's up?"

"Where is all of my period stuff?" I asked, annoyed.

Adam looked at me confused, then froze, realizing something.

"What?" I asked.

"I may have used them all when Sam was over, he gets nosebleeds a lot you know, and--"

"No way!" I said with annoyance, cutting him off. "Whatever, I'm going to get some more." I went downstairs and took my wallet off the counter.

"I'll be back in a little bit!" I called to my family as I walked out into the garage.

I got in the car and sped all the way to the nearest drug store, hoping I could make a quick trip in and out.

I walked directly to the feminine aisle and grabbed the first box of tampons I could find, then started heading for the checkout line.

"Oh hey!"

I turned around on my heel. There, standing in the shampoo aisle with his perfect, already-shampooed-looking-hair, was Carter.

"Oh, uh, hi."

His eyes glanced down to what I was holding in my hands, and I realized what it was. I quickly shoved the box behind my back, feeling my face turn redder by the second. If he noticed what I was holding, he didn't mention it.

"Are you ready for auditions next week?" He asked.

I nodded. "I think so. Are you going to be there?" I asked. Dumb question. Of course he was.

He chuckled. "Yeah, I want to take some pictures and clips of all the auditions."

"Oh, that's cool... I hope you enjoy it," I told him, not entirely sure how to respond.

Carter smiled. "So, what are you going to be singing?"

I looked at him, confused. "What?"

"What are you going to sing for your audition?" He asked again.

My eyes widened. "Oh, I'm not." I replied, laughing it off. "I'm playing the piano for the musical."

"Wow, that's impressive. So you're not a singer or dancer, or an actress?"

I shook my head. "I'm nothing."

"Nothing, huh?" He asked, taking a step towards me. A feeling in my stomach immediately started up again, but this time it wasn't cramping. I stiffened.

"I'd better get going." I told him, backing up a step. Suddenly my back hit the wall, and I dropped the box I was holding. The contents fell out, spreading all around me, rolling in every direction possible.

Kill me now.

I blushed and began stuffing them back into the box. Carter crouched down next to me and began to help, which made me feel even worse.

"Please, no." I said. "I've already embarrassed myself enough."

He chuckled and continued to pick up the tampons and toss them into the box in my hands. "Why's that?"

I gestured towards the contents all over the floor. He smiled and looked into my eyes.

"You know you're not nothing, right? You're obviously a talented musician that doesn't need to be embarassed about anything."

I slowed my pace and let his words sink in. He was trying to make me feel better, or maybe he just had a way with words. I put the last tampon in the box and closed it up again.

"Well, thank you Carter," I said politely. "But I really should be going now, lots of... homework."

He smirked. "In the summer?"

"Yeah, um, bye." I turned around and hurried to the checkout without waiting for a response. I paid the cashier, then all but ran to my car. I put my box in the passenger seat, then sat down in the car and hit my head repeatedly against the steering wheel.  "Stupid, stupid stupid!" I cried.

I heard a few thuds and looked up, nearly crying out in horror. Carter had his left hand on the hood of my car with his bagged items in his right. He was looking at me with a confused face. "You okay?" He asked.

I forced a smile, then nodded, giving him a small wave "Just listening to some music in here," I lied.

He nodded and smiled as well, obviously not believing my lie, then got in his car a few spots away. I turned my car on and sped out of the parking lot before I could do anything to make this encounter even worse.
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1/11/17

Thanks for reading! I hope this chapter made you laugh a little!