So sorry this took a while to come out, year 10 is very stressful, GCSE's getting the best of me. Anyway, onto the chapter! Byee! *Clap**Clap*

I clutched my water bottle so tight I was surprised that the plastic hadn't smashed between my fingers. I kept taking nervous gulps, doing nothing but reminding me that I was in mortal peril. Well... mortal peril of sorts. Ben must have told me at least six thousand times that it was simply a read through of the script, and I would get to know the cast; so as I said, mortal peril. 

I fakely coughed, "I think I'm sick, I shouldn't go." 

Ben rolled his eyes, reaching into the backseat of the car for my backpack. "I think you're going to be fine." He got out of the car, throwing my backpack at me. "Now come on, or you'll be late." He then proceeded to slam the door. 

Begrudgingly, I got out of the car whilst slinging my backpack over my shoulders. I made my way to the pavement at starred up at Ben with a pleading face. He simply shook his head and began leading me down the pavement, weaving us through the crowded street. I almost lost his grip at one point as the street was so congested, some sort of convention seeing as everyone was dressed as characters from various films. 

We finally reached the studio where my audition took place. It was an odd feeling coming back here. Before, when I had entered the average looking building, I felt so little, so unsure of myself - people gazing at me as I walk in, spiteful looks edged across their competitive faces. Now, I get the same gazes, but they all smiled as if they were glad I was here. 

Many young adults sat on the ground stretching for some reason, and I began panicking. "I thought you said it was just a read through!" I whisper- yelled at Ben who merely shrugged and smirked.  

"The ensemble has been rehearsing some dances for the last couple of weeks, I guess they're going to be going over some things today," he replied casually. 

My breath began picking up the pace, just like Josh's had that day in the car. It was so sudden, I wasn't sure what was happening. My eyes began darting around the room, nerves taking the best of me. Everyone here seemed so professional, they'd done this so many times. The people stretching had been in so many shows they probably couldn't count them on both hands. The people busying themselves with paperwork and folders all knew what they were doing, they had been apart of many productions also. 

Then there was me. 

It was only my second time doing something like this. Back then I was fearless, I had been through so much, going to a first rehearsal was nothing. I know I had been through even more tough times than my first rehearsal, but I had lived in a safe bubble for the last few months. I personally hadn't been attacked. My emotions were still muddled up with everything that happened with Josh, but that wasn't anything I could control and I had accepted that.

But I hadn't accepted that I could control this, however, and I was not ready. I was completely out of control of the situation yet anything I did could change everything. And that's what I feared most.

Before I could even turn around to run out the door, leaving Ben's grasp, he grabbed me by the waist turning me back to face John who was walking out of the dance studio hidden behind two wooden doors. He walked over to us, Ben relaxing his grip knowing that I wouldn't run away when John was there. 

"Hello Grace," he greeted, shaking my hand, "How lovely to see you."

"It's nice to see you too." It wasn't exactly a lie, I was glad to be here, but then I didn't want to be here because it was terrifying. 

"Good good, now that you're here we can begin." 

"Okay." I bit lip, a new nervous tick of min

He ushered me through the doors I went through for my audition, opening out into the studio which now had tables pushed together to make a square. Many chairs were pulled up to the tables, each with a purple folder and water bottle set out on the table in front. John pointed to my seat, right in the center of the far side of the tables, where everyone could see me. 

I nodded to Ben, giving him the indication that he could go, and he went on his way. Before I was pushed onwards by John, I believe I saw him whisper a few words to Sky, who had just walked into the reception area probably from the bathroom, to which Sky replied with a nod and shoulder pat. 

I sat down in my seat, looking down at my folder. My name and role were printed across the front with the words, ' Script/score'. I quickly peered at the thickness, and it felt as if I had a giant hairball in my throat. It was thick, very thick. A tight knot formed in my stomach at the realization that most of those songs and lines were for me. 

My attention was drawn away from my impending doom when Sky sat down next to me, also looking down at his folder. "You okay?"

"Yeah," I sighed, "I'm just nervous." I stuck my hands between my legs, looking down. 

Sky squeezed my shoulder. "You're going to be fine, I'll be here with you all the way." 

I gave him a weak smile but was interrupted by John who began speaking. "Hello everyone! My name as you all know is John, and this is the choreographer Dan, who most of you have met. Dan will be working closely with me, so if you can talk to either of us about anything to do with the show." 

