EDITED -Jayleigh
Two
“Which, do we as humans, prefer? Curved objects? Or boxy objects?” I read out loud. The question seemed absurd. Once thinking about it for a moment, I brought the pen to the paper.
“How could one truly know if they like curvy or square objects better? It all depends on the object and the person. For instance, a man might like the look of his circular shaped watch, but also enjoy the look of his 65’ Cadillac. A woman may like hoop earrings, but enjoy the rectangular cut of her engagement ring. There is no real way to be sure.”
I tried to make sense of my homework, but the image of my batty teacher babbling on about the most random things and then turning around and acting completely doped up was stuck in my mind. The atrocious Mr. Greene was not someone that I preferred to think about.
Instead, I closed my notebook and headed into the kitchen. My mother was there, along with Fawn sitting at the table. They were both multitasking. While they were having a deep discussion about last nights Dancing with the Stars, Mom was flitting around the kitchen preparing dinner, and Fawn was flipping through a magazine.
“Fayette!” Mom exclaimed as I entered the room. “You’re just in time for dinner.” She held out a plate of spaghetti and sauce, which was what we usually have every night that mom cooks.
“So, how did auditions go?” Mom started as she placed a plate in front of Fawn and one for herself. “Your sister tells me she auditioned as well. How’d she do?”
I let out a nervous laugh and looked over at my twin.
Things between Fawn and I are not like what one sees in the movies. There are no telepathic connections and I do not get a bruise when she walks into a table. So searching her face for the answer to our mother’s question, well, I came up blank.
“Uhh, well. She wasn’t all bad. But I don’t think Marcia will cast her as anything special.”
Our mother let out a very girly, very high school, and extremely dramatic, “Awhh! That’s to bad, sweetie. Maybe your sister can pull a few strings to get you a good role.”
Fawn and I looked at each other, worry on her face, and amusement on mine. “Oh, I will. There is no doubt about that.”
I ate in silence as my sister and mother continued their conversation about reality shows and how Fawn had missed the last Secret Life of the American Teenager episode the night before.
Arriving at school at seven o’clock was far too early in the morning to be legal. I trudged up to Marcia’s makeshift office just outside the girl’s locker room. Her desk was the top of a two drawer filing cabinet and her chair was a simple metal folding chair, her own pillow from home as a cushion. The drama department sure was not at the stop of the school’s high priority list for funds.
There was a small window high on the wall, but no light shone through. The air outside was muggy, foggy, and just overall depressing. Even though there was little natural light, the way-too-bright florescent lights caused me to pull out my sun glasses and put them on.
“Good morning, little vampire,” Marcia greeted.
I let out some kind of moan as a response and fell into another folding chair in her “office”.
“I brought some coffee.”
I smiled and took the styrofoam cup from her hand and sat back in the chair. “My life saver.”
She laughed. “We have a situation.”
“Oh?”
She pulled out a folder and took out a list of names. “These are all the characters and people who I think should play them.”
“Okay,” I said taking the paper. “What’s the problem?”
She sighed. “Well, there is a new student who is interested in our play. He actually has a letter of recommendation from his prior drama coach. I think he could be our lead.” She held up a letter for me to take.
I didn’t read it.
Instead, I looked down at the list of names. “You put Warren as the lead.”
She nodded. “Yes, well, that could change. I feel that we should give this new boy a fair shot. I think we should do call backs.”
“Call backs?” I paused. “For a high school play?” I laughed and put the paper back down on her desk. “This should be interesting.”
Marcia printed out a new list stating that people auditioning for the Phantom, would have to come back and re-audition. With coffee in hand, I walked down to the front lobby to post the list. I took down last years and stuck the thumb tack through this year’s list and pushed it into the board.
I read down the list, pausing at Christine. “Crap,” I muttered.
I quickly grabbed my phone out of my pocket and dialed. “Fawn,” I said once she answered. “You got the lead.”
Fawn asked me to meet her at her locker, which was on the other side of the school and up a couple flights of stairs.
“I thought you said I wouldn’t get the lead.”
I laughed. “I never said that. You wouldn’t have gotten the lead if you had actually auditioned you know.”
Her brow creased and her eyes tightened with anger. “What are we going to do? I can’t sing!”
“Believe me, I know.”
She scoffed. “You need to fix this.”
I shook my head. “You got yourself into this, you get yourself out. And no,” I said quickly before she could even ask, “I am not singing for you all year.”
“Trouble in twin city?” someone called from behind me. I turned, already knowing the voice.
I didn’t look at Warren’s face as I said, “nope. We’re done here.” I began to walk away but then turned back to him. “Call backs for the Phantom are this afternoon in the auditorium. If you still want the part, I suggest you go.” My voice could have been a little nicer, but every time I was around him, I was just so angry for reasons very unclear to me.
“Call backs? Really? I was sure I had gotten the part.”
I shrugged. “I guess there’s new talent in town.”
His eyes widened with fear, but only for a short moment before he got control of his face. He smiled a little at me, and then turned to Fawn.
“So I assume you got the part of Christine?” He asked her.
Despite her anger for receiving the part before, she smiled and nodded at Warren excitedly.
No, I thought to myself, I did.
As I walked to first period, I didn’t think about Warren. I didn’t think about how tight his navy blue t-shirt was around his well toned arms and chest. I didn’t think about how his hair fell perfectly over his face and how he flips it with a quick head jerk every so often out of habit. I didn’t think about how beautiful his green eyes were so sincere whenever he looked at me.
Not much, at least.
I was in such a daze and fell into my normal routine of walking to class, throwing out my coffee in the small grey trash bin by the door, that I didn’t even notice someone in my seat until I almost sat down.
“Oh, excuse me.” I said quietly. “You’re in my seat.”
The boy smiled up at me. “I know,” he said. His voice was deep and alluring. “I’m Foster.” When he said his name, there was something in his eyes that changed, like a twinkle, but way sexier.
He rose from my seat, towering at least a foot above me, and sat in the one behind it. I fell into my chair completely confused and believing I was going insane.
Did his eyes just turn…purple?
