Disclaimer: I don't own Tori, Trina, or even t he psychotic goth. I do, however, own the original characters for this story. Thats about it, and not enough to hang my hat on. Still, don't sue.

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Drake wasn't too happy about his role in the school play. He'd auditioned for several role, including the lead, and gotten about the same level of respect as that talentless hack Trina Vega had. In fact, he was supposed to ply opposite her in this production, some meaningless extra who, yes, was named, but mostly just sang and danced background while the so called main people of Hollywood Arts got all the attention. 'It's because that weirdo Sikowitz likes them. He's always been the type to play favorites.' Drake lamented to himself. 'I'm every bit as good as any of them are. I should have more lines, or any line at all for that matter. Why the hell does Trina, TRINA, get a line, but not me?'

He looked over at said girl, who was busy talking to her sister, the lead, as well as her sisters friends. 'Trina only got this part cause she's related to one of THEM…' His thoughts were dark.

"Yo, buddy, how's it going?" His friend Drew asked. Drake had been so busy fuming, he'd hardly noticed the band member walking up to him.

"Just trying to remember my cues." Drake said, growing as he watched his buddies eyes. "So, thinking of asking one of those girls out?"

"One of them?" Drew laughs. "Like I rate. Dude, to them, I'm landscape. Scratch that, landscape you notice enough to navigate around. Me, I'm a speed-bump in the hallways."

"Just cause that psycho goth chick walked over you that one time…"

"You're right, they do try to walk around me, usually." Drew seemed in good spirits. "Just, you know, band, so I don't ever get parts in any of the plays."

"And why is that?' Drake asked. "You're almost as talented an actor as I am, and not bad looking. You'd think that crazy bald director would notice those not in his classes, and give us a fair shot. But no, he only see's his students, who of course he see's all the time, cause they're in his class. Maybe if they didn't have to use the drama teachers to direct everything, they'd notice that some of us are pretty darn talented ourselves."

"Yea, I think it's just cause, people like you, or that babe over there,' he pointed towards Trina, who was now having some kind of conversation with Andre, "while you're good, those kids, they're great. I mean, it's hard to be seen when our shine is so soft, and those guys, they're beacons. Just, we do what we can, and remind ourselves we're at this school for the performing arts. It's not like any of them, except maybe Dre, can play instruments anywhere as good as we do." He sighed. "That Robbie kid, he's good on the guitar, and both Jade and Tori are decent enough with keyboards…."

"Not helping." Drake warned.

"The point is, this school, they need to fill seats in the classes." Drew clarified. "Us, we have talents, can play instruments, are gonna be able to provide for our families with our art. Them, they're borderline amazing to flat out amazing." His hand rested on his buddies arm. "We're just not in their league. Sorry, pal, but you have to accept that, among our ilk, and even so many of the acting students, you getting any roll at all is amazing. Hell, Wanda is envious cause you get to act opposite of Trina, and Trina is close to several of the main people. Get used to this, we, us, we're plenty good. But here at HA, we're just extra's in a world of great."

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Not complete, but it's for an anthology, and I think it gets the message across. Yes, you can work hard, make something out of yourself, but you also have to account for talent. So, thoughts?