This chapter has been postponed much too long. The timing of this chapter... and the content of this chapter... I can't even... Dreams has been the most tough fanfiction I've ever had to write but I know that you guys want an end to the story.

I've had personal stuff come up in my life the past couple weeks, but that hasn't stopped me from writing and posting videos on Youtube. I have several ideas... including a few Machinimas with some Youtubers who you will know from watching their videos. If my ideas actually work out to where I want them, I would be so grateful. And if any of my readers want to voice-over a Machinima, please let me know!

In this chapter, Ray finally gets her spotlight, although with a few complications.

Enjoy!

Ray POV

Opening night. The night I'd been waiting months for. Not everyone I expected had shown, but the cast of Hit List in my opinion was a decent one. Rosetta was talented, and her and I had quickly become friends. David and I were the closest, as he helped me the most through Clara's death. Dan had spent a bit more time with his other friends, Ck and Piper, but still come to rehearsals and occasionally hung out with us in the Piano Room during breaks.

When I arrived at the theater that night, I directed Mitch towards the waiting room where some parents and family members sat and chatted amongst themselves. Mitch had come with me to the final rehearsal, and told me specifically beforehand he didn't wanna be late for my musical debut.

Once I got backstage with the bag of supplies I always carried with me to rehearsals, I noticed Amy pacing along the stage, her fist to her forehead. The way Amy walked told me that she had been panicking or currently was panicked. Rosetta followed close behind.

"Amy?" I questioned, a tad worried, "What's going on?"

"Scott is in the hospital!" Rosetta announced. I stared at Amy with open eyes, my mouth dropping open.

Amy continued, "He got into a fight with a few people I don't know. I asked the doctors when he could return, but as of now, they don't know. Unfortunately tonight, Scott cannot perform as JB."

"Then who is replacing him?!" I blurted, not thinking of a understudy who had studied Scott's lines.

Amy sighed and faced me, her emotion blank. "The only other person who knows the script." She stormed off the stage in a rage, Rosetta on her heels.

"Hello there." I could tell that voice from anywhere.

And guess who walked onto the stage, dressed in JB's costume. Draco freaking Kehtarin.

I almost lost it when I saw the goddamn smirk on his face. Instead, I just screamed. "Dammit! Why does it always have to be you?!"

Draco deviously chuckled. "Because I absolutely love you Mrs. Hughes."

"How in the hell did you get that script and memorize it a day?"

"I've been practicing this script for weeks. Scott was a set-up. He was the whole time."

My bag fell to the floor. I lifted my hands and rolled them into fists. "You PLANNED this?! Scott was MEANT to be in the hospital?!"

"And my old friend Zenna was able to get me the part."

"Zenna?" That name was way way too familiar. Oh yeah. The same Zenna that tried to set me up with Ashley Machinson as a therapist.

"And Zenna got help from her friend Laurel who has no clue what you've been through. Poor little Ray and her famous husband Mitch Canadian." Draco winked. He brought Laurel into my mess?! Why did they always bring more people into my personal business?!

But he really did get on my nerves with how far he could go to screw up my entire life. I remembered the first night I met him and I knew I couldn't trust him. Basically, he killed an innocent man if I could recall correctly. "How dare you try to pity me."

"Remember your lines… Break a leg. You're the star tonight." Draco winked and went on his way.

"Ray, calm down," I whispered to myself as I inhaled and picked my belongings up, "It's only one night. When that scene comes up, you forget about the rest of the world and imagine Draco as Mitch." I headed to my dual dressing room I shared with Rosetta.

I wanted to quit right there.

I wanted to storm out of that theater in a rage and run into Mitch's arms.

But that was the real world, and there was no time for crying and pouting. Clara returned to my memory. How she told me to follow my dreams since she couldn't. Clara sacrificed her life for me. The least I could do is perform in a musical. Although I hated Draco's guts with a strong passion, my desire to please myself forced me to stay.

Within seconds, I heard the audience shuffle into the theater. The orchestra begun playing the opening music. I snuck my head out of the curtain and caught my eye on Mitch. I knew I had to tell him everything that happened sooner or later. I just needed the right time. Then I could tell him.

About a minute later, the audience was hushed and the lights dimmed down. The curtain rose. The stage showed David walking in front of a large screen playing life in the poor downtown where his character, Jesse, lived.

Everything blurred past. I knew what I was saying, but it didn't seem right. However, I ended up getting rounds of applause after each number or scene was finished. I supposed everyone else liked it.

Then we reached the middle of Act 1. David and I performed a short dialogue before the final lines leading up to my worst nightmare. The song Amanda sung to JB. The song I sung to Draco. Pretender.

The scene was supposed to take place at a party for JB, a talent manager. Amanda, my character, wants to get into that clique which JB runs. Jesse and Amanda enter the party and spot JB in the corner. Amanda wants to convince JB to sign her onto his label by singing to him.

"Piano player's taking a break," I demanded. Jesse groaned, as he should have. I pointed to the piano sitting near our spot. "Go."

