Folie

Act I, Scene 2

Patrick hurried to catch up to Pete, who ran out of class as soon as the clock said 2:00, forgetting that Patrick liked to carefully reorganize all his things in his backpack before he left. After practically sprinting from the music school to the theater lobby, he finally caught up with Pete.

"Hey, why didn't you wait for me?" Patrick spat out between gasps of air.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to leave you behind," Pete replied with soft eyes and an apologetic voice, "I just couldn't wait to get outta there."

"It's okay," Patrick said as warmth colored his face. He could never withstand Pete's apologies. "Well, so much for waiting. Brendon's not even here ye-"

"Hey guys!" A voice chirped, as a boy whose vagabond clothing and boyish appearance made him appear like a character in Newsies bounded down the stairs.

"Sorry I'm late," he said, as he dropped an assortment of items from a backpack and a notebook, to a chiffon skirt and a pair of high heels, on the table in front of them, "I just got back from rehearsal."

"For what, RuPaul's Drag Race?" Pete quipped.

"Oh, I just volunteered to help out with costume. Although, I am doing drag in this next production I have coming up-"

"What did you want to ask us about, Brendon?" Patrick interrupted, knowing full well not to let Brendon go on a tangent about the many productions he took part in.

"Oh, right!" Brendon nearly shouted, "My project! So, as you guys know, since this is my senior year, I have to do my senior thesis next semester, and since I'm studying both directing and musical performance, I want to direct, and perform in, a musical."

"A musical? Isn't that a little too much for one undergrad to put on?" Patrick asked dubiously.

"We're talking about a guy who once took seven classes while performing in three different plays, all in one semester. If anyone could do it, he could," Pete replied, "but what do you need us for?"

Brendon bit his lip and cast his face downward before continuing. "Well, I was sorta' hoping that you guys could team up and... write one for me. I know that's a lot to ask," he continued before the other two could speak, "but it's really difficult and super fucking expensive to secure the rights to do an already-written musical, and I want to show off the talents of all my friends in this, not just me."

"You mean, like you want me to write the book and Patrick to compose the music?" Pete asked, glancing towards Patrick to see his reaction. Patrick simply stared forward, his eyes lost in thought.

"Yeah, like that. And I mean, you guys could totally use this stuff for your final projects, since it's your senior year too!"

After a few beats, Patrick finally spoke. "Well, it is a lot to ask, and we're not nearly as productive as you are," Patrick chuckled, "but I have always wanted to write a musical, and I could use some of the songs in my senior composition recital, as long as you're willing to perform them."

"Of course!"

"And I could definitely turn in the book as part of my creative writing portfolio when I graduate," Pete added.

"You sure could!"

"But wait, I'm a classical composer, can I even write music for a musical? And what kind of music were you looking for, anyway? Jazz like in Anything Goes? I know for sure I can't do hip-hop, so you can forget about doing the next Hamilton."

"Well, I was kind of thinking about doing a punk rock kind of musical," Brendon replied sheepishly.

"I don't know-"

"Patrick, please," Pete groaned, rolling his eyes, "you know you could write any kind of music. Besides, all you listen to lately is punk rock."

"Well, I mean, yeah, but-"

"No buts, Patrick. I believe in you. You just gotta' believe in yourself. We're writing this fucking musical!"

"Fuck yeah!" Brendon shouted, causing everyone in the lobby to stare at them.

Patrick couldn't help but smile.