Musical [Sanders Sides]

Chapter Four

"Well, now that we all know each other, I guess it's time to begin!" Patton announced. "Today, I was just planning on having a general read-through of the script, so you can all get used to your parts and the story. We'll skip the songs for today. I'll read any stage directions, and you guys should all know what parts you're reading. Are we ready?"

There was a collective cheer, with everyone starting to sit up straight in their chair, and opening up to the first page. Everyone apart from Virgil, who was late with the cheer, and didn't even think to open the book. Stupid, Virgil, open the goddamn book, you idiot.

"A single spotlight shines on Mali," the director read, "standing towards the back of stage left. Another spotlight shines on a pedestal holding a crown centre stage. The spotlights fade out - first from Mali then the crown. The spotlight fades back in, and the crown and Mali is gone. Cut away to Jula standing outside the castle. Mali runs onto the stage."

A girl sitting across from Virgil - he was pretty sure that she had introduced herself as Fae - cleared her throat. "You got it?"

There was a deafening silence. Virgil saw Roman glance up from his script, frowning at Virgil. Anx quickly looked down at the script, and read the name besides the next line. Mali. He tried to remember who had said that their characters name was Mali, before it finally clicked. That was him!

"U-um." Virgil breathed in and out. "Y-yeah. No ones d-dead, either." He had stuttered. Why did he have to stutter? Everyone else in the room probably thought he was some sort of joke. Especially since he was playing the main character. What type of actor stutters?

"Great," Fae continued to read, completely unfazed by Virgil's pause beforehand.

The group continued to read through the script, right until the very end of the play. And with every new line that Virgil had to read, he began to realise more and more that there was no way he would be able to do this. If he couldn't even speak his lines confidently around a group of, what, twenty people, then there was no way he could be able to speak and perform and sing and dance in front of hundreds of unfamiliar faces, all wanting to watch a perfect show. Everyone else in the group was so confident, and Virgil was just... not.

He sighed as he put his script into his backpack. As much as he knew he couldn't do it, he knew that he had no choice. He had to do it. For Patton's sake, rather than his own. He just couldn't bring himself to disappoint that guy.

This was going to be a long season.

~*~

Everyone had already left by the time Patton had finished packing away the chairs. He had told everyone that they could leave as soon as they had completed the read through, since they were all probably tired and needed to go home to get a good nights rest. Also, Patton had no reason to go home earlier, so he thought that he might as well tidy up and just leave when he was done.

He locked the door to the drama studio, and turned back around, coming face to face with one of his actors - Roman.

"Hey, Roman!" he greeted, with a smile, although he was still kind of confused. "How come you're still here so la-"

"Please let me switch roles," Roman requested, almost desperate.

Patton frowned. "What do you-"

"My character in the musical is the damsel in distress," Roman stated. "I cannot be a damsel in distress! I am the Prince, the hero, the saviour, I always have been! I don't know how to be the victim!"

"Calm down, Ro! Your character is still a Prince! And you are perfect for the role! I knew even before your audition that you would suit Prince Edward perfectly! Besides, you do get a sword, and I know how much you love swords," Patton argued.

Roman attempted to come up with a counter argument, but couldn't seem to think of anything to see in reply. He sighed. "I suppose you are right. I do love swords. And he is a Prince. I just..." He trailed off. "You know what, nevermind. I'll just go home. See you later."

He began to walk away, but Patton rushed to catch up with him, placing a hand on his shoulder. Roman stopped, and glanced over at him, a sort of sad look in his eye.

"What was you about to say?" Patton asked. "If something is troubling you, you know I, and the rest of the cast and crew, can and will help you."

He shook his head. "It's nothing important. Personal issues. You probably won't care. And it's not like it'll get better. Trust me, it's stupid."

"No feelings are stupid."

Roman hesitated, but finally nodded. "Ok. I just... I can't believe that you gave the main role to a newbie. Not just a newbie, but a person who doesn't even want to be in the musical."

"Roman, I know that theatre means a lot too you and everything, but-"

"That's just the thing!" he exclaimed. "You know! You know how much this means to me, but you just... that Anxiety dude or Virgil or whatever... he doesn't care about theatre as much as I do. He doesn't care at all."

"Roman-"

"But that doesn't matter, does it?" Roman moved away from Patton. "Virgil's still gonna perform the hero, and I'll still perform the damsel in distress. Because we're both 'perfect' for the roles. I suppose that I have to trust your decision. It is your musical, after all." He sighed. "Bye, Pat. I'll see you tomorrow."

Roman walked away.