Gabriella walked into the theater building and down the rolls of chairs where people were spread out chatting and mingling. She felt knot in her stomach, she was going to have to sing in front of all of these people. Spotting Kelsi who was sitting at a small table positioned down in front of the stage she made her way over.
"I honestly thought you might back out of this," she said looking up at Gabriella with a smile. "I'm happy I was wrong."
Gabriella grabbed the strap of her bag a bit tighter. "What do I have to do?"
Kelsi smiled and placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort, "trust me you have nothing to worry about, most of the people here are dancers or back-up singers there are only two other girls trying out for Cinderella."
Gabriella looked around the room and nodded, it didn't clam her nerves, it didn't make her feel better. Gabriella took a deep breath and jerked when she heard a loud thud on stage.
"My name is Mrs, Lowell," the woman said. Her hair was a fiery red and her eyes a dark blue. "Tonight we are looking for a Cinderella and a Stepmother. If you are hoping to get another part the spots have been filled."
Gabriella and Kelsi went to take a seat in front as the room settled down and everyone paid attention to the woman on stage.
"I've been teaching theater at this university for 12 years, I graduated from this school and I have been in charge of this department ever since. If some of you are in my classes then you know how I want things to be done, but for the new faces let me get this straight. You will read for us, then depending on the reading you will sing for us. I don't care if your feelings get hurt I don't care if you have stage fright. The theater is a place of grace, class and confidence. If I tell you to leave, it was nice of you to come, try to join a theater class next semester for improvement."
When the lady was done talking Kelsi stood up with her clip board and walked to the front of the stage. Gabriella closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She'd been in high school plays sung a bit for her father's church when she was younger. There wasn't a logical reason to be nervous but she was.
"Let's have Melody and Silvia first, Silvia is going for the stepmother Melody is going for Cinderella," Kelsi said reading her clip board and then walking back to her seat.
Gabriella watched as Ryan who was by the stage steps handed the girls their scripts and then prepped them on the scene. When they took the stage they stood facing the audience. Gabriella watched them read through the scene with small smile. The girls weren't horrible they just giggled through some of it and remained unattached. When the girls were done Mrs. Lowell stood up to address them.
"Thank you and good night girls. We are looking for passion not giggles. If I wanted immaturity I'd teach kindergartners," she said before taking her seat again. Gabriella looked around the theater to see Troy coming in and taking a seat in the back. What was he doing here?
Next up was a girl named Martha for the role of evil step mother and Cindy for Cinderella. Kelsi rolled her eyes and went back to her seat. If ever there was a more dramatic scene, Cindy made it so. Her character was overflowing with dramatic art.
"Stop." Mrs. Lowell stood up, "Martha stay put, Cindy get out of my theater."
Kelsi stuck up the middle finger and smiled as Cindy walked off the stage.
"Kelsi this golden girl you have better make it through, we're running out of time and people who take this seriously."
"She will, Mrs. Lowell." Kelsi motioned for Gabriella to take the stage.
Gabriella walked up the stage stairs and Ryan handed her the script. "I'm cheering for you," he said and Gabriella smiled as she gave him a quick hug of thanks and luck.
Kelsi smiled at the interaction, it seemed as though Ryan had moved on from her to Gabriella. Just before they started working Ryan had kept asking if Gabriella had said anything about him and Kelsi knew all too well what he going through. The pain of crushes could be awful.
Gabriella came up to Martha and smiled.
"Ready?" she said looking out into the audience and the back at Gabriella who nodded. After scanning it quickly Gabriella nodded again and took her stance.
"Stepmother?"
"What isss it nooow?" Martha said annoyed as she looked down at Gabriella.
Placing her arms behind her back she looked down up at her with hope, "I was wondering about the ball, all eligible women in the kingdom are invited an-"
"And I suppose that you think the prince is going to take one look at you and fall madly in love. Ha," cutting her off and throwing her head back
Gabriella smile melted on her face and she looked down before speaking again. "I didn't … I didn't mean that-
"Take my advice Cinderella, know your place and be satisfied with what you got." Martha smiled with a snarky grin and then added. "I promise you, you'll be much happier."
