Warning time does not run in a straight line in this there are some over laps. For the song/poem bit they are jazz well they are meant to be it's the kind of jazz from the new princes and the frog, the actual tune is pretty much the theme to the cartoon Erky and perky if you know it if not it isn't really important. Well I hope you like it. Oh and I apologise for the attempt at the ascent hopefully it is still readable despite it.
Last time
This isn't fair, I'm the one who wants to see this more than anyone and everyone else gets to go. All because of some test I'm probably going to fail anyway. I think bitterly.
Or maybe…. Maybe I can go. Alex thinks beginning to think of a plan.
POV Mitchie
"Mitchie I'm not hearing enough attitude. I gave you this part against my better judgement because you can sing but I you just aren't giving me anything to work with." Mr Cloudel yelled at me for the umpteenth time today.
"Okay everybody take five re-hydrate or what ever I need coffee." He calls rubbing his head.
"Hey don't worry about Cloudel you're doing fine he is just stressed and you are new. It's his way of seeing if you can hack it, if you are back next production he'll back off. Because if you come back after that it means you want it." Noah says kindly handing me a much needed bottle of water.
"Here was me just thinking he just hates me." I say. Mr Cloudel has been yelling at me from the first rehearsal. Everything I do from the my feet pointing to my facial expressions is wrong.
"Anyway it's easy for you to say you're his golden boy." I add with a sigh this is the first dress rehearsal the show is less than a week away and if it isn't right well I think my head may roll.
"Hey stop it, you're stressing again. You have that pained look on your face you get when you are freaking out. Come on why don't we work on some lines together and I can give you some tips on what Mr Cloudel wants." Noah says ruffling his hair. Noah has been so nice to me right from the start he has gone over lines offered acting tips and bent over backward to make me feel at home among the drama group.
"Thank you so much all Mr Cloudel seems to say is what I'm doing wrong he never says what he actually wants." I say with a sigh.
"That is because he like us to try to work it out ourselves to read the play over and over and work out who we think the character is. So tell me who do you think Annabel is?" He asks.
"Well… she acts kind of tough and cold but she really cares I mean she gave that little beggar girl, her lunch. I think she also has a big sense of humour and like to tease people." I answer thoughtfully.
"Okay well use that why don't we try the scene where she is telling Even off for coming to find her." Noah suggests.
"I told you not to come here yeh gona get yer self killed." I say.
"But I had ta see you. I just can't stop thinking about you." Noah says making me blush.
"Now off with ya get on back to ya big ol' house where there aint no one waitin' to kill ya for ya coin." I say trying to get the rough southern accent right.
"I can't go and leave you here." He say.
"You have to this is my home as dirty as it is." I say
"Home is I where belong
It's all I've known for so long
It maybe be dirty and it's rough
But out there times are tough
This where I need to be
I have people counting on me
So please just leave me alone
And hurry off to your home" I sing mournfully trying to feel how sad Annabel must feel to send away this man she loves so he won't get hurt.
"You want me to leave really Annabel is that what you want?" He asks his eye looking deep into mine.
"Yes Even, yes I want ya ta go and not to come looking for me again. I mean it truly I do." I say the words making me so sad.
"Well, well Miss Torres we may make an actor out of you yet. Good job Noah." Mr Cloudel says making me look up I had forgotten that we were standing out in the open. I was so into what we were saying I hadn't noticed half the cast come up to watch.
Some of them are clapping while the others laughing at how startled I must look.
"That was really good." Jenny one of the girls playing on the smaller roll says giving me a hug. One thing I have noticed these people hug a lot more than I am used to.
"Um thank you." I say blushing.
"You two look good together. You seem to connect really well up there." She says with a sigh she thinks Noah likes me and is ridiculously jealous as she, as she puts it, has had a crush on Noah since their first play together in grade school.
"We just work well together. I have a boyfriend one I am very happy with thank you very much." I say my cheeks now scarlet.
"What ever you say, anyway Mr Cloudel wants every one back stage for a talk before we go through another run through." Jenny say.
POV Alex
"Okay honey there is leftovers in the fridge just heat them up." Mom says as she give me a hug goodbye.
"Yeah mom I'll be fine. Hurry up and go if you want to have time for dinner before the play." I say waving her off.
"Well have a nice time studying?" Mom says walking out to where everyone is already waiting to leave.
"Yeah right." I call out to her and hear a little chuckle in return.
Then the distinct pop sound I was waiting for.
Okay now it's time to begin. I think as I gather my wand..
"Take me there with out them knowing, don't set off the alarm with my going." I chant waving my wand. It took me ages to find that spell and then adapt it.
