I rode home feeling overwhelming happy. I had that feeling you get when you win one million dollars. "Alice" I sang softly. "Alice, Alice, Alice Angel." I thought about her all the way home. I wondered who would get the part. It wasn't me, I just tried out because I thought I might get it, but not now, after I made a complete fool of myself. Maybe it would be Maya or Susan Mae, or maybe Annabelle. I had a feeling, deep down in me, that if she won, that I would be depressed with jealousy. I hated myself for thinking that, but it was true. If my best friend got the part, she would tell me everything about it, but I wouldn't be there, I wouldn't have the better voice.
The next few days went by quickly, so quickly that I failed most of my tests in Social Studies. "I'm really sorry," I told my Social Studies teacher. "I've just been so stressed!" Annabelle, Lina, and I walked home together, with Lina trying to get us to talk. At night I would lie in bed, telling myself not to get my hopes up, and at school, girls were being especially mean. Every day I checked the mailbox, looking for a letter from Joey Drew Studios. At last, on Friday, one did.
I walked outside to the mailbox, with the air cool and wet. I was anxious, had someone else got the part? Was it dumb waiting? I slowly opened the mailbox, one eye open. There were three letters inside. A burst of hope jolted through me, there was a possibility that I could get the part! I looked at the first letter.
To: Mason Campbel
From: Mark Andrews
Nope. I looked at the second.
To: The Campbel family
From: Jake's Lawn mowing service.
Trash. I only had one more chance. I looked at the third, then gasped.
To: Susanna Campbel
From: Joey Drew Studios
I tore the note, neatly tied with a ribbon, open.
Congratulations! You are one of our 10 chosen participants! Please come 4-28-29 at 11:00am to try out for the part of our new character, Alice Angel!
I almost broke down crying.
I stormed inside and tore the letter in half. How could I do it again, with people who had probably been training all this week. I felt stupid. I thought that you would get the part, and then do nothing else. Apparently, you have to do it a second time if they think you're pretty good at singing. I was completely wrong.
I really hate our mailman. Whenever something gets sent, it's always late, and he literally sent mine a day before tryouts.
I practiced as much as I could, hoping Annabelle wasn't chosen, too. If she was chosen, then we would have to compete against each other, and I would kill myself if I got the part. I would also celebrate, too... But no one would know about that...
I finally made up my mind, if she got chosen, I would let her win. I walked over to her house. If she she got in, she would've just gotten the letter, too, so we could practice together just like last time.
"No, I didn't." She said with a frown after I asked her about it. "I'm really sorry, I thought you got it for sure." I said with a fake smile, that I hoped she believed. "Thanks, but at least were at the same level! Hey, tomorrow do you want to have a girl's day? It will be sooo fun!" She said excitedly. "Sorry, I have something to do tomorrow... Maybe after Church on Sunday?" I asked, hoping she wouldn't ask any more questions. "What are you doing tomorrow, Saturday's always a free day for you?" She asked, sadly. I had to think up a lie, and quick. "Annabelle," I said with a pause to think. "you're my closest friend. Can you keep a secret?"
"Of course I can!" She said urging me on. I bit my lip, if I lied to her, I wouldn't ever forgive myself, but I had to. I couldn't let her think bad about herself, or feel jealous of me. "Tomorrow I'm going on a date." I said quickly. Annabelle gasped. "With who?", She asked with verve. "Sammy Lawrence."