"And all that's left is him." Julia finished two hours later. Everyone applauded.
"That sounds awesome. I'm assuming I get to play Adria." Karen said. Derek nodded immediately.
"And, Joel, take Amycus. Jonathan, Demetrius." Tom said. The two men nodded and grinned at the other.
"Maybe Sam wants to take Angelo?" Derek asked. Julia shook her head.
"Actually, I saw you and Tom as Riff and Angelo." Julia said. Scott nodded in agreement, as did Jonathan and Joel. Karen frowned but stayed silent.
"Sure. I want Angelo." Derek said after a moment. Tom shrugged.
"I guess I'm Riff." Tom said. Derek fist-bumped Tom and they both wandered off to chat. Karen was left standing with Julia, Jonathan and Joel.
"Jonny, Joey, have you two met Karen?" Julia asked. The two guys shook their heads.
"Karen, these are Jonny and Joey. Cutest not-gay couple you will ever find, if that makes sense." Julia said. Karen looked confused.
"Joel and I live together and Julia and Tom decided we're dating, even though we're only just good friends. We're both straight." Jonathan explained with a smile. Joel laughed. Jonathan fixed his glasses self-consciously, and Joel played with the end of his hat. They both looked nervous.
"How long have you guys been performing?" Karen asked. Joel smiled.
"We were discovered at the same time as Lyle West. Understudies for him." Joel said.
"Karen! C'mere!" Derek yelled. Karen excused herself and walked over to the Brit. Jonathan and Joel watched her, and then her short interaction with Derek.
"I bet you ten bucks they'll be together by opening night." Joel muttered. Jonathan shook his hand.
"Deal."
"First day of rehearsal and our director is late." Derek muttered under his breath. Ivy then entered, looking cold and her breath was still showing.
"Sorry I'm late." Ivy said, taking her spot next to Tom and Julia. Derek made a face at her. "So, I heard that Derek, you'd already worked on Running with the dancers you wanted." Ivy said. Derek nodded. Ivy gestured to the stage. Derek grinned. "Okay. Manuel, Howie, James, Cameron, Gerard, Mel and Darren. Come. Get the outfits I told you about." Derek and the dancers disappeared fora moment before showing up in different clothes. Derek was wearing a black t shirt and black jeans. His hair was gelled down in a style that reminded everyone of Adam Lambert. He wore a single black earring in his left ear. On his feet were high top purple shoes and on his head was a black fedora. The dancers wore white tank tops and black jeans with black high top shoes. They also wore black fedoras and a gold chain hung off their jeans. "I've been standing here my whole life," Derek sang, doing the dance with the others. Everyone watched in shock as Derek executed extremely hard dance moves while singing perfectly, and didn't seem to even break a sweat. He finished the song and looked up at Ivy innocently. "Was that okay? I also got the costumes together out of habit." He admitted, grinning sheepishly. Ivy nodded, mouth still slightly open. Julia chuckled quietly and Tom looked slightly amazed.
"Well, Derek. That was certainly a good way to show off your voice." Tom called. Derek laughed.
"I figured better earlier than later. Never underestimate me. I am still, in fact, the Dark Lord. Darth Derek himself. Sauron the evil." Derek announced, strutting forward arrogantly before cracking up. Karen walked in and raised an eyebrow.
"I missed something important, didn't I?" She asked Julia. Julia nodded.
"Derek just a did a whole routine for us." Julia said dryly. Karen's jaw dropped.
"An entire routine in like, four minutes? When did he make it? And the dancers..." Karen trailed off. Derek looked up at her and grinned.
"I came up with it last night and had the dancers come in at five today to learn it and do it with me." Derek said. The dancers all nodded and yawned, but looked determined.
"Any other routines you have?" Ivy asked, interested. Derek nodded.
"Jonny, Joey, Tom, are you guys interested in doing Shady for everyone?" Derek asked. The two boys nodded. Tom shrugged and followed the other boys to the stage.
"Baby I'm on the hunt Baby I've got my target on you Trouble, that's what I want And I'm gonna do just what I have to Get your ass down to the front Go on and pull it out, I dare you Sorry I'm kinda drunk But did you just say your game was brand new?" Jonathan and Joel snapped as they went through the first verse. They circled around Tom, who watched them rasied eyebrows, an amused look on his face. "No I ain't broken but I, I need a fix That satisfaction when I, I get my kicks I'm up all night I'm out of sight Don't turn on the light Cause I'm feeling so shady lately" Tom sang back to them, snapping along with them. "Come on and take me underground Deep under the street Come on and take me, take me down The freaks like us can meet" They sang together. Then, in order of height (Jonathan, Tom, Joel) They sang the next couple of lines. "Turn it up," "Turn it up," Turn it up, turn it way up Don't stop the beat" "Come on and turn me, turn me on Cause I'm feeling so shady lately Ah! Ah!" Jonathan sang loudly, practically belting it out, falling to the floor. "Gonna go and get me a shot Gonna knock it back forget all my blues Yeah that really hits the spot I'm feeling pretty fierce in my dancin' shoes (yeah)" Tom sang, Joel occasionally joining in.
"No I ain't broken but I, I need a fix That satisfaction when I, I get my kicks" "I'm up all night I'm out of sight Don't turn on the light" "Cause I'm feeling so shady lately" Joel sang, Jonathan harmonizing quietly with him.
"Come on and take me underground Deep under the street Come on and take me, take me down The freaks like us can meet Turn it up, turn it up, turn it up, turn it way up Don't stop the beat" They sang together, watching one another. Joel added some random flips in the song, doing a couple back flips before Jonathan caught on and did a couple himself.
"Come on and turn me, turn me on Cause I'm feeling so shady lately" Tom finished happily. The audience applauded and Derek bowed with the other men. Julia laughed.
"Is that all, Derek?" Julia teased. Derek chuckled.
"Yeah, for now. Give me three days, the entire show will be choreographed. Which reminds me, Karen, can you come over later? I'll feed you dinner." Karen hesitated, and Julia saw.
"Karen, he's changed. Give him a chance." Julia said quietly. Karen glanced at her and saw the sincereness in her eyes.
"Sure. What time?" Karen asked, pushing a smile onto her face.