Title: Till There Was You
Author: AmandaLynn125 (amandalynn99@earthlink.net)
Rating: PG
Pairing: Pete/Lana (I think this may be the first!)
Disclaimer: I don't own Smallville or any of it characters, and I don't own Meredith Willson's The Music Man or any of the lyrics to the songs contained within. All are used without permission.
Summary: Pete goes out for the school musical and ends up as Lana Lang's leading man.
"Going out for the musical? I didn't think you were into that stuff," said Clark.
"It's just for the English extra credit," Pete replied. "I bombed that essay on Animal Farm."
"Yeah, you definitely don't seem like the black beret thespian type," Chloe remarked sarcastically. "And don't you have to be able to carry a tune to be in a musical?"
"Hey, who says I can't carry a tune? Just because I'm not president of the Glee Club doesn't mean I can't sing," Pete shot back defensively. "I happen to have a great voice. Good enough for the chorus, anyway."
"Well, good luck with that," said Chloe doubtfully. "Tell you what: if you make the musical, I'll go out for cheerleading."
"Whoa, Chloe, don't get ahead of yourself here," said Clark. "Pete probably can make the chorus, and you really don't want to be held to that promise come fall."
"Yeah, Chloe, have some faith!" Pete exclaimed. "Besides, I've always heard that everyone makes the chorus no matter what. It's like a Drama Club rule."
"Okay, okay, point taken. Have fun with your little thespians," Chloe snarked, heading off to the Torch office.
"Hey, I think it's cool," said Clark. "Good luck."
"Thanks, man," said Pete, and walked off to the auditorium for auditions.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Pete walked down the auditorium's long aisle to sign up with the drama teacher, Mr. Herrada. "Ross, what a surprise! This is great--if you have half the talent Kathy did, you might just end up being our star."
Pete's eyebrows rose. "Really?" Maybe I'll get more extra points if I'm the lead, he wondered, grinning.
"Pete!" he turned to see Lana holding a stack of photocopied script excerpts. "I didn't know you were into acting."
"Actually, I'm just here to pick up some extra credit for English," he answered conspiratorially in a low voice, his eyes darting around the room. "Don't tell anyone."
Lana smiled. "Your secret's safe with me," she replied. She handed him the packet of lines and lyrics. "Mrs. Hawthorn's doing the singing tryouts in the choral room, and Mr. Herrada's listening to line readings here. Which do you want to do first?"
He flipped through the packet. They had to sing "76 Trombones," which wasn't too bad. He decided to go get that over with first. "I'll go sing."
"Okay, then go on over to the choral room, and then I'll see you back here when you're done," Lana replied sweetly. "Good luck!"
"Thanks," he said. "Are you trying out too?"
"Of course!" she giggled. "Why else would I be here?"
Interesting, he thought. He looked through the lines they had been assigned. One was from the crowd scene just before "Ya Got Trouble," and the other was the bridge scene between Harold and Marian. Obviously that was designed to test the chemistry between the characters. He looked around the room. There were some beautiful girls trying out for the musical, and Pete was willing to have chemistry with any one of them. He smiled and headed to the choral room.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Mr. Ross, what a pleasure! I always thought you boys should have spent less time on the football field and more time on the stage. You're all so talented! I've been listening to that golden voice of yours in the church choir since you were six years old, wondering when you were going to haul that little tush of yours in here and sing for me," old Mrs. Hawthorn gushed. Mrs. Hawthorn was the director of every singing group in town--the church choir, the elementary and junior high choruses, and the high school Glee Club.
Pete smiled at her and opened up the "76 Trombones" lyrics. He took a few deep breaths as Mrs. Hawthorn played the intro.
Seventy-six trombones led the big parade
With a hundred and ten cornets close at hand.
They were followed by rows and rows of the finest virtuosos,
the cream of ev'ry famous band.
Seventy six trombones caught the morning sun,
With a hundred and ten cornets right behind.
There were more than a thousand reeds springing up like weeds,
There were horns of every shape and kind.
There were copper bottom tympani in horse platoons,
Thundering, thundering, all along the way.
Double bell euphoniums and big bassoons,
Each bassoon having his big fat say.
There were fifty mounted cannon in the battery,
Thundering, thundering, louder than before.
Clarinets of every size and trumpeters who'd improvise
A full octave higher than the score.
His strong, smooth tenor echoed off the choral room's walls, giving it a reverberant, ethereal quality. He figured he was a shoo-in for a meaty role, maybe Marcellus or one of the barbershop quartet members. He smiled as he left the room, hoping a good role would score him a good date--and some extra credit.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Lana was waiting for him when he returned. "How did you do?" she asked politely.
"Pretty good," he answered suavely. "I've been singing since I was six, so it was no big deal."
"Really? I never knew that!" exclaimed Lana. "Are you in a group or something?"
"Church choir," he replied. "It's a big thing in my family."
"That's great," Lana remarked. "You'll probably get a good part, then."
