The Invisible Silver Lining [CURRENTLY BEING EDITED]

Chapter 9

A/N This Chapter is dedicated to TheFlockOfJabberjays for giving me the front cover to my story. I LOVE IT SO MUCH. I can't begin to describe my thanks :D :D

-CFF

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 I look straight ahead as the man with the clipboard begins to speak again. He addresses all of us, "My name is Bruce Rain. I'm the drama teacher for USC. I will train you as we progress through this class. My belief is you learn best..." He pauses and scans his eyes over all of us before continuing. "Is by doing. So the first thing this class will be doing is a full scale production of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. You will learn how to project, how to act in character, how to keep your voice from roaming when you are speaking in an accent. You will learn set, costume and prop design. And you will learn how to have respect for your fellow actors." He looks down at his clip board again, moving his hand to his nose to push his glasses higher onto his face. I will hold auditions today, after we have all read the script. You will be handed one momentarily and will be expected to finish reading it and prepare for auditions in an hour." A girl with long black hair is going through the rows and passing out the scripts. Once they are all passed out Mr. Rain says, "Time starts now." I grab the sheet and start to read.

 After an hour of finishing reading it twice and preparing to audition, Mr. Rain calls out loudly, "Time's up. Please pair up with a partner, one boy and one girl for each audition. Now on some auditions, you will be allowed to audition for a specific role you are wanting to play, while other times you will be asked to read a certain role. Today you will be auditioning using the latter form. You all have five minutes to practice with each other, each boy will audition for Romeo, each girl for the role of Juliet. Find your partners, once you've done so I want everyone to sit in little groups away from the other groups for a little privacy, and then you may begin."

I'm about to call out for Blake when Alexander grabs my hand and leads me to the last row in the auditorium, by one set of double doors, before I can protest. He sits down and flips his script open, laying it down on his ripped dark jean shorts. I slowly sit down next to him, keeping my eyes on the sheet. I'm waiting for him to start reading, when instead he uses his voice to ask me a completely off topic question. "Emilee, I know you probably weren't very happy with me last time, being forward and all, but I want to ask you," I look up at him before he continues, "I know you said you aren't interested in dating right now," I but in, "And I'm still not." He nods his head once before finishing, "Right, and that's ok, but I wanted to know if you'd be willing to be friends."

I look at him, tilting my head just barely. Friends? I admit, I'm a little startled that he is asking this question. I still have no idea why he keeps popping up everywhere, let alone why he insists on first dating, then being friends. But he seems like a nice guy, and I really don't want to make another enemy on-campus, so I consider it. After a minute of looking down on my script and thinking about his offer instead of the lines in front of me, I look back up at Alexander. I nod once, saying, "Alright Alexander we--" He cuts me off with, "Please. Call me Xander. Alexander is what the paparazzi, my parents and my manager calls me, so its pretty formal." I smile slightly and finish, "Alright. Xander, I would like to be friends. No more, understand?" He smiles widely, he's actually pretty cute when he smiles. He has dimples that show when he's truly smiling. Emilee. FOCUS.

 He says, "Awesome. Thankyou." Why the hell is he thanking me? But I don't ask him this question, instead turning my eyes back to the lines that sit on my lap. We practice for the last three minutes of our assigned time. Alexan--no, Xander, is a pretty good actor. He displays emotion rather well as he dives head-on into the character. I actually enjoy my short time reading with him.