Two weeks til the audition. I was practicing almost non-stop, so much that my grades in other classes were starting to suffer. I had my monologue memorized almost from day one, and was so close to getting my song just perfect. Perfect for me. I still didn't sound as good as Cat or Jade would have, but it was still better than I'd ever been before. Of course, Tori still felt the need to make some comment about a dying cat every time she heard me sing, but I just shook it off.

Just wait, baby sister. You won't be top dog around here much longer.

I had decided to accompany myself on the piano for the audition. The leading lady of "Magical Midnight- a play by Erwin Sikowitz" wouldn't have to play the piano, but I figured it'd earn me extra brownie points. Plus, I had a reputation around Hollywood Arts for being a talentless gank. No good musician wanted to be associated with that.

That particular day, Tori had invited a cute guy from her Improv class to come over to study. She didn't want me around, and she definitely didn't want me singing. So I decided to stay and practice at school. Choir didn't have practice that day, and that meant an unoccupied Grand Piano.

I pushed open the door to the choir room to find that it was, in fact, occupied. By two girls. Who stopped sucking face long enough to see who interrupted their make-out sesh.

"Trina?" Said Cat. CAT!

I immediately started babbling. "Oh my God, I'm so sorry, I didn't know anyone was in here, again, really sorry, I'm just gonna go, okay I'm leaving now, please carry on…"

"Trina, wait." Cat said, looking nervous. She whispered something to the other girl, and led me out of the room.

Once we were outside, she took a deep breath.

"That's Lexi."

"… Oh." Was all I said.

Poor Cat looked like she was about to cry. "I really like her. But it's kind of complicated. I haven't told anyone yet… that I like another girl. Not even Jade. And I'm really scared, cause if she knows I like Lexi, she might not want to be best friends with me anymore."

I nodded slowly, still slightly shocked at what I'd walked in on.

"You're the only one that knows about us now. Just… please don't tell anyone else. Not even Tori. Please?"

"Yeah, sure, I promise."

Cat hugged me. "Yay! Trina, you're the best!" When she pulled back, I could have sworn I saw her wipe a few tears from her eyes. It was kind of sad, really. Cat was such a sweetheart, but she still didn't trust her friends enough to tell them she was into girls. Cat wasn't a crier- she was too bubbly, ditzy, happy for that. Obviously, this was killing her.

"Oh! You need the piano, don't you? Ok, we can leave." She ducked back into the room for a second, and emerged with her… ladyfriend. Who was really pretty, so I approved.

"Nice meeting you." Lexi said, smiling, as she followed Cat some other undisclosed location where they wouldn't be disturbed. Still reeling from the revelation, I sat down at the piano bench and tried to focus.

When I got home that evening, Tori's friend had already left.

"Hey Trin. So how was your day?" She asked, overly chipper. I assumed the study-date had gone well.

"Fine."

"Anything interesting happen?"

"Lane told me my singing was really coming along." That wasn't a lie, he walked past the choir room during my practice and was visibly surprised to see none other than Trina Vega at the bench.

"Oh. That's, um, nice." Tori said, clearly not buying it. She was so frustrating. Everyone else could acknowledge that I was at least making progress, but she still felt the need to act like I was Trina, the patron saint of comically terrible singing.

She continued. "Are you really gonna audition for Magical Midnight? Competition's gonna be pretty tough."

"I've done "tough" things before, Tori."

"No, I just mean that everyone trying out is gonna be really good, and-"

I cut her off. "Everyone. You mean you?"

"Well yeah!" She exclaimed. "I mean, don't take this the wrong way, but I always get the lead! Sikowitz even told me I would be great as Lucy in the play. I just don't want you to embarrass yourself." Tori attempted a smile. "Because I care about you."

I don't think I'd ever felt such a strong urge to slap my sister.

"Don't patronize me." I snapped. "I hate when you do that."

"Do what?" She said, feigning innocence.

"Put me down, tell me I suck, and try to cover it up by saying you're 'protecting' me. I'm sick of it."

"But, Trina, I just…"

"No! I'm so done with that. I have to deal with people telling me I suck every day, even when I'm working so hard to get better. And I'm finally starting to improve. Finally. My one-woman-show was a hit, not that you'd know, cause you never came to see me,"

"I was really busy…" She cut in.

"My dancing is actually pretty good, and people have told me my singing is coming along. But I'm still everybody's chew toy, aren't I? It's still so much fun to joke about how much Trina sucks! Trina can't act! Trina can't sing! Trina bought her way into Hollywood Arts! I deal with that shit every day, from everyone! Even Mom and Dad! I don't need it from you, too."

Tori looked alarmed. "Trina, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…"

I cut her off again. I was bearing my soul, and she needed to stop interrupting.

"I'm always there for you. Always. And I really wish I could count on you to always be on my side, because most of the time, no one else is."

"I didn't know. I'm sorry?" She said, like it was a question. I rolled my eyes. Yes, Tori, sorry is the appropriate response.

"It's fine. Don't worry about it." I grabbed my laptop and went to my room to fume in silence, leaving my sister standing there with a confused expression on her face. I guess she was kind of justified, seeing as how that was the only time I've really let on that I can hear what people say about me. But still! She needed to know how I felt. I groaned loudly, frustrated with life in general. Then, I pulled myself together and started practicing my scales.