Riverview High: Circumstances

The Tryouts

 After calling Mr. Henderson and telling him that I was staying for the Drama Club tryouts, I made my way to the school auditorium. It was the first time I’d ever come in. The place was huge! It reminded me of the Apollo Theater out in Harlem with the way it was set up. I wouldn’t have expected something that nice to be at a ghetto school like this!

When I walked in, there were a couple of girls sitting in the first row by the stage. As I was coming up, they looked at me like I stunk. Then, they went back to talking amongst themselves. I guess getting into that fight with Terra didn’t make me one of the most popular people around Riverview. Never mind that, I was ready to show out on this audition and secure my spot in the club!

I took a seat in the fifth row by the stage and started messing with my phone. I then heard the theater doors open. I didn’t turn my head to see who walked in. But, those girls checked to see who it was and then started grinning and did an about face. I turned and saw that it was Maury, my hero from yesterday.

I kid you not, those two girls that were rolling their eyes at me hopped up from their seats just to give him a hug. I just rolled my eyes and shook my head. Folks are a trip! Anyway, I didn’t really know how I was supposed to act. I knew that I wanted to thank him for stepping in on the fight and setting that guy straight about filming me but I still didn’t know him. Like I said, I have trust issues. Besides, folks change up quick. He has enough females on him as it is……

But, he came over to and sat in the seat next to me.

“What’s up Brianna?” He enthusiastically said with a grin.

I smiled, “Hi, Maury . What’s going on with you?”

“I’m just trying to get through this week without losing my mind at this crazy school. I see you ducked off at lunch today.”

“Yeah, I went to the library today. I had a lot on my mind and I needed to be alone today.”

He nodded, “Yeah, I feel you. It’s just like that sometimes. I missed seeing your pretty face though.”

There he was, making me smile again. He’s obviously a charmer!

I then said, “Listen, I want to thank you for sticking up for me yesterday when those girls were jumping on me.”

He smiled and leaned back in the chair, “It’s cool. I just don’t like seeing folks get jumped. I had to get ol’ boy Bryan right about that camera business too!”

“Yeah, I saw that before I ran away. I thought there was going to be a second fight.”

He chuckled, “That wouldn’t even have been a fight. That would’ve been a straight fade. I wouldn’t even have broken a sweat!”

We both laughed. We sat in silence for a couple of seconds. Then I said, “I also want to apologize for how I treated you when you came to sit with me at lunch yesterday. I’ve just been going through so much these past two weeks.”

“Like what?”

I looked at him and smiled, “There you go being nosey again. Why do you want to know what’s up with me so badly?”

“Well, because I want to know why a female as beautiful as you is stressing so much.”

I looked him in the eyes. He wasn’t just trying to be flattering. He was serious.

I then looked down at the floor. I sighed and said, “To make a long story short, I’m having family issues.”

“That’s something we have in common then. My family has crazy drama too.”

“I don’t think your situation is as unique as mine though.”

“Try me.”

I let out a huge sigh and then smiled, “I can’t believe I’m about to tell someone outside of Dr. Peterson this.”

“You can trust me Brianna. If you tell me what’s going on in your life, I’ll tell you what’s going on in my life.”

I was prepared to tell him. I honestly was. But, more people started coming through the auditorium doors. Conveniently, Terra was one of those people. After speaking to the two girls that were originally in the front, she came over to us with a big smile,

“Hi Maury!”

He raised his finger, “What’s up T.”

She turned to me as she sat on the top of the back part of one of the chairs,

“Hi……um….”

I smacked my lips, “My name is Brianna.”

She nodded, “Yeah. Anyway, what’s up with you Maury? I didn’t know you’d be trying out this year.”

“Yeah Maury!” I said, trying to get back control of the conversation, “I wouldn’t have expected for you to come.”

He smiled at me, “Why not?”

I smiled and shrugged my shoulders, “I don’t know. You just seem like more of the sports type.”

“Naw, outside of basketball I’m not even all that much into sports. Spoken word is my thing. I rap and write poetry. My acting is pretty good too. They call me the light skin Denzel Washington!”

Terra smiled, “I don’t about the Denzel Washington thing but I do know that you’re the best rapper at this school. I remember when you killed those seniors in that freestyle battle last year in second lunch!”

He nodded, “Yeah, those boys weren’t ready! But enough about me. This is an audition after all. What are you going to perform to get picked by Dr. Green?”

She smirked, “I’m going to recite Phenomenal Woman by Maya Angelou. If somebody set that poem to some music, it would be my theme song!”

I smacked my lips. From what I see, there’s nothing phenomenal about this jump-off!

Maury said, “I feel you T. What are you doing Brianna?”

“I’m going to sing I Will Always Love You by Whitney Huston.”

Terra folded her arms and said, “Really? You’re going to perform a Whitney Huston song for an audition. You gotta have a powerful voice to do one of her songs, especially one like I Will Always Love You. You’re biting off a little bit more than you can chew in my opinion!”

Maury smacked his lips, “Nobody asked your opinion though! Brianna, that’s dope. I know you’re gonna tear the house down.”

I said, “Aww, thank you Maury !” while grinning and looking at Terra. She rolled her eyes. I knew I had to show out while I was singing just to show her up!

Terra was called up to perform before me. I must admit, she showed out when she performed Phenomenal Woman. Folks clapped for her. Out of respect, I was even one of the people that clapped. But, she didn’t get a standing ovation and a YouTube video that got seven thousand views in less than twelve hours!

I put my heart and soul into singing I Will Always Love You. Sure, I didn’t sound as great as Whitney Huston but I made sure I hit every note with perfect precision. The live musicians that were playing the song in the background really helped out too. Hearing the music helped me assure that I didn’t skip ahead of myself. 

I knew I was doing something right when folks started taking out their cameras and recording me. I even saw a couple of people wiping tears from their eyes. When I was done, everybody in the auditorium stood to their feet and started yelling and clapping. I smiled and took a bow. It made me feel so good to get that much love.

Well, not everybody was impressed though. Even though the two girls that were looking at me funny when I walked in were on their feet clapping, I saw Terra mugging me like crazy with her arms folded. I proved her wrong, didn’t I?

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