broadway bound

four

      I've been in New York for a week now. Staying with Derek and Elycia has been nothing short of amazing. They're always trying to find new and exciting things for us to do.

Tonight is girls night. Elycia decided to surprise me with tickets to Waitress. Just the two of us. Derek was bummed he'd miss my second show of the summer but he already had plans.

I was sitting at the kitchen counter on my computer reading the comments on my YouTube video. 600k views, 34k likes 1k dislikes. I couldn't process how many people had watched it. I started reading some more comments.

I could hear Derek singing 'Journey to the Past' in the shower. I laughed. "What a fangirl" I said sarcastically to myself.

I put my focus back on the laptop. The comments were so sweet. Was I really one of those people that had to read people's nice comments to feel better about myself? I don't want to be. I was to be confident in myself always. But I did want to thank everyone for all the nice things they were saying.

I shut my laptop trying not to ponder on those thoughts. I pulled out my phone. The first thing I saw was a text from my best friend Lydia.

******

Lyds💛
hi pls come back to Cali! Summer
stinks here without you😭💔

Hads🤩
Wish I could! But I'm afraid
you'll just have to suffer
there without me :(

Lyds💛
if you don't bring me back
playbills from every show
that you get to see our
friendship is over.

Hads🤩
i wouldn't leave New York
with out them💞

Lyds💛
Ugh I miss you!!

Hads🤩
I miss you more!!

Lyds💛
I seriously doubt it💗

*****

Once I got off iMessages and saw I had an email. I opened my inbox and saw an email I knew shouldn't be there.

It read:

Dear Miss Parker,

We've read your email and are so glad to hear that you are auditioning for our show. Your audition will be July 1st at 3pm. We've attached the address for your audition. Please bring a sheet music of your audition for our pianist. Prepare at least 16 bars.
See you soon

Sincerely,
The production team of Les Miserables

*****

"What on earth?" I said to myself. "I never sent an email saying I'd like to audition"
I stared at my phone in total confusion.
Not even noticing Derek till he shakes his wet hair in front of me, causing me to get wet.

"Ugh Derek!!" I shrieked. He was dying of laughter. "Sorry, you just looked so deep in thought. I had to break the trance" he said fixing his wet hair.

"Well I am deep in thought" I said wiping the water off my face.

"About what?"

"An email I didn't send"

"Clarify please"

I sighed. "I got an email saying a time, date and place to audition for the Les Miserables revival"

"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you" Derek said "I sent an email saying you'd like to audition for the Les Miserables revival"

"Derek you didn't"

"Yes he did" he was smiling. Why was he smiling?

"You know how my mom is about professional theatre!" I yelled. "She's going to be ticked!"

"I know you're mom thinks professional theatre is a dumb career choice but she can't make your career choices for you."

"Neither can you!" I protested.

Derek rolled his eyes. "You don't have to tell them"

"What do you mean I don't have to tell them?" I asked.

"Not to be the Debbie Downer of the situation but there is always the possibility that you won't get in. And if you don't you get in, you won't have to tell your parents you even auditioned"

He has a point. I mean what they don't know cant hurt them..right? This doesn't feel right.
"I don't know Derek-"

"Come on Hads" Derek said. "I know playing Eponine is a dream of yours. Just audition and if you don't get it then at least you can say. 'I had enough courage to audition for a show on Broadway'" He was making puppy dog eyes at me. I couldn't say no to him and he knew it. Which, made me even more mad.

"I can't believe you Derek" I said biting my tongue so I wouldn't say more.

"I wouldn't have done it if I didn't think you weren't good enough"

"And what if I get my hopes up?" I bursted. "What if I start actually believing I have a chance, just to get crushed by rejection"

Derek took a few steps and sat on the stool at the counter next to me.

"That's theatre" He said. "As much as I love theatre it's full of disappointments. I can't name how many times I've walked out of an audition confident in my self only to find out I didn't get in. But that's what makes us brave. That what makes you brave." He grabbed my laptop and opened it. "I've been doing this for a while and I've seen lots of different performers. Hadley, you're by far one of the most talented people i know." He pulled back up my cover with Andrew on youtube "And they think so too"

"But-" I began.

"But when you hear 'no' it only makes hearing 'yes' even more special. I wouldn't have sent that email if I didn't think you were ready."
I didn't know what to say. I wasn't expecting Derek to be that deep. The only time I heard him speak similar to that was at his wedding.

"I-"

"I got Schmakary's!" Elycia said bursting through the door before I could finished my sentence.

"Yes!! Best cookies on planet earth!" Derek cheered. She set the bag on the counter and looked over at me and Derek.

"Hadley, your not ready yet? We need to leave in about 15 minutes"

I snapped out the Les Mis fantasy and back into reality.

"Yeah" I said grabbing a cookie. "I've just got to change but I already know what I'm going to wear."

I started to walk to my room to change but I stopped myself. I turned back into the kitchen.

"Derek" I said

"Yes?" He asked with his mouth full of cookie.
"I'll think about it" I said.

A smile spread across his face and he swallowed the bite in his mouth.

"Whatever you decide" he said "I'll be proud of you no matter what."

I half smiled and turned to walk back to my room to change. I know Derek meant well and all the things he said about me truly meant a lot. But I needed to think.

I didn't really have to time to think about it now. I had to get ready to see Waitress.

"Just forget about your life for 2 hours" I told myself. "Enjoy the show for as long as you can and when you come home-" I stopped myself and let out a long sigh. "And when you come home you can deal with all your problems"