"Wow I'm good." I muter as I look around me I am in an ally just next to the school and the alarm dad put up didn't go off.
But I need better cloths I think looking down. I dressed down to make it look like I wasn't going anywhere.
"I can't look like a mess, so put me in a pretty dress." I say waving my wand.
Stepping out of the ally I walk towards the school I'm a bit early but this way I can be inside and out of the way when the other get here it will be easier to hide that way.
"Excuse me are you here for the play?" A girl asks me. Looking over I see she is practically falling over under the wait of the bags she is carrying.
"I am, um can I help you?" I ask.
"Oh a yes thank you that would be great. I'm jenny by the way." The girl says handing me a few of the bags.
"It's not a problem I'm Alex. Where are we taking these anyway?" I ask.
"Oh to the back stage door the drycleaner didn't get all the costumes finished on time so I had to run and get them." She says shaking her fringe out of her eyes.
"Hey I haven't see you around before, you don't go to school here do you?" She asks me curious.
"No I don't I'm here to see my sister but… well I wasn't meant to have come my parents grounded me. I snuck out." I say not quote sure why I am telling her.
"Oh really who is your sister?" She asks smiling.
"Um Mitchie Torres." I say uncertainly wondering if she would know her. In fact I'm not even sure how big a part Mitchie got anyway.
"Oh wow yes Mitchie did say her family was coming. You must be so exited I mean it's not every day you get to see one of your family in the lead roll." She chatters away as we near the building I assume is the auditorium. I guess that answers both my questions.
"Everyone was so surprised when she got the roll too, not that she isn't good enough, it's just normally Mr Cloudel doesn't give leas to new performers even if they are good. So everyone was a bit surprised but she's done so well none can complain." Says pausing to knock on the door.
"Jenny finally Mr Cloudel has been going crazy and shouting at people." A blond boy says popping his head out.
"Oh no I told the cleaner to hurry up. Who has been off at?" She asks the boy biting her lip.
"Mostly Mitchie again I though he had stoped that and now she is all frazzled. Every time I get her calm again he gets all worried and yells questions at her and she panics again." The boy says looking mad.
"Great of all the things to happen. Well I'm here now." Jenny says pulling open the door.
"hello who are you then?" The boy asks finally noticing me. "Do you work dor the cleaner because I can tell you we have some serious complaints." he adds.
"Um no I don't work for the drycleaner I'm Alex Mitchie's sister." I say handing him the bags I was carrying.
"Why are you now hmm hey would you stay here for just a minute." he says pulling Jenny inside and closing the door.
That was odd but it good Mitchie has people looking out for her.
"Here we are." The boy say opening the door again with Mitchie next to him this time.
"Alex." She says grabbing me in a big hug.
"Hey what's this I here about you being nervous?" I ask her giving her a squeeze.
"Oh it's nothing it's just our director keeps yelling at me not to forget my lines which generally makes me forget my lines. Oh I am so glad you are here but didn't mom say something about you not being able to come?" Mitchie asks.
"Well yes but I couldn't miss this so I snuck out I'll be back before they are and they won't even know I left the house. Now all I have to do is hide from them during the show" I say smiling.
"Well you can sit with Caitlyn she sitting on the other side of the room to mom and the others." She suggests.
"Mitchie we should go. I'm Noah by the way nice to meet you." The boy says pulling Mitchie back inside.
"Caitlyn is already inside and she is sitting on the left." Mitchie says before the door closes.
Okay all I need now is to find an entrance I think looking at my watch I have about tem minutes before my family gets here.
Wandering around the way I came with Jenny I soon find an entry. I pull out my wand.
"Change what my ticket says, give me a seat next to Caitlyn by anyways." I say waving my wand over my ticket.
I show my ticket to the usher as I walk in.
"Hello thank you and follow me this way please." The girl says when she sees my ticket.
"here you are." she says pointing to the seat next to a bushie haired girl and walking off.
"Hi you must be Caitlyn." I say holding out my hand.
"What oh a yes I am." She says taking it.
"I'm Alex Mitchie's sister." I add sitting down.
"Yes I saw the photo album of spring break I didn't recognise you dressed up like that." she says making me look down at my dress.
"Is it too much?" I asks unsure.
"No it looks great really. It's so nice to meet you after hearing so much about you from Mitchie." She says smiling widely
"You too." I say smiling back.
Just then the lights dim and the curtain starts to move.
POV Mitchie a bit earlier
Okay I can do this, it easy just like at camp. Oh no, oh no I can't do this what was I thinking, I can't act.
