DISCLAIMER: I do not own In A Heartbeat or Caitie, Jamie, Tyler, Val, Hank, or Brooke. However I own Rachael and Mrs. Walters and Georgia not to mention this story's plot.

Four

It's the Monday before the Tuesday of tryouts for Hamlet. Caitie is outside reading a book, under the bleachers wearing very unusual clothing for Caitie (blue warm up pants and a plain white t-shirt). Jamie is joining her.

Jamie: What are you doing here?

Caitie: Being cursed with gym gives you few options.

Jamie: So you're skipping class?

Caitie: Nope.

Jamie: Then...?!

Caitie: Practicing.

Jamie: Right.

Caitie: Jamie, tryouts are tomorrow.

Jamie: Well, you have the part, don't you?

Caitie: Had is a better word, Jamie.

Jamie: (looks concerned) How is that possible?

Caitie: The part was practically pedaled out from under my feet. Worst part is the person who did it.

Jamie: (looking extremely concerned) Not Val?

Caitie: No, not Val. Thank goodness not Val. Georgia Conwell ring a bell?

Jamie: (smirks, looking disgusted) The 4.0 GPA, president of Nature Club, librarian's assistant Georgia Conwell?

Caitie: Uh-huh. The one oh, without a single scratch on her permenant record. (rolls her eyes)

Jamie: Hello competition.

Caitie: Yeah, that pretty much sums the whole matter up.

She stands up.

Jamie: So what do you suppose we should do about this?

Caitie: Look, Jamie, I know you're planning on some crazy stunt, a prank. But, uh, that ain't gonna solve this whole thing. So we'll just have to be better than she is.

Jamie: That simple, huh?

Caitie: Oh, it should be pretty easy. That is, if you read this.

Again, she stands up and tosses her book to Jamie.

Jamie: Hamlet? But-

Caitie: (leaving) Later!

Jamie: (smiling) Okay then.

Meanwhile, during lunch, Caitie is talking to Mrs. Walters.

Caitie: So, you mean I'll just have to audition?

Mrs. W: Caitie, I really wasn't expecting Georgia to try out as well, but things do change. (she smiles) But you know, you might just get the part.

Caitie: (looks down) And, on the downside I just might not. And this always happens to me.

Mrs. W: Now come on, don't be so bitter about it.

Caitie: Bitter? No, you see bitter is what I'm best at. (sighs loudly, then leaves)

Mrs. W: -And Caitie?

Caitie turns around.

Mrs. W: Could you go get your friend Val for me?

Caitie says nothing and leaves. On the way back to the lunchroom she runs into Val.

Val: Well you look upset! What's wrong?

Caitie: Look, I'll tell you later. Right now Mrs. 'Dub requests your presence.

Val: (looks surprised) Mrs. Walters?

Caitie: One and only.

Val leaves.

Georgia bumps into Caitie. She's taller than Caitie with brown hair in a perfect bun wearing a white blouse, a plaid skirt, and no makeup.

Georgia: Oh, hey! You must be Caitie. I'm Georgia, it's so nice to finally meet you. (She extends her hand)

Caitie: (in an annoyed voice) Likewise, I'm sure.

Georgia: Oh, I'm just so excited about the play coming up. I mean, of course I was in the last production, but I'm just really psyched that, well, someone like you is really reaching out.

Caitie: Reaching out? Me? That doesn't quite, what's the word, register.

Georgia: Oh come on, no need to be modest about it. You're actually trying for something.

Caitie: Well, as long as I'd love to stay and chat, I really am in a hurry.

She starts to leave.

Georgia: Hey, hey, hey. Not so fast, I mean come on, we should get to be friends. I mean, after all, we'll probably end up working together. Have you ever been an understudy?

Caitie: You know, I really should go.

She leaves as quickly as possible.

Tyler and Hank are talking outside around the same time.

Hank: So...are you ready for the auditions?

Tyler: Tomorrow. Definitely.

Val comes over to them.

Val: Hey! Speaking of which, I was just talking to Mrs. Walters. She said the strangest thing. She asked me to try out.

Tyler: (smiling) That's great! Well, which part-

The bell rings.

Jamie and Caitie are sitting together in their fourth period class.

Jamie: So I hear you ran into Miss 4.0 GPA yourself?

Caitie: I wish I could say it was all a nightmare. Well, I wouldn't really be lying, but then...she was a disaster. And the worst part is, she's going to get the role.

Jamie: That bad?

Caitie: You have no idea.

Jamie: She can't be that good...

Caitie: Jamie, you really should never underestimate the sheer power of the overacheiving mind.

Much later on, Caitie is at Val's house. They are supposed to be studying, but are talking about the play.

