"You just joined, huh?" The Wednesday meeting before auditions started out slow until Skylor plopped down in the seat next to Kai after Garmadon took roll. She was eating out of a can of Pringles, offering its contents to him.

Kai grabbed a stack and nodded. "Yeah. To be honest, I'm pretty confused." He crammed the chips in his mouth, forgetting how hungry he was.

"That's okay. Most of us are." She flipped her red hair onto her shoulder and leaned in towards him. "Who are you thinking of auditioning for? Or are you gonna be a techie?"

She had moved so close to him that Kai nearly choked on the chips. "Uh, I don't even know yet." Skylor handed him a copy of the cast list, encouraging him to read it over. "Jay mentioned I should be Kenickie..." He wasn't sure if he should announce he was thinking of auditioning for Danny. Kai got the feeling that was sort of an unspoken rule.

Skylor nodded. "Kenickie's good. He gets to sing Greased Lightning in the play version, not Danny, like in the movie."

Greased Lightning. Kai remembered that one from Nya's constant rewatching of the film. "Sounds exciting. You?"

Skylor moved in a bit closer to whisper, her sweet scent surrounding Kai. He blushed as she cupped a hand over his ear. "I wanted to go out for Sandy."

"Oh- Wanted?" Kai asked, raising a brow.

"Well, yeah, but it sounds like Harumi's got it in the bag." Skylor shrugged. "Plus, I think your sister wants to try out for it."

"Really?" Kai had both brows raised in shock now.

"Yeah. She's trying to downplay it, but we all know she's always wanted to be Sandy." Skylor grinned. "She's got my full support, so that's why I'm going for Rizzo."

"You should stick with that." Kai said quickly, understanding why Jay suggested trying out for Kenickie. "I think we'd have good chemistry as a pairing. F-For the play, you know?"

Skylor smirked. "Oh yeah? What makes you think that?"

"Well, I mean, look at us now. We instantly clicked, and I don't even know you."

Skylor raised her hands in the air. "Ah, you've convinced me." She pushed him lightly and laughed. "I'll think about it, hot stuff. For now, you should probably go over your lines."

Kai grinned and glanced at the sheet music for Greased Lightning. Simple enough. Maybe this wasn't going to be so bad.
-
Saturday morning approached and Nya was frantically dashing about their shared room.

"Kai, help me out here!" She ordered, tossing clothes about. "I have to find something to wear!"

"Does it really matter?" Kai sighed, shrugging on a hoodie. He was just planning on going in with sweats.

"Of course it does! The clothes make the part!" Nya decided on a simple blouse and pants, rushing to change in the bathroom. "We have to get there early if we want to get top priority!"

"Alright, alright." Kai yawned and tugged on his shoes, walking out the door. "Just waiting on you, now."

As they walked to school, Kai brushed against Nya's hand lightly. "Hey."

"What?" Nya mumbled, shuffling through her lines. She had calmed down, but Kai could tell she was still incredibly nervous.

"Don't worry about a thing, alright? You're gonna crush it." He wrapped an arm around her in a side-hug. "Don't show that you're nervous. You've been studying for weeks. Believe in yourself, because I already believe in you."

"Wow. Nice speech." Nya laughed, and Kai soon joined in, pushing her. He smiled, knowing that deep down she really appreciated it.

"Hey, I tried my best, alright?" Kai glanced over Kenickie's lines one more time and swallowed. "Jeez, now you're making me nervous."
-
Nya had gone in second, after Harumi, armed with lines for Sandy and for Marty, as a backup. She lowered her head as she walked past the sophomore, almost afraid to make eye contact. The doors closed, and Kai found himself alone in the main lobby with Harumi.

"Who's your sister auditioning for?" Harumi asked, sweeping her bleach-blonde hair behind her. She had the kindest voice and smile, but Kai had a sinking feeling that something sinister was behind it.

"I, uh, she told me Frenchy at first, but I don't really know. She's been watching the movie back-to-back."

"Odd." Harumi frowned and tapped her lip. "I seem to remember her carrying two sets of lines."

"Oh! I remember her mentioning something about Marty..." Kai started, attempting to cover up his sister's intentions.

"Marty and Frenchy, hm? Those roles don't really require a backup." Harumi hopped onto the bench and sat next to Kai. "I mean, you could practically walk in and they'd give you either part."

She leaned in close, and Kai began to think it was a drama girl thing. "Sandy, however, that's a part you really need to audition for."

Kai frowned. "And what if she decided she wanted to audition for her? What's so bad about that?"

Harumi waved a hand, smiling. "Nothing, I guess. Although, it's not very fitting for her. Personally I think she's a little too aggressive to play the good girl, don't you think?"

Kai felt his blood boil. "Isn't that the whole point of acting? To act like someone else?"

Harumi laughed, holding up her hands. "Relax, Kai. I don't have a problem with it or anything."

At this moment, Lloyd came out of the theater, looking a bit stunned.

