The day went by in a blur until it was time for Theater class. �Wow Leesh, is that you? You look pretty today� Ashlyn said.
�Thanks, just thought I�d dress up a slight bit for the auditions� Alicia told them. �Are you three ready for the auditions?�
�Yep� Missy answered.
�Definitely� said Megan.
�Mostly, but a little nervous because it�s my first audition here� Ashlyn told them.
�I am really nervous, because I have NEVER acted before. I�m afraid I�ll screw up in front of Ms. Collins�
�Just walk in there, say hello to Ms. Collins, and play the part. Don�t worry so much about the lines; it�s not so much about them as it is how you carry the character. Just pretend that you ARE the character for the time and the lines will come naturally. It works for me� Megan told her.
She felt a little better by Megan�s words. �But let�s still go through the lines, what do you say?�
�Certainly� They read for all the period.
Auditions started right after school. The quartet decided to wait together. �So, Ali, do you have a crush on anyone?� Missy asked.
Alicia nodded �He�s in our class actually. You have to guess�
�Bryan Cansten?� Megan inquired.
She shook her head.
�Drew Lachey?� asked Ashlyn.
�Right last name, wrong one�
�Nick. A lot of girls have crushes on him. You know something; you and him might make a good Kassandra and Jamie.� Ashlyn said, taking a sip of her water.
�Seriously?�
�Yeah. I�d like to see someone other than Sara get the lead. Our last play sucked because she was the female lead.� Megan rolled her eyes. �I really hope she doesn�t get a part at all�
Ms. Collins came in the waiting room. �Ok everyone, I need Alicia as Erica, Jess as Kassandra and Diana as Nicki�
�Break a leg Ali,� said Missy smiling.
�Hopefully not literally� Alicia said, laughing and went into the auditorium.
Ms. Collins had them go on the auditorium stage. �Ok girls, before we begin, I want to tell you what I will be looking for. I am looking for how well you memorized your lines, how well you are able to project out to the audience, how you are trying to incorporate the audience into the performance, and also how you carry the character. Good luck�
That audition went ok, but it was kind of because Jess and Diana didn�t know the part as well and were letting the nerves get over them.
After she got out, it was a long time till she had to audition again. People were getting called in and out and she couldn�t help but wonder how the people here doing and if they were better than she was. The nerves were really starting to get over her now.
It was 4:50 and she hadn�t gone back in yet. Missy was done for the day, so she had gone home. But Ashlyn and Megan were still with her.
�You look like the nerves are coming over� Ashlyn said.
Alicia nodded �They are. I�m just� I don�t know. I just want to get over with.�
Ms. Collins came back in again. �Ok. I need Alicia as Kassandra and Donovan as Jamie.�
�You can do it, Ali. Knock em dead� said Megan. �And remember what I said.�
�Thanks, I will� She smiled at her new friends and then went in.
They went in and then Ms. Collins told them the same thing as before. This scene that she and Donovan were doing was a friend scene where Jamie was suspecting Kassandra had a crush on him. And she and Donovan had pretty good chemistry and it went good. Alicia just forgot about everything and just pretended she WAS Kassandra. She was actually pretty confident about the audition. Then she had to do the friend scene as Kassandra with Ashlyn and Hannah. She was pretty confident about that, too. But she still knew she would never get the part.
�You want me to take you home?� Megan asked.
�That�s ok. I can just call my uncle and have him come get me�
�But you�ll be waiting by yourself and I don�t want you to do that.� Megan told her.
�Ok, sure then. Let�s go�
Megan drove her home and the girls said goodbye, saying they would see each other tomorrow.
Alicia walked in the house, to see everyone at the dinner table. �There�s our little actress� said Jeremy. �How did they go?�
�Pretty good. I don�t think I�ll get picked, though�
�Why not?� Tyler asked her.
�I just don�t think I will. But you never know. Good stuff has never happened to me much.� She said, sighing.
�I think it will this time. You deserve to have happy things to happen to you and to have people care about them. Look at you, you made the right choice. You have friends who really like you and you just tried out for your first acting role to get out of your shell.�
�But my parents could easily try to take it away from me� Alicia said under her breath.
�If they try to do so, we aren�t going to let them.� Katie said. �Seriously, they are depriving your sister and you of being creative and flourish to your full potential. You are never going back to living under their roof again, trust us.�
�Thanks, Katie. I never want to go back to there either.�
Alicia was writing in her journal later about the day.
Well, for a Monday, today was really good. Les came over this morning and helped me with my hair and make-up. And I was pleased with the result. Maybe I ought to wear it more often!
A lot of people also said that I looked pretty today. Even Nick said I did! That really made my day.
Auditions were today. I tried out for Erica and Kassandra. The Erica audition went ok, I guess. And the Kassandra audition was really good. I did a friend scene with Ashlyn and Hannah, and a scene with Donovan as Jamie. He was pretty good. But I�m so glad I didn�t have to audition with Nick. I would have been too nervous to concentrate. But I still dream that we will be cast together as Kassandra and Jamie. We might be good together. But I�m not going to get it. I know I�m not. Good things haven�t happened to me much in my life and I really don�t see why it would start now.
