The Start of Something New [boyxboy]

Chapter Two

      After a long day at school, I rested my chin on my hand, which was leaning on the auditorium armrest.
      Miss Jenn was on the stage listening to people audition.
      "Okay, I think that will be all for the Troys..." she said after EJ's audition.
      "What?" I mumbled.
      Shit, no, Ricky needs to audition for Troy.
      I pulled out my phone.
      S-ricky where are you??? you're missing the troy auditions
      R-Shit I'll be there soon
I set my phone down.
"Let's begin readings for Zeke."
I stood up along with a few other guys around the room and made my way to the stage, stepping into line and waiting for the others to finish their songs and monologues, when it was my turn Miss Jenn eyed me skeptically.
She leaned over to Carlos, who was sitting next to her.
"What do I need to know?" she whispered, but I could still hear her, just barely.
"I don't have much. His name is Skyler Jorden. He used to pretty popular amongst the junior class, but he lost his father when he was young and he fell to the bottom of the social food chain. He's become a mystery, not that many people know that much about his personal life." Carlos said.
"Where do his allegiances lie?"
"Mostly with himself, he doesn't have many friends. If I had to choose one though, probably Ricky Bowen. They were good friends back in the day, I'm sure there's still something there."
Something, that's for sure.
Miss Jenn turned back to me and smiled, as if nothing happened, and I didn't hear anything.
"Go ahead with whichever one you're more comfortable doing first, whenever you're ready."
"I'll begin with my monologue."
      She nodded and I was off making my way through my monologue.
When I was done, they began to take notes, I started to tap my foot rapidly, anxiously glancing towards the doors.
Ricky where are you...?
I slipped out my phone, quickly, and glanced at the screen. Nothing.
"In a rush, Mr. Jorden?"
"Huh? No. No, ma'am."
"The song, please."
"Right."
I began singing the beginning of the song, The Start of Something New.
As I was wrapping up, the doors flew open and Ricky came running in.
"I'm here! I'm here! I didn't miss it, did I?"
"Excuse me, sir, but a fellow peer of yours was just doing his audition."
"Sorry..."
"Hm. Well, honey, I think you'd make an excellent Zeke. Thank you for your time."
"C'mon on up, kid." Miss Jenn said.
Ricky climbed up on stage, I walked past him and he grabbed my wrist as we were passing.
      I turned to face him.
It was the first time we had been this close since we were friends.
"Thank you, Sky." he said.
I smiled, slightly, and nodded.
Every time he calls me Sky it's like I feel a pang of regret, of longing.
He climbed up on stage.
"Okay, you'll be reading for Chad." Miss Jenn said, holding out a piece of paper.
"Oh, I only prepared for Troy."
"Well, if you had arrived on time then maybe you wouldn't have missed the Troy readings."
Ricky swallowed and met my eyes in the audience. I titled my head a bit and swallowed.
I waved my hand a little, signaling for him to keep going.
He started to read off of the page, terribly.
I placed my hand on my forehead and covered my eyes a little.
"Oh, Ricky..."
I heard a crunch and looked up to see that he had crumpled the paper into a small ball and tossed it aside.
He began to completely go off on his own, talking directly to Nini, except staying in character.
      When he was done there was an awkward moment of silence.
"Okay, kiddo, time to sing." Miss Jenn said.
"Oh, no," he stopped someone off stage from queuing the music. "If you don't mind, I actually prepared my own song."
      "Sure."
He walked over to Big Red, who handed him his guitar.
"Okay..." he said preparing himself.
I waited impatiently for him to start, he glanced in my direction, and I gave him an encouraging look. He gulped and began strumming on his guitar, going off into his version of I Think I Kinda, You Know.
      "...he is not doing this..." I heard Nini mumble.
I smiled as he sung, without a doubt singing directly to Nini.
      I watched as EJ leaned back on his hands and gave Ricky a dirty look.
      When he was about half way through the song, it seemed as though he wasn't able to look at Nini as much anymore. I cocked my head in confusion.
      I watched as Ricky's eyes wandered the room until they landed on me and stayed.
      "I can't help dreaming of you...I guess I'm saying that I...don't not..." he trailed off into a mumbling that sounded like 'love you', but why was he looking at me when he said it?
      He wrapped up his song and I started to clap, others slowly joined in.
      After everyone slowly started to trickle out of the auditorium, I jogged to catch up to Ricky, who was walking with Big Red.
      "Hey, Ricky!" I called out.
      He looked over his shoulder and slowed down so I could catch up.
      "Hey, Sky."
      "You did great, Rick, she'd be a fool not to give you Troy."
      "She made me audition for Chad, Sky."
      "That doesn't mean it's set in stone, anything could happe-"
      "Hey!" someone shouted behind us.
      We turned to see Nini running up to us.
      "What are you doing here?" she said.
      Ricky looked to me then back to her, "I'm auditioning."
      I turned around, suppressing a laugh and licking my bottom lip.
      Big Red and I started to walk away, to give them so privacy.
      Moments later people came rushing down the hallway and Nini was swept away from Ricky, who was still trying to get his last few words out.
      "That happened." he said.
      "I thought you did great." Big Red said before starting to walk after everyone.
      I stayed behind next to Ricky.
      "...you alright?" I asked.
      He met my eyes and he looked utterly defeated.
      "...yeah."
      "You sure?"
      "Yeah, come on. Let's go look at the cast list."
      I slowly followed after him.
      We walked through the semi circle of people and up to the paper.
      I had gotten Zeke.
      Nini had gotten Gabriella.
      And Ricky...well he got Troy.
      "Oh, shit..." I mumbled.