Dear Ocean Sky

Chapter 6.2 | Carson

Carson listened to Alex singing through the closed door. She was really good.

"Hey, idiot!" Liam called, smacking Carson on the head from his place behind him in line. Carson spun around to face his friend. "Just go talk to her dummy." Carson rolled his eyes. "Dude," he said. "You have a huge crush on her."

"Dude," Carson mocked. "I do not. I just think she's a cool person, and I want to be her friend, 'cause she doesn't really seem to have any. You do know it's possible for a straight guy to just be friends with a girl right?" Liam shrugged, unconvinced. For a really nice guy, he could be so incompetent sometimes.

Carson heard the door starting to open and whipped around. Alex wore a huge grin on her face and thanked the teachers as she left the choir room. She evidently wasn't paying attention to where she was going because she almost ran right into Carson.

"Oh um I- sorry," Alex spluttered. She looked down at her feet nervously. "Uh Mr. Benj says not to go in until he tells you it's okay," she mumbled, still looking at her feet.

"Coolio. Thanks," Carson said. He felt Liam nudge him subtly from behind and was extremely tempted to throw a glare at him. "I heard you singing in there," Carson finally said, once he got over his urge. "You sounded really good. Maybe future Gabriella right here?"

Alex's cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh well thank you but I really don't think-"

"Oh come on don't be so modest. I heard you, you were amazing!" Carson boasted.

"Thank you," Alex replied meekly. "I'm sure you're going to do just as-" she was cut off by Mr. Faist opening the door, telling Carson he could come in. Alex mumbled a quick goodbye and dashed down the hall.

***

After Carson finished his singing audition, he went out to the cafeteria and immediately spotted Alex working by herself in a corner. He walked over to her. "Hey!" Alex visibly jumped. She turned around, slightly red in the face.

"Oh um hi," Alex stood there awkwardly for a moment. "How'd your audition go?" she finally asked. Carson shrugged, sitting on a table.

"I think it went pretty well. I only messed up a few times so I'm pretty happy with it." Alex nodded.

"That's good." The two sat in silence for a moment.

"Do you want any help with your monologue?" Carson asked. Alex really looked like she just wanted Carson to go away, but Carson was a persistent person, and once he put his mind to something he wasn't going to give up on it. He was going to become friends with Alex whether she liked it or not. Well, if after a week of trying she was still not seeming to be too into the whole "friend thing" then he would give up. Just not until that point.

Besides, he knew what being the new kid felt like. That had been him last year, and he just wanted to help someone in the same position he had been in.

"Uh, sure I guess." Alex finally replied.

The two got to work, and Alex was surprisingly funny both in her monologue and in the minimal conversation they made. She was also really helpful and gave Carson a few tips on his monologue.

"Oh!" Alex exclaimed. "There's ten minutes till my time, I should head back up to the stage." Carson looked at the time.

"I'll come with you, I have fifteen minutes until my time, maybe we could cold read together!" Alex smiled and nodded with a little bit of excitement.

Ten minutes passed, and Carson found himself standing outside the theatre classroom after having practiced and blocked a cold read with Alex. Alex had her back to him, almost ready to go inside. Carson placed both his hands on her shoulders and spun her around. Alex jumped out of his grasp.

"Sorry you just startled me," she said sheepishly.

"S'all good," Carson replied. "Now look at me." Alex did. "You are going to kill it in there. Break a leg."

"Thanks, Carson."

***

A/N: Do you think Carson's pushiness will pay off, or do you think it will backfire??

I want to thank you all again for reading this story! It really means a lot, as well as any interactions I've had with any of you. I really really appreciate it.

-Sunny <3 <3 <3