Auditions

That's where Steve and I head when the bell rings. We intertwine our fingers and head down the familiar hallway.

He leans over to me. "You nervous?"

I bite my lip. "A little, but...we got this, right?"

He smiles. "You bet we do!"

"Um what are we exactly betting on here?" A loud voice yells from behind us.

Steve and I turn around. It's Jacklyn. I smile and wave but Steve rolls his eyes. Let's just say that the two of them aren't the best of friends, mainly because Jacklyn loves to tease him.

"Yo what's up Princess? Mr Perfect Pants?" She asks putting her arm around my shoulders.

Steve sighs. "For the last time, I may have flawless hair and facial features, but it does not mean that you get to call me Mr Perfect Pants!"

Jacklyn just grins. "I'm pretty sure it does." Then she leans up and whispers in my ear. "You could do much better than him you know. If you ever get sick of Perfect Pants over there, you just tell me because I have a much better guy for you." She winks and walks ahead of us into the cafeteria.

I start to walk to the Belle section but Steve grabs my hand.

"Hey, I just wanted to say that you'll do amazing. I know you will. But even if you don't get Belle, you're still a beauty to me." He kisses me lightly and then walks to the Beasts.

I smile. I have to get Belle for him. He wants everything to be perfect so badly...and I want to give him it. Perfection.

I head over to my designated table but I soon notice that Jacklyn's not there. I look around for her and spot her at the Miss Potts table. Frowning, I head over there.

"What are you doing? I thought you were trying out for Belle?" I ask her quizzically.

She just smiles. "Girl I knew that I could never beat you! You were born to play Belle—and don't deny it, I've heard you sing."

"But you're great too! And you've been in way more plays than I have and—"

"Girl just live with it. I'm gonna be Miss Potts and there's nothing you can do about it! Hey, I want this." She assures me with a hand squeeze. "Now you go get 'em Princess!"

My smile glows with appreciation. "You're too nice sometimes."

She laughs. "Better nice than angry."

After talking a bit more, the drama teachers decide to start the auditions. Each audition will be private so no one will start to get nervous in front of everyone. I wait for what feels like forever. Seconds feel like hours and minutes are even longer. But finally, after 43 minutes and 12 seconds, they call me for my audition.

My palms sweat as I make my way into the audition room. My heart beats fast but I take a deep breath to calm it. I let Jacklyn's words echo throughout my head.

"Girl you got this! You were born to play Belle!"

I let her confidence spill into me and fill me up as I walk into the room. Three adults sit behind a table and they motion me to go on stage.

"Name please." The woman on the right states.

"Peyton Comber." I tell her a bit wobbly.

The woman's head shoots up. "Peyton? Is that really you? I heard that you woke up from your coma but I didn't know that you were at school! I just want to tell you that I am so proud of you for fighting your way back home." Her eyes seem to glisten.

I feel uncomfortable. "Thank you?" I really want to get on to the audition and not talk about...this.

The man in the middle smiles. "Yes it is all very amazing. But, we do have a bunch of students waiting to audition so we should hurry this along. Who are you auditioning for?"

"Belle." I answer shortly. I just want to get this over with.

He seems to notice this because he says, "Start whenever you're ready."

So I start. I read the lines of a script and I sing to the best of my ability. I try to really pour feeling into the words and the lyrics. When I'm done I look at the three teachers in anticipation. And to my surprise, they start clapping.

"Wonderfully done Peyton! Just splendid!" The woman on the left exclaims.

"That was magnificent!" The one on the right agrees.

"It was amazing Peyton, thank you. Now please wait in the cafeteria and we will put up the cast list soon." They dismiss me and I head back to the cafeteria to wait.

And it feels like forever. Longer than it did when I was waiting to audition. And that's saying something. Everyone's chatting excitedly and impatiently as we wait. And wait. And wait even longer. Then finally, finally, finally the woman who had sat on the left of the table announces that the list is now posted outside of the cafeteria.

We all run to see the list and it's so crowded that even with my height, it's impossible to see. I spot Steve near the front, he examines the list and then shakes his head. Then again, this time stomping away.

I try to grab his hand and ask him what's wrong but he pulls away. His eyes look blind with anger as he storms down the hallway.

Okay so I'm guessing that he did not get Beast. I didn't think he'd get so angry about it, disappointed yes, but not angry. I'll have to talk to him later. But first I need to see that list. I end up pushing myself to the front and start to study the list.

My smile is probably huge. The name next to Belle is: Peyton Comber. Happiness surges throughout my body. Wait, I wonder if Jacklyn got Miss Potts. Another surge of happiness rushes through me, she got it. This is great!

