“A motorcycle gang you don’t want as an enemy.” Leah stands and gathers her stuff. “Look, I’m an outcast. I have one friend in this whole forsaken school. My life is hard enough. I don’t need anyone in it that’s going to make it harder.”
“Leah, wait,” I call at her back. “I didn’t know. I’m sorry.”
She keeps walking, ignoring me. My appetite disappears. I’m right back to where I started this morning—dejected and friendless.
The bell pierces my melancholy. I wrap my food in napkins to eat later and drag my feet to my locker.
Ten minutes later, I’m sitting in the auditorium, waiting for drama class to start. I fidget in the uncomfortable wooden seat, racking my brain about what to do next. Maybe Leah just needs some time to cool off. I’ll try to talk to her after school and hope for the best.
Deja sashays by with a girl I recognize from the cafeteria, souring my mood further. She notices me and whispers in her friend’s ear. They snicker at my expense, no doubt, and sit several rows ahead of me. I thrust my middle finger at their backs.Bitches.
“Hello, my darlings!” A bald man announces, waltzing into the auditorium.
This must be Mr. Rousseau, the drama teacher and a favoriteamong the students, judging by their enthusiastic responses. A colorful striped blouse and heather-gray slacks mold to his slim, athletic frame. His royal-purple high heels clink hard against the floor as he climbs onto the stage with an energetic bounce. Very chic and fashionable. He strides to the center of the platform. The overhead lights paint a bright spot on his hairless crown.
“Today, we’ll conclude auditions forBeauty and the Beast,” he continues in a thick French accent. “Stacy, Tina, you both would like to audition for the role of Belle, yes?”
They both express the desire to display their acting skills.
“And you are, my darling?” he asks me.
“Zilphia Kensley,” I respond. “New kid on the block.”
“It’s nice to have you here.” He bows slightly. “Would you like to audition for a leading role or a supporting role?”
I cringe, neither option appealing to me. “I prefer not to audition.”
“Sure, my darling, but you must participate to receive a grade,” he states. “We’ll find a position for you on the stage crew.”
The tension in my shoulder eases. “I can handle that.”
“All right, let’s begin,” Mr. Rousseau announces. “Stacy, come to the stage, my darling. Henry, you as well. You’ll read the lines for Beast. Act 5, Scene 1.”
Deja turns around and sears me with her contemptuous gaze. “Like your nasty skank ass could’ve bested me anyway. I auditioned for Belle yesterday, and Mr. Rousseau will for sure give that part to me, guaranteed.”
“Girl, yes, you have it locked down,” her friend agrees, boosting my cousin’s already fat head. “You’re better than all these basic bitches in here.”
“Period,” she gloats.
That’s it. I’ve had enough of her bullshit.
I raise my hand. “Mr. Rousseau, I changed my mind,” I say, returning my cousin’s hateful glare. “I want to audition for Belle.”
“Wonderful, wonderful!” he exclaims, clapping his hands excitedly. “You’ll audition after Tina.”
I smirk at Deja. “May the best girl win.”
She scowls at me, but no comeback is forthcoming.
I hope I haven’t bitten off more than I can chew. I’ve performed on stage before, but that was thirteen years ago. My beauty pageant days are long gone. I remember absolutely loathing every second of it. I didn’t aspire to become Miss USA. That was Momma’s dream, and she just dragged me along for the ride, reliving her youth through me. She made the experience not fun.
I never won first place, and each loss resulted in a verbal tongue-lashing. In some cases, verbal abuse is far worse than physical abuse. Eventually she said I wasn’t worth the trouble anymore, and my beauty pageant contestant days came to a sudden end. That was one of the happiest moments of my existence.
All too soon, it’s my turn to audition. Mr. Rousseau hands me the script, and I mount the stage stairs, heart hammering in my eardrums. It feels like cotton balls are lodged in my throat. Oh God, what have I gotten myself into? Me and my big, gigantic mouth.
Chill. You got this.
I watchedBeauty and the Beasta gazillion times. It was one of my favorite movies as a kid. Yep, this will be a cakewalk. I take center stage, and my confidence crumbles to dust.Well hell. I stand there, trembling in my wedges, words failing me. I part my lips, but only a croak emerges.
