Backstage Of My Mind
Prologue - The Audition
"Naruto."
I look down at the shaking paper in my hands, trying to read each word carefully - and failing. Hey, it's difficult when I'm battling with the butterflies in my stomach! That, and the intoxicating yet familiar feeling of blood rushing to my head, blurring my vision a bit.
"Naruto?"
That rush, it's why I come back to Konoha Theatre again and again; I can't get enough of it. As I flick through the pages, my heart races faster and faster, and I can see the climax of the story unfold before me. I'm ready to jump in to the book, to breathe life to these characters, to-
"Naruto!" Someone hisses at me. Hmm... I thought I was just hearing things before... Anyway, whoever it is manages to break in to my field of vision, because they just pulled my script away to replace it with a face that's way too far into my personal bubble - if I had one, anyway. It takes me a moment to focus on their face, so I blink a couple of times before recognizing the all too familiar green-eyed softness, framed by bright pink hair. A grin spreads across my face, despite her beautiful features being twisted in to a frown.
"Hey Sakura!"
"Tsk- Naruto, I've been sat right next to you for thirty minutes and you've not said a word to me the whole time, did you even know I was here?" She asks impatiently, yet quiet enough so as not to disturb the auditions. I open my mouth to speak, but she promptly shuts me up. "Actually, don't answer that. Honestly, Naruto, you've got to start paying more attention; I've been trying to talk to you for the past five minutes."
"I'm sorry, Sakura..." I begin my well-practiced apology, one hand rubbing the back of my neck with an apologetic smile on my face. "I just, haven't read a script this good for months..." I laugh nervously. "I can't wait to audition for this one."
"Oh really?" She answers, with a look on her face that makes me feel even more nervous. I shift uncomfortably in my seat. "Well it's a good thing they're going to call your name next, then. You'd know if you were paying attention."
"Hmm?" I tilt my head at her questioningly, and inwardly breathe a sigh of relief at avoiding her wrath. Then, as her words finally sink in, I frown and look back towards the stage. My frown deepens when I see who's up there. We're always called up alphabetically by surname, and usually it's either my best friend Shikamaru, or the 'Konoha Drama Youth Club' kid Konohamaru that are up before me, but this... well I never expected HIM to be up there. "What the fuck?!"
"Shhh! Don't ruin Sasuke's focus!" Sakura chides, with a sharp elbow to my ribs for good measure. Well, my good mood is officially ruined: Not only do I just realize he's reading for MY part, but when I look back at Sakura she's giving him this look that I really don't like... unless it's directed at me, of course. Damn it, it was bad enough with him as stage manager, and having to watch Sakura practically hanging off him between her scenes, but now all her dreams are probably coming true at once; he's auditioning for the romantic lead, and so is she. Damn it, damn it, damn it! I look back down at the script, and suddenly feel sick.
It's torture, honestly, sitting through Sasuke Uchiha's annoyingly amazing audition. He never wanted to be on the stage, so why now?! I'm quietly seething to myself when my name is called.
"Naruto Uzumaki!"
I take a deep breath and try to brush off my anger, get in the zone, become the character... Shit, if Sasuke has taken this ability away from me too, and I'm not able to give my best performance, I swear I'll- 'breathe Naruto' the voice in my head speaks up as I walk up to the stage, script now shaking from anger instead of excitement, 'channel your anger into the scene... turn it into passion; or whatever your acting coach Jiraiya says'. Well of course my inner voice is right. At one point in time, this inner voice used to fuel my anger... and at times like these I miss that. Damn therapy, helping me cope with my emotions better. I want nothing more than to launch myself at Sasuke, and punch that smug look off his handsome face. The voice of reason doesn't help me right now, either; being able to keep my personal feelings out of my performances is unfortunately my biggest hurdle.
"You're reading for the part of 'Romeo', correct?"
"Yup!" I try to grin through my anger and sound like my usual, happy-go-lucky self - but I probably just look like a snarling dog, or fox, or something...
"Okay, in your own time, Naruto."
"Right..." I clear my throat and hold up the script, even though I know I don't need it; I learned the lines weeks ago when the auditions were announced. Just as I'm about to start reading my first line, I make the mistake of looking out into the auditorium. I realize the severity of my mistake when I notice almost all the girls are muttering to each other, stealing glances at Sasuke and not even trying to be subtle. Great. Deep breath, Naruto; one, two, three...
"But, soft, what light through yonder window brea-"
"Why is he even trying, Sasuke's obviously already got the part."
"Yeah, he should just read for the Nurse or something."
