Theatre Is A Lie ~ Joshua Burrage

Chapter 1

Ami showed up at the church, the normal rehearsal spot for her theatre group. You see, Ami was around 18 at the time, a big theatre lover since she discovered her ma's stash of musicals. She was a part of a youth theatre group and was just about to age out in 2 years and leave her spot as "Hug Master"(She was well known for giving people hugs in the theatre group)  due to the ages being 8 to 18. As she arrived at the church she greeted their director, Ms. Ashley and the choreographer, Mr. Josh, "Good morning Ms. Ashley! How's Caroline doing? Enjoying her first show with Clementine Youth Theatre?"

The older lady nodded, "Yes! Thank you so much for recommending Clem to her. This group has been a great change of scene for her."

Ami chuckled, "It's absolutely amazing to hear she's getting over her anxiety! I can't wait to see her up on stage. Maybe if I get the chance I can help direct a show with her in it. Though I can't promise lead roles for her, she is quite talented. I'll try not to be bias if I have to cast her..."

Ms. Ashley nodded, checking her clipboard, "Ms. Tara requested you go to the blue room to go over the small tap routine for Shipoopi we've been learning."

You see, Clem Youth Theatre was doing a production of The Music Man. Ami was casted as Zaneeta and Ami absolutely loved having her lines consist of many "Ye Gods!"  Her current boyfriend, Erric got casted as Tommy, who's Zaneeta's partner. Lucky for them, both had a good set of vocal and acting abilities and didn't have to act like they were into someone else.

As Ami pulled out her taps, Erric walked up, "Hey, hey, hey, babe guess what!"

The female didn't bother to look up, focused on tying the abnormally small shoe strings on her tap shoes. Who made these so small?? Erric poked Ami, trying to get her attention, "Did you hear that Newsies is gunna be going on tour?? They're going to start opening for auditions soon! Isn't that cool?!"

She hummed a small response before nodding her head to herself, satisfied with finally managing to get both her tap shoes double knotted. Erric smiled, "Anywho- you excited about opening night tomorrow? Then the day after that we have a two show day... but that's besides the point."

Ami smiled, patting his cheek, "I'm super excited, babe."  She quickly jumped on her top toes, making a small clinking noise due to her taps, kissing him on the cheek. The boy blushed, "Well gee, Ami..."

She winked at him before running over to the assistant director who began drilling her on the tap routine. The directors were typically very brutal the day before opening nights. They loved to run through the show once or twice, drill through all dance routines, make sure all of the scene blocking is perfect, etc. With years of experience at Clem, Ami had already stocked her dance bag full of supplies. After they finished drilling everything, they headed over to the theatre. Final day of tech week—"the most stressful week of ALL!"

Ami's friend Annabelle threw her hands up in the air as Ami drove them to the theatre. Ami chuckled, "It's not all that bad."

Annabelle let out a long groan, "Yeah but it still makes me want to scream until my vocal cords break."

Ami laughed, "At least you don't have a mic this time around! I hate those things!! The ones Clem use are so bulky."

Annabelle smiled, "Now I am less depressed because I am mic free!"

As they pulled up to the theatre, Ami hooked her thumb to the back of the theatre, "I'm gunna go see if I can find Erric. He said he'd be unloading the last of the props."

As she rounded the corner she whistled to herself, looking around for her boyfriend. As she looked around she heard whispering and snickering. When she turned to the noise for investigation she found her boyfriend... KISSING AN ENSEMBLE MEMBER?! She choked on her own saliva, her brain processing the scene in front of her. "E-Erric," she managed to choke out.

He turned, eyes wide, "Uh-Uhm... Ami..."

She let out a sob, whispering, "How could you..? Why me..? Why you..? Why her...?"

He pushed the ensemble girl away, "Listen, babe, I can explain. This isn't what it looks like."

Ami fumbled with her hands before quickly pinching her arm, "This is a dream..." she let out a forced laugh, "I thought you loved me.."

Erric smiled, "I do! And if you leave me you're really going to regret it."

As he made his way over, he grabbed her hair, shoving her down on her knees, "You're going to do this show, and you're going to stay with me until you age out of Clem. You hear me?"

Ami swallowed down her tears, her throat dry as she croaked, "Loud and clear..."

—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—~—

Ami did her final bow, closing night of Clementine Youth Theatre's production of The Music Man and her 19th birthday. As she bowed with Erric, a tear slipped down her cheek, "I'm finally free from this arse so called boyfriend," she whispered to herself. She really hoped the tech guy had turned off her mic from the back of the theatre. As the cast all went out the stage door in the back of the theatre to run around the building to the front for autographs and pictures, Ami quickly followed, attempting to get away from Erric. Before she could get offstage into the wings, Erric yanked her back by her arm, so hard she was sure he broke something or popped her arm out of her socket.

As she tried to wiggle free but Erric yanked again, harder, slamming her into him. He grabbed her by the shoulders, so hard she assumed she'd have bruises left over. "Come on, babe," he smiled, though his eyes had a sinister look that meant he was up to no good.

As they walked out they were swarmed with teenage girls who loved their "rebellious forbidden love relationship" in the show. Ami smiled awkwardly, Erric having a firm grip on her hand. Everyone kept gushing about how cute they were. Erric smirked, "Do you ladies want some autographs?"

All the girls squealed and Ami scoffed, signing the occasional playbill for the small children who would come up to her, rambling about trombones and coronets. This was always her favourite moment, seeing all the audience members and hearing about how much they enjoyed the show. A little girl came up to her, her hands behind her back, "M- Ms. Saratoga? I-I'm Leah.. a-and I saw you o-on opening night. I-I really like the show s-so I care back... I-I made you something." The small girl pulled out a little doll that looked like Ami but as Zaneeta. "Aww! Thank you, Leah. Would you like me to sign your playbill?"

The little girl jumped at the word playbill, "Yes! Yes please!" As Ami signed the girl's playbill the teenage girls crowded around Erric cleared up. Ami waved goodbye to the last of the audience before getting forcefully kissed by Eric. "Get off me, you pig!" She pushed him away, "I'm aged out, babe, I'm not your girlfriend anymore."

Erric slapped her, pushing her down, "Damn right you petty piece of rubbish!"

Annabelle and one of Ami's other friends, Rachel ran over pushing Erric away, "What the hell, Erric!? Do you want me to report this bullshit to Ms. Tara!? That'll for sure get you kicked out of Clem," Annabelle spat.

Rachel helped me up, "Ami aged out, thank God, now she won't have to deal with your arse."

Erric smirked, "Yeah right. I'm almost guaranteed to play a lead in the production of Rent next season so this isn't the last you'll hear of me!"

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