Portal D

I woke up the next morning to the buzzing of my phone. I slowly got up and stumbled to find it in my sheets.

Adrian had sent me multiple texts that read, 'I'm ready' and, 'where are you', along with many other text that said things along those lines.

What did she mean by that? I didn't have to pick her up until later. My alarm hasn't gone off yet.

I directed my eyes up to the top of my phone. It read 7:30...7:30?!

I only had fifteen minutes until school started! I must had forgotten to set my alarm after what had happened last night. Just then my phone buzzed again. Adrian had texted saying she got a ride with Shannon because I was taking to long. At least I didn't have to worry about picking Adrian up.

I quickly changed into a purple hoodie and black swear pants.  I grabbed my hairbrush and quickly brushed my hair into a ponytail. I didn't plan on attempting makeup this late in the game but then I looked in the mirror. I had streaks of mascara running down my cheeks from crying the last night. I quickly took a makeup remover sheet to my face and wiped it clean. I was about to run out the door when I remembered, MY AUDITION IS TODAY!

I ran back upstairs and grabbed my sheet music for the audition and my makeup bag so I could do my makeup at school before the audition. I ran back down the stairs and into the kitchen to grab my purse and backpack.

"Woah, didn't school start Soph?" I heard Lance say from the couch in the living room. "In five minutes it does!" I said. "See you after school!"

"Bye Sophie," Lance yelled after me. "Oh, and good luck on your audition!" I didn't have time to respond. I got in my car and faster than I ever cared to drive in reverse, drove out of my driveway and then drove down our street. I turned left onto Kit street and just my luck I got suck behind some old person going 30 miles per hour when the speed limit was 45. Something told me that today was not my day.

After two more right turns and a left turn, I finally arrived at school. School had been going on for two minutes now. This was my first tardy of high school; isn't that just great?

I parked in my designated parking spot next to Shannon's car which was somewhat far away from my first class. I knew my algebra teacher wasn't going to give me a free-be on my tardy. Then I remembered, MY ALGEBRA HOMEWORK!

I had left it sitting on my desk at home. Why didn't I put it away last night? I felt so stupid. Now I was late, and missing an assignment.

I walked up to the door where I usually enter the school. I pulled on the handle. What a surprise? It was locked. Then I remembered that the doors lock after the bell rings. Now I would have to walk all the way around the school to the front entrance and explain to the hall monitor why I was late.

"Hey Sophie wait!" I heard from behind me. I turned around to see Adrian at the door holding it open. She was hiding in an oversized hoodie. I ran up to the door. "Shield your face," Adrian instructed.

"Why?" I asked.

"There are cameras inside and I'll get in trouble for letting you in."

I put my hood over my head and stealthily walked inside. We walked past the cameras and into the stairwell where we removed our hoods.

"I think you'll be fine. We have that really cool sub today," Adrian said.

"Oh, thank Celestia!" I said. My day had just gotten a little bit better, but there was still much room for flaw.

The day flew by and in no time, it was time for the audition.

Adrian had come to cheer me on. In the purple dimly light lobby of the auditorium, I did breathing exercises and warm ups. Then I ran through the song one more time in front of Adrian.

"Don't worry about it Sophie, you'll definitely get in!" She said with optimism. I grinned with excitement and fear in my face.

From the other side of the auditorium doors, we could hear the distinct voice of Vanessa yelling about something. We walked into the the white walled auditorium the stage filled the room and the red curtains matches the 1,000 seats. There were too many lights to count and all sorts of people who I had never even expected to be trying out. However, there was one person I was certain was trying out. That of course was...Vanessa.

I noticed that she seemed to be upset about something, as she was yelling into her phone. As we got closer we could sort of eavesdrop. "No Auntie you have to be here...I don't care about your stupid hip...but I'll never get the part with this old lune directing...YOU OWE ME $1,000 INSTEAD OF $500 FOR MY HALF BIRTHDAY, THIS YEAR!!!" Vanessa violently hung up her phone and went over to her click, for moral support.

"What do you think she meant by all that?" I asked. Adrian was about to answer when a loud voice interrupted her. A woman with snow white hair with colorful funky glasses had taken center stage. She also wore a very colorful long sundress and red flip flops. She sort of reminded me of an older Mrs. Frizzle, from the magic school bus and Mrs. Darbus, from High School Musical all at the same time.

"Listen up everyone, I'm Miss Dodd, your director. We're gonna make this as fast and painless as possible. There will be no callback because I can usually tell who's best for the part in the audition alone. Everyone will go up in groups of eight, say their name, sing, then say a few lines. After that our choreographer, Mrs. Landis will teach everyone a short dance and from there I will pick the cast and post the list on the cork board outside the choir room. Is that clear?" She spoke quickly and had a very serious tone, which surprised me from her attire. However, you never know who you're dealing with when it comes to people in this business.

When she asked for the first eight who wanted to go up, Vanessa practically sprinted to the stage, pushing a few people out of the way.

I wasn't very eager to get up there.

Sheets of lines were passed out and some held audition music in their hands. They all said their names and a few sang and stepped back. When it was Vanessa's turn, she walked proudly forward to center stage even though they were instructed to only step a few steps forward.

"This is Vanessa Rodriguez correct?" Miss Dodd said without looking up from her note sheet.

"Um yeah," Vanessa said in a sarcastic and disrespectful tone.

