As walked towards Sarah the Opera House she felt as if her whole like was changing, perhaps it was. She was so apprehensive about the whole situation. When her head had cleared, after her phone call with Jacob, she had the chance to think about it. How had she made it into the company? Something was amiss about the whole situation. It didn't make any sense how she could get the part with no previous experience against nearly two hundred professionals.

She could not help but feel as if she were being watched as she approached the stairs of Opera House she started feeling strange. She turned about once, looking for anyone. It was a feeling that sent a shiver down her spine. The feeling was the same feeling she had had in the Opera House in the stairwell. Of course that was all in her mind, nothing was really there. She had merely spooked herself into believing it.

Suddenly, in a rush, two people passed Sarah. A man and a woman both forty-ish. When they had reached the huge front doors the woman stopped and turned around.

"Oh, I didn't see you there." She said looking at Sarah.

"That's okay." Sarah replied with a smile.

"You're new here. I should let you know, to watch yourself." The way she said this was very odd.

"What?" Sarah stammered a bit confused.

"I'm on to you." She said narrowing her eyes at Sarah then turning into the building. Sarah didn't even have time to think about what had just happened before she heard a voice behind her.

"Don't worry about Carla." Sarah turned to see a man walking up the stairs in her direction, "She just likes to throw around what small amount of power she has - makes her feel better about her self I guess."

"Thanks." Sarah said looking at the man. He was very young, and charming. He was a tall, dark and handsome type with a warm smile.

"You must be one of the new chorus girls." he said.

"Yeah." Sarah answered. "So what's her issue?"

"She likes to feel important." he answered plainly. "Chorus girls are an easy target. She's the lead in everything along with her husband Peter. I'd love to give her a piece of my mind but they're both on the board so I wouldn't cross her."

Sarah nodded though she really did not know what that meant. He saw through it...

"She helps control who is in the company and who is not."

"Okay." Sarah said as they both walked into the auditorium, and not a second too late for as they opened the doors Jacob spoke.

"Welcome to our first practice. As many of you already now my name is Jacob McDary." He said standing on the stage as the rest of the cast and crew sat in the house listening to him speak. "I'm the director of The Pirates of Pinzance. For those of you newcomers, I'd like to introduce to you all our crew members and I'd like you all to familiarize yourself with their names and faces."

Sarah took a seat a couple rows back and her new friend sat next to her. They watched the various people as they were called up by name. Assistant Director, music director, stage hands, stage manager, costumers etc. She didn't bother to really pay much attention she figured she'd introduce herself to each of them later and remember their names.

One person stuck out to her. It was a tall, slender woman, in her mid-twenties, with long, wavy, fiery red hair. She had piercing blue eyes and was to Sarah the picture of the perfect woman. She had a very kind and rounded face. Who was she? She was Athena Swanson the choreographer. Noticing her intense stare at the woman the man who sat beside her leaned over and whispered "Jacob's ex."

Sara looked over at him "What?"

"Yeah. This is the first thing they've done together since they broke up."

"Sheesh, I'll bet this is gonna be interesting." Sarah replied.

"Everyone in the theater knows, so it's not like I'm telling you some secret. I'll introduce you later."

"Okay, now that we're all settled, can you all open up your scripts to page four please. We'll be reading through the entire play, and doing a rough sing-through and the sooner we get done with, this the sooner we can all go home."

It took nearly two hours to read through the entire play. Sarah sat intently listening to the various people speak, and attempt to sing but every now and then her thoughts would stray to Athena and Jacob. In a way, she wished that man had not told her about them because now things were going to be a little more uncomfortable for her, but she probably would have found out anyway. It was one of those things that everyone in the Opera House knew, but kept polite about. As he explained, the fight that split them up happened during a rehearsal a year ago in front of the entire company. They were engaged to be married and she heard that Jacob had been cheating on her. Jacob was known for sleeping around. It had been rumored that several members in the company had been lured into his bed. All of this was kept very hush-hush though to avoid fights that could lead to dismissal.

They were finally done and had been excused to leave, and Sarah was gathering her things to go home. She saw the mystery man and Athena talking in a nearby aisle. Sarah walked slowly up toward the exit in hopes that her new friend would remember to introduce her. He did notice Sarah walking past the two of them and turned to her and politely introduced her.

"Hey Athena this is one our new chorus girls..." he stopped a beat, "What did you say your name was?"

"I don't think I ever told you. It's Sarah, Sarah Astor." Sarah reached out and shook the woman's hand. "Nice to meet you." Sarah shook Athena's hand but she did not shake back, her hand remained limp in Sarah's grip. She and the man exchanged glances, before he began to bust out in almost hysterical laughter.

"No wonder... Carla... hates you...so much!" he finally managed in between gasps. He kept looking at Athena and back at Sarah. It was as though he expected or hoped that one of us would join in his laughter. What ever it was that he was laughing at Athena knew but she remained un amused. Finally after he calmed down Athena gave him a very sharp look and asked, "Are you done?"

"Yep." He answered exhaling deeply with the last of his hilarity.

"Sarah." Said Athena "We were just going out to eat, would you like to come with us?" He looked shocked that Athena would ask such a question.

Sarah thought about it for a moment wondering if she should go somewhere with people she'd just met. After some deliberation she said "Yeah, sure. Where are you guys going?" She figured it would be a great opportunity to get to know some people from the Opera and to learn more. She felt a little disconnected from the group as a whole, not being in the company, but she was even more disconnected than she knew.

The man agreed to give Sarah a lift to the restaurant. As they walked to his car Sarah spoke.

"Thanks so much for the ride."

"No problem."

Something dawned on Sarah as they approached his car, "Y'know, I still don't know your name."

"O, it's David." he chuckled.

They went most of the car ride without speaking to each other than finally Sarah asked, "David, if you don't mind me asking. What was all that back there."

"Where?"

"At the Opera House, when you started laughing and Athena looked pissed at you."

There was a long pause before David spoke, "You really don't know, do you?"

"Know what?"

"Everyone has been talking about you."

"Why?"

"You're the chorus girl with no previous experience or training, and these people have spent most of their lives working to get where they are. You show up sing a little song and get right in."

"Really?" Sarah was shocked. "Do you feel like that?"

"I guess I did, but I don't think I feel that way about it anymore." Sarah was relieved to hear this.

"Why is that?"

"I don't believe the things they say about you."

"What do they say?"

He was very serious when he spoke "A lot of people think that you got you your part..." he paused, "I'm only telling you this because I don't think you did it."

Sarah got a little impatient "Did what?"

He finally answered "A lot of people think that you got your part because of couch casting."

Sarah was so new to all of this that basic slang and terminology still escaped her. She didn't know what 'couch casting' was but it did not sound good. So at the risk of sounding stupid she asked, "What's couch casting?"

"People think that you slept with Jacob to get your part."

"What!" She practically screamed at him. "Why?"

"It's not you, it's Jacob. It's his reputation."

"I can't believe this!"

"People put two and two together and made it come out five. I'm really sorry about all of it."

"I don't need this. Maybe I should just quit." She said as a lump came into her throat.

"No you shouldn't." He said sympathetically, "Listen it will just take some time. I've got your back though. If anyone mentions it I'll be sure to tell them otherwise."

"Thanks, that means a lot to me." She forced a smile at him as the car stopped in front of the building. "One thing I want to know is why, if everyone thinks I slept with Jacob, would Athena want me to go with you guys out to eat.

"I think Athena wants to figure out for herself if you did fool around with Jacob." He laughed. "So, no pressure."