But then again, I was admitted to this place, and started making new friends who actually care and I did something that I would not have done last year. So I guess you could count that as a good thing. But I still don�t know�
The next day at lunch she sat with Megan, Jeff, Dani, Drew and Desiree. �I didn�t get to see you yesterday, Leesh. How do you think you did?�
�Pretty good, I still don�t think I�ll get anything.� She said.
�Alicia, why are you so down on yourself? I�m sure you�ll get cast in something,� Drew told her. �I�ve been overhearing your readings and I think you�re pretty good.�
�Thanks, Drew. I�m not used to getting compliments. I�ve kinda been under a shadow all my life�
�Well, its time you came out of it� Desiree said. �And being in the play will be your first time big moment. Did Sara audition for the lead part?�
Megan rolled her eyes. �Unfortunately, yes. But I don�t think she�s that good. I�d LOVE to see Little Miss Perfect not get something that she wants�
�I think we all would, Megan� Jeff said.
�Amen� came from the group.
�Drew, does Nick know that you talk about his girlfriend behind his back?� Alicia asked, glancing over at Nick�s table, where, Sara and some other people were sitting.
Drew shook his head. �No. I think he might give her the boot soon though, because I think even he is getting sick of her ways. Of course I don�t know what he saw in her the first place, but that�s beside the point�
Dani looked around the lunchroom. �Anyone seen Les or Justin today?�
�He was in Trig� Jeff said. �Maybe he and Les are together.�
�But you know her, she denies that she had a crush on him, but I know that she does.� Desiree said.
�Has she ever told you?� Megan asked.
�No, but I just know. I�m psychic� Desiree had this weird smile on her face.
�And I can back that claim up, too� Drew said. �She�s figured some things that I have no idea how she did� He paused, taking a sip of milk. �Les and Justin would make a good couple, don�t you think?�
�I agree. If only she�ll realize what�s right in front of her,� Dani said.
�Speaking of, here they come� Alicia said. Les and Justin were walking in, holding hands. �Are my eyes deceiving me, or are they holding hands?� Jeff asked.
�No, silly, they are not� Dani said. Les and Justin sat down with them. �Finally decided to be a couple did you,� Drew teased.
�Maybe. Keep your nose out of our business, Toucan Sam� Justin told him. Les and Justin were the type of people who didn�t talk about themselves much.
Drew flinched but didn�t say anymore. He hated being called that.
In Chorus, Mr. Haven worth put them in groups of 8 to see who was learning the song more and who needed to work. He then would coach some people who needed work. But Alicia�s group was not working that day so she got a free period, so she spent it watching Nick since he was working. He was a talented person, acting and singing. She would like to be leads with him but, she knew it never would happen�
�Daydreaming, Leesh?� Desiree teased.
She nodded �You can probably tell who and what about�
Desiree smiled. �Don�t worry; I think it�ll happen for ya. Things are already turning around for you this year, and it�ll begin a chain of more great things�
�I hope you�re right�
~A week later~
She had been anticipating and agonizing over them all week. She had also been fantasying at what could, but probably wouldn�t happen. But finally, today was the day that the parts in the play would be announced. She knew she would probably get a minor part, or nothing. But she was still pulling that she would be Kassandra.
She sat with her three theater friends. �Are you nervous about today, you all?� Alicia asked them.
Megan nodded �I always do, a little. Because I really don�t know what Ms. Collins thought of how I did and what part I am suited for. But I�m mostly excited�
�I�m pretty cool. Whatever part I get will be fine by me,� Ashlyn said.
�I�m not too nervous� Missy said. �How about you Ali?�
Alicia sighed �Totally nervous. I�m afraid that I won�t get anything�
�You will. You�re a good actress for never have even acted before. You will just have to get over your stage fright and you�ll be great,� Missy said, smiling at her. �And we all mean it�
Alicia smiled and blushed slightly. �Thank you. It means a lot�
Ms. Collins announced �Come on, people, it�s time to announce who is going in our play. First though, I want you all to know all of you are really talented and it was hard to pick for the parts, but there�s only one person per part. So we are going to start with our stage crew�
�Here we go� Megan whispered.
Alicia kind of tuned her out for a few minutes until she said �Now for the cast. Our prom extras will be Sara Reeves, Bryan Cansten, Frank Wilson, Jess Berry, Josh Smith and Hannah Ridgeland.�
There were minor claps and Alicia, Missy, Megan and Ashlyn, had to stifle laughs as they saw the look on Sara�s face after finding out that she was merely an extra.
Some of the minor parts were read, then Ms. Collins announced, �Ok, know we are getting into the major parts. Jamie�s are friends are Derrick, played by Jeff Timmons, Will, played by Drew Lachey, and Eric, played by Aaron Williams�
Kassandra�s nemesis, Andrea will be played by Megan Frankfurt, and her two best friends, Kelly and Meg, will be played by Diana Hess and Jessica Greg.�
There were a lot of claps and Alicia was starting to get tense. Neither her nor Nick�s name had been mentioned yet. Yet she was happy for Megan because she got the part she wanted.
�Kassandra�s friends are Erica, played by Ashlyn Peters and Nicki, played by Missy Woods.�
�Oh great, now I don�t get a part� Alicia thought sadly. �But everyone else had gotten the part they wanted�
�Our Jamie is going to be played by�����. Nick Lachey�
There was enormous applause. But not Alicia was getting REALLY tense.
�And, the part you all have been waiting for. Kassandra is going to played by������������������.