"Quiet, please!" Tsunade shouts back at the giggling duo who just interrupted my scene, then turns back to me with a kind smile - though I can see her eye is still twitching, and her smile is faltering. She must have given the girls her famous death stare, because when I look over to them I can see that all signs of laughter are gone, and they're visibly shaking. Any other time or place, I would be laughing at that. In fact, somewhere deep in the back of my mind I can actually hear the laughter, but it can't quite reach my lips right now. "Sorry Naruto, please continue."
"Uhh, sure." I nod, finish the scene, and honestly? It was the worst performance I've ever given. I just really hope old lady Tsunade - and the rest of the aging casting team - can take my previous performances as the lead into consideration. Surely they know I can do better, right? I glare at Sasuke as I go back to my seat, and my blood boils when he looks back at me with that cool, smug look on his face, and he just shrugs! Asshole!
"That was good, Naruto." Sakura smiles at me as I sit back down, but I can see right through it. I just huff in response, and sink lower in to my chair. Why do I let this guy get to me? It's like he knows how to press all my buttons and I'm sure he does it on purpose, despite him claiming the opposite.
And that's why I think it's an absolute fucking joke when I find out a week later that Sasuke and Sakura got the parts of Romeo and Juliet. And I'm going to be playing the fucking Nurse. No small parts, only small actors, right? Bullshit.
Chapter 1; Wherefore Art Thou Romeo?
"God rest all Christian souls." Came the quiet, yet still audible whisper from just offstage.
"God rest all Christian souls! Were of an age: well, Susan is with God; she was too good for me: but, as I said... As I said... As I- uhhh..."
"On Lammas-eve."
"On Lammas-eve! Thanks Hinata! As I said, On Lammas-eve at night shall she be fourteen; That shall she, marry; I remember it well. 'Tis since the earthquake now eleven years; and she was wean'd, I never should... I never should... Argh! Forget it! Tsunade, oh wonderful director that you are, why am I, Naruto, a dude who should always plays the lead, playing the Nurse, a woman who's only purpose is comic relief! Argh! And why do I have to wear this itchy wig for rehearsals! Can't it wait until full dress?!" Naruto tugs impatiently at the pigtails of his blonde wig, feeling absolutely ridiculous and humiliated. Though he at least wouldn't let that show, not with Sasuke sitting just offstage watching his every move, and Sakura on stage with him. This was embarrassing enough, thank you very much.
"I want you to get used to it as soon as possible, I want it to feel like it's part of you well before dress rehearsals. And actually, Naruto, back in Shakespeare's day all female parts were played by men, so I want to pay homage to that. Would you rather I have you play Juliet?" Tsunade explained not-so-calmly, and Naruto looked over at Sasuke, horrified.
"Absolutely not!" He crossed his arms with a huff, and Sasuke raised one curious brow at the completely ridiculous scene in front of him. After that, Naruto continued running through the scene without too much fuss, with Shizune and Sakura playing Lady Capulet and Juliet - and Hinata occasionally prompting them for their lines; mostly Naruto's.
A couple of hours later, when everyone was packing up their things and saying their goodbyes after their first rehearsal, Sakura walked up to Sasuke as he was leaving the building.
"Hey, Sasuke, great job today..." She started, smiling at him in a way that she deemed appealing.
"Thanks Sakura, you too." He said with a nod and turned away from her, indicating that he didn't want a conversation right now. She didn't take the hint though, as he expected.
"Thanks Sasuke! So... Um... I was wondering, maybe, I thought it might be a good idea - and Tsunade didn't think it was a bad idea either - if, perhaps if we..."
"If we what, Sakura?" Sasuke asked, trying to keep the impatience out of his voice. He really didn't want to upset someone he would be spending the next few months working with.
"Um! I don't know, it might sound stupid, but I was thinking maybe it would help if we had some private rehearsals outside of the theatre? At my place or at yours?"
"Oh, no thanks Sakura, I think the official rehearsals will be enough. We've got to trust Tsunade knows what she's doing with this rehearsal schedule."
"Right, okay... Yeah you're right..."
"Is that all? I have to get going quite soon, so..." Sasuke said, walking to his car.
"Oh, yeah, I suppose that was all... See you Saturday then!" Sakura said, waving dejectedly before quickly leaving him by his car. Sasuke sighed, pulling his keys from his pocket when the theatre's back door opened with a bang, making him jump - much to his annoyance.