Caitie: So here I have this perfect chance to finally up my drama grade and even Jamie thinks it's a good idea, and then she pops up.

Val: You mean Georgia?

Caitie: Who else? I mean, she doesn't care at all about my GPA just so long as she gets her chance at fame and can add just one more huge credit to her record. And the worst part is that she expects me to just be her obediant little understudy.

Val: She obviously doesn't know you very well.

Caitie: And by that you mean...?

Val: She has know idea what you're capable of. I mean, if you want this part, it's yours.

Caitie: Do you actually think that?

Val: Caitie, I've known you long enough to realize that if you want something, you'll get it.

Caitie: Well, how about you? You trying out?

Val: Well, Mrs. Walters wants me to try out for Hamlet's mother. (she laughs)

Caitie: (seriously) So are you going to?

Val: I guess. I told Tyler about it today at lunch.

Caitie: And Romeo said?

Val: Well, he seemed really genuinely happy. It would be great if we were both in the play.

Caitie: For some reason I think Tyler could give a pretty realistic portrayal of an evil stepfather.

Val: Hey-am I really making it that obvious?

Caitie: No, I just know you too well, that's all.

Brooke enters carrying a huge stack of books.

Val: Oh, Brooke. Nick called!

Brooke: How about Amy? We're working on this huge history project together with Nick, neither of them are really helping though, everyone at the station's flooding me with work to do, my friends are busy talking about so-and-so's party, and to top it off I agreed to babysitting the Parker twins "whenever."

Val: Sammy and Angie? They're really sweet, I'm sure you'll be fine.

Caitie: Unless they're the um, disasters my little brother plays with.

Val: Cait-ie!

Brooke: No, my luck's completely run out. And that's not the worst of it.

Val: So?

Brooke: (leaving) Don't even go there.

Brooke leaves.

Val: What's gotten into her?

Caitie: I think it's an illness we call 12-year-old syndrome.

Val: Maybe I shouldn't have asked you.

Caitie: Hey! I'm just saying-remember your poems from that era?

They both start laughing.

The next day, Caitie and Jamie are walking into school together.

Jamie: Tryouts today.

Caitie: (examining the posters around the hallway) Yeah and it's only posted on every available surface.

Jamie: So...you think we can pull it off?

Caitie: We just might.

Val runs over to them.

Val: Hey guys!

Jamie: Val, you don't usually show your face around these dreary hallways.

Caitie: Tryouts. Today. During fifth period. Think you'll make it?

Val: Maybe we all can. You, me, Tyler...

Caitie: You, you, Tyler. Imagine playing Jamie's mother and evil stepdad.

Val: (notices Tyler across the hallway) Look, I should go-

Caitie: Follow Tyler. We know. Bye.

Val: (before leaving) Bye.

She leaves.

Caitie: So, you think Tyler will ever change his mind about getting the lead role?

Jamie: I think you make him sound a lot worse than he really is.

Caitie: Oh, we'll see about that.

Later on during fifth period, Jamie and Caitie are entering the auditorium for tryouts.

Jamie: So this is it. Do or die.

Caitie: Don't make it sound so dramatic, we're just trying out for a play and it's really no big deal-

She notices a huge crowd of people waiting to try out.

Caitie: -or maybe I could be wrong.

They see Val crossing towards them.

Val: Hey, I just tried out. Good luck, Caitie!

Caitie: Right.

Jamie: Sure, Mother dearest.

Val: Oh, I don't think I even got the part.

Caitie: Oh, but you did.

Mrs. Walters, who is running the auditions, calls out-

Mrs. W: Waite, Jamie!

Jamie: That's me.

Caitie: Yeah. Break a leg.

Jamie: Thanks.

Jamie heads over the room where individual auditions are taking place.
Meanwhile Tyler approaches Caitie.

Tyler: Hey Caitie, seen Val?

Caitie: I don't follow her every move. I'm her friend. Oh, and speaking of friends, you're not really one of mine.

Tyler: (ignoring Caitie's remark) You know she's trying out, right?

Caitie: As far as I can tell she's simply ogling over the idea of acting with you. But then, what else is new.

Tyler: Did I ask for your sarcasm?

Caitie: Tyler, let me just clarify a little something about me. If you speak to me, you're asking for sarcasm.

Hank sees Tyler and hurries over to him.

Caitie: (turning away and covering her face) Two of them? Could this get worse?

Hank: So, have you tried out yet?

Tyler: Yeah, I just did. You?

Hank: Not yet. Heck, I may not even be on the list. Walters' list is entirely disorganized.

Georgia sees Hank and Tyler and hurries over to them.