"No!" Jesse tried to convince Amanda not to go through with her plan, but she would not give up. She was somewhat a selfish character. "You promised." I stole a microphone from the top of the piano and put up to my lips.

Meanwhile, Jesse sighed and walked over to the piano, beginning to play the song his character wrote. My eyes connect to Draco, trying to not think of the following minute of action.

"Your dirty kiss, you tried to pull me right in

Your little tricks, you're used to winning

You play a part - dancer in the dark

Saying anything to try and steal away a heart

Now you got her, she's lying up in your bed

Don't seem to stop you, you keep on calling

You're out of line, waster of my time

I just wanna know how you can fall asleep at night."

JB caught my eye and smirked, seeming to enjoy the music. I made my mind believe the man I was singing to wasn't actually my worst enemy and only a character in a musical. Well, isn't that what I was supposed to do?

"Hey, baby, you're just a pretender

I'm not crazy, should've known much better

Whatever you do, always twisting the truth

Well the table's 'bout to turn right back on you

You must be drunk, did you forget your way home?

I'm not the one who's scared of being alone

Got me confused with someone who needs you

Might be the joker, I'm nobody's fool."

My legs carried me over to Draco's location at the other side of the stage, the direction that Amy had assigned my character. My heart told me not to, but it was a musical, not a decision based on personal backstory. Amanda had a mission: to become famous, and I wouldn't let some man like Draco stand in the way of Amanda's dreams as well as mine.

"Hey, baby, you're just a pretender

Don't mistake me, you might think you're clever, boy

Whatever you do, always twisting the truth

Well the table's 'bout to turn right back on you, uh."

I eyed the other side of the stage to find Jesse playing, obviously exhausted with the excuses and the lies.

"Take all your lies, find you somebody else

I got my strength, got my pride in myself

So, what now, who you gonna mess around?

I can tell you right now - ain't gonna be me."

Draco put his arm around my shoulder, another stage direction that Amy agreed on while Scott was still around. At that point, I wished Scott hadn't gotten injured. Last minute, I imagined my co-star's face replaced by Mitch's. Seeing my husband smirk down at me gave me chills, but at least it wasn't as bad as Draco.

"Hey, baby, you're just a pretender

I'm not crazy, should've known much better

Whatever you do, always twisting the truth

Well the table's 'bout to turn right back on you."

I returned to my previous spot on the stage. JB eyed me on my way, focusing not on my eyes or my lips, but somewhere I doubt was in the script or stage directions.

"Well the table's 'bout to turn right back on you."

I bowed for the mini audience on-stage and blew Draco a kiss. I heard the audience in the seats stand up in applause.

Mitch POV

Overall, Ray was amazing. Everything she did in my mind was amazing. I couldn't get her smiling face out of my mind. I never wanted her to be sad, or upset, or confused. In my mind, Ray needed all of the love she could, and I was there to give it to her. But when Ray blew that kiss to Draco, I couldn't help but become a bit… jealous. Not quite the same jealous when she hooked up with Adam back in Washington, but something in that area.

During intermission, Ray had somehow gotten in contact with Fia. Fia came back and told us that Ray wanted to meet us in the practice room with the big piano after the show.

Final bows came too soon. I was just glad that Ray didn't have to stand next to Draco. That would've gotten me really mad. The audience cleared out, forcing Team Crafted to transfer themselves into the practice room, where Ray and the other cast members waited. The girls crowded around Ray, declaring compliments. "You were fantastic!" "Congrats Ray!" "Too bad you had to perform with that jerk!" "You and David act really good together." "Your voice is stunning!"

Ray quickly hugged a few of them. "Thank you. Thank you. I have a proposition for you guys."

Megan answered, "Yeah?"

"Wanna come to my opening night party?"

Lexi replied off the bat. "Of course!"

Poppy and Cloude continued at the same time. "Why wouldn't we?!" They giggled to themselves afterwards.

"Wait I'll be right back."

Crystal motioned her hand in a hurried wave. "Speed up! I wanna go!"

"Okay, okay!"

Ray saw I was alone. Jerome had tried to talk to me, but I wasn't in the mood. When I saw her shining smile, although smothered in stage makeup, it brightened my night. "Ray."

She leaned her head against my chest. "Mitch."

I sighed as she placed her chin on my shoulder. "You were beautiful on that stage." She glanced up into my eyes. "That's where you belong."

"I love you so much."

"You should go."

Ray widened her eyes, confused. "What?"

"With the girls. To the party."

"Do you wanna come?"

I backed away and shook my head. "Nah. I'm gonna stay here for a while."

"Are you sure?"

"I'll meet up with you in a few."

Ray stared at me for a couple seconds but then smiled, kissed me, and ran off to the girls, who were waiting for her return. They laughed to themselves as they jumped through the doors towards the parking lot. Supposedly there was a fancy party bus taking them to the destination. Their boyfriends followed quickly behind, excited to go to the party.

Meanwhile, I had business to take care of with Draco.

What's gonna happen next?! Stay tuned for the next chapter!