"Lloyd, there you are." Harumi hopped down from the bench and kissed him on the cheek, bringing a smile back to his face. "I was wondering what had happened to you after our chemistry testing. Did you stay behind to take a peek at your father's notes?" She nudged him gently, raising her brows.

"Uh, no actually." Lloyd swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck. "I got called back, right before I was about to come out here."

Harumi tilted her head, her body rigid. "Called... back?"

"Yeah, uh... I had to read some lines with Nya." Lloyd glanced to the side and made eye-contact with Kai.

"Because she's auditioning for Sandy." Harumi finished for him. She smiled widely and turned towards Kai. "How fun."

Kai forced a grin, unsure of what else to do. The room was cold and suddenly so very small. He swallowed and stood up. "I need to, um..."

Nya entered the lobby right at that moment, looking fairly neutral and almost refreshed, as if a heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders. "Hey, guys." She waved sheepishly and tucked her papers away. "Kai, you should go on next. No one else is here yet."

Kai felt his chest drop into his stomach, not from the nerves of getting on stage, but from leaving Nya alone with Harumi. "I... are you sure?"

Nya smiled and took his hand. "It's super easy. Just go up to the table and fill out the paper. You'll feel so much better once you get it over with."

"I'm sure you feel great, Nya." Harumi interrupted with a smile, nudging Kai into the theater. "You need to get in there and audition."

"Uh, I- uh..." Kai stammered, shaking his head. "Are you sure? Where are you gonna be, Nya?"

Nya laughed. "Don't worry, I won't watch."

Harumi draped an arm around Nya's shoulders. "Go on, get in there. We're gonna have some girl talk out here, anyway."

Lloyd cleared his throat.

"Oh, and you too, Lloyd." Harumi giggled, taking the two of them into the next room.

Kai clenched a fist, debating between listening in on this little meeting or going into his audition. In the end, he decided that Lloyd was a cool enough guy to break up any fight between the two girls. Hopefully.

He had also made this decision due to Garmadon quite literally dragging him in the theater, excitedly asking him all kinds of questions. Kai shook his head, dazed. "I'm sorry, what did you say, sir?"

"Just one main question. Sorry, I got a bit carried away." Garmadon laughed. "Who will you be auditioning for?"

"Uh- Kenickie." Kai swallowed, his nerves creeping back up again. "Just him."

"Don't tell me you won't audition for Danny because of my son." Garmadon rose a brow. "Believe me, Kai. I don't endorse favoritism."

"No, no, of course not, sir!" Kai stammered. "I just... I think I feel more comfortable with Kenickie's character."

Garmadon's expression lightened a bit. "That's all that matters. I'm proud of you." He leaned in slightly. "Your sister had an outstanding audition, by the way. Her emotion moved me to tears."

"Sandy's character isn't that emotional." Misako, who was sitting at the judge's table, smirked. "Welcome, Kai. Wu is on the piano. Just give him a signal whenever you're ready for your song."

Kai nodded, hopping on the stage. "And, um, I just start my lines whenever?"

"Yes. Whenever you're ready." Garmadon and Misako sat side-by-side, smiling.

Kai glanced at the table, recognizing the third judge as Mr. Chumsworth, the snobbish AP Literature teacher. He was ridiculously out-of place seated next to the simple older couple, wearing a fine tailored suit and a royal purple tailcoat. His intimidating gaze behind his pink-tinted spectacles gave Kai a chill.

"Okay." Kai breathed, tapping his foot. "I'm ready now."
-
Kai swallowed as he left the theater, weak-kneed and so sweaty that his gelled spikes were drooping. He would have been fine with this, had he not bumped into Skylor on her way in.

"Oh, crap, sorry Kai." She blushed, laughing a little. "You look like a mess. Rough audition?"

"No, it was pretty great actually." Kai smiled briefly before wiping the sweat away, recalling how free he felt when singing the final lines in Greased Lightning. Even Chumsworth was nodding his head along.

"That's great." Skylor sighed before leaning in close, whispering, "I'd bet the snake king is in there judging. He isn't even in the drama committee. Garmy just brings him in to even the playing field for his son."

"Wow." Kai chuckled. "Lots of nicknames. I'll see you around, okay?" He patted her shoulder. "I think Nya's ready to go. Oh, and, um- break a leg?"

Skylor laughed before slipping into the theater. "Sure will."

Nya held Kai's hand, a smile spread across her face. "Hey. How'd it go?"

"It was great- hey, whoa!" Kai stumbled along as Nya practically dragged him out of the main entrance.

"Shoot, sorry Kai." Nya giggled. "I guess I was a little excited to leave. I don't wanna hang around here; it's bad luck."

"Nya?" Kai shook his head, trying to stop her. "What did Harumi say to you? You're acting strange."

"Rumi?" Nya waved her hand. "She just wished me luck and then started telling me about the shows she's been in. Nothing's up."

"You're sure?" Kai rose a brow.

"Yeah. Positive." Nya smiled again. "Can we go now? I have a shit ton of homework to do."

"Okay..." Kai smiled back, but quickly let his face fall. Nya was hiding something, and he didn't appreciate it one bit.