Author's Note: Second chapter... yeah! My first fic was my baby... my second fic was my 'I don't give a rat's ass about it' fic, what is THIS fic going to be? Okay, I don't really think like that, but that's what John Mayer said about his albums! He's was kidding... I think.
Ruby Red in Mineral Town
The Audition
(Karen's POV)
I had been up all night... I tried so hard to get some well-needed rest, but I just couldn't seem to fall asleep. Some of it was my nerves, but the rest of it came from the abrupt shouts from my parents downstairs. They were fighting... again. For no real reason, which is common in their arguments. I told them to shut up but they didn't hear me.
But it was now ten o'clock in the morning, and I couldn't take a snooze if you drugged me. Anxiously combing my hair in front of my mirror, I scrutinized my image. I could be a celebrity. I have the looks and the charisma. The only thing that might hold me back is my attitude sometimes. Yeah, I know sometimes I can lash out or act selfishly, but I don't do it on purpose. It comes from my dad, I guess. It was always his way or no way... and I had to break out of that mould if my mom wouldn't.
This was my chance to spite him. If I finally became famous, I could leave the island, and he could have absolutely no say in it. It would be selfish for him to demand that I stay. I'm not doing this only to piss my father off though. I really want to be famous.
"Okay Karen," I said to my reflection. "It's do or die time. This is your chance to finally get your big break. Don't choke." I look one more glance at my mirror image, then set out for my audition; the few minutes that could make or break the rest of my life.
It's a short walk to the towns square, so I dawdled. There's no rush; I had plenty of time to make it to my audition. But once I slowly climbed the steps up, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was one of the last ones there! Everyone was already in line, practicing lines frantically. Oh my God, and to think... I was worried about being too early!
I spotted Popuri and Ann near the back of the line, exchanging dialogue. I cut the line (which caused for some eyes to turn my way but I didn't care) to stand beside them.
"Oh hi Karen," Popuri said half-heartedly. Almost like she was disappointed to see me... well, she should be. I've just become a threat.
"Hey guys," I peeked over Ann's shoulder to look over the script. "Where's Elli?"
"She's not auditioning after all... she'll be helping out behind the scenes just like Maria," Ann told me.
"Oh, that's a shame," I said out of habit. "Get a lot of practice in?"
"No, not really," Ann shrugged.
"Ooh, tons," Popuri contradicted.
The three of us practiced, not really together though. Standing with each other, but... in our own little space, if you get my gist. It wasn't long before we were up.
"Next!" an unfamiliar voice shouted impatiently.
"Um... Popuri stepped back nervously. "You first."
"No way," Ann shoved her forward. "You said that you'd go first!"
"I... I changed my mind!"
"Fine! I'll go first!" I confidently walked around the feuding couple and entered the little temporary tent they had set up for auditions. I took a second to survey the judges...a man and a woman. They were people I had never seen before. My pulse suddenly doubled.
"Name."
I flashed the woman judge a genuinely surprised look. On this island no one ever asks you what your name is, because everyone knows it. But then I chastised myself for being so foolish, I've never met this person. And if I plan to ever become famous, I better get used to auditions.
This time, I flashed her my brightest smile. "Karen Langer."
"Age."
"Twenty-three."
"Any particular part you are auditioning for?"
"Yes, the lead."
They both looked up from their papers to face me. "What part of the script will you be reading from?"
My heart beat now tripled. I didn't have a script with me, and I didn't really remember what the one Ann and Popuri had was like. "Um... I don't have a script." I twisted the ends of my shirt nervously.
The man handed me a booklet from a stack on their table, which I graciously accepted.
"Well, pick a part now," the woman said, sounding annoyed.
I flipped to a part that I had been rehearsing off Ann and Popuri's copy. "Act II, Scene II."
"All right," she put her pen down and leaned back on her chair. "So us what you got."
The man started first. "You don't look like a girl I've seen before," he said in monotone.
I forced my face into a disgusted expression. "Is it because a lot of girls don't like to be seen by you?"
"I travel a lot, I see a lot of people."
"You travel a lot?" my exaggerated appearance went from repulsion to curiousity. "Why would you come to our small town? It's not a place you pass by."
