What They Did

Gilbert Audition

In December, Heather began telling Graham and Fiona about her choice to go to Whitton Academy, it was one of the finest schools Fortland had to offer and it suited Heather since her whole life was at home.
"What about Gilbert?" asked Fiona, watching Heather research Whitton.
"Gilbert...School of Dance, Drama and Music?" asked Heather, turning to face Fiona.
"Yeah, you'd be able to get in there, I know it's supposed to super hard but you're amazing," explained Fiona, gesturing towards Heather's laptop.
"It's halfway across the country," sighed Heather, googling Gilbert.
"Well, what does it say about auditions?" asked Fiona, leaning over the arm of the couch to get a view of the screen.
"It'd be too expensive either way for me to travel there and back everyday or for me to stay there," sighed Heather, clicking on the 'Audition' tab.
"We have some money put away from you, Dad has quite a good income coming in so we'd pull through, it'd be easier for us as we'd have one less stomach to feed," smirked Fiona, scanning the web page.
"That's enough," giggled Heather, reading the site, "It says here that I'd have to send a video of myself to the school to see if I can get an audition in Glasston, then if I pass that, I'd get into Gilbert," 
"Well, I'm sure if you asked Dad nicely, he'd pull out his old camera and recording set from his band days, you could play, we'll send it away then ship you off to Glasston," smiled Fiona, in a mocking tone.
"Okay, okay, I'll give it a shot," sighed Heather, frowning at the website, "Can Cameron come round as a little kinda...encouragement?" 
"What's wrong with me?" asked Fiona, looking falsely offended.
"You'll make a big fuss and Cameron understands my music taste slightly more," said Heather, through gritted teeth.
"Alright," sighed Fiona, sitting back in the couch.
-
Days later, Heather sat in the center of Graham's study, with a piano in front of her and sheet music. Cameron sat on the floor out of the camera shot while Graham sat behind the camera, setting up the recording equipment.
"And...We...Are...Live...For the fifth time," mumbled Graham, smiling and giving Heather a thumbs up to start playing. 
Heather closed her eyes and bowed her head towards the keys before her eyelids shot open again. She banged her fingers down on the keys and began playing 'Arabesque' by Burgmüller. She closed her eyes midway through the piece and listened to the sounds she was making with her fingers, so far there was no mess-ups and soon enough, the piece was over.
Everyone in the study sat quietly, stunned at Heather's performance. Again.
Fiona started clapping and Woo-ing as she entered the study, causing Heather to whip her head round.
"MUM," snapped Heather, "Seriously, that just makes me more nervous,"
"...Oh, sorry, just pretend I'm not here," sighed Fiona, leaving the room.
"Dad, seriously, how was that one?" asked Heather, rolling her eyes as she turned to Graham.
"I thought that last one was amazing, Heather," smiled Graham, taking his headphones off.
"You say that about every play," mumbled Heather, looking at the floor.
"Well yeah because you're the best of the best, they have to let you in," said Graham, placing his knuckle under his chin and balacning his elbow on the table.
"Yeah, but you don't understand! This is Gilbert, the best in the country, this isn't some punk album you can throw at a wall and hope it sounds alright," snapped Heather, making the full room stare at her.
"Woah," exclaimed Cameron, trying to break the awkward tension.
"I'm sorry, this is pointless," sighed Heather, loosing all hope.
"I thought that last one was the best I've ever heard you play and I've heard you play almost everyday for 10 years," said Cameron, standing up and coming over to Heather.
"I think I can do better," muttered Heather, turning to look at Cameron who was now crouched beside her.
"Then let's do it," said Cameron, standing back up.
Heather nodded and looked over at Graham who smiled and began setting everything up again.
-
Days later, the second the mail was through the door and on the floor, Heather had dived downstairs and searched through the mail to find a letter to her. Usually, there was nothing there for her except this once.
"Miss Heather Farrow,
34 Fortland Grove,
Fortland..."
In the corner, was a Gilbert School stamp. This was it.
She opened the letter and quickly scanned it before frowning, now realising that there was a possibility that she wouldn't be at Whitton with Ryan.
At the thought of him, her phone buzzed in her pocket, after dropping every letter in an attempt to get her phone, she seen that the Called I.D was Ryan...
"Hey, babe." shouted Ryan, down the phone,
"Hi," said Heather, wandering over to the couch.
"So we're in Falkland," said Ryan, sounding drunk.
"Oh yeah?" asked Heather, sitting down.
"Yeah, Hey Hey Records signed us, we're gonna be recording our own album and getting interviewed and the full works," explained Ryan, talking faster and faster.
"Oh, so you're all rich and famous now?" asked Heather, smiling.
"Yeah, this is huge, they're throwing a party for us right now," said Ryan, before laughing.
Heather could hear the sound of chatter from other people as well as looking at the Gilbert letter in her lap, "Well...I miss you," 
"DUDE! YOU GOT CHAMPAGNE-"
Ryan was cut off. 
He was following his dreams while Heather was having triple doubts about her own.
-
Photo On The Side: Graham Farrow//Hugh Dancy.
Video On The Side: 'Arabesque' by Burgmüller//since it is the piece Heather played.