Hi, here's chapter two! I had planned to update more regularly than this but I've been so busy over the past week that I just haven't been able to. Hope you enjoy this chapter and any feedback is much appreciated!
Tori's absorption into the group of friends was as surprising to the rest of the student population as it was rapid. Within a week, she had seemingly been accepted by all four members in a way that others had failed, notably her own older sister. Somehow, this nobody from Sherwood had infiltrated one of the most talented groups in the school, and no one was happier than herself; she was finally beginning to feel as though she belonged, and in more ways than one. Not only had she found a group of people that she relished the company of, but she was also in a place where she could explore her talents. For so long, she'd had no idea that performing was her calling, but she'd never enjoyed school so much as now when her days consisted mostly of acting and music classes. This was where she belonged - she was sure of it.
However, following Trina through the doors into her second week at the school reminded her that life was not all rosy. Weighed down by her sister's books and bags, she found herself wondering what on earth she'd done in a past life to be rewarded with such an annoying relation.
"Hey Tori! Why did you bring so many bags to school today?" Cat asked, appearing out of nowhere with a smile as bright as her hair.
"They're not mine! Trina gave them to me!"
"Well why did you take them?"
"Because -" Tori paused, "wait, why did I take them? Trina!" She called after her sister, who was grappling another student for an orange sheet.
"No, you listen to me-" the older Vega snapped at her fellow student.
"Trina, take your bags!" Tori whined.
"Tori, can't you see I'm in the middle of something." Trina snapped, rattling off a sarcastic "thank you" as the other student relinquished their grip on the paper.
"What is that?" Tori asked.
"It's the play schedule for the semester." Trina replied, scanning the sheet. "Oh my god, I am perfect for all of these!"
"Let me see." Tori leaned over to look. "Which one did Andre write the music for? He told me I should audition for it."
"Moonlight Magic." Cat replied, appearing at Tori's elbow. "But they've already casted it."
"I know, but he said some people have dropped out so they're holding a second round of auditions. He thinks I should try out for the lead." Tori smiled.
"But the lead's already been cast... Ja-" Cat began before being cut off by a shrill scream.
"Legally Blonde! Oh my god, I am gonna look so good in a blonde wig!" Trina exclaimed. "Tori, why haven't you dropped my stuff off yet, you're making me late for class, come on!" She huffed, pulling her younger sister towards her locker.
"Bye Cat!" Tori yelled after her friend.
"Bye Tori!" Replied the redhead, concerns already forgotten.
After dropping Trina's things in her locker, Tori sped to her improv class, mentally rehearsing her apology for being late. Yet, when she walked into the classroom, a rubber ball whistling past her face stopped the words before they had even left her mouth.
"Did you just throw a ball at me?" She exclaimed, spinning around to direct the question at the exuberant Sikowitz.
"Yes, yes I did."
"Why?"
"Because this is improv class, Tori. You have to learn how to react to the unexpected. Now, take a seat whilst I discuss the upcoming plays this semester and how likely they are to involve a prop coconut."
Tori opened her mouth to respond but, upon realising she really didn't have a response to that, simply sat down in the nearest empty chair, which happened to be next to Beck.
"Hi." She smiled as she sat down.
"Hey." He responded quietly, "How come you're late?"
"Blame Trina and her inability to carry her own books." She spat.
He chuckled, and a cloud of butterflies ran through Tori's body. It felt nice to make Beck laugh, even if it was over something as simple as her sister's annoying personality.
"You've gotta learn to stick up for yourself a bit more." Beck replied. "Especially if you're entering the world of performing arts. It can be brutal out there."
Tori smiled. "Thanks, I'll take that on board."
He grinned and turned his attention back to the teacher, blind to the blush that had crept up to Tori's cheeks.
Damn, she thought to herself. She really hadn't meant to fall for someone at this school so hard and so fast.
The lesson ended an hour and around fifty thrown balls later. Thankful to escape the barrage, Tori's new friends left immediately, although she was held back from their invitation to lunch by Sikowitz.
"Please don't throw another ball at me." She pleaded.
"Now why would I do that? The lesson is over, Tori." Sikowitz replied.
"Hey Sikowitz, I forgot to ask you a question about the homew-" Cat began, appearing in the doorway, before being scared off by a ball flying past her face.
"Sikowitz? You just said the lesson was over!" Tori exclaimed.
"Ah, yes. Well, I lied." Sikowitz smiled, earning only a confused look from his pupil. "Now Tori, the reason I called you back here. I hear that you are interested in auditioning for some plays."
"Yeah! Moonlight Magic - Andre wrote the music for it and said I should try out."
"Ah, well, you can't." Sikowitz said abruptly.
"Why not?" Tori inquired.
"Because," he began, bending down to pick up a small book. "Before any Hollywood Arts student is able to take part in performances, they must complete the Bird Scene."
"The Bird Scene?"
"Yes," he replied, handing Tori the book. "Learn this scene and only then can you audition."
Tori opened the book and flipped through it, seeing that its large font and use of illustrations meant that the scene itself was far shorter than the numerous pages would make it seem.
"Just this one scene?" She asked, looking up at Sikowitz. "And then I can be in Andre's play?"
"Correct." He replied, taking a sip of his coconut. "Although be warned, Tori. Never underestimate the bird scene." He continued, mysteriously.
"Okay..." Tori grimaced. "I will bear that in mind." She said, beginning to move towards the door.
"You can perform the scene in tomorrow's lesson. I look forward to it."
"Thank you. I'll get practicing tonight." Tori replied, turning around and opening the door to leave.
"Oh, Tori. One more thing!"
