Ally's POV

"So, to start, we'll do a little run-through of the songs. For the most part, we will be practicing the songs and dances in here. I expect you to, on your own time, memorize your lines and be off-book in the next three weeks. If I tell you in advance that we will be practicing a scene in here earlier than that, you will need to know your lines for that scene. If this seems like too big of a commitment, then I will ask you to leave. Does everyone understand?"

For a second, I was tempted to leave. Three weeks? That's practically nothing! With all the time I spend writing songs and working at Sonic Boom, how am I supposed to get my lines memorized? I looked over at Austin.

"How are we going to get this done?" I whispered to him frantically.

"Relax, Ally! We'll just have to take a little time off of recording to do this, that's all." He whispered to me comfortingly.

"Okay, if you're sure..." I said, my voice giving away my doubt.

"Let's start off with the opening number. Dez, since you'll be starting the show, you need to be really good and get the audience's attention."

Mrs. Whole spent a while marking the movements with Dez. It seemed to mainly include him just swinging his arms and walking around the stage.

"Now, the next song is called 'Racing with the Clock." All of the female ensemble will be in it, as well as Ethan and Charlie. I just want you guys to come up here and sing it, as Maddie and I haven't worked out the choreography yet."

"Maddie?" Kira yelled as we all turned to face Maddie. "What does she have to do with this dance? She isn't even in it!"

"But weren't you informed? I'm student choreographer." Maddie smirked at everyone gaping at her.

"Th- this- it's so unfair!" Tilly spluttered, turning back to Mrs. Whole. "She just got here, and she has a lead role and she's student choreographer? This is rigged! I hate things that are rigged! I hate them, I hate them, I HATE THEM!"

"Yeah, you're totally treating her and Ally as your favorites!" Kira agreed.

"Don't bring Ally into this!" Trish yelled, standing up. "She got her role fair and square!"

I felt a wave of relief and gratitude flow over me as Trish spoke.

"Neither Ally nor Maddie were chosen based on a bias towards them; I simply thought they were best suited for the roles, and Maddie was best suited to choreograph the dances." Mrs. Whole clarified.

Several girls grumbled, but still walked up onto the stage, taking a copy of the sheet music that Mrs. Whole was handing out, preparing to start singing.

"I'll just say this beginning part, but Dez will say it in the show." Clearing her throat, Mrs. Whole turned on the stereo and stage-shouted, "Hurry up, girls!"

"Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, hurry up!

Can't waste time, can't waste time, can't waste time!

When you're racing with the clock,

when you're racing with the clock,

and the second hand doesn't understand

that your back may break

and your fingers ache

and your constitution isn't made of rock!

It's a losing race when you're racing with the,

racing, racing, racing with the clock!" *1

They finished up the song, singing it a few more more times.

"Since this was a short-notice rehearsal, I'm going to let you girls go now. I want you to grab a schedule and a copy of the script before you leave. Tomorrow, I want Austin and Ally to come in to work on some of their scenes. There will be a rehearsal for the girls to work on I'm Not At All in Love on Friday, and there will be dance workshops with Maddie and I on Saturday and Sunday. Boys, yours will be on Saturday morning to work on your half of Once-A-Year-Day, and the girls will be on Saturday afternoon to work on your half of Once-A-Year-Day. Sunday, everyone will come in to work on the choreography together. On Sunday, we will also be practicing the scene right before Once-A-Year-Day, so I'll need any of you with lines in that scene to memorize them. Thank you for coming!" With that, Mrs. Whole waved goodbye to the girl cast. She then tuned to us.

"Boy ensemble, I want you guys to practice mingling. Most of your scenes on stage will be faking talking amongst yourselves, so practice doing that. I'll need the following people to come up in pairs: Cassidy and Dez, Trish and Dallas, and Austin and Ally." We all walked up on the stage, eyeing each other.

"At some point in the show, each of you has a scene with their partner. Cassidy and Dez have a song in which Cassidy is serious and Dez is... well, not, Trish and Dallas have a very silly song, and Ally and Austin have some... well... intense songs." I felt Austin stiffen beside me, and I blushed.

"I want you to work on your partner chemistry. Guys, be strong and confident. Girls, be flirty and fake-shy. Maddie, I want you to make sure they're doing it right. Go!"

*1: We don't own this song; it's from the lovely show "The Pajama Game."

Sorry this is so short; we're thinking this story will mainly be short chapters.

So... Yeah! We're hoping you enjoyed this. Hopefully, we'll be back next week with a new installment. Until then, happy reading!

Luffles, Munsets