"Hey calm down and stop freaking your self out. You have practised this a hundred time you know it. Come breath in and out, in and out." Jenny says rubbing my back.
"Hey how are you holding up?" Noah says coming over.
"I'm okay-ish." I answer still trying to keep my breathing calm.
"Hey don't worry we will be right up there with you and we even practised if something goes wrong." Jenny says
"That's not helping." I say
"Hey don't worry and don't look at the audience too much if you start to freak just look at me okay and pretend it is just another rehearsals." Noah says garbing my hand.
"Um okay." I say feeling a little awkward all of a sudden.
"Now come on we should get into place but remember you are going to do great and just look a me." Noah says giving my hand a squeeze before hurrying off to his fist position.
"Come on we need to get ready for our first scene to." Jenny says pulling me over to our position in the wing.
Looking on to the stage I see the curtain is opening. Noah is on stage ready to deliver his first lines, standing frozen until the curtain is fully open. He looks so calm I can't help but smile.
POV Alex
Wow this is good I think and Mitchie she has been great. She has sung two songs so far and she sounded amazing.
The story is pretty good too and I think every girl in the audience has fallen just a little in love with the male lead. Noah the boy I met earlier he is definitely cute but more he can really act.
"Wow." I whisper to Caitlyn as Mitchie finishes off a dance number.
"Yeah I didn't know she could dance like that did you?" She whispers back I admit I had no idea either and if every girl is falling in love with Even every boy is probably doing to same with Mitchie's character. Well love might be the wrong word in the boys cases after seeing that dance.
"Me neither here I was thinking she was a good girl." I answer.
Oh even is following her out of the gangsters club.
"Why do you do that? Why do you let that thug tell you what to do?" Even says.
"Look Even it isn't any of your business. Some of us need to work to survive not everyone has everything handed to them." Annabel snaps back.
"It doesn't need to be like this let me take you away from here." Even says grabbing her arm.
"Come with me lets go far away
Come with me we'll go over the way
Come listen to what I've found
Come on lets go chase the sound
You hear me playing so play along
Come on and listen to my chunky song
The base is jumpin' and the tune sweet
You can't stop dacin' when you hear the beat" Even starts singing as Annabel pulls away.
"I ain't gona follow you any day
It just not going to be that way
You don't seem to know the score
So listen up and I'll tell you more
You have some moves I give you that
But baby let me hear you scat" Annabel sings back starting Even off scatting.
Badda baaaaa do dadda daaaaaaaaaa do
boo boo boo boodada badada boooo
Dada daaaaaaaa doo dada deeeeeeee da
Booba beeee ba baba boooooo
"Oh come that ain't gona roll
I hear you singin' but you got no soul
You have to give it more feeling than that
'cause honey that's no way to scat
You have the rhythm but there's no heart
Le' me tell you now that's no way to start" Annabel continues.
"Oh darlin' don't go bein' so harsh
Let me take you over the marsh
I know that you like it loud
So let it ring till it'll reach the clouds
I know you think that I'm a hound
But don't deny you dig my sound
Come on won't ya give me a chance
If ya do you'll find romance" Even takes over dancing around her.
"Slow down baby just let it swing
Trying to hard to ringa ding ding
You just have to let it flow
Go where the music wants to go
Honey I don't got all night
And you just ain't doing it right" Annabel sings back.
"Don't go runnin' away
I still have more to say
Baby doll don't be like that
I can't help it I'm a crazy cat
Come on lets take a drive
I'll show you how to jive" Even sings dancing I her way.
"I'm sorry but your out of time
I need dollar but you're just a dime" Annabel finishes pushing Even aside and walking off stage.
And the curtains close for intermission.
"Hey do you need to go the bathroom because I do." I suggest to Caitlyn.
"Um yeah I do." She says getting up to follow me.
"So any ideas where they are?' I ask looking around.
"I think I saw some on the way in." Caitlyn says walking to wards the entrance.
Oh I hope they don't see me. I think crossing my fingers. Well it will be hard to see me through this crowd I think as we push our way towards the bathrooms.
"Wow these bathrooms are way nicer than the ones at my school." Caitlyn says as we walk in.
"Yeah definitely cleaner than the ones at my school." I answer looking around.
"Hey would you hold my bag?" Caitlyn asks handing it to me.
"Yeah sure." I answer taking it. And waiting out side the cubicle.
"Oh no." Caitlyn curses from inside the toilet.
"What's wrong? Isn't there any toilet paper?" I ask her worried.
"Um there is toilet paper but I have a problem. I well… I have a um visitor, an unexpected one." She says awkwardly.
