The Final Audition - Julian's Version
Julian sat atop of the cold marble counter outside the auditorium, where they served drinks during the short intermissions. He swung his legs back and forth, trying to drown out the sound of Blaine singing Clark's song. It was moments like these, listening to Logan's past or current loves, that made Julian's shoulders sink and his eyes look lose focus. There just wasn't hope... unless what Derek had said was true. That Logan could love him, he just didn't know it yet.
Derek pulled open the glass door to the concert hall. The blurry form of a lithe brunet perched on the bar was visible from where he stood. He seemed to be chewing on his nail, and Derek could almost hear Carmen's voice screeching at him to 'stop wrecking his manicure!'.
Hearing footsteps approach him, Julian immediately contorted his body into the typical Larson-esque picture of relaxation. The shadow turned a corner, and Julian pulled off his Ray Bans when he saw that it was Derek.
The athlete sighed upon seeing Julian furiously put on an act. Honestly, it was becoming more and more transparent each day, at least to him. Hopefully his audition would set things straight.
Julian smirked, but Derek could see his neck was tense. He's worried. "D, You know you didn't have to come right. Couldn't resist seeing me in my turf? Who knows, I've never bombed an audition, but there's a first time for everything..."
Derek jumped up to sit beside his friend on the tall counter. From where the two were sitting, they could see the main road in the city outside, reflective and shiny from the rain they'd had that evening. Inside, the lighting in the hall was low, as though no one was expected to be there that night. All the actors were backstage, patiently waiting until they were called to audition. It was almost peacefully quiet, but Derek knew Julian wouldn't be at rest until he'd finished his tryout. It didn't help that they could hear Blaine finishing the last few notes of his song... Then Logan giving him his praise.
"Jules, just don't worry about it. You've got a clear advantage over the others; you're a triple threat, and we both know Logan think's you're hot."
Kurt had begun singing, it could be heard faintly from outside the theatre.
The two boys waited in silence. Derek chose to ignore Julian's fingers tapping out a nervous rhythm on the marble.
Then it was over. They could hear the director's enthusiastic applause and feedback, and Julian's heartbeat grew quicker as he heard praise through the thin walls. "Kurt, that was fantastic, the way you convey emotion is beautiful!"
Julian hopped off the counter and the sleeve of his wrinkled white button-up rode up slightly - enough for Derek to see a flash of orange plastic wrapped around his thin wrist.
"Jules, what is that?" It was curious, Derek had been issued an identical bracelet when he'd had a concussion last spring, yet he could swear that the actor hadn't been to a hospital recently... Had he?
The leaner boy hastily wrenched down his sleeve, and a button popped off, rolling away until it stopped in the plush carpet.
"It's nothing." He couldn't let Derek know that this wasn't real. The actor may have been in a lucid vision, but his friend thought that this was reality. (He tried not to think of his body, lying asleep in a hospital bed in Ohio). Sure, this was a bit of a stretch, but if he wasn't awake yet, why not play out a few different scenarios in his head?
"It's not nothing! Goddamn it Julian, show me your arm!" The athlete became furious. If Julian was doing his own stunts again, pushing himself to extremes that his body couldn't handle... There was another nagging feeling in the back of Derek's mind. Was there something else? Another reason for the bracelet?
Julian stood there silently, allowing his friend to study him closely, worried that any sudden movement may cause him to grab him - or worse, understand.
Faint bruises seemed to appear on his hands, and his face lost a bit of it's colour. A large red scar faded into view on his neck, and Derek realized the truth. Hell Night. Julian's at the hospital...and yet we're all here. Logan isn't a director, Logan is Logan. Julian isn't auditioning for a movie. He's auditioning for Logan's heart. Oh my god.
I've got to let him finish. If this is a dream, and it must be, than it won't harm anyone to let Jules indulge in himself - this one time.
Derek, for all his part, wasn't a bad actor himself. He straightened up and smiled a little, though it looked a little sad. Looking Julian in the eyes, his deer-in-the-head-lights eyes, he said, "Look for the light. Don't look at the camera. And smile".
Julian breathed a sigh of relief and shut his eyes, shot Derek a look that said, You're my best friend for a reason, and started walking towards the large double doors to the theatre.
"Just promise that you'll come back, Jules, please come home. Us sorry bastards are wishing you never left".
Julian pushed the double doors open with a bang, and proceeded to blow him away.