Page 64 of Fractured Heart

“Charles, you’re going to start us off by crossing the stage,” I direct, falling back on my old choreography.

Charles nods and crosses the stage, coming in from the wrong direction. He’s supposed to look confident and graceful, but in reality, his shoulders are slightly hunched and his steps hesitant.

“Can you try that again?” I ask. “But this time, remember that you’re in a fairy tale and—”

“You want him to try walking again?” Silas interrupts. “You know this is an a cappella audition, right? We’re here to sing.”

“And we will. I mean, you will.” I close my eyes to block out the image of Silas’s smirking face.

I have to focus on the song. Because Silas is wrong. This performance isn’t just about singing. It isn’t just about lyrics and sounds. It’s meant to inspire feelings. To transport the audience into a magical fairy tale where anything can happen. My fingers tingle with anticipation and I focus on that feeling. That’s what I need the guys to recreate so the song can come alive.

“Charles, remember you’re a powerful prince. Confident. Strong. Bold.” I look up at his incredibly tall, broad figure. “You’re in an enchanted forest…”

“That’s set design,” Silas snaps.

“Right.” I keep my eyes closed and try to get back to that place in my mind where I’m excited about the song. “Imagine you’re in an enchanted forest. Tenors, you’re going to hum to fill in the sound effects. Make the forest sound full and deep. Bring that magic to life.”

“How?” Silas asks.

I open my eyes to find him frowning at me from center stage, arms folded across his chest. I glance at the other guys, but they all look equally confused. “Well…” I stall as I listen to the sounds in my head and try to figure out how to get the guys to sing them.

“Well…?” Silas presses.

“Can you just let her do her thing?” JJ shakes his head at Silas. But when he looks at me, his tone is light. “Roonie, just tell us what you want us to do, and we’ll do it.”

Charles nods seriously and Tate smiles encouragingly.

I scramble to think up instructions, but I don’t know how to explain what I want them to do. I don’t know the right terms and my own whiny voice can’t replicate a tenor’s. How do I get this right if I can’t even demonstrate?

Silas exhales loudly, his annoyance echoing through the room.

“H-how about we start with the opening verse?” I say in a rush. “Then, we’ll go back to the enchanted forest?”

I get three nods and one scowl.

My voice shakes as I continue, “You’re all going to chorus together. Sing ‘Once upon a time,’ as you cross to the center of the stage.”

“Downstage,” Silas directs. The guys nod, but I can’t be sure if that’s directed at me or him. Silas’s smirk seems to suggest it’s the latter.

“JJ, I want you to hold the final note a split second longer than the others. Let me demonstrate.” I sing the line, trying to make my voice deeper and less whiny, and failing miserably. It’s a good thing I’m not actually in this performance. “Are you guys ready? Okay, let’s give it a try.”

Following my instructions, they raise their voices and create a dreamy echo of a fairy tale. They’ve got beautiful voices and as a group, they sound amazing. Not perfect, since Silas is singing far too quietly to be heard, but still amazing.

“Let’s do that again,” I suggest. I want to tell the Dark Prince to sing more loudly, but he’s already glaring at me, so I keep my eyes shut.

We go through the line four more time. Silas sings out of tune. He enters off-time. He sings for a split second too long. He sings too loudly. He’s obviously doing it on purpose, and I’ve had enough.

“I think we should try this again, but this time…”

“Roonie?” Silas raises his hand, his expression mocking.

I was going to say ‘but this time without Silas’ but I can’t seem to form the words.

“Not to be rude or anything,” he smirks, “but shouldn’t we move on? We can’t sing the same line over and over again.”

I glance at the guys for help and they look back at me hopefully. I give in.

“Tate, Charles, I want you to sing the second line.” I start to sing the words, to remind them how the song goes.