This was the day.
From the moment Shayla Iman stepped into the Livewire Gateway Center for her audition she knew her life would change forever. As she looked around at the empty arena imagining a full audience on its feet applauding her...she found herself torn a few ways.
This was, in her mind, the most important audition she would ever get the chance to have in her budding career. Yet, even if things didn't go her way Shayla's heart was bursting at the thought of greeting an old friend she hadn't seen since she was five years old.
Would he remember her? Would he recognize her dark beautiful curly locks and her chestnut eyes? Her hands trembled not knowing what this important day would bring. If anything, she knew one thing was definite...this was going to be one hell of an adventure to remember.
"Ma'am? Hello?" A tall bulky man with dark shades spoke up interrupting her thoughts.
"Yes?" Shayla answered. "You were talking to me?"
"You can't stand here." He pointed behind her as she leaned against the entrance door.
"Oh, God. I'm sorry. Don't mind me, i'm a little nervous."
"It's quite alright." The man laughed. "Are you here for the auditions?"
"Yes Sir, that's right. I am. " She said gleefully as she stepped away from the door.
"Great, i'm part of security here. Would you like me to escort you to the waiting area? The head choreographer is getting ready to speak with you all soon."
"Yes, thank you. Somehow I feel like I could get lost in here."
"Right this way." He responded with a smile.
As the large man led the way she kept looking around in complete awe of her surroundings. Her Mom used to ask her when she was little what she wanted to be when she grew up. When she was 6 and 7 years old it was a princess, from age 10-14 it was an astronaut, and now that she was mature and far wiser she knew she had found her passion in dancing. In that moment...being in that very place, at that very time, all her dreams could be realized maybe even the ones she didn't know she had.
She stood in a room with maybe 30 other women and she couldn't help but feel average and self conscious. The only face she recognized was a gorgeous ebony girl with curly locks named Nikita Demarco. She only knew her because they had been on numerous auditions together. Most of the ladies were extremely gorgeous and had the drop dead bombshell look she wished she had.
If she felt talent would be the main focus for the auditions her nervousness would've melted as soon as she took a glimpse of the stage upon her arrival, but she knew she would be fooling herself. Shayla was more than confident in her ability, but this was an audition for a music video and if there were to be any women featured at all surely they'd have to have a Hollywood type sex appeal about them...something she knew for certain she lacked.
"Alright listen up." A blonde haired skinny man entered the room. "My name is Vince Paterson, and I am the head choreographer for the upcoming Bad Tour and for the short film one of you lucky individuals will be featured in."
Everyone grinned from ear to ear and applauded.
"First off, we're gonna start you on a trial run." Vince went on. "This is not gonna be easy, there's levels to this. Some of you will make it past the trial run and some of you won't. We're gonna get you on stage in groups and if we like what we see then you go through me and learn the choreo. If you can't keep up, you're gone. If you're not up to par, you're gone. We need only the best of the best. Good luck ladies."
As he smiled and left the room a surge of energy ran through Shayla's body. She knew she could nail the audition and give the performance they were looking for. The room grew to a loud mumble and everyone was chattering about who may and may not be the chosen one.
"I swear, this is going to be a dream come true!" A voice beside Shayla spoke up.
Shayla didn't even realize anyone was standing next to her but when she looked up from her thoughts an talk dark haired beauty stared back at her.
"Oh, I can't believe i'm even here." She responded to the woman. "This is something i've always wanted."
"I couldn't agree more. As a little girl this is the stuff I would dream about. Do you really think Michael will be watching?"
At the mention of his name Shayla's hands grew sweaty. She hadn't seen her old classmate in nearly 17 years. Suddenly all the faint memorable moments with him in Elementary School ran through her mind. He was essentially her best friend...would he even remember who she was?
"I'm not positive but that would be amazing, huh?" Shayla said through a haze of memories.
"Yes it definitely would be." The woman sighed with joy. "I'm so sorry look at me being rude. I didn't even catch your name. What was it again?
"Shayla..." She held out her hand for the woman to shake. "Shayla Iman...and you are?"
"Tatiana Thumbtzen." She answered, accepting Shayla's handshake with a smile.
