I hate show offs.
Jade POV
Okay, so it had been a week since the first day and life still pretty much sucked. The only things keeping me sane were Beck, theatre class, Ryan, and the fact that Tori, Beck, Robbie, Cat, André, and I had planned to go get coffee after play auditions today. We were putting on West Side Story, and Tori and I were both auditioning for the role of Maria. Along with Natalie (who I still couldn't stand) and some girl named Jo Maya, whatever. Tori says a little competition between friends is healthy and will help us grow together.
I just think it will turn into a bloodbath.
Which, to be honest, I will probably cause.
I finished curling my hair and called Cat. She picked up after three rings.
"HI JADE!" she yelled.
I laughed. "Watch your volume, you're going to burst my eardrum!"
"Sorry," she whispered, but then went back to her normal voice. "So what's up?"
"I guess nothing really, I just miss you. What's going on with you and André?"
"Our school is doing Phantom of the Opera! Auditions are in three days! P.s. good luck with your audition for Maria!"
Rolling my eyes, I said, "yeah right, I'll never beat Tori. I never do. It seems like even when I act better, or sing better, or dance better, Tori always beats me out for some reason."
"What song were you going to sing before?" Cat asked.
"I Feel Pretty, Maria sings it in the play."
"I think I have a better song for you then. You'll have to listen to it all day though, and rehearse it at least some time… wait what was I talking about?"
"A song, Cat," I said, sighing. Typical Cat.
"Oh yeah! I'll even sing backup for you! Okay, here it is."
I grinned. "Perfect, I'll download it right now. If you're going to sing backup you need to be at Kalifte at 2:50, can you make it?"
Cat giggled. "Yeah, we get out earlier than you because we get here earlier. André and I are just pulling up to Yeager. And we're late. Oh, he's motioning for me to get out of the car. I'll be there! Bye!"
I grinned, and Lily Reneé ran into my room. "Beck's here, and Aria is getting impatient."
"Aria can wait." Lily Reneé started pulling me out of the room, but I glared at her and she let go of my arm. "I just need to grab a few things," I said, accentuating every word.
I got my earbud jacket and bought the song Cat told me about. By the time it was downloaded, I was sitting in the passenger seat of Beck's car. I plugged in my headphones and pressed the loop button, trying to memorize the song in the small amount of time I had.
+++ time skip… yeah, it's after school now… +++
Tori, Natalie, Cat, and I were all in front of our own mirrors in the bathroom. Cat had brought everything for my audition, makeup, a karaoke track of the song, and two black dresses. We were dressed up and I just had to finish off my eyeliner touchup.
Once we were all finished, we walked into the auditorium and sat down, waiting for the Maria auditions to start. Right now they were auditioning for the part of Riff, and Tylor (one of Tori's ex-boyfriends) was rapping one of Eminem's songs. Tori was fidgeting in her seat next to me, and I swallowed the urge to ask why they broke up.
"Next," the judges called after Tylor was done. Since he never showed any interest in the play, I was surprised when Beck walked on the stage. "I will be singing Cool," he said, squinting under the spotlight.
He sang the song perfectly, and had some pretty good choreography too, including flips. I was actually really surprised, Beck didn't sing very often.
"Thank you Beck," one of the judges said, and waved him off the stage. "Will everyone auditioning for Maria please go back stage and give your tracks to a member of the AV club?"
Cat, Natalie, Tori, and I all stood up, along with a redhead in the front of the auditorium.
Cat smiled and squealed as we walked, and I could tell she was excited about getting to sing in front of an audience again. She probably hadn't gotten to since Karaoke Doakie, since Tori always took the spotlight.
Of course there were the Phantom of the Opera auditions in a few days, so she would be singing in front of a crowd pretty soon. I shrugged.
We all gave our CDs to the pimpley tech girl and she ran off with them. About five minutes later, they called out Tori. She smiled and Natalie gave her a thumbs up before she walked on stage. Her bright red dress shone under the spotlight, and she pointed at the control booth above the auditorium, signaling that she was ready.
"You know the bed feels warmer
Sleeping here alone
You know I dream in color
And do the things I want
You think you've got the best of me-"
I smiled, finally recognizing the song as Stronger by Kelly Clarkson. It was on the radio a lot, and was actually good… for a pop song anyway. Tori was okay, but I knew the song I was singing would bring the house down. At least she connected to the song, I saw a tear roll down her cheek. I almost wanted to ask her what happened when she was done, but, that would involve listening. And effort. And emotion. Mushy lovey dovey nice sentimental... Gross. And that was why I didn't ask why she was crying.
After Tori was done, Jo Maya then Natalie went. I swear, that girl is all flash. She had all of the choreography but I could tell it was all a distraction to avert the attention from her hum-drum vocals. Hit Me Baby One More Time had no emotional value behind it, you could tell. She was just singing, and way over confident. She had the nerve to do air kisses to the small auience of other auditioners, none of whom clapped, but I don't think she noticed, and just walked off of the stage smirking.
"Next!" I heard, and took a deep breath,nodding to myself and walking out, trying to look like I wasn't about to puke. The track started and I felt the adrenaline fill my veins.
"Ooh-hoo-ooh
Ooh-hoo," Cat sang behind me.
I no longer felt sick, just psyced.
"Are you a man who loves
And cherishes
And cares for me?" I belted out, feeling confident and powerful.
"Is that you?
Is that you?
Is that you?"
"Are you a guard in a prison,
Maximum security?"
"Is that you?
Is that you?
Is that you?"
"Do you stay home all the time,
Cause you want me to yourself?"
"Is that you?
Is that you?
Is that you?"
"Or am I locked away
In fear that I'd find someone else?"
"Is that you?
Is that you?"
"Yeah,
Well I don't like."
"Ooh-hoo-ooh,
Ooh-hoo."
"Living under your spotlight." I glanced over at Tori.
"Ooh-hoo."
"Just because you think I might-"
Tori POV
I felt myself gulp in fear as Jade sang Spotlight by Jennifer Hudson, but wiped the worry off my face. I could tell she was singing it to me, about getting all of the lead parts in the plays at Hollywood Arts. I never even tried out for those parts! It wasn't my fault!
But I had to admit, she was doing way better than any of us. Jade smiled after she finished her number and waved at the judges and everyone in the auditorium. She linked arms with Cat and they walked back, beaming. Well Cat was beaming, Jade just looked satisfied. But that was Jade's version of beaming, so…
Anyway, we watched the rest of the auditions and went to Skybucks afterward. I smiled, remembering how it used to be.
I know, super short, super sucky, super late chapter. Oh well.
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For anyone who cares: I had a winter formal at my school and some guy I don't even know asked me for my hand in dance. WTH? Aparently he's in my best friend's math class and now she's his 'wingman'.
I FUGGIN HATE LIFE!