Tori turned around, ready to hear more pointers regarding the scene, but instead only saw a flash of red as a ball came whistling past her face. Screaming, she darted out of the classroom, with the erratic teacher's cackle serving as a soundtrack to her exit.
Tori spent that evening holed up in her room, continuously going over the words in the little book, eager to ensure that her performance would be perfect and prove that she was good enough for the school, that she had finally found the place where she belonged.
Unfortunately for her, as was becoming a common occurrence, any attempts at blending into Hollywood Arts were hindered by her older sister's... exuberance? Currently, Trina was very loudly singing a Ginger Fox cover in the main room of the house, drowning out Tori's much quieter rehearsal of her piece.
Growing frustrated, the younger girl rose up from where she was sat on her bed and stormed down the stairs.
"Trina!" She yelled towards her sister, who was singing along to the karaoke version of the song, with the words flashing up on the blaring TV screen in front of her.
"What?" Trina yelled back, spinning her head around to glare at her younger sister, hands remaining firmly gripped on the microphone.
"I'm trying to rehearse my lines!" Tori replied, exasperated.
"What lines? You only just started and there aren't any plays coming up that would have cast you because I haven't been casted and there's no way that you-"
"For the bird scene!" Tori interrupted. "You know- the scene that everyone has to pass before they audition."
"Ohhhh..." Trina nodded, finally turning her attention away from the TV screen and muting the song. "You're really rehearsing for that? It's like a minute long." She continued, quizzically.
"Of course I'm rehearsing." Tori said, throwing her hands up in frustration. "I really need to pass it so I can be in Andre's play."
"Aw, I forget that you're not as talented as me sometimes." Trina said, in a manner so unnecessarily sympathetic that it made Tori's stomach churn. "Okay, Tori. If you need to rehearse for the scene then you go do that." She smiled and turned the TV off.
But now Tori was irked. "You really never rehearsed for the Bird Scene?" She asked disbelievingly.
"Yup." Trina said, now flicking through the pages of a magazine.
"How did you pass then?"
"Just sheer talent, I think." Trina shrugged without an ounce of sarcasm.
Tori exhaled loudly. "Well, just because some people like you can fluke it doesn't mean that I'll get that lucky, so if you could keep your music off so I could practice, that would be great." She said, turning to head back towards her room.
"People? Baby sister, nobody flukes the Bird Scene. Almost everyone fails first time. In fact, only two people have passed it first time in the past five years." She paused for dramatic effect. "And one of them was me!" She finished excitedly.
Tori turned back around. "Only two people have passed first time in five years?" She asked, disbelievingly.
"Yeah, and I was one of them. I'm really that good." Trina grinned.
"Who was the other one?" Tori inquired, and her mind went straight to Beck. He was an incredible actor, there was no doubt about it. It had to be him - she was sure that he could do the scene blindfolded, with his arms tied behind his back and still blow everyone away. He was just so talented, and dreamy...
"Oh, this sophomore," Trina began, drawing Tori from her thoughts. "She took it like two years ago or something, after me of course. But I don't even think she goes to Hollywood Arts anymore, so I'm basically the only one in the whole entire school that passed the Bird Scene first try. How great is that?!"
It wasn't Beck? Tori thought, completely ignoring her sister's conceited rambles. Now she was beginning to worry. If someone as talented as Beck couldn't even pass the scene first try then how could she - a complete newbie?
"I'm gonna go rehearse." Tori spluttered, rushing back towards her room.
"It's so hard being the talented one in the family." Trina sighed once her sister was gone. "It really is."
The next day, Tori entered Sikowitz's class with book in hand, lines learnt and nerves blooming. Sitting down in an empty chair, she awaited the teacher's arrival.
"The Bird Scene?" Came a voice from beside her, and she turned her head to see Beck lowering himself into a chair. "You're doing the Bird Scene today?" He followed up, gesturing to the book, and Tori realised with a mental facepalm that she hadn't replied to him.
"Y-yeah, Sikowitz told me that I had to do it before I can audition for any plays." She stumbled over her words, mentally cursing herself for playing it so ridiculously uncool in front of the heartthrob.
"Of course." He nodded. "Well, I hope you pass." He smiled, and Tori felt herself begin to smile too.
"I hope so. But Trina says everybody fails on their first go. Except for her apparently."
"Trina passing first time? Oh god, I forgot about that." Beck laughed, and Tori joined in.
"She says that only her and one other girl have passed first time in the last five years. Please tell me that's not true." She pleaded.
"No, that's true." Beck shrugged. "It's a hard test, but everyone gets it in the end."
"I guess." Tori replied. "Or maybe you just have to be so awful that Sikowitz takes pity on you and passes you anyway. Hey, was the other girl that passed as bad as Trina?" She mused.
Beck shook his head and smiled. "Nope. She's pretty damn good."
Tori opened her mouth to ask about Beck's failure to pass first time when suddenly there was a crash behind her and she turned around to see the colourfully dressed acting teacher tumbling through the window and onto the floor.
"Sikowitz!" She yelled, hastily getting to her feet. "Are you okay?"
The teacher looked at the girl quizzically as he easily pulled himself to his feet. "I'm absolutely fine, why do you ask?"
"Because-"
"Ah, no time for conversation today Tori! You have a scene to perform - the Bird Scene." He replied, gesturing to the stage.
Still confused, Tori allowed herself to be ushered onto the stage. Perhaps, she considered, as she stared out at her small audience, that was part of the test. Maybe Sikowitz had been attempting to throw her off by crashing through a window? Though strange, the thought was probably less concerning than any alternative possibilities.
Nevertheless, Tori had prepared herself to the maximum and she was not about to be put off by the erraticism of her teacher. No, she was about to pass the Bird Scene on her first try.
"Living on the prairie was a dreary existence..."