Lavender Thorns

Chapter 12- Roman

The rest of the weekend was average, minus the whole panicking for Monday part.

I wanted very desperately to get a somewhat decent role in the musical, and the auditions were the following day, so I ended up staying up far too late dancing. I didn't sing very much (I sang a bit though) because I needed a fresh voice. So I just focused on the other audition piece.

I had Patton come into my room at one point in the day to help with some Improv. But I still was extremely nervous as I sat on the stage waiting for class to begin.

We would start with dancing, and would be doing the audition for that category with the whole cast, all on stage. Thomas and the choreography who was named Mikayla, would teach us the dance, and would then make notes on who did the best. 

Then we would all stay on stage, and be called one at a time to audition via singing in a small room, only for Thomas. Mikayla would just give us some Improv games. i was slightly annoyed to find there would be no Improv, and I had practiced it for nothing, but nervousness outweighed the annoyance.

Thomas bursted through the auditorium doors, as usual, with Mikayla behind him, slightly confused but saying nothing.

"Good morning! You're all probably super nervous, but let me tell you, you'll all do just fine! We can't delay, so let's get some information going. I had you all read that paper over there-" He gestured to the wall with a large paper, which I had read in the beginning of class. "-so you know the drill. Second, I won't be casting you into roles on gender. I think it's unfair. It makes more work for me, but I don't mind. So if you want a role, go for it!" The cast started murmuring to eachother, all with new ideas of who they wanted to be.

I had listened to all of Hadestown last night, to have an idea of the roles (I was up late) and still had my focus on Orpheus. It was definetely going to be a challenge, and very unlikely, but worth a shot. I'd also settle for Hermes. 

Thomas quieted everyone down and got us sorted out on stage, where we stood around and waited for directions. He took a seat in the audience, with his clipboard to take notes. Mikayla clapped her hands together and beamed at us. 

"Hello! I'm Mikayla, as you already know from the paper. I'm the choreographer at East End University. I'll be teaching you how to dance to one of the songs from this musical, and Thomas-" She gestured towards the man in the audience, who waved enthusiastically. "-will be taking notes. Okay! Any questions?" She looked around, and saw nobody with their hands raised.

"Let's start then!" She chose a song, Living It Up On Top, and taught us the dance. It was fast paced but I did it with a fair amount of ease, and grew confident once she split us into smaller groups to be able to see our individual dances better.

I did it again, with ease. My group finished and I watched Virgil from the side, and I wouldn't admit it, but he wasn't doing very well.. You could tell he knew it too, and was super uncomfortable.We eventually finished up and she started the improv games, Thomas calling out one kid at a time.

I stood beside Virgil, waiting for our turns at Freeze, and noticed he was extremely pale. It was terrifying.

"You okay Virge?" I hummed a bit, not knowing what to do.

He just nodded and looked away, so I left it alone.

Soon it was my turn, and I felt a wave of nerves crash through me as I walked off stage to the small room just by the auditorium doors. A person walked out, mumbling to themself, and went to the stage. I gulped and opened the door with shaky, and sweaty hands. As soon as I opened it, I took a deep breath and smiled.

I faked confidence.

Thomas was at in a chair across from another, writing on a clipboard and setting it on his lap as I came in. "Hello Roman. Sit down, and start when you're ready." He smiled at me, again as I sat down, and he picked up his pen and clipboard.

I took a deep breath, and started the first verse of the song I had chosen to sing. We were only supposed to sing about fourty-five seconds, and I had chosen Talk To Me by Cavetown. 

"You don't have to be a hero, to save the world-" I felt my nerves drift away as I sang.

"It doesn't make you a narcissist to love yourself-" I got into the song and just let the lyrics flow.

"It feels like nothing is easy it'll never be-"

"That's alright, let it out, talk to me-" I somehow managed to think of Virgil while I sang. 

"-you don't have to be a prodigy to be unique, you don't have to know what to say or what to think."

"You don't have to be anybody you can never be." I sang with even more emotion, really getting into the song and letting myself project.

"That's alright, let it out, talk to me."

"Anxiety tossing turning in your sleep,
even if you run away you still see them in your dreams
It's so dark tonight, but you'll survive certainly
It's alright, come inside, and talk to me." 

I finished the song and opened my eyes, to see Thomas furiously taking notes with a smile. It either meant I had done amazing, or I had done horrible. No in between.

"You can return to the stage now. I'll be posting the cast lists on Wednesday. They'll be all around campus at around noon." He nodded and I thanked him before leaving, running a hand through my hair and huffing as I got to stage. Virgil walked past me and I gave a small, reassuring smile which he returned.

...

Virgil ended up walking me to English, as he "had nothing better to do." I didn't mind the lie though, it was nice to walk with him. Despite his sarcastic remarks.

"So how'd it go Princey?" He smirked at me.

I shrugged, glancing up at the sky. "It went alright.." I had been confident while singing, but now I was nervous to see what role I got.

He chuckled. "Couldn't have been as bad as mine. He was writing so much!" 

I nudged him with my elbow. "I'm sure it wasn't as bad as you make it out to be."

He shrugged like I had, moments before. "Whatever. Here's your stop Royal Pain."

I gasped in fake insult. "Rude!" I smiled though, and waved a goodbye, entering the class much more light-hearted than earlier.

Word Count: 1,133