"And, who are you trying out for?"

"Sarah Brown, so like, the main role," She said twirling her long hair with her finger. "Sing," said Miss Dodd.

She started to sing the assigned audition music for Sarah's part. The same part I was trying out for, but knew I wasn't going to get.

She sang with such a strong and lovely voice, although she was a bit nasally. After she sang she said a few lines of Sarah's part. It was a conversation she had with a man and future lover Sky Masterson. Miss Dodd said Sky's part. Vanessa said every line very dramatically. She was a good actress but from what I could tell, Sarah was very timid in this scene and wasn't as outgoing as Vanessa portrayed her.

When Vanessa was done she took a bow which was sort of uncalled for. After the rest of the group had auditioned, the whole group sat down. Then another eight went up. After that another. Then another, and again another. It was coming to the end of auditions at this point.

"Sophie don't you think you should go up," Adrian said sort of concerned.

"I will after this group. I keep second guessing myself. I'll never be as good as some of the people. Maybe I should have learned the chorus part. Maybe I should of..." Adrian cut me off.

"Stop talking. You'll do great. Your ten times better then Vanessa."

"You know that's not true. Your just saying that."

"No I'm not. Sofia your so great and you can do this. Believe in yourself. That's what you always tell me to do on tests."

"Okay, okay. Thanks Adrian."

"Any time."

We leaned into a hug. Just then, Miss Dodd called the next group onto the stage. I took a deep breath, let it out and got up.

"Break a leg Sophia," Adrian said smiling. I walked on the stage and stood in a line with the other girls and guy. I was about fifth in line. We all said our names. The first girls went. One of them was really good, like almost Vanessa good. However, no one I had heard were as good as Vanessa. When it was my turn, I stepped forward, I held my music, and lines in my hand tightly. I was shaking in fear. I looked to Adrian. She gave me a thumbs up and I looked toward Miss Dodd.

"And who will you be trying out for?"

"Um...Sarah Brown," I said very timidly.

"Ha!" I heard a voice call out from the audience. It was Vanessa snickering in the crowd. Her remark made me feel even more afraid, but I kept hearing Adrian's voice in my head telling me to believe in myself.

"Sing," Miss Dodd said. I began to sing. I sang better than I ever had before. I sang my part loud and proud. I couldn't believe I was singing this well. I had Miss Dodd's attention the whole time. When I finished, even though we were told not to to save time, people clapped for me. After that I said my lines.

The scene was about Sky trying to ask Sarah out. Sarah's character is very proper and was the head of a group called The Save a Soul Mission which tried to convince people who gambled and drank to stop and follow God. So being asked out by Sky, a very popular gambler, obviously would have been unsettling. So I made her character sound like she was uncomfortable. When I was finished, the last few people sang and said lines.

Miss Dodd called for last chance auditions, but no one called out. Then she called everyone up on stage for the dancing.

Mrs. Landis was a young woman in what I believed to be her early thirties. She was blonde and wore a tight fitting pink t-shirt and black leggings which accentuated her hourglass figure. She was very pretty and fit which would be expected for a choreographer. "Ok everyone. I hope everyone wore appropriate footwear."

I looked over at Vanessa. Without surprise she was wearing high heal red stilettos, which she refused to take off in fear of her feet getting dirty. I was wearing wore out purple converse. I guess they would do.

Mrs. Landis taught us a short, semi-hard routine. We preformed it twice for Miss Dodd. Once with me in front and once with me towards the back so she could get a good look at everyone. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Vanessa trip up a couple times in her heals but contained her composure. After that, we were dismissed.

I could hear Vanessa complaining about sweating a bit from dancing as I was leaving with Adrian.

"I knew you could do it Sophie!" Adrian exclaimed.

"I couldn't have been better than Vanessa," I said starting my car and buckling up. "Hell yeah, you were better than Vanessa! You were so much better at singing, dancing, and acting."

"If you say so Adrian." I started to drive. The rest of the car ride was spent talking about the new season of My Little Pony and sports. Adrian was doing most of the talking. I was too busy thinking about the audition. I couldn't have been that good...could I have been? I was also thinking about Shannon. I was worried about her. She hadn't been at school today. I would have gone to see her but it was almost 6:00 and I had to get home to do my homework, which I had a lot of. I thought I'd text he later.

I was only half listening to Adrian rant when we pulled up at her house.

"Thanks for supporting me Adrian," I said as she got out of the car.

"Anytime," said Adrian smiling back and closing the car door.

I finally arrived at my house and once inside, I tried my best to avoid running into Tina or Lance. My attempt luckily was a success.

I sat at my desk doing algebra homework, but my mind was still on other things.

At 8:30 I finally finished all of my homework and made sure to put my assignment from yesterday and today in my folder. After that, I got into pajamas and picked out my clothes for the next day after which I brushed my teeth and my hair. Finally, I laid down in my wonderfully comfortable bed which had been made by Tina.

I grabbed my phone and turned on the soundtrack to the Broadway version of Beauty and the Beast. By the time the  song Be Our Guest had come on, I was finally out. I had a dream about not getting into the musical and Vanessa was relentlessly teasing me about it. I woke up with wet eyes. It was about 3:30 a.m. My phone was playing the song If I Can't Love Her. I must have accidentally put the playlist on repeat. I turned the music off and fell back asleep, now feeling even more anxious then before.