"How could I have missed him?" Annie thought. "He must be amazing, if he beat out the competition for the part." Annie walked slowly to the dark-haired boy standing in the corner by himself. He was writing zealously as she approached and he did not notice her until she was about a foot in front of him. He looked down at her, as he was almost five inches taller than her. His hair was just long enough to fall in his face and cover up the right of his two magnificently blue eyes. His hair was parted on the left, and even behind the mask of brown tresses Annie could still see his shinning eye.
"Hello." Annie said, "My name is Annie Hendrix." Annie flashed a small smile at him. "Are you Jayden Remsen?" Jayden nodded. "Oh, good. Well, I just wanted to congratulate you. I know that you got the part of 'The Phantom' and I will be playing 'Christine', so I thought it might be good to meet you and tell you that I am looking forward to working with you, and… good job." Annie was surprised by her own boldness.
Jayden nodded. Annie stood in front of him awkwardly for a moment. "Well," she said, "I guess that's all." Jayden nodded once more. "Doesn't your neck ever get sick of answering?" Annie said lamely, in a joking tone, and she gave out a silly short giggle.
The corners of Jayden's mouth twitched slightly, but he did not allow a smile to escape. He shook his head, in answer to Annie's question. He closed the notebook he was holding and began to tap the eraser of his pencil loudly on top of the note pad.
"So…" Annie said, defeated, "It was nice to meet you, Jayden." she turned her back to him and headed for the door.
"Annie?" Jayden's thick deep voice said from behind her. Annie whirled around to face him again. His next statement was shy and subtle, but still, somehow, strong and powerful. "It was nice to meet you, too."
It was Annie's turn to nod this time. She smiled a friendly grin. Jayden's eyes flashed with approval, but his mouth remained still and straight, emotionless. His eyes were the essence of his soul, and to Annie, they revealed much.
Annie again started for the front door of the school, and the school's parking lot and then she would go find Jenna at her car. She smile broadly as she walked for the entrance.
Annie reached for the door, another hand grabbed it and pushed. Annie looked up into the hazel-green eyes of Joshua Hawks. Annie let our a raspy nervous breath. "Thank you." she said, but it came out a barely audible whisper.
"Hey!" Said Joshua. He smiled at Annie. "Aren't you.." He paused thinking of the her name, "Annie Hendrix?" he finished.
"Um… yeah. I am."
Hi." Josh said and held up one hand in a sort of stupid-looking wave. "I'm Josh Hawks." He said and looked at his hand. He quickly lowered it. "I'll be playing Raoul." He smiled at Annie. "You have the part of Christine, right?"
"Um… yeah. I do." Why wouldn't the words come out the way that she wanted them to?
"Congratulations, Annie." Josh said. "I'm really relieved." He said and then blushed profusely. "Not that I was scared that you would be someone that was…" He stopped. "I'm looking forward to working with you onstage." He finished and opened up the door for her. Annie practically ran out.
When she got to her car, Jenna was standing by the passenger's side door. Annie smiled at her, and gave out an excited giggle. Jenna raised an eyebrow. "I think," Annie said, "I may be the luckiest girl in the whole world!"