"A kiss?!" I asked wide-eyed. "There wasn't a kiss there was a hug. No kiss." I said. "The kiss was on the cutting room floor. Thought it was too racy at the time." Miss Jenn said. "Too far." Carlos stated. I looked over at Nini. I curled up the script and turned to her. She did the same. It was extremely awkward between us. "Yeah. Nope. Can't do this. Who starts at the last scene?" I said backing away. "In order to create a musical you have to create bonds with your partner." Miss Jenn said. "There are other ways to do that." I said leaving.
"I don't understand why you put a kiss in the musical." I said sitting in Miss Jenn's office. "Because the production needs it, Jackie." She said. "Does it? The movie seemed to work without it." I said. She sighed. "I get what you're going through, Jackie. Trust me." She stated. I stood up. "Don't have a choice, do I?" I said before leaving.
I stood in the drama room looking at Carlos. "Why would we do the bows at the end of the musical before we even learned the play?" I questioned crossing my arms. I heard Nini groan to herself. I glanced at her in the last minute to see her roll her eyes. I pursed my lips. "You practice the hardest dance before you learn the script." Carlos said. I nodded. I stood on one side of the room and Ricky gave me a supportive thumbs up. 'Kill me.' I mouthed to him. His eyes widened. "Five. Six. Seven. Eight." Carlos said as the practice dance started. You can do this. You can do this. This was the phrase that was going through my mind the entire practice. I could be good at this but there's just one little thing that stops me everytime. I don't dance. "What is he doing?" Nini asked Carlos. "I'm literally right here." I said offended. "No. You're not. Not for the right reasons anyway." She explained. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked. "You hate musicals. You're only doing this because you're being forced to. And now you're wasting everybody's time by making fun of something that the rest of us take seriously!" She ranted. "Okay, that's a five! On a break, people! Everybody out! Get out!" Carlos shouted.
Everyone left the room besides me and Nini. "I don't hate musicals! I hate being ON stage." I stated. "And as much as you don't want me here. I have to be. Why? Because Miss Jenn would have made this a mandatory thing for me. If I didn't have to be here I wouldn't. Believe me this is the last place I want to be right now." I countered. "You didn't even audition like the rest of us did. Miss Jenn just saw you sing and gave you the role of Troy. You didn't do anything to get this role." Nini said. I had no idea how to respond. "Did Ricky put you up to this? To throw me off guard?" She asked. "What?! Why would you even ask that? You two started this whole thing. You should be glad I'm Troy and not Ricky!" I shot back. "If you really cared about how I feel then you'd let somebody who wants to play this part play it." She said turning away from me. I went silent, nodding my head. I stood frozen to the spot as Carlos approached us. "Can we at least try the dip?" He asked. Nini wouldn't even look at me anymore. I walked away and grabbed my bag. "What just happened? Why aren't we dipping?" Carlos asked. "Mission accomplished!" Miss Jenn said walking into the room. I slung my bag over my shoulder as I headed towards the door. "A precious piece of the original HSM is on its way. Where are you going, Troy?" Miss Jenn asked as I reached the door. "It's Jackie!" I spat leaving the room.
I shoved the entrance doors open exiting the school. I grabbed the bike I took to school and was about to leave when I heard a voice. "There you are!" It was Carlos. He ran up to me. "Miss Jenn wants everyone back in the room." Carlos said. "Tell Miss Jenn that I quit. Okay? Sorry, I can't dance like Fred Astaire." I said getting on the bike and kicking back the stand. "Jackie, please, you have to..." "Nini's right! I'm taking up space. I don't belong on stage." I explained interjecting. "So untrue, you..." Carlos started again. "Save it, Carlos! You don't want me in this. If I go back, Nini will probably quit." I said. "And you need her a lot more than you need me." I said pedaling away.
YOU ARE READING
INTO THE SPOTLIGHT
FanfictionJackie Bryant is a junior at East High. He doesn't like having attention drawn to himself. He likes to keep to himself most of the time. Especially, since his parents aren't on the best of terms anymore. His father took off to become a big wig at so...