"Oh umm let me check my bag." I reply think. Looking around I spot an empty cubical and rush into it.
"My friend has a visit from that thing, so give me a sanitary napkin." I say making it up.
"It's okay I have um stuff." I say handing it under the door.
"Thank you I am in your debt forever." she said as she opens the door.
"Hey just think one day this will make a very funny story." I say trying to lighten to mood.
"Yeah one day a very long time from now. Hey why don't we get a snack?" She ask making my stomach grumble.
"I'll take that as a yes." she say with a laugh making me laugh too. This is fun.
POV Mitchie
The clapping intensives as Noah and I walk on the stage to take our bows. Blushing I give a curtsy.
A few more curtsies and a lot of clapping and waving later we all walk off into the wing to get changed.
"You were amazing." Noah say giving me a hug, picking me up and spinning me around.
"I was amazing? What about you, you were brilliant." I say giving him a hug back.
"They loved it." Jenny squeals as she races over to us almost knocking us over with a half tack half hug.
"You were great." I say giving her a hug.
"Wonderful job, wonderful job everyone it went perfectly." Mr Cloudel calls out.
"Noah my boy I think that was your best performance yet." Mr Cloudel says giving Noah a pet on the back.
"Well I had a lot of help from my leading lady." He replies modestly.
"Yes, yes indeed Mitchie you did a marvellous job I hope you'll audition for the next one." he say walking way before I can answer.
"See I told you he mallows after he sees you stick it out for your first show." Noah says giving me a final hug before heading off to get dressed.
"You really were good Mitchie." jenny says as we head to the area for girls to change in.
"Thank you. You were really good too I almost laughed when you were insulting Noah you did it so well." I say laughing.
"Thanks." She says stepping into a stall and drawing the curtain, I do the same.
"Mitchie you were great." A girl says as I step out changed in to my cloths.
"Yeah you did amazing." Another says, and I'm surrounded be people congratulating me.
Everyone disperses after a minuet off to go see their families and friends. I follow them still kind of in shock.
"Oh you were great." Caitlyn says hugging me and making me blink.
"Yeah you were the best." Alex says joining in on the hug.
"Hi to you two too." I say back smiling.
"And Mitchie who knew you could dance like that?" Alex say with a laugh making me blush.
"Oh I don't think I will ever live that down." I say it was the one bad thing about the roll the fact that I had to dance seductively it was toned down a lot from the original but it was still embarrassing I felt so self-conscious.
"No probably not." Caitlyn say with a laugh making all three of us crack up laughing.
"Oh I should go. It was great meeting Caitlyn. Bye Mitchie I have to get out of here before mom and the others come find you, I don't want to get caught." Alex says detangling her self and giving us a wave before dodging through the crowd just as the boys of connect 3 walk up to us.
"You were amazing." Shane says giving me a hug and a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Yeah it was totally cool." Jason says giving me a big hug.
Nate on the other hand is still staring at the spot Alex disappeared.
"Nate dude, earth to Nate." Jason says bumping Nate.
"Oh Yeah right you were brilliant really maybe you should consider a career in acting." he say giving me a hug but still seeming distracted.
"Her name is Alex she's my sister." I whisper before he pulls away his confused face making me laugh.
"Mitchie honey you were great." Mom says giving me a hug.
"Yeah you were awesome." Max says giving me a hi-five.
"You were really fantastic." Justin says hanging back slightly.
"It was a really good play." Jerry says looking awkward.
"Thank you all. Mom you know Shane, Jason and Nick. Shane, Jason and Nick this is Justin and Max my brother and Jerry." I say making the introductions.
"Mitchie this must be your family." Noah says walking up to us.
"Hi every one I'm Noah I played Even although you all probably realised that." He says with a laugh. "You are the Shane Grey Mitchie has told me all about you it's nice to meet you." He adds shaking everyone's hands.
This has been a good night but I just hope Alex doesn't get in trouble because of it.
A/N this is the longest chapter so far and I am fairly proud of it for that, that and it sets some plot points that I have boiling away in my mind up. Any guesses on what the plot points may be or what bits are doing the setting up? If so I would love to hear really and if anyone gets any at all the can pick them selves a prize(with in reason) I'm not to good at working out what prizes should be. But honest you only have to get one right and I will give prizes.
Well I hope everyone is well and still enjoying this.
PS reviews are nice and they do make me right faster not that I won't right with out them but it is nice to see them they make me feel like very happy. Well I have said enough and I have work to morrow waiting on a bunch of people hopefully this time I don't wake up at 5:30am again it's bad enough having to get up at 6:30am I am not a morning person.