Beast

Chapter Three

It was 4:00 (eastern time) and the auditorium was filled with a nervous hum of chatter and quiet mumbles of people practicing their lines. I was staring at my tryout music, but my mind was elsewhere. I had looked everywhere for Julia, but she wasn't there. She really had quit.

"Attention!"

Ms. Simone's voice rang through the rafters. She was one of those rare people who could get a whole room full of high school students to shut up.

"We are now going to start the auditions! May I please have a all the young ladies trying out for Belle please come to upstage. And Maisy Matthews, may I speak with you for a moment?"

I felt my cheeks flush as I slowly stood up and made my way down the center aisle. Ms. Simone smiled at me and said, "You're not in trouble, but I would like to know if you'd be interested in trying out for Belle."

"I don't know. I mean, I really wanted to try out for Mrs. Potts."

"I know," she replied. "But Kenna isn't trying out this year and I know you would be a wonderful Belle."

Kenna wasn't trying out? I shoved that thought away for the time being. "Sure, I'll give it a shot."

"Wonderful!"

I went and joined the other girls in line. I was last.

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Finally, it was my turn. I stood at center stage and cleared my throat. The music began and I got into character. Suddenly, I wasn't in a school auditorium. I was in France. I was Belle. I began to sing. Everything thought or worry I had before had completely washed away.

The music stopped to soon. I was back in Boston, back at school, back on a stage. The judges, Ms. Simone and the choir teacher Mr. Jerry, applauded. I took a small bow and headed back to my seat.

"May we have all the gentlemen trying out for The Beast to please come to upstage.

This was my favorite part of tryouts. I closed my eyes and waited for the music to begin. Once it does, I try to guess who it is onstage, and how well they really sang.

The music started and a voice filled the auditorium. It was literally one of the best voice I've ever heard in my life. It made you want to melt, like butter in a microwave.

I opened my eyes.

And there he was.

Curtis De Vonn.

That was him.

On the stage.

That was his voice.

Oh god oh god oh god oh god.

He was hands down getting the part. The question at hand was, would I get Belle?