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"How many again?" Michael asked as he took his signature aviator glasses from his pocket and neatly placed them over his eyes.
"Vince told me 35 Sir." Bill his head of security chimed in.
"She's out there waiting Bill, the perfect girl for my short film. I have it all in my head and I can't wait to see what these girls bring to the table."
"Hey Romeo?" Vince stepped into the room as if he were speaking to a brother. "You gonna keep everyone waiting all day?"
"How can I when I can hardly wait myself." Michael giggled as he tossed Vince a water bottle."
"Would you like a seat in the front row Mr. Jackson? See everything up close?" Bill asked.
"No. No that wouldn't be a good idea. I don't wanna make the girls nervous. I'll keep watch from the balcony."
"Yes Sir." He answered.
"Well, lets don't just stand here." Vince playfully hit Michael's arm. "It's time to create magic!"
Michael and his entourage made their way to the balcony to inconspicuously keep watch meanwhile the girls prepared to give what they all hoped would be a winning performance.
Some silently prayed, some stretched, and some sat alone trying to shake their rattled nerves not knowing the pair of eyes glued to their every movement.
"Alright ladies!" Vince rushed to the stage. "In groups, let me have you...you...and...you. Show me what you got."
He signaled at each girl and when that long slender finger pointed in Shayla's direction her heart felt like it stopped. This was the moment she was waiting for...no turning back now.
She nervously stepped out of line desperately trying to control her breathing and when she took center stage she realized Tatiana was the first girl on the opposite side in their group. She attempted to give Tatiana a "good luck" smile and nod but Tatiana's eyes were firmly locked on Vince waiting for his cue.
"I wanna see originality and personality girls!" Vince shouted. "Music please!"
Michael's new song "The Way You Make Me Feel" loudly echoed throughout the arena and all three girls sprang into their own choreography.
Each girl let the music move their body and attempted to showcase why they alone fit the vision for the catchy upbeat song.
What was maybe a minute of strutting on stage to Shayla felt like a few short seconds. Her mind began to wander as she struck a Michael Jackson like pose signaling the end of the first group.
"Maybe I should have done a different pose."
"I shouldn't have done that move."
"What if I didn't look the part?"
"Thanks so much group one!" Vince nodded his approval. "Great way to start auditions. Wonderful Job!"
Once all the ladies got their opportunity to show their skill they eagerly waited to hear who would be learning choreography from Vince himself. Some of them had already broken down in tears thinking the worst of their performance while others stood like a rock not showing any emotion. The wait was agonizing and it almost seemed as if you were on trial and waiting for the jury to decide your fate.
"Okay, so I definitely had some stand out to me." Vince held up a few portraits of ladies he felt made an impression. "These particular ladies blew me away."
He pointed to two pictures and Michael nodded his head in agreement.
"Shockingly, we're actually on the same page here." Michael added as he placed the two photos off to the side with three others.
"Shockingly?" Vince smiled and rolled his eyes. "I do have good taste you know. I'm pretty confident in the ones we narrowed it down to but the question is are YOU happy?"
"Truly, I think these ladies are perfect. It's gonna be difficult choosing only one."
"The battle may be over but it's time to prepare these girls for war. I'm not taking it easy on them either."
"Relax Vince, this isn't 1955 and we're not going off to Vietnam." Both men laughed.
"Well, there you have it." Vince said as he happily handed Michael their selections. "Are you ready?"
"What kind of question is that?" Michael answered, hitting him on the head with the photos. "I'm always ready."
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Shayla laid on a bench in the waiting area trying not to let her anxiety get the better of her. Nobody, not even, Tatiana came to speak to her and it made her wish there was someone in the bunch...anyone she knew that she could express her inner most thoughts to. She was feeling so much inside and the waiting was eating her alive.
"Hi Ladies." Bill spoke as he entered the room making everyone stand up. "Vince wants you all to head to center stage he and the crew are waiting there for you."
With those words the girls quickly filed out of the room in a herd, each one nervous and not knowing what to expect. As the stage began to fill with music video hopefuls Shayla tried to read Vince's eyes and facial expressions wanting to see if his attention was on anyone in particular.
