“We have seven scripts. So, we will have to share for tonight. Everyone come up and form five lines. One for each part. I’ll pass the scripts out once we are a little more organized.”
Everyone leapt up and with excited chatter they scurried down and made five lines like Stacie had asked. I waited until it was a little less crowded before standing up. To my surprise, Thomas, who had been sitting next to me also stood up.
“You’re auditioning?” I whispered harshly. He gave me a coy smile and winked.
“Sure, why not? I’m already here,” he said before heading straight to the line where all the hopeful ‘Marty’s’ were. I followed him onto the stage but went to the Jackie-O line. I gulped. If we both got these parts, we’d be playing the leads. Lovers and twin siblings.
Despite it being quite known of Stacie’s preference to have me cast as Jackie-O, there were still six other women auditioning. That made me feel guilty. I hated to toot my own horn, but I was pretty much promised the part. These women were auditioning for nothing. It wasn’t fair.
While I waited for my turn to read for the part, I counted the other lines. Five men came out for Anthony, the other brother. Two middle aged women read for Mrs. Pascal, the mother. There were eight girls here for Lesly, Marty’s fiancé, and surprisingly only three men were here to read for the part of Marty.
The scene Stacie had us read was one that included all five parts in some way. Due to the large amount of Lesly’s and Jackie-O’s, the other three lines had to read several times to give us all a chance. With the order of the lines, I ended up reading with Thomas.
Having seen the movie, I knew how to play the character. I lowered my script to set my eyes on Thomas. I flirted with him, while he awkwardly tried to move away from my advances. I saw his Adam’s apple bob as he gulped and said his own lines. He was good. Much better than the other two that had auditioned. When our quick scene was done Stacie had us stand there for a moment. She had been writing things down furiously on her notepad.
Turning to Erin, the two of them discussed things while we stood there awkwardly on the stage. I was looking out into the empty audience when I felt a hand reaching for my own. I whipped around to see Thomas. He squeezed my hand and let go quickly.
“You were really good!” He whispered excitedly. I smiled.
“Thanks, you too!”
Our talking first broke the tension around us. Everyone began whispering around us, chatting excitedly. A few moments later Erin and Stacie started changing up the order of things. They wanted this person to read with this person, or they wanted a Lesly to read for Jackie-O or Marty move to Anthony’s line. We spent the next hour being scrambled all over, eventually I ended up reading for all three female parts.
Finally, both of the women in the audience stood up and began clapping.
“Everyone give yourselves a round of applause. You all were so good! I do have a list of people I’d like to come back tomorrow to read again. Erin has a list of people that she’d like to talk to before you leave. Thank you all for coming out, and I can’t wait to get this show started!” She set us free.
Everyone scrambled to see the lists they handed to the people the closest to the head of the stage. I stood back with Thomas while everyone went through the list. I saw some faces fall and others light up. When the papers were free, we both reached for one. Despite already knowing, it was still exciting to see that I had gotten a call back. Thomas had as well. I would be up against two other women, while Thomas had only one to audition with.
Erin had a long line of people that hadn’t made the call back list, but she was going to try to recruit for painting, props, costumes, and other various backstage jobs. Some looked eager to help, while others were sulking. Sorry guys, it was part of the theatre. Everyone had to do it at some point. I think I had done more offstage work than onstage roles. Sometimes those were the more fun parts.
I saw some girls clumped together murmuring something low while giving me the stink eye. I wanted to roll my eyes, but I understood their frustration. I was once in their place. I felt Thomas’ strong hand on the small of my back. I looked up and he was smiling down at me.
“I’m gonna take off, see you tomorrow,” he said. I told him goodbye and hurried back to Stacie.
The room was fading out now. Soon the only ones left were me, Stacie, and Erin. Stacie finished making notes and stood up.
“Anyone want to go for drinks?”
“I’ve actually got to let my dogs out, but we can have some drinks at my place if you’re interested,” I offered.
“Actually,” Stacie started; her face had that ‘I’ve got an idea’ look on it. “What if we have a movie night? We can watch ‘The house Of Yes’, with Parker Posey and Tori Spelling. Beer, popcorn, late night pizza?” Erin perked right up and they both started getting excited about the idea. I was hesitant. I looked at the time on my phone. It was only eight. Mark hadn’t been coming home until after midnight.
“I do have some time. But I really need to let the dogs out. How about I drive over to your place when I’m ready?”
“Or we can wait the five minutes and just take you? I don’t mind giving you a ride home. Or, just have your husband swing by when he’s off work,” Erin suggested. That wasn’t a bad idea. That way I didn’t miss him.
“I’ll call him. That will work out great actually.”
By the time we had reached my house our small plans for a movie night had turned into a party at Stacie’s.
“Lizzie, Michelle, and Thomas are coming. Erin is picking up Justin now. It’s just like old times!” She squealed as we walked into my place. Beau and Bonnie came running to the door excitedly. I was starting to feel a little bad. Lately I hadn’t been around as much as they needed. Maybe we should hire a full-time housekeeper. We had only been using temporary ones for vacations.
“Wow, you really are loaded now. Far cry from the Reynolds van you were living in when we met,” she said. I smiled and leaned against the side of the house.
“Yeah, I’m lucky. Mark is amazing. He didn’t have this house when I met him. He was sharing this dump of an apartment with his friend,” I chuckled. Way back when Derek did understand the concept of paying rent.
“Well is his friend still single? I’d love to get me a house like this,” she laughed. I thought about it for a moment. Was he? Derek had been acting really weird lately when it came to girls. He wasn’t bringing strangers over anymore and he didn’t even have a date to prom. It was odd for him to be like that. I would have to remember to ask Mark about it.
