Author's Note
Thanks!
Chapter Three:
She found Mr. Wray in his office.
"Mr. Wray, there are no cameras coming this way."
He didn't look up from his tablet.
"Did you orchestrate something?"
"No," she said. "But I may have suggested a sing-off between Daria and Dylan."
Wray looked at her. Balding and in his early fifties, in his famous double-breasted suits, with piercing blue eyes, he cut a striking figure.
"You want to know why I picked 'Eye of a Hurricane' for you."
"I know we're supposed to figure out why which teachers gave the song options, but I am stumped. I know Miss. Waller chose Don't Rain on My Parade as that was the musical, she watched her sister perform in during a touring revival. I know Change'e's Lament was chosen by Mr. Agnelli as he redid the choreography so his children's theater could perform it, two years ago."
"Miss Reid," he said with a sigh. "What do you want from me?"
"I—" she sputtered. "I just don't get it. Eye of a Hurricane is about Hamilton writing about his screwup and making it worse."
"Why are you so worried?" he asked. "I heard you practicing, 'Parade,' at lunch. The whole cafeteria was cheering for you."
"It's not even Hamilton's best song! Wait for It is superior. If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were doing this to mess with my head."
"Because all teachers do is mess with the heads of their students," he stretched. "I'm fully aware of the fact that The Wicked Project is going to paint me as the villain. The Simon Cowell of the show."
"You seem okay with it."
"Because I'm a bitter old coot who can't get a real job as an acting coach, since my ingénue went on a highly public bender."
Alina looked at the floor.
"I know what everyone is saying, Miss. Reid. I don't take it personally."
She looked at him.
"I didn't cheat, Adam did! This song has nothing for me to relate to!"
Wray groaned.
"I don't take any pleasure in watching you squirm. Besides, you are genuinely talented. Let me ask you: Have you rehearsed Hurricane?"
"Yes."
"Does your mother know you've rehearsed it?"
"No! She thinks you're a pompous wannabe sociopath."
Alina covered her mouth. Wray looked mildly amused.
"Luckily I don't believe in speaking ill of parents or students."
She cringed.
"Now did you tell your father you were rehearsing Hurricane?"
"He doesn't care. I could sing Happy Birthday and he'd be as proud as though I were singing an opera."
"Do you see the difference?" he asked.
"I do, I think. I'm not in a hurricane. Both my parents want the same thing for me!"
"No, they don't, Miss. Reid. Musical be damned, no one is willing to give it to you straight: Your mother wants more fame, your father wants you to be happy."
"I know what they say about my mother. That she is the controlling sociopath. It's not true, I want this! You just said I have talent."
"God forgive me, I wasn't planning on telling you this," he said as he looked up briefly. "You caught me in a sentimental mood. I'll be damned if a million cameras are on this production, I want to make the best show. You need to hear this."
"Hear what exactly!? Auditions start in twenty minutes!"
"I met your father once before he knew your mother."
He could have knocked her over with a feather. She stared at him as though he was the most important thing in the world.
"I was at a summer workshop in DC. It was the only job I could get at the time that wasn't in food services. The lead actress was a quirky woman, who was beyond thrilled to introduce her 'day job' friends, to us at the wrap party. Dressed in a sweater vest and a cardigan, your father waved instead of shaking my hand, and this was pre-Covid. He introduced himself as Dr. Reid."
"Mom says that confuses people. She doesn't think doctorates matter as much."
He checked his watch.
"I do need to get going."
"What else do you know about my father?" she asked desperately.
Wray stood up.
"I assume Google can fill out the details."
"It won't!" she said. "It's like there's some sort of block on the data. I can't find anything on him."
"You know, Bravo and Google are part of a larger conglomerate."
"What do I do?"
"Takes some deep breaths, and remember in the eye of a hurricane there is quiet."
Wray directed her out of his office.
…
The cameras panned to the teachers and Sienna Tan.
"So next up is Alina Reid," Waller said. "Of the performers for Glinda, she is our top contender."
"I've seen her on Housewives!" Sienna said. "She and Maddison have such a great relationship. This should be good."
Alin stepped forward.
"Hi Alina!" Agnelli said. "We're ready whenever you are!"
"Thank you," she said.
Waller looked slightly shocked when she heard the first bars.
"In the eye of a hurricane…"
She finished. There were tears in her eyes at the end.
"Great job Alina!" Agnelli said.
She made a slight curtsy and left.
Everyone turned to Wray.
"Ethan, what did you say to that girl?" Waller said accusingly.
"There's a camera in my office, she didn't account for. It has all been recorded."
"That wasn't just good for a kid. That was spectacular!" Sienna said.
"The next kid is coming," Agnelli said. "We'll talk later."
Wray merely smiled in a way, that didn't quite fill his face.
