Sorry it has been a week! Thanksgiving was busy. Read and comment! I promise that a Charlie will be next-in a way.

PERFORMING ARTS COMPLEX

HONE IT: FOR ACTRESSES

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17

4: 51 PM

Allie's POV

Allie took her seat on Mel's right, trying not to feel jealous as Anastasia sat on his other side. Not worth it, she reminded herself.

The drama instructor, Careen, stepped up to the stage and pulled out a sheaf of paper. Allie tried not to hyperventilate. Finally, the cast of Romeo and Juliet would be revealed.

"Serving girl one," Careen read out. "Angela Simmons."

"She's starting with the least parts first?" Allie asked in disbelief.

"Yeah," Mel murmured sympathetically. Anastasia just looked smug, though for what reasons Allie couldn't guess. Each minute felt like an hour to Allie. Finally, Careen flipped to the last page of the packet.

"Juliet's Nurse," she read out. "Allie A. Abbot."

What? This didn't make any sense. How could she be both Juliet and her nurse? They appeared in a lot of scenes together. Unless…

"Romeo Montague will be played by Melbourne Brazille," she went on. "And Juliet Capulet will be played by Anastasia Brownling."

Anastasia stood up and flashed a brilliant smile at Mel. A bout of clapping ensued; everyone save Allie loudly applauded. When it died down, Anastasia said, "I'm honored to play the part of Juliet. But I don't know if I can live up to you expectations." Allie could hear the fake hesitance in her voice.

Careen beamed widely. "I have complete faith in you," she promised.

When class let out, Mel put a reassuring arm around Allie. "It's okay—you're still her understudy, right?" he asked, trying and failing to reassure her.

"Yeah, but I was so sure I'd get the part," Allie admitted.

Anastasia caught up to them. "I'm so glad to be working with you!" she gushed. Then she looked over at Allie. "I'm sorry you didn't get the part," she said, tones of false sympathy marking her voice.

"That's okay," Allie told her through gritted teeth. "It wasn't your fault." Something from their earlier conversation occurred to her.

"Hey, didn't you say you couldn't audition because you were sick?" Mel looked at her in confusion.

"Yes," she said, "but Careen let me do a make-up audition—just like you said."

With that, Anastasia flounced away.

Dun-dun-dun!