Disclaimer: I do not own Boy Meets World or West Side Story.
A/N: Thank you Ashley Joliet Blues, nikkimbt02, Nike 316, and TwinklyMarshmellowSnowSix for your reviews! I'm sorry for the long wait.
Chapter 12
Eric and Jason stood in front of the Theatre bulletin board, with their pens raised. Eric signed his name by the time 5:20 on a sheet of paper with the heading Acting/Singing Auditions and a subheading of Monday, November 13 and again by a number 1 on a sheet of paper with the heading Dance Auditions and a subheading of Wednesday, November 15. Jason signed his name right below Eric's, by the time 5:25 and the number 2, respectively.
The two turned away from the board and dragged their feet along the ground as they moved over to the bench in the middle of the hallway. To look at them, one would think they had just run a marathon. They plopped down on the bench as soon as they got close enough.
"Wow, what happened to you two?" Eli asked as he approached them. He saw their funeral march over to the bench.
"You say it," Eric said to Jason. "I can't bear to say it."
Jason patted him on the back in sympathy. "This lug head over here promised a girl we would do anything to help her out." He paused and drew in a breath. "We just signed up for musical auditions."
"Ouch," Eli said. "Good luck with that." He walked away, and the other two could swear they heard laughter coming from his direction.
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
"Could you keep an eye on Shawn in your classes?" John asked his two colleagues, Eli and George. They were sitting at their usual table in the cafeteria. He kept his voice down, because Shawn had his lunch this same period. The last thing he wanted was to have Shawn get upset from hearing him talking about him. Shawn never did take to that very well.
"Why? Is something wrong?" George asked.
"He's adjusting to the whole parental thing. You know, the constant worry that comes along with having a kid," Eli chimed in.
"Ah." George gave John a reassuring smile. "I'm sure you'll get used to it—or get used to not getting used to it, at any rate."
John rolled his eyes at the two. "I'm serious. I think something's going on with Shawn."
"There's always something going on with him." George took one look at John's pathetic attempt at a glare—the glare having been overshadowed by worry lines—and sighed. "Alright. I'll let you know if I notice anything."
"Thank you."
"Personally, I don't see anything wrong with him," Eli said. "He slept through my class. Now, if he was actually paying attention, then I'd be worried."
SHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSHSH
Eric and Jason paced in the waiting area outside the auditorium. Their audition time slots were quickly approaching. Both boys stopped pacing when a brunette came through the doors.
"Eric Matthews?" she called. Eric stepped towards her. "You're next."
Jason patted Eric on the back as he walked away from him and through the doors. Eric looked around the empty auditorium as he walked up to the stage. There were three teachers sitting in the first row of seats. Another lady was sitting behind a piano on the stage. He took a deep breath as he walked up the steps leading to the stage.
"You're Eric Matthews, correct?" one of the teachers said. Eric didn't recognize him. He was probably the music teacher or something.
"Yeah."
"You'll start with the singing part of your audition first and then we'll go from there. Let us know when you're ready."
Eric looked down at his music, frantically going over everything he had learned. He looked up. "I'm ready."
The accompanist started playing the intro. Eric counted out the rests, like Mr. Feeny had taught him to do. "Life can be bright in America, if you can fight in America. Life is alright in America, if you're all white in America."* Eric continued on for the rest of the audition piece. He could see the directors taking notes as he finished.
"Okay," a female director said. "Whenever you're ready, you can start the monologue."
*Lyrics from "America" by Stephen Sondheim, featured in the movie version of West Side Story.
