𝑼𝑵𝑬𝑿𝑷𝑬𝑪𝑻𝑬𝑫 | 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑠𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑛𝑝𝑜𝑟𝑡

𝐴𝑈𝐷𝐼𝑇𝐼𝑂𝑁𝑆

─────⊰ ✦.*🥀*.✦ ⊱─────

　　 𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐊𝐒 𝐇𝐀𝐃 𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐁𝐘 since the start of this school year and the first tests had passed as fall was in full bloom. From bright gold Aspens and deep red Maples, Mission Creek was a beautiful place to be this time a year. Unfortunately, those colours didn't reach the beach where I'm holding my auditions for my play.

Saturdays are usually the busiest days on the beach which people would still visit despite the temperatures dropping. The arcades are nearby, the restaurants have great food and the beach is the perfect place to play catch with your dog. I know that many students from my school will be here today and so it was the only spot I could think of to hold the auditions, since principal Perry didn't allow me to hold them at school.

I placed the sign for the auditions next to the door and hung up the last posters which I'd also spread around school during the last two weeks. Many of the slips with more information about the when and where were gone, which should be a good sign. I have high hopes for today's turnout.

The clock strikes once as my gaze catches the time. 11.30. Auditions won't start for another half hour so I decide to walk over the boardwalk to see what performers are out today.

There's a tin-man who's impressively dancing. I've never seen anyone with moves so well copied as if a robot was actually dancing. I dropped a few dollars into his hat when my body flinched from a sudden tap on my shoulder.

'Did I scare ya?' Chase's voice beams next to me and when I turn around, he's smiling cheekily down at me.

I roll my eyes with a laugh. 'No,' I reply stubbornly and roll my tense shoulders back.

He lets out a chuckle. 'Liar,' he says and looks around the boardwalk to the different performers and stands of foods and drinks.

'But what a coincidence that you're here too or are you here for the auditions?' I ask him with hope lingering in my voice. I pinch in my own hand and have to resist the urge to bite down on my lip and squeeze my eyes shut in embarrassment.

Chase frowns and averts his eyes while it seems like he's deep in thought. 'Auditions?' he finally asks. 'Auditions for what?'

My hopeful smile drops as I point to the place where I've set up for the day. 'My play. I've told you about you during the last few weeks,' I reply.

'I'm sorry, Addilynn. Sometimes when I look at you, I can't—' He abruptly stopped talking and awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. 'Doesn't matter. I'll come by today.'

My cheeks heat up by the sheer thought that he'll swing by today and I'll have a legitimate reason to stare towards him. 'Auditions are from twelve to five. Feel free to come whenever you can.' Our eyes lock again and we share a smile.

Slight chaos ensued on the boardwalk and I soon realised that it's because Leo and Bree are running over to us, stumbling against performers and crashing into trash cans.

It's Leo's shrieking voice that greets us. 'Chase, what are you doing here?!' He's heavily panting for the few yards he just ran.

'You were supposed to watch over the RV,' Bree adds. Her eyes are pulping with panic and her head frantically darts around.

Chase waves them off, an annoyed expression gracing his face within seconds that they arrived. 'Don't worry. Adam is watching over it,' he scoffs.

The moment Chase mentioned Adam's name, I saw him. The tallest Davenport isn't difficult to pick out of a crowd, especially not with what he's holding in his arms. 'Do you mean the same Adam that's standing over there with a dozen ice creams?' I ask the trio behind me and point over towards Adam, who's happily eating one of the ice creams.