Disclaimer: I don't own the characters, just the plot.
a/n: Thank you all so much for all reviews and such. It means a lot. I'm glad you like the story, because writing it is super fun.
"Who's still here?" whispered Joe, eyes still staring at the curtain.
I couldn't even answer. I just stood, mouth agape in shock. The voice had stopped singing, but there was a gentle humming coming from the other side of the curtain. Suddenly, as if my feet decided for me, I was dashing onto the stage and through the large curtain.
That didn't work out as well as planned, seeing as how we had turned the lights off. I made my way silently across the dark stage towards the humming and ran right into whoever the beautiful voice belonged to. She let out a terrified scream, and just then the large curtain swung open letting in the light. And right in front of me stood Miley.
Miley was trying to catch her breath from the fear, I was staring at Miley in shock, and Joe was staring at both of us from the ground. "Was that you singing?" I asked, practically at a whisper.
"That's what all this is about? You scared me senseless because you wanted to know who was singing!?" she asked in a shocked tone, looking at me as if I had just tried to justify murder. I could tell her heart was still racing from the scare I had given her. "Yeah that was me."
"Sorry for coming out of nowhere like that. It's just that, you have an amazing voice. Why didn't you audition?" As I thought it through I knew that it was perfect. She had to be in the play. I needed her. For the moment, Selena completely slipped from my mind and all I could see was my perfectly planned out play, now with the perfect female lead. The play needed her. I needed her.
"Oh, um, well plays really aren't my thing. I just work on the sets. I stayed after the rest of the group to clean up a little bit," she said with a blush rising to her cheeks as she looked down to stare at her feet. For the first time since I found her in the dark, I really looked her over. She looked like she had been working on sets. Her hair was thrown back in a fast ponytail, and she wore a pair of paint splattered jeans and a too large, paint splattered shirt. Her hands were fiddling with the seams of the shirt as if she was embarrassed to be seen dressed that way.
Then, for the first time, Joe spoke catching us both off guard. Miley jumped once again at the sound of his voice making me smile a little at how worked up she was. "You have to be in the play. It's perfect," he said all a little too fast and excited. I wondered what had gotten into him. "You play the female lead, I'll play Nick's best friend and Selena will take the role of your best friend." I was shocked. Apparently he had decided to take me up on the offer to be in the play after all. I wondered what had changed his mind, but only for a moment. I was too distracted trying to think of a way to convince Miley to be in the play. "Then we have the four most talented students in the four main roles. It's perfect."
I turned to look at her, looking right into her captivating eyes and said, "Please. You have such an amazing voice. We need you to make the play just right." A blush rose to stain her cheeks red again, and she looked back down at her shoes. She took a deep breath before she looked back up at me, and only managed to nod in consent. "Good," I responded, pleased. "Of course, now I just have to let Selena down. But I am sure she will understand once she hears you sing. It's what's best for the play."
I couldn't stand the fearful look she gave me when I mentioned telling Selena. "Don't worry. She isn't some crazy psycho who will kill you for getting her role. She will be a little jealous at most." I gave her my most reassuring smile.
"I wasn't worried about that. It's just… well, she is my only friend here. I don't want to get in a fight over some stupid play," she mumbled, once again looking down at her shoes.
I pulled her chin up so that she was looking at me. "She's not like that. She's really understanding. I know. She is the kind of person that will stick by your side through anything," I told her, remembering times past that Selena had proved herself to just that. "Now, I don't wanna hear another word. You already agreed remember?" I had to practically tear myself from looking into those eyes, but with a last smile, I bounded off the stage and grabbed Joe by the arm. We were half way out the door when I turned around to smile at her stunned and still wary expression. "I'll see you tomorrow at lunch. Then I would plan on me kidnapping you from class after lunch to start working on the play. No more backstage, stagecraft for you."