"Julie, I'm very sorry how things went the other day. We really do want you for the part; Miles and I talked it over already. I know you walked out but we really would like you to reconsider because we want to put on the best play possible, and we would like to give you the opportunity to build on your experience and generate future endeavors. Please think about it. Miles and I will talk to Julia, and I can assure you she won't be a problem. You're what we want for the show. Thanks, and we hope you reconsider."

The beep resounded and I clicked off the calling app on my phone, searching my mom's eyes for her reaction to Mr. H's voicemail. She didn't say anything immediately, just took another bite of casserole and pondered for a moment. I had already listened to it three times, but each time it gathered the same flat reaction from me. I felt nothing regarding the play and didn't regret my decision, but my mom was curious and wanted to hear about what happened.

The house I grew up in was only an hour or so from main campus, and my mom had heard what happened and suggested I come home to talk about it. She thought I would be upset, since I had been so excited about the play in the first place.

And I had been. When I first called her with the news that they wanted me to audition for the lead, I could barely contain my excitement. The play really was wonderful, I had to admit. I didn't have the whole script, since it was still being written, but the audition monologue and the glimpses of the first act I had seen from Mr. H were incredibly poignant. More than anything I had wanted to bring this part to life and show the world. It seemed like the perfect opportunity, until Julia Bent showed up.

"Well, hon, he seems sincere," my mom said while making kissy faces at Daisy, my little half-sister instead of looking at me. Daisy was little enough that my mom had reverted back to superwoman, and could never focus on just one thing at a time.

"He is sincere," I replied, pushing the food around on my plate. "I know he is. But I don't think he realizes who he's dealing with. Julia Bent is no average director."

My mom leaned over to wipe spittle off of Daisy's face with a napkin. "Sweetie, she's just a girl. A person. She's your age! You're a strong actor and an even stronger person, I don't see why you couldn't handle her."

"I know I can handle her. That doesn't mean I want to. A semester of frustration and constantly being put down and undermined doesn't seem like my ideal way to bide my time."

"Of course it's not, but c'est la vie." My mom always seemed to revert back to French was she was giving advice. I never understood why. "Such is life. Sometimes we have to do things we don't want to."

I folded my arms across my chest despite the warmth of the kitchen. "I shouldn't have to, though. There are plenty of other plays I can do for my semester project."

"Of course there are, but you said yourself that this one is the best."

I looked at her blankly. "So?"

She sighed and turned to look at me. "You're right, there are other opportunities. But, this is the one you really wanted to do. I know it was, you were so excited that I could feel it through the phone." Her gaze turned apologetic. "And you've always said an actress is only as good as the part, and, well, the scholarship..." I knew she hated having to say things like this. That money mattered at all. "If this is the best play, then it means you'll do your best performance."

She looked like she was going to say something else, but at that exact same moment the phone rang, screeching it's brrring through the atmosphere of the kitchen. Not a second later, the dog started barking at the loud noise and Daisy started crying at the combined chaos.

"Oh, Chris, always turning the phone volume so loud and ugh, can you take her?" She looked at me desperately, gesturing to the crying two-year old. I obliged and gently picked up her small frame, bouncing her on my lap and making cooing noises.

I watched my mom as she spoke to whoever was on the other end of the line, an uneasy pit growing in my stomach. The scholarship. I hadn't even thought about that.

I loved my parents, and they loved me, but they never wanted me to pursue acting. My dad was worried about the ache it would cause my heart if I didn't make it big, and my mom wanted me to do something more sensible. They loved me enough, though, that they agreed to support me with whatever I wanted to do, so long as I had a backup plan. I minored in criminal justice at the college, set to apply for law school and join my dad at his firm if I didn't make it big within a decent time frame. But we all knew it wouldn't be where my heart was.

It hurt them sometimes, to watch me do something that I had a 50/50 shot, if that, at success. Actors were two a penny in this world.

What made it worse was the cost. Liberal arts schools weren't cheap, and though I was given a good amount of financial aid and a generous scholarship it still put a strain on their finances. Well, mostly my mom. With her as a a social worker making government wages, and my stepdad Chris a journalist for the local paper, no one was swimming in income. Which is why when I heard about the Lou Klein Scholarship for young TA talent, I leapt at the opportunity.

The scholarship was awarded to one actor and one member of the production crew from the school each year. Whoever was chosen received 5,000 dollars to go towards their education and pursuit of theater arts. Supposedly, I was a favorite to receive it, what with my glowing recommendation from the department's most esteemed colleague and my positive reviews thus far in my career, but I didn't want to leave it to chance. There were plenty of upperclassmen who could beat me out, and despite myself, I hadn't managed to break out of school productions to get an actual paid acting gig.

That was the truth no one knew, the one that haunted me in the middle of the night. I may have a lot of promise in the school, but that was nothing compared to the real world. Every outside audition I had fell flat, and my stomach tied in knots when I thought about it. That would be my life after I graduated, and it seemed dismal so far.

Daisy, who had since stopped crying, gummed one of her fingers and grinned up at me. I kissed her cheek and rested my chin on top of her blonde curls, as we watched my mom finish her phone conversation.

"No, Celine," she was saying to my aunt who was on the other end of the line. "I didn't order the cake for mom's birthday. You were supposed to do that! I was supposed to do the invites and the location, and you were cakes and decoration." She paused, listening. "No, I can't do it for you. The party is next weekend and Chris is working late on an investigative piece so I have to take care of everything at the house and I'm still looking for a daycare center for Daisy."

I watched her with interest. Clara Thomas, unbreakable. One kid that didn't go to school and chose to work at an auto repair shop? Fine. Other kid who went to college but wanted to pursue an unstable career path in theater? Okay. Yet another kid who came 20 years late in the game? No problem. Nothing could shake her. But, looking at her hair mixed with fly-away's and the disaster zone that was our kitchen after lunch with a two-year-old and Sonny scratching at the back door to be let out, I realized that didn't mean she couldn't get very, very frazzled.

Daisy made a comfortable gurgle, and I took another look at Mom before switching my sister to my hip and walking into the den.

She was right, this play was the best. And so was I. And, after all, I was my mother's daughter. Nothing could break me, and especially not one sour-faced, stick-up-her-ass, theater snob Julia Bent. I was going to get that scholarship, no matter what it took. I shut the door to block out the noise before whipping out my phone and redialing the number.

"Mr. Hoffstadt? It's Julie. I'm in."

So, now we know a little more about Julie's background, and she's going to do the play.  I really like her character so I hope you guys do too :) How do you think Julia is going to react? How do you think the two of them working together is going to go? Is Julie going to get the scholarship? Let me know in the comments below! 

Song: Take Me or Leave Me from Rent 

Dedication to @purities for her lovely comments on the previous chapters!

Banner by @runawaybadboy

Welp I've got to go cry about my midterm tomorrow for a few hours so happy belated Valentine's Day and I'll see you guys next week!

Love, 

Michaela