But then I remember that Steve didn't get Beast, and if he didn't get it, who did? Steve is an amazing singer, I've heard him, who could beat him? My eyes scan the list and eventually land on the name beside Beast.

I gasp.

Why?

How?

When?

Confusion and questions cloud my mind as the name beside Beast screams at me in bold print:

Kevin Helms

***

Kevin's POV:

I don't know what made me try out for the school musical. Maybe it was Jacklyn's constant begging and pleading or how excited my mom looked when she found out that there was a school musical. She always loves it when I sing, which isn't often these days, and I know she just doesn't want me to put it to waste but...

Now I'm the lead in the school musical.

Now I'm going to have to sing. In front of everyone.

With Peyton. Which I wouldn't mind so much if it weren't in front of the entire school.

Oh and she has a boyfriend who is probably going to kill me. 

Great.

I was the last one to see the list. I waited till everyone left and stopped whispering before I went to go look. When I saw my name next to Beast I felt...actually I don't really know how I felt. I still don't know I how I feel.

Which is why I am currently standing in a bathroom stall trying to get myself together. It's weird...I'm not having a full fledged panic attack like I thought I would...but I'm also not skipping down the hallway with glee.

I wonder how Peyton feels about this. I mean her boyfriend got the role of Gaston and I'm over here playing her love interest! I hope she's okay with it...maybe I should just let him have the part and let them be happy.

Do you really want that? A small voice asks me.

I roll my eyes at it. Of course I want her to be happy!

Of course you want her to be happy, but do you want them to be happy?

I grit my teeth. If being with Steve makes Peyton happy then yes, I do.

Hmm she's smiled brighter with you. You make her feel safe, comfortable. If you would just—

"Shut up!" I say to myself, which probably makes me sound crazy. Maybe I am going crazy, I know better than to have these thoughts, these feelings. I don't deserve to have them. I need to swallow and forget about them.

I start thinking about the play again and a smile makes its way onto my face. It's kind of funny how fitting the title is to Peyton and I. Beauty and The Beast.

I mean, come on, nobody likes me, I'm hideous, and I'm sure there are some people who wouldn't hesitate to burn me at the stake. Let's be real.

And Peyton, she's obviously the beauty. She loves to read, though if anybody found out they'd think that she was weird because apparently "the old Peyton didn't like to read". It's kind of stupid really. She's also super pretty and—really dude, shut up.

It's good thing the principal calls me to the front office because I think my thoughts would've refused to listen to me.

I walk down the silent hallway, thankful that it's empty. This is just how I like it, no one staring, no one whispering, no one at all. It's honestly great. When I get to the front of the school my mom's waiting in her car. I hop in and we drive away.

"I thought you weren't getting off till late tonight." I tell her.

She just smiles. "They told me I could go home early today."

I snort. "That's surprising."

"I couldn't believe it at first either, but I guess miracles really do happen." She turns to me. "How did the auditions go?"

I hesitate. I don't want her to get all excited just for me to let her down if I drop out. But unfortunately, my mom is too good at reading me.

A smile lights up her tired face. "You got the Beast didn't you? I knew you would with that beautiful voice of yours! Who got Belle?"

I smile because, well, it's nice to see her happy. "Peyton got her."

Her smile gets even bigger. "Oh I love that girl, she's so sweet." She nudges me. "Just think, the two of you under the spotlight, dancing together, it's going to be so romantic."

I sigh. "Mom it's not like that, we're just friends." Though I can't deny that a part of me likes what she described.

"Okay honey, I believe you." But she still has a look on her face that makes me think she doesn't.

"Seriously mom, she has a boyfriend. And he's...perfect." And I'm most definitely not.

We pull into our small driveway but my mom doesn't get out at first. Instead she turns to me. "Perfect doesn't always mean good and being flawed doesn't make you broken Kevin."

I turn away from her. No matter what she says I know that it does mean that.

She gives a small, sad sigh, so different than the happy gasps she was giving moments before. Then she gently grabs my chin pulls it towards her.

"Just...don't lose hope. I know it hasn't always been easy but...don't stop fighting. Never stop trying to get the world to look past the beast and at the loving prince instead." And with that, she kisses my forehead and gets out of the car.

Never stop trying to get the world to look past the beast and at the loving prince instead.

Don't stop fighting

Don't lose hope

I'll try mom, I'll really try.

Sorry if that chapter was boring. But don't worry, there's some very interesting stuff in the future...also let me know if you like Kevin and Peyton as a couple, because I have some BIG plans hehe! -Vanna💜