Nina

Everything, for once, was okay.

And it felt weird. I loved Fabian, and Fabian loved him; Patricia and Eddie were going steady, and so were Alfie and Amber, and Joy and Mick had their first date scheduled in two days. The only really troubled couple were Mara and Jerome, but they seemed to be figuring it out. I'd seen them talking a day or so ago, and though Mara looked upset and Jerome confused, it was progress.

I sighed. I was sitting in my dressing room, trying to figure out what the hell to do. Amber was up on the stage right now. I started humming under my breath, and stood up to find a book or something.

Amber

I stood in front of a microphone, shaking.

It was Alfie's idea. I'd expressed interest in singing, and so of course Alfie had set up an audition for me with Harris. No one knew, of course, but I'd probed Nina on Harris's character last night. She'd said he was really nice and silly, but took his job very seriously. My heart did a tap dance.

Maybe I wasn't good enough to be part of his job.

"Amber?" Harris's sea eyes searched mine, and he was obviously puzzled why I was hesitating so long. I smiled wanly, and nodded. "I'm ready." Taking in a breath deeper than Mariana's Trench, I began.

You won't find him drinking under tables

Rolling dice or staying out til 3

You won't ever find him be unfaithful

You will find him, you'll find him next to me

Nina

I heard music begin, and a fantastic (and very familiar) voice start to sing.

Was that Amber? I stopped my search for a book, and straightened up. Figuring I had nothing else to do, I walked out of the dressing room, humming the next verse to myself.

You won't find him trying to chase the devil

For money, fame, for power out of grief

You won't ever find him where the rest go

You will find him, you'll find him next to me

Amber

I took a deep breath, and was about to plunge into the chorus, until I heard Nina begin. What? How could she have...except she didn't know this was an audition. She probably just heard me singing and went searching. I joined her.

Next to me, oooh

Next to me, oooh

(Both): Next to me, ooh

You will find him, you'll find him next to me

I jerked my head out to the theater, and Nina's eyes widened as she spotted Harris, who now looked both thoroughly confused and impressed. She tilted her head, and I nodded. She smiled widely, and went into the next verse, signaling for me to follow her lead.

When the money's spent and all my friends have vanished

And I can't seem to find no help or love for free

I know there's no need for me to panic

Cause I'll find him, I'll find him next to me

Oh, the skies are gray and all the doors are closing

And the rising pressure makes it hard to breathe (Hard to breathe)

Well, all I need is a hand to stop the tears from falling

I will find him, I'll find him next to me

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

I will find him, I'll find him next to me

When the end has come and building's falling down fast

When we spoiled the land and dried up all the sea

When everyone has lost their heads around us

You will find him, you'll find him next to me

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

I will find him, I'll find him next to me

Next to me, yeah yeah (ooh)

Next to me, yeah yeah (ooh)

Next to me (Next to me), ooh

You'll find him, you'll find him next to me

We finished together, surprisingly on key. Harris's grin had stretched across his face, wide and blinding. His blue eyes whizzed around his head, and he darted his caffeinated pupils back and forth between me and Nina. "Fabulous! Incredible! Absolutely fantastic!" he crowed enthusiastically, and it struck me that he was staring at the pair at us as if he'd fallen down a mine to find it full of gold.

"So?" I asked, hesitantly and uncharacteristically quiet. "I think that I have my, ah, dynamic duet, if you will." He said. Nina looked at me sideways. Her expression was unreadable. I wasn't sure how to react. Sure, it was great, but Nina had originally had this gig, and I didn't want to hijack it from her on a fame rush.

"Great," Nina beamed. I knew better, though. Her smile looked like a piece of paper that had been cut out and pasted on with a glue stick-cheap and poorly done, but Harris was obviously not good at reading people; he simply beamed even wider, as if trying to compete with the freaking sun, and said, "Amber, rehearsal tomorrow-be there or be squared!"

oOoOoOo

Mara

It was supposed to be simple, really.

I'd called my mum and dad-they were okay with it. All I had to do was alert Nina that I was leaving early, and that with luck and maybe a Jerome-less summer, I'd be back next year. I couldn't take it, honestly. Jerome was so confused, so lost, and so innocent and all I could think about was the thought of loving him and being loved by him, in this happy fairytale that shouldn't have ended. He'd tried talking to me, tried to figure out what he'd done so wrong, but I couldn't answer. I didn't know.

I don't know.

Why could everyone have their way, and I be stuck in this bad soap opera? I half expected him to show up with a twin brother that's evil and wants to take the place of him. It might actually be better, though-maybe we'd bond that way.

It was supposed to be so simple.

And it hurt so much.

But it was for the best.

I hoped it was for the best.

Yeah, so I'm not out of school yet. But I've had writer's block recently, and I just sat down and started writing and hey, this came out. I guess I haven't let this story go yet. Anyway, I wouldn't expect frequent updates, but there may be some.