"I like to see things; I don't care if they're significant or not."
The rest of the audition continued for another couple of lines until the woman cut me off. "All right, we've seen enough." Her face was stone- cold... did that mean she didn't like me, or was she always like this?"
Again, I smiled. "Thank you-"
"Next!"
I scampered out of the tent before I could waste any more of their time. I found Ann standing outside, casually leaning on one of the tent's support poles.
"How'd it go?" she asked me.
I gave her a half-and-half look. "I think it went okay." That's how I really felt too... it wasn't a bad performance, but it wasn't one of my best either. "You nervous at all?"
"Nah," Ann thumbed through her script. "I mean, it's not a big deal right?"
"If it's not to you, but this is the biggest moment for me, no lie," I shuddered a little. "This could be the break I'm looking for."
"But I thought you wanted to be a dancer!" Ann pointed out. "I thought you wanted to go to the best dancing schools in the world and perform at the biggest venues with other dancers and..." she trailed off.
"That'll always be the dream," I dug into the stone floor with the toe of my shoe. "But my parents can't afford to send me to dance school... not at the rate the vineyard is going."
Ann gave me a sympathetic look. "Well... I'd miss you a lot..." she blushed at her uncharacteristic sentimentality.
"You won't have the chance to, because I'll never be able to go anyway," I looked down forlornfully. "But that's why it's important that I land this part, because at least I can still be famous. That's the ultimate goal I guess."
"Yeah..." Ann looked off to the side just as Popuri reappeared from the tent, a bewildered expression on her face.
"Didn't go so well huh?" I said, trying to keep my voice straight. But I couldn't help but feel gleeful at her discomfort.
"I dunno..." she patted her hair down. "They kept asking me weird questions about my clothing, like 'What's with all the pink? What do you think about red?'" She shrugged her shoulders, trying to shake off the uneasiness on her back. "What's wrong with pink anyway!" Popuri's eyes flashed angrily.
'It's a gay colour, that's what,' I wanted to say, but I held my tongue. "I dunno," I mumbled coyly. Ann vanished into the tent quickly without a reply.
"Really, I don't care if I get the lead or not," Popuri said out of the blue. "But I want a part so that my name IS near the top on the casting list."
"You don't want the lead!" I glowered at her. "Then why the hell are you auditioning for the lead then! You're just being selfish!"
Popuri looked taken aback. "What are you talking about? I can try for any part I damn well please! Just because I'm not so desperate to grab any kind of fame doesn't mean I don't care at all!"
I was starting to regret saying what I said to Popuri, but something provoked me to go further. Fortunately for the both of us, Ann appeared just then.
"Hey, that was kinda fun," Ann grinned. "What do you say we go down to the bakery and grab a bite to eat?"
"Okay, sure," Popuri nodded in agreement. "I have a craving for some yummy apple pie. Do you think Elli will give us some for free?"
Four o'clock seemed so far away. Ann, Popuri and I spent the whole day together, strolling around town, then the mountain, then back to town, then we went to Ann's farm and I tried to ride a sheep ('cept Ann got mad... oh well), then back to the mountain, then to my vineyard, then back to town, then to the beach, then to the mountain. And that was until lunchtime. But eternity passed, and it was finally time to see our fate... well, my fate.
As we made our way up the steps to the towns square again, I had butterflies in my stomach. It took everything within me to keep myself from throwing up.
Once we finally stepped off the last stair, a loud cheer rose from the people who were gathered in front of The List. My heart skipped a beat. The lead was one of us three (well, DUH, we're the only ones who auditioned for it).
"CONGRATULATIONS POPURI!" They all shouted, rushing to her.
Popuri got the lead? I couldn't believe it. All my hopes and dreams were broken to a girl who didn't even give a rats ass about this part; it meant absolutely nothing to her. Fighting back a waterfall of tears, I turned on my heel and ran home.
Author's Note: Sorry it took me so long to update (to anyone who's reading this). There was some work at school that I kept having to do, and I've been spending way too much time playing SimGolf (hee hee, it's a fun game!). But I won't take so long to update next time, coz I have a long weekend coming up (whoo!).
