Now, it doesn't really break away from marching band, but, since the musical was such a big part of what influenced the next few chapters, I had to include it. The marching band members play in the pit, that is how it is tied to marching band! I don't own "Into The Woods" or any of the characters that are named. The place in which this all happens is true: there IS a Little Theater and we don't know where the big one is!
Chapter Seven: Disappointments.
The days passed and winter soon became spring. With it, along with the usual band practices and Arianna and Marah snapping at one another, Elissa was getting ready for this year's musical, "Into The Woods." The day Mr. Mercer announced it, Elissa had her mother buy the CD on her way home from work that night. She listened to the songs over and over and over again, day and night, until it was all burned into her memory.
Finally, the day of auditions arrived, and Elissa had no doubt that she would be the best in the room. She hadn't felt nervous until the moment she set foot in the theater.
The Little Theater, as it was called, was old. Battered seats, frayed carpet, scratched walls... but it couldn't be helped. Elissa recalled the myth that there was once a Big Theater, but it had collapsed due to lack of school funding and no one could find the remains of it.
"Are you coming or what?" The rumble of the choir teacher's voice exploded in the theater, snapping the daydreaming students back to earth and scaring Elissa out of her wits. Laughing eased her nerves as she joked to herself that she would make him jump when she sang so beautifully and snagged her part as the lead singer.
"I can do this!" cried Elissa in her head as she walked down the steps and sat down in an empty chair. The auditions started.
"I still can't believe... Never would I- . He was-"
"Arianna, shut up!"
"Hey, I'm trying to help out here!"
"Well, finish a sentence first!"
"Both of you, shut up."
Elissa, Arianna, and Kasey were sitting at the lunch table, all three poking at the lump of pasty potatoes on their plates. The cast list had been pinned up: and Elissa was unhappy about it, which, of course, made everyone else unhappy.
To say that Elissa was unhappy would be an understatement.
When Kasey had told her two friends to shut up, potatoes on the end of her fork went flying. Elissa glumly wiped the food from her cheek as Arianna shook potatoes out of her hair.
"I'm not in the mood today!" Elissa exploded, picking up her tray and stalking off. Kasey looked guilty from her fork to her potatoes. Arianna smiled.
"Don't worry, she'll get over it."
"Over it? She's gonna kill someone, and that someone is probably going to be you, because you like to annoy her!"
"I don't do it on purpose," said Arianna, her voice cheerful, her face not. "At least she has a part. Some people didn't even get parts! If she doesn't get more than a word or two, it's still not bad. Anyway," continued Arianna, "Elissa is too much of a prima donna to play something like she has right now. She does need a better part, but-"
SMACK.
Arianna, with lightning quick reflexes, snatched the fork from Kasey's astonished hand and, none too softly, poked Elissa in the hip, who had heard her comment and smacked Ari upside the head.
Kasey seized her fork before Ari could do any more damage while Elissa and Arianna called each other the same bad word at the same time. Kasey laughed nervously as Ari couldn't help but smile. It was a dark smile, however, and Elissa didn't trust it.
"Elissa, it could be considered a compliment, too, to be called a prima donna. You are simply larger than life and people can't handle that. Don't be so quick to smack me next time, or I might get back at you with something other than a fork!" Arianna smiled wider, but Elissa just glowered at her. "Plus, didn't we all agree that I can't be held accountable for what comes out of my mouth?"
Elissa gave a glare, shook her head, and walked away.
"Don't worry, Ari. She'll be fine." Arianna started to go after Elissa, but Kasey held her back. Arianna sat down with a slump as Kasey dropped her fork onto her plate.
'This will happen to every one of us, won't it?"
Kasey looked up at her friend. Ari's arms were crossed and her dark hair fell arrogantly over her shoulder. Ari's eyes were mirrored.
"No, don't start on your fortune-telling, Ari..."
"It will happen, though. Elissa is only the beginning..."
What do you think? Please review and I'll be back with the next chappie soon!