"Well, if, if my father were alive…"
"Well he's not is he," Martha said with sudden anger flaring in her eyes. There was a slight pause before Gabriella spoke again.
"He's alive in my heart."
Martha folded her arms and looked Gabriella up and down. "Don't cling to the past Cinderella. It's not very attractive."
There was clapping from the audience and Martha and Gabriella both bowed.
"Well she can act but can she sing?" Mrs. Lowell said gathering her sheet music. "Martha congratulations, I'm giving you the Stepmother roll."
"Yesss," Martha said pumping her fist in the air.
Gabriella smiled and then looked back in the audience as Troy got up from his seat.
"I'll sing with her Mrs. Lowell," he called as he walked up with his hands in his pockets.
Gabriella's eyes narrowed, she didn't need his help, didn't want his hand out. Rolling her eyes she bit her lip and walked over to Ryan to retrieve the paper that Mrs. Lowell gave to him.
"Wonderful, Kelsi darling will you pay piano for them?"
"Yes Mrs. Lowell," she said taking to the stairs on the other side of the stage where the piano was. Gabriella looked over the music and the words she knew the song, do I love you because you're Beautiful. When Troy came up on stage she took a step back.
"What's the matter Calculator? Stage fight?"
"Don't call me that," she warned.
Troy smirked and looked over at kelsi who was adjusting herself at the keys. With a nod Kelsi began the music and Troy placed the piece of paper to the side, he'd been practicing with Kelsi in his down time and already knew this song along with another one.
His voice began and Gabriella felt every ounce of resistant's give away. His voice was soft and somewhat deep without being harsh. "Do I love you because you're beautiful, or are you beautiful because I love you? Am I making believe I see in you a girl too lovely to be really true? Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I want you? Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as beautiful as you seem?"
The music fluttered and everyone held their breath as Gabriella took a step back. If she was going to do this right she need the space to think clearly looking down at the paper she stared at it instead of him.
"Am I making believe I see in you a man too perfect to be really true? Do I want you because you're wonderful, or are you wonderful because I want you?"
Troy was taken aback by the beauty in her voice the soft thrills of melody that hummed along with the piano and without missing a cue he joined in. "Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as wonderful as you seem?"
Troy pulled the paper from her hands and placed a finger underneath her chin the music played and he stared into her brown eyes as they sang the next line in time with each other. "Are you the sweet invention of a lover's dream or are you really as wonderful as you seem?" the sound of the voices echoed in the air around them and everyone clapped Mrs. Lowell up on her feet.
"Beautiful, there are tears in my eyes, I loved it I want more of it." Coming up to the stage she held out a hand to Gabriella who broke away from Troy's touch abruptly as if he were on fire.
"Welcome, Gabriella, to the theater."
Gabriella smiled and then looked over at Kelsi who held two thumbs up in her direction. Looking back where she left Troy she found him standing there staring at her oddly, almost as if he was trying to look past her but couldn't. Something inside told her this wasn't a good thing.
Once everyone was clearing out Troy jumped off the stage and walked over to Gabriella. "Hey, congrats," he said holding out a hand in what he hopped to be a peace offering.
Gabriella swept her hair up into a ponytail and then picked up her bag. "Thanks." Just as she was about to walk off he jumped in front of her again.
"Your voice is really amazing and I can just tell that you really love singing as much as I do," he said placing his hand on a chair and placing his weight on it.
"I do,"
"Then how come your not studying it?" Troy asked a bit curious, "I mean I'm just wondering why math?"
"My father likes music, my mother doesn't, I live with her, I deal." Gabriella walked around him and he reached out and grabbed her hand.
"Gabriella, I'm sorry if I offended you in any way earlier it wasn't my intention." He said as she looked down at him with her brown eyes. "I just want to let you know if you need anything at all I'm here."
"Noted, can I go now?" she said her stomach twisting from the feel of his warm skin against hers.
"Free as a bird," he said lifting his hands and watching her turn and walk away.