"Oooh, it's fucking freezing out here!" Naruto shouted while rubbing his hands together for emphasis, interrupting Sasuke's brief moment of peace. "Oh, Sasuke. Hi... Bye." He said quickly when he noticed Sasuke was the only other person out there, and rushed to his own car. Sasuke watched him get in, turn the key in the ignition, and listened to the car as it screeched, sputtered, and eventually stopped dead. Sasuke quickly got in to his own car, about to start it and pull away before Naruto had the chance to- "Yo, Sasuke!" Do that. Sasuke sighed and rolled down his passenger side window.
"What." He said, already irritated.
"Heheh, well... Everyone else is gone, and my car's dead. So I guess I'm taking a ride home with you."
"Are you?" Sasuke asked, and went to lock the doors but it was too late, Naruto was already in and putting his seat belt on before he even had a chance. He sighed again. "Fine, just make sure you give me the right directions and don't get us stuck in the middle of nowhere. Where do you live?"
"Uhh..."
"Naruto?"
"On the other side of the city... half an hour away..." Naruto answered, rubbing the back of his neck and grinning nervously.
"What?! Naruto-! No. Get a taxi."
"Please! I don't want to sit in a car with you for that long either, but do you know how much that'll cost me?!"
"You should have thought about that before buying such a shit car."
"Can't afford a new one, I don't have daddy's paycheck." He teased, sticking out his tongue.
"... Just shut up, you idiot. Do you really want a ride home? Because if you carry on like that you're looking to get kicked out half way back." Sasuke said, starting the car anyway despite his previous words. Naruto pouted.
"Sure, whatever." Naruto looked away, deciding that maybe if he looked out the window, he could pretend Sasuke wasn't even there, and that maybe he was being driven home by Sakura... Or maybe a robot! Naruto grinned at the thought. Soon enough, though, the silence was starting to eat away at him. Just giving Sasuke directions every so often wasn't enough. "Left here... Say, Sasuke..." He began, and Sasuke was barely able to contain the groan of frustration that threatened to pass his lips.
"What now, Naruto?" He asked, indicating left as the stopped at the lights.
"Why did you audition for a part in the play? You always seemed to prefer doing work backstage..."
"Do I need to explain myself to you?"
"No... I just wondered..."
"Well, keep wondering." Sasuke said, and turned left. His eye twitched when he could feel Naruto's eyes burning a hole in the side of his face, and he sighed for what felt like the one hundredth time that night. "Fine. Tsunade had a 'vision' or something," He started to explain, pausing a couple of times to listen to Naruto's directions. "And she wanted me to play Romeo. Wouldn't take no for an answer. I owed her for helping me out in the past, that's it. I had to audition officially, but the part was already mine weeks ago. Believe me, Naruto, I'd rather have stayed in the back and not have to deal with this, or associate myself with you or anyone else either. But here we are."
"... Why do you even bother at all, if you seem to hate the theatre so much?" Naruto asked uncharacteristically quietly, feeling hurt that the part was never his to begin with.
"Who said I hated the theatre?"
"Well, no-one, but..."
"Right, you just assumed. Is that all?"
"Sure, whatever." Naruto said with a wave of his hand, and Sasuke could tell that it definitely wasn't all, but he was glad that Naruto at least had the decency to read the mood and stop talking. The rest of the journey passed mostly in silence, except for Naruto occasionally giving directions, or drumming his fingers on the car door in that annoying way of his, and Sasuke praised some higher power he didn't quite believe in when Naruto said:
"Here!"
"Good, get out then."
"Sure. Thanks Sasuke." Naruto mumbled and shrugged, grudgingly. "Oh!" He said as he was leaving the car, turning around to lean on the door frame with his forearm. "Umm... I'm going to need someone to give me a lift back to the theatre for the next rehearsal... It's going to take forever to get a pickup arranged for my little Hyundai..."
"Fine. I'll pick you up, just get the hell out of my car."
"Right! Saturday at 7, it's a date!" Naruto shouted over his shoulder as he walked away, before running up his garden path.
"Idiot..." Sasuke muttered under his breath, frowning at the lack of conviction in his voice as he drove away.
Thanks for reading the first chapter! This is going to be a story very special to me, and will be loosely based on some of my own experiences so please be kind 3 I don't know how many chapters there will be yet - but I'm thinking around 10 to 15 ... Join me on this ride and let's see what happens! Do leave a comment and/or a follow if you enjoyed this, I appreciate any and all the support :) there's plenty more to come!
P.S I have written up the cast list for Romeo & Juliet, let me know if you want to see it and I'll post it in the end notes of the next chapter ;) hehe
P.P.S this is community theatre haha.
- GiiBii x