In the cool hallways of Carmel High School sat three young girls waiting anxiously to be called in for their auditions. The door opened and all three looked up expectantly. The girl before them had tears in her eyes as she motioned for one of them to go in. The oldest stepped forward, giving a scared smile to her friends before stepping through the door into the auditorium. "I blew it. I'll never get in. How could I have done something so stupid?" She heard the other girl muttering as she walked past. She cringed and considered turning around and not auditioning, but continued forward on to the stage. In the third row back sat the coach of Vocal Adrenaline. Jesse St. James.
"You know the drill." He said around a yawn. She nodded, light brown waves brushing her cheeks with the motion.
"Elizabeth Martin. I'm a senior and I'll be singing the song 'Life' from Starship." Jesse nodded, signaling her to start her performance.
"It's a big, big universe. So many dimensions and unanswered questions." Her dance moves were carefully practiced and seemingly effortless as she twirled and stepped at the right moments. "It's a short, small thing we lead, with so much potential. Pointless or essential, which can I be?" Jesse held up a hand. Elizabeth stilled, trying to calm her breathing.
"I'm not going to sugar-coat this; you're not a great singer. But you do have a good deal of potential. And your dancing is nearly flawless. You'll be considered for a spot." Elizabeth smiled and nodded before exiting the auditorium. Her blue-green eyes were alight with joy as she stepped into the hallway. Her friends both stood up quickly, smiling.
"How'd it go?" The younger one said. Elizabeth just nodded and smiled.
"He said he'd consider me. Go on, I've heard he has less patience than you, Jaynie." The younger rolled her eyes before smiling and sitting down. The middle of the girls stepped through the door and out onto the stage. Jesse raised his eyebrows signaling her for her information.
"My name is Mary Lennol. I'm a sophomore and I'll be singing the girl's part of 'Kiss Me' from Sweeney Todd." He nodded, another yawn escaping his lips.
"He means to marry me on Monday. What should I do? I'd rather die! I'll swallow poison on Sunday, that's what I'll do; I'll get some lye." Her dance moves were simple but well thought out, flowing with the singing rather than being its own performance. "Oh, Sir! If he should marry me on Monday, what shall I do? I'll die of grief!" Jesse held up a hand. Mary stopped singing and ran a hand through her brown-blonde tresses. He eyes were like aquamarines shivering worriedly as she waited for him to say something.
"Your dancing is quite...terrible. But you have a great voice. Very nice high notes, but your low notes are skippy. Fix that up, and keep an eye out for the callback list." She nodded and made her way back out into the hallway. She raised a brow when she noticed Elizabeth wasn't sitting with her other friend.
"She went to grab us some waters." The younger provided, standing up and bushing off her pants. "How'd it go?"
"He said my dancing sucked, but that I should watch for the list. Go on. Break a leg." Both girls smiled as the last of the three went in for her audition.
"Hi there." She said when Jesse came into view. "I'm Jayne Goodwin, a sophomore, and I'll be singing 'Rose's Turn' from Gypsy." He waved his hand, signaling her to start. Taking a seat the red head bowed her head, brown streaks black in the dim lighting.
"All that work and what did it get me? Why did I do it? Scrapbooks full of me in the background. Give 'em love and what does it get ya? One quick look as each of 'em leaves you." Jayne couldn't dance, but she could act, and she could do it well. So rather than choreograph her number, she acted it out as she sang. "Well someone tell me, when is it my turn? Don't I get a dream for myself? Starting now it's gonna be my turn! Gangway, world, get off of my runway!" Jesse stood up and gathered his papers before walking up to the stage. "So?" Jayne said biting her lip.
"You're great when it comes to theatricality, but your voice is only average and you need to dance to be in this group. Can you dance?" Jayne shook her head.
"But I can learn to! I-I'll practice for hours. I can work on my singing too, just please!" Jayne hung her head, a flush rising to her cheeks as she realized she was pretty much begging him to get in. "I'm sorry, that was unprofessional." She turned around, walking away briskly. Jesse chuckled and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Rehearsal times will be posted with the list, Jayne." She smiled brightly at him, gray-blue eyes shining.
"Thank you!" Before she could stop herself she'd wrapped her arms around him and sprinted through the door to tell her friends. Mary and Elizabeth stood as Jayne ran out beaming. "I'm in!"
"That's great!" Elizabeth exclaimed. "I hope all of us get to do it together. Mar and I didn't get a real answer so..." Jayne just rolled her eyes.
"We got this." She smiled and hooked her arms through theirs. "Now then, the list should be posted tomorrow, but until then, let's get down to business!" Her friends laughed before joining in. "To defeat the Huns!"
Jesse smiled as they walked off. "Those three will be an interesting addition to Vocal Adrenaline."