Dan did a little salute towards me as he was introduced. I had a sneaky suspicion that I was the only one who hadn't met him and that theory was confirmed by John who continued speaking. "You all have met each other as you obviously know, seeing as you have all been dancing in rehearsals for the last few weeks. I would be concerned if you didn't know." 

This earned a laugh from everyone in the room, except me. I honestly felt like I wasn't apart of an inside joke, leaving me out. It only caused my stomach knot to tighten. John continued, this time pinpointing me. 

"I would, however, like to introduce our Julia, Grace." He gestured to me as I sunk more into my seat. They all gave a little clap, confusing me but I went with it, too nervous to do much more. "She will be joining us in rehearsals from now on." 

I looked around at the beaming faces, each more happy than the next. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't contagious, I couldn't help but mirror them. 

"With that, we shall begin." 

The musicians began playing as the ensemble began singing their song, 'Look away'. Their voices were spectacular, each complimenting each other with descants and low baritone voices. It was a pleasure to hear their voices. 

Then Sky began singing his song, 'Cautionary Tale', and he was amazing too. He sang with such emotion that even when he was in an environment where you would have no inclination to believe he was Albert, you could still believe he was Albert. He was creating magic as he sang. 

I sat for a while, with no lines or songs, until halfway through 'When I grow up' that I was singing with Maddie. I really enjoyed singing with Maddie so two main reasons. One, she was at least an eleven on the adorableness scale being the cutest seven-year-old ever. And two, we sang together, so I wasn't singing solo. I knew that I would eventually have to sing on my own in front of hundreds of people, but I was taking baby steps. Learning to walk in the professional Broadway world. 

It finally came to my lines, and I tried to put as much emotion as I could into them, even though I was in the completely wrong setting for it. I made small hand gestures as if I was touching the fireflies I was talking too. 

My first solo came far too quickly. I was sent the songs before the rehearsal in preparation to be singing them now, but I was still terrified even though I had practiced them lots over the last four weeks since being sent them. By now I had sung solo's within songs, but this was my own song. Everyone's eyes (asides from the musicians who had their eyes on their music) were on me as I sang. 

"Here goes nothing," I whispered to myself. 

Sky must have heard because he leaned over and whispered in my ear. "You've got this." 

They said I was found

By the side of a road

There were tracks all around

It had recently snowed

In the darkness and cold

The wind in the trees

A girl with no name

And no memories, but these:

Rain against a window

Sheets upon a bed

Terrifying nurses

Whispering overhead

"Call the child Anya

Give the child a hat"

I don't know a thing before that

Traveling the back roads

Sleeping in the wood

Taking what I needed

Working when I could

Keeping up my courage

As foolish as it seems

At night all alone in my dreams

In my dreams, shadows call

There's a light at the end of a hall

Then my dreams fade away

But I know it all will come back one day

I dream of a city

Beyond all compare

Is it Paris?

 Paris

A beautiful river

A bridge by a square

And I hear a voice whisper

"I'll meet you right there In Paris"

Paris

You don't know what it's like

Not to know who you are

To have lived in the shadows

And travel this far

I've seen flashes of fire

Heard the echoes of screams

But I still have this faith

In the truth of my dreams

In my dreams, it's all real

And my heart has so much to reveal

And my dreams seem to say

"Don't be afraid to go on

Don't give up hope, come what may"

I know it all will come back one day

You could have heard a pin drop. Silence filled the room. Some people's jaws were open. I immediately flushed red before John began clapping, everyone joining in afterward. I only flushed more and more, biting my lip. 

I took a few breathes, before Sky and I began our dialogue. Everything else seemed to flash by in a blur, people getting up and down and performing pre-practiced dances that they had obviously been rehearsing for a while now. 

I was making my way out of the building when a few people stopped me. They introduced themselves as Zoe and Joe and told me how good I was at singing. I took their compliment, returning it to them with another blush. 

I was stopped a few more times, making idle conversation with people. It felt like a weight off my chest to learn how friendly these people were, and that I would be working with them. I waved and smiled at them as I left giving Maddie a hug, before running down the street to the Palace theatre where Lizzy had just begun previews for Beauty and the Beast. 

I did truly think that I had just made magic with the cast. Even though it was only my first rehearsal, in a studio and not a theatre, everyone seemed to put so much emotion into the songs and dialogue that you couldn't tell the difference. I went in, my stomach in knots, but gradually, those knots untied themselves and I walked out almost a new person. Much more confident that I had felt in a long time, much more ready to start this new journey to Broadway than I had been as I got out of bed this morning. It was so relieving to know people have my back, and I have their backs. I know that for certain.