Georgia: Hey guys!

Caitie: Oh, it does get worse.

Mrs. Walters emerges from the audition room.

Mrs. W: Caitie! Come here.

Caitie: Saved by a teacher. Never thought I'd say that.

She gets up and enters the audition room. Jamie is standing up, holding a script. Mrs. W stands Caitie next to Jamie and tosses Caitie a script, then sits down.

Mrs. W: Our Ophelia has arrived. Caitie, Jamie has informed me that the two of you have the little snippet around Hamlet's soliloquy memorized. Care to present it?

Caitie: (shocked) You didn't tell me you memorized that.

Jamie: (grinning) Well, I was only forced to read the play seventeen times.

Caitie: You're exaggerating.

Mrs. W: We're not here to chat.

Jamie: Right. (as Hamlet) To be, or not to be, that is the question, Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against the sea of troubles, and by opposing end them?

Mrs. W: Wonderful! Now, from Ophelia's line.

Caitie: (as Hamlet) Good my lord, How does your honor for this many a day?

Jamie/Hamlet: I humbly thank you; well, well, well.

Mrs. W: Great! Fabulous! Now, from "Ha, ha! are you honest?"

Jamie/Hamlet: Ha, ha! Are you honest?

Caitie/Ophelia: My lord?

Jamie/Hamlet: Are you fair?

Caitie/Ophelia: What means your lordship?

Meanwhile, Tyler, Hank, and Georgia are still outside.

Georgia: Wow, Tyler. I had no idea you tried out for the last play.

Tyler: Yeah, well, I didn't see you there either.

Georgia: Oh, and I heard that you're on an EMS squad. Sounds great.

Hank: Yeah, we both are. And so is Val, Jamie too. You know them?

Georgia: Well, of course I do. They're Caitie's friends. I just don't see how someone like Caitie can suddenly decide to, well, succeed.

Hank: She's a friend of Jamie. And as far as I'm considered, she can do what she wants.

Georgia: Well sure Hank. It's a free country. But really, who does she think she is, attempting to get a higher GPA by...Anyway, Tyler, I'd love to stay, but I have a Nature club meeting. You know, maybe you should join.

Tyler: Sorry, I'm busy.

Georgia: Well, maybe we can just get together sometime? I'd love to hear about your EMT gig.

Tyler: I'm pretty busy-

Georgia: Think about it.

She leaves.

Hank: That was close.

Jamie and Caitie have finished their scene in the auditioning room.

Mrs. W: Oh, wow! This is really...you're both wonderful! I love this chemistry. Well, the cast list is posted tomorrow.

Jamie and Caitie exit. They are walking down the hall to their sixth period classes.

Caitie: We're better than I thought. That was epic.

Jamie: You were good.

Caitie: You weren't too bad yourself.

Jamie: Well, we'll find out tomorrow...

Caitie: Yes we will. And maybe we'll be able to snatch these parts out from under the feet off all those overacheivers.

The next day, Caitie enters school with Val.

Val: Caitie, I talked to Mrs. Walters yesterday after school. You wouldn't believe how happy she was. She claims you and Jamie were perfect.

Caitie: Right.

Val: No, really. She was absolutely impressed. You and Jamie must have been amazing.

Caitie: Amazing's not exactly the word I'd use. More like, profound.

Val: Don't let it get to your head.

Caitie: My head? That'll happen.

Brianne approaches them.

Brianne: Roth! Congratulations.

Caitie: (surprised) Please tell me you're joking.

Brianne: The list is in the main hall-go see for yourself, freak. You got the part!

Caitie: No way.

Val: Well, what are you waiting for?!

Caitie: See you later!

She leaves, seeing Jamie and Hank walking down the hallway.

Caitie: Jamie! Main hallway. Now.

Jamie: What?

Caitie: Hamlet ring a bell? Come on.

They proceed to a crowd around the list.

Meanwhile, Tyler is looking at it beside Hank. He sees his name and looks to where Val's name should be.

Tyler: CAITIE ROTH?!

Hank: This won't make Georgia too happy. Thn again, Caitie might not be too thrilled either. She hates this kind of thing, not to mention she's not too fond of you.

Tyler: Oh thanks. And where do you get that from anyway?

Hank: French class with Jamie. We talk.

Caitie and Jamie are scanning the list.

Jamie: Caitie Roth! You made it!

Caitie: But what about you?

Jamie: TYLER?!

Caitie: Please tell I'm somewhere in a strange and twisted nightmare.

Jamie: Well it is strange.

Caitie: (sucking in her breath unhappily) Val won't be too happy about this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please review this with any comments, ideas, construcive criticism, etc. Merci! (;