"Maybe," he answered. "How about you? What are you hoping for?"
Lana smiled shyly. "I was hoping to be Marian," she told him. "I've always dreamed of being the star of the musical. My mother used to perform in the musicals, and she loved it. I just hope I can live up to her."
He smiled. "I'm sure you'll do great," he told her confidently. "You'd make a terrific Marian."
"Thanks," she murmured self-deprecatingly. "But I doubt I'll get it. Amy Hoffman gets the leads in all the plays."
"Who knows? Maybe she can't sing," Pete offered.
Lana smiled. "I wish."
"Good luck," said Pete sincerely.
Lana looked deep into his eyes. "Thank you," she replied, her voice surprised and pleased. She turned and headed to the choral room and Pete took his place onstage with 5 other male students.
After the group was finished Pete went down and sat in the front row, waiting for the girls to come back from the choral room. Only a few guys were being selected to reread, and Mr. Herrada announced that there would also be a second singing audition with a "mystery song" that had yet to be announced. He did say, however, that the song would be the same for both the boys and the girls. Obviously, then, it was one of the large chorus numbers. After that, he had threatened to hold dance auditions, but that suggestion was greeted by bemused laughter. The choreography displayed in the musicals had been a long-running joke; it was basically the same five or six steps arranged in different order throughout the entire show.
"And now for what you've all been waiting for: who gets to stay here in this drab, stifling auditorium and re-audition and who gets to go home and relax." Everyone laughed. Mr. Herrada was a trip.
"For the men: Jason Miller, David Jansen, Andy Mattingly, Craig Littleton, Brian Cavanaugh, Rich Gianetta, and Pete Ross. For the lovely ladies: Amy Hoffman, Lauren Price, Jenna Hutchinson, Molly Christopher, Carly Geller, Shawna Zimmerman, and Lana Lang."
Pete smiled. He was glad Lana had made the final cut. The truth was, he wouldn't mind being Harold to her Marian. In fact, he thought it would be kind of cool. But his thoughts were drowned out by the sounds of all the disappointed kids gathering their stuff and leaving.
The first pair to read the bridge scene was Jason and Jenna. Pete pulled out his Algebra book and started on the homework, figuring he would be there for a while. He was on the fifth problem when he heard Mr. Herrada calling, "Earth to Pete! Lana and I need you on the bridge!"
He was embarrassed but thought he played it off well as he strode confidently onto the stage. He smiled encouragingly at Lana and began the scene. He had to admit, she was a better actress than he had expected. She fit the role of Marian perfectly--prim and proper yet intelligent and articulate. And Pete, with his suaveness and flirtatious personality would be perfect as con man Harold Hill. Maybe this will really work out! he thought excitedly. He knew Lana must have been excited as well. Surely she had to know how well she was doing.
But then, Amy Hoffman took the stage with Craig. Amy was good, but she had quite a presence--much more suited toward Eulalie or Mrs. Paroo. And Craig's booming voice was perfect for Mayor Shinn. Amy and Craig were the last pairing before the singing re-auditions started.
Mrs. Hawthorn bustled over from the choral room and sat down at the piano. "The ladies will be trying their hands at 'My White Knight'," she announced, and Mr. Herrada handed each of them the sheet music. "And then all you fine young men will be trying out some of the barbershop quartet harmonies. Girls, you're up first."
Amy stepped confidently up to the piano. Mrs. Hawthorn played the intro, and Amy began belting it out. She had a decent voice, but she seemed more interested in showing off than really exploring the emotional nuances of the song.
The rest of the girls took their turns, and Lana nervously stood up last. As she passed him, Pete squeezed her shoulder. "You can do it," he whispered. She smiled, visibly relaxing. She opened her music and began to sing. She had a sweet voice, not powerful like Amy's, that was much more suited to the wistful lyrics she was singing.
My white knight, not a Lancelot, nor an angel with wings;
Just someone to love me,
who is not ashamed of a few nice things.
My white knight who knew what my heart would say if it only knew how.
Please, dear Venus, show me now.
All I want is a plain man
All I want is a modest man
A quiet man, a gentle man
A straightforward and honest man
To sit with me in a cottage somewhere in the state of Iowa.
And I would like him to be more interested in me than he is in himself.
And more interested in us... than in me.
And if occasion'ly he'd ponder what made
Shakespeare and Beethoven great,
Him I could love 'til I die. Him I could love 'til I die.
My white knight, not a Lancelot, nor an angel with wings.
Just someone to love me, who is not ashamed of a few nice things.
My white knight, let me walk with him where others ride by;
Walk and love him 'til I die, 'til I die.
The whole auditorium applauded when she was done. Lana startled, as if she had forgotten they were there. She blushed and looked down at the floor bashfully. She walked by, and Pete whispered, "You were incredible!"
She stopped and looked at him, beaming. "Thanks, Pete," she replied modestly. "Good luck." She picked up her backpack and headed out of the auditorium.
Pete couldn't get that smile out of his head for the rest of the day.