well… dunno where this idea became from, but enjoy! It'll have more chapters that will (hopefully) be longer. Reviews are much appreciated!
He never ran as hard as he did when he heard the casting as done.
Gary's friends had joked about how he should consider doing track instead of theater, but he had ignored them as he collected his stuff. He shot them one glare before running off towards his drama class. Supposedly the teacher just hang up the roles minutes ago.
Luckily, the place wasn't as crowded as he had expected. It were just a few students and most worked backstage, checking on whether they'll be taking care of the sounds or the light. No one who had gotten one of the main roles was present, much to Gary's surprise as he knows a lot of them are passionate about everything related to theater.
He started reading from the bottom up, like he always does. It was a tradition and a habit to do so. At the top of the list, the main characters were put and at the bottom the ones backstage and with smaller roles. Most with small roles were new to the theater club, some were familiar faces who just liked being not as important to the play as the rest, but still needed.
He found his own name almost on top; just underneath the female main character. If he had to be honest, he'd say that he wasn't surprised; he had put so much work into practising for casting day that he already knew half of the play. That, and he had watched Les Miserables too often and so knows how to be overdramatic, but in a good and believable way.
Gary was a bit too much into the list that he hadn't noticed the teacher coming out of the classroom next to the theater. The man - who most knew as Price - chuckled when he saw Gary practically admiring the piece of paper.
"Ai, Sanderson," Price said in attempt to get Gary's attention. The mention of his last name snapped him back to reality, knowing it could only be one of his favorite teachers. Perhaps Price is his favorite teacher, but most students have something against the history teacher. However, Gary liked his personality and way of giving class, which many thought was uncomfortable because if Price is known for anything, it's mocking you with his personal questions.
"Hello, Mr Price," Gary said sweetly and shortly waved at the older man. As always, he was wearing his beanie. Gary had wondered before what'd happen if anyone ripped it off his head and ran away with it, but despite his speed, Gary wasn't sure if he wanted to do that. Had to respect how through all his years of giving class, no student has ever seen the beanie falling off his head or even him without beanie.
A strange man Price was, but a good one. "So, which role you got this time, kid?" Price asked and looked at the paper. As expected, Gary's name was on top of the list and Price chuckled. "It's surprising how often you have gotten the lead role, but how unlike many other students with great acting skills, you haven't been noticed by anyone big in the business."
Gary laughed. What Price just said wasn't completely true; he has been approached many times before, but always refused. He never liked the ideas of the people who wanted him in their movies and though it was something, he wasn't satisfied with it. He didn't want a big role in the first professional movie he is ever playing in, but neither does he want to have one that's too small.
"You know what my goals are, Mr," Gary said with a smile. Price nodded, having heard about Gary's big plans for the future a few times too often. Though it was great he had such big plans, Price couldn't help but be a bit worried that what if something goes wrong and he doesn't achieve his goals because of tht? Or worse; if he achieves his goals, but the fame doesn't last long. He wished the boy yhe best and thought he honestly deserved the best as well, but he was just concerned.
"If you ever need to know something about the musical…" Price started as he looked at what was written on top of the paper in big, bold letters. It was a musical played during the Renaissance, whch just happens to be a topic the history teacher knows a lot about. "Come to my class. I can always help," Prcie offered and Gary nodded.
"Thanks, Mr Price! You're amazing!" Gary exclaimed loudly. Few students who were walking past raised an eyebrow at the display, but Gary ignored it and so did Price. All Price did was smile slightly and ruffling the boy's hair before Gary decided it was enough and ran off, back to the cafeteria to hang out with his friends before the bell rang again and he had to go to his French class.
The day was nearly at it's end as Gary was walking the empty halls of the school, heading towards the theater. He was going to get his script, not wanting to wait another second. On his way there, he walked past the auditorium where the music majors often hang out because he somehow knows that without knowing someone from that clique. Everyone knew it, thanks to the music that could be heard coming from that room all day long. Sometimes it'd be someone singing; solo, duet or group. More often than not, it was someone playing an instrument and maybe singing as well and if there was something coming up, an entire orcest.
