Folie

Act I, Scene 8

Patrick tossed in his bed, unable to sleep as scenes from audition day replayed in his mind.

"Oh, sorry about that, man," a high, nasally voice said, "is this where the auditions for Folie are?"

"Yeah, they're-" Patrick began, and then he glanced up at the boy in front of him. Curly, brown locks towered about half a foot above him, as the sapphire eyes that glimmered at the club looked down into Patrick's own. He remained speechless, shocked that the boy he never thought he would see again now stood right in front of him.

The boy coughed awkwardly as Patrick continued to stare, and managed a lopsided grin as he introduced himself.

"I'm Joe," he said.

"Patrick," he breathed, too anxious to say anything more.

"Can I come in now?" he chuckled, good-humoredly.

"Patrick, what's going on- oh, hey!" Pete said, walking up, "you here to audition?"

"Yup! I'm Joe," he said again.

"Pete, nice to meet you man. We're just about to take a lunch break. Would you mind waiting about half an hour?"

"Sure, that's cool."

Pete then noticed Patrick's lovestruck face, and his face twisted into a mischievous grin.

"Hey, why don't you come with us?"

Patrick considered murdering Pete in that moment, but now, he thanked him silently. Joe got along well with the three boys at lunch, Patrick especially, making it a point to sit right next to Patrick and talk mostly to him during their meal. A blushing schoolboy at first, Patrick quickly became comfortable with Joe, the latter's charm melting away any social anxiety the former had.

Patrick sighed dreamily. He couldn't stop thinking about Joe, feeling giddy every time he did. What confused him, however, was that he couldn't stop thinking about Dallon, either. He fell in love with that voice; even in the music school, he never heard anyone sing quite so angelically as Dallon.

Then, darker thoughts began to cloud his mind. I can't even get one boy to ask me out, what makes me think two really attractive guys will want me. I'm homely, I'm awkward, I have no confidence. I'm not skinny like Brendon and Pete are, I'm not built like Andy.

Another part of him spoke up. Cut the crap, Patrick. You're adorable. You're charming, sweet, and really creative on top of it. Yeah, you can be awkward, but you can be charming too, and lack of confidence just comes from lack of self-esteem. Cut the bullshit about being fat too, we've been through this. Yeah, you're fat. Fat is beautiful. You are beautiful. You don't need to be skinny or built to be beautiful.

You're right. I am a good person to be with. Doesn't change the fact that I'm single, and it doesn't mean Joe or Dallon will be interested.

You don't need someone right now. You have enough love for yourself. And you never know, they could be interested in you. You just have to talk to them to find out.

Patrick turned again, as he began to feel better. He could feel his previous tension flowing out of his body through his feet. Having sufficiently comforted himself, sleep finally began to wrap around him, soon enveloping him in dreams.

That night, the faces of three different boys visited him in his slumber.

End of Act I