Suddenly Tatiana's words chimed in her mind once again, had Michael been watching them the entire time? True she was there to win this role for his Short Film but she had been in slight hopes she'd at least get to see him again even if he didn't recognize her.
"First of all, I want to thank all of you." Vince said eyeing the crowd. "You all were phenomenal and did not make this decision easy at all. In my hand are 5 chosen people but before it's revealed who will be working by my side i'd like someone else to do the honors. Someone who has been paying very close attention to you all. Someone who ultimately made the final decision."
Every girl looked at each other puzzled until Michael Jackson entered the room and took his place beside Vince. He smiled hearing faint gasps and even one girl fell to her knees not believing the King of Pop was standing in front of her. Vince handed Michael the portraits and stood off to the side letting him speak to the ladies.
"To echo what Vince said thank you all for being here." Michael began. "I've seen some amazing things from you guys and i'm so excited to get started working. I do have one announcement for you all...the girl that ultimately gets chosen for the part in my short film won't just be participating in that project, but she will also be accompanying me on the Bad Tour starting in September. We got a lot of work to do and this is just the beginning."
As everyone around her squealed with joy and excitement Shayla felt the room spinning and she felt it beginning to get hard to breathe. Was this a dream? When she first arrived here she assumed she would be attempting to be by Michael Jackson's side as she watched him bring his vision to life...now...she could be on the road with him touring countries she only ever prayed she could visit.
"When I call your name please step to the front." Michael said, as he placed five pictures on the stage. "Catherine Grant, Isabella Hosford, Tatiana Thumbtzen, Nikita Demarco, and Shayla Iman."
Shayla's eyes widened with shock. She looked around the room wanting to ask anyone if she had heard him right. Did he just say her name? She felt like a baby deer on newborn legs standing in a headlight. She clumsily made her way to the front and took her place next to the four other ladies.
"Every single one of you were incredible" Michael continued. "Thank you to everyone who participated and congratulations to you five ladies."
While Shayla looked as if she could pass out any moment Tatiana stood confident and proud as if she was expecting him to say her name all along. As the stage cleared aside from the chosen five Michael took to the stage to greet and thank each lady personally.
"To my five remaining ladies. Congratulations." Vince shouted. "I wanna see you all back here Wednesday. Get plenty of rest!"
Michael went to each one shaking hands and telling them how great they were and showing his gratitude that they wanted to be a part of his short film. When he stood in front of Shayla she held out her hand, praying it wasn't sweaty, and told him how happy she was to even have made it this far.
"Hello, nice to meet you." He smiled. "You're definitely one of the ones we had our eye on. You were amazing."
"Thank you so much." Shayla replied as she looked into his eyes. She giggled seeing the 10 year old she remembered staring back at her. In her opinion, he hadn't changed one bit. But did he know who she was?. "I feel like this is a dream and i'm gonna wake up soon. I can't thank you enough for seeing potential in me."
Once she looked up at him, something in him stirred. He couldn't put his finger on it but her smile and dainty laugh made his entire body warm and a sense of familiarity washed over him. He didn't realize how long he stood there staring but something about her beautiful face ignited a memory in the recesses of his mind, and it made him curious about the woman standing before him.
"Well um..." He cleared his throat feeling embarrassed. "Congratulations, and I look forward to seeing how you do when we work the routine."
Michael was no doubt entranced by her. He watched as she moved a few strands of hair off of her face and walked to stage left to retrieve her half empty water bottle. What was it about her? Had he seen her before? Did they know each other?
His instincts told him to follow her, but once he started in her direction a tall skinny ebony woman stood in front of him waiting to greet him.
"Hi, my name is Tatiana. I'm so excited about all of this I can't wait for the chance to be in the music video."
"Congratulations." Michael quickly shook Tatiana's hand. "Keep up the good work.
Tatiana gave him her best flirty smile and sighed happily as he moved past her smelling his sweet aroma still lingering in the air. If anyone deserved the great honor of being a Michael Jackson girl she knew without a doubt it was her. None of the other four women compared to her and she felt as if she already had the role in the bag. She was gonna be a part of the short film and she was going to go on tour with Michael come September. There was no way anything or anyone was going to stop her.