Gary had no idea why the auditorium and the theater were split up. You couldn't walk into the auditorium and go through there to the theater and the same visa versa. That often caused freshmen to make the mistake of going to the theater instead of the auditorium, especially when they get told they need to go to the theater. Most got told though that everyone calls it the theater, but you just need to know which part is for which clique; the dramatic or the musical.
Surprisingly, it was quiet when he walked there. He could hear someone singing while playing the guitar, but whoever it was wasn't making much sound. As if he or she was trying to keep it a secret and actually isn't a music major, but Gary knows it's impossible to enter the auditorium as a non-music major. He had tried it himself that one time he had lost his jacket and someone said they had seen one in the auditorium. Two steps into the auditorium before someone shouted at him to get out.
So whoever it was had to be a music major, he concluded. Curious to who it was and if they were any good, he decided to peek in. What surprised him more was that the door was left open for anyone to walk in, which was more unusual than it being quiet in there.
When he peeked in, he saw it was another guy. He was sitting with a guitar in his lap in one of the chairs, his back turned to Gary. He seemed to be annoyed as he had his head in his hands and seemed to be pulling on his hair it looked like from Gary's perspective. It was slightly incoherent, but Gary heard him mumbling something to himself before picking up the guitar again.
Gary backed away a bit as he stood up and started walking around as he played the intro of whatever song he was playing. It took maybe a minute before he began singing, but Gary was already hypnotized by his skills with a guitar; it was truly amazing.
What Gary didn't expect was for his voice to be even better than his playing. His voice was smooth and clear and quiet, yet powerful. Soothing, in a way. He knows you don't really call a guy's voice beautiful, but his was. It was beautiful, and Gary wished that he would never stop while he had just began.
"People always told me 'be careful of what you do and don't go around breaking young girls' hearts'," he sang and Gary recognized the lyrics, but had no idea what the song was called or who the singer is. He was guessing it was Michael Jackson once he heard him say Billie Jean, the name of one of Michael Jackson's songs. Personally, Gary wasn't a big fan of him, but nonetheless he admired the man, his talent and the lyrics he had written during his time because every time Gary heard it, he was blown away.
The feelings his lyrics gave Gary were the same feelings the unknown guy's hitting the high notes perfectly gave. He stood perplexed by what he was hearing and felt the urge to go in and compliment him, but music majors were the most bipolar people in the school so he had no idea how the unknown guy could respond. Deciding it was a safer decision to stay outside, he sat listening until the end of the song… and till the end of at least five other songs.
He hadn't realized the theater was almost closing until the guy took a break. Gary took one glance at the clock and thiugh he couldn't see what the time was correctly, he found out he wasted nearly half an hour listening. Oh well, wasted? Gary enjoyed it a lot and wouldn't mind stayying longer if it meant he could listen to the guy for another few hours until the school closes and everyone's gone.
But he knew he needed to go now. With a sigh, he stood up and grabbed his bag - which he had put next to him while he was sitting - and rushed to the theater. If he was lucky, he could get his script, go back and listen to the guy again. Perhaps walk in if he manages to gather the courage to do so.
Just as expected, when Gary was back, so was the guy. He ran - no, sprinted - to the other side to get his script, but the door of the auditorum was closed. Gary still hoped the guy was inside as he peeked through the small windows, but the lights were off. The only lght source was coming from the theater and that light wasn't strong enough.
Slightly disappointed that the guy was gone, Gary exited the school. The building was empty, minus the teachers and janitor, but most students had already left when the last bell rang unless they were in a certain club and had to pick up something. But almost an hour after the last bell, the place was quiet.
Gary has never been a big music lover as most music majors, but he couldn't help but replay what he had heard in his mind. Not as if he had a choice; it automatically replayed itself countless of times, as if put on loop.