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Kari →

"I have to look like an audition-ready bombshell. My confidence in this is lacking, so my clothes should at least make me appear like I've got a chance." I stood in my closet and spread my clothes apart, scanning them with my eyes. "I need to go big or go home."

On my bed behind me sat Kari, Mae, and my 13-year-old sister Emery. Oddly enough, my sister had a strong fashion sense. She picked out all of my recital outfits and she was a bit opinionated much to my annoyance.

"Well if you wanna be glamorous, you're not gonna find anything in that closet. It's drab," she offered. I closed my eyes for a moment to keep from rolling them to the heavens.

"Thank you for your cherished, requested input, my beloved Emery." I turned back around to face them.

"She's not wrong," Kari agreed. Mae, always the optimist, stepped in to defend me.

"Oh, come on guys. If we can't find anything, then we can go shopping. But I'm sure you can work some magic, Emery."

My sister held up a finger and slowly stood up. "I got it. You could wear a denim sleeveless hoodie-"

"Really? You want me to pull off denim?"

"Believe it or not, Jaden, you're very handsome," Emery complimented. "Which is gross coming out of my mouth, but I speak no lies. Like I was saying, it's basically like a denim vest, but it's got a black hood attached. Then you could wear a light gray t-shirt that stops at your fingertips, dark pants, black boots, and top it off with a simple, sophisticated black hat." She squealed and clapped. "I love me! Ooh, I can see it now. You'll do great."

"The guru has spoken," Kari said. "She and I will go shopping for you while you and Mae practice your lines for tomorrow."

I sighed and nodded, rubbing my hands nervously against my thighs. "You guys are amazing for helping me. It means a lot and I owe you all big time."

"Dad said he'd give me ten dollars if I helped you out because he knows you're a hopeless cause with this audition. I'm doing it for the money." Emery shrugged and walked out of my room, Kari following after and throwing up the peace sign.

"Un-be-lievable," I muttered. I picked up the scene sheet and Mae grabbed a copy herself.

"So, this scene is the one you'll act out with Kris. Remember, you didn't get a chance to sign up but if we can sneak you in before the last audition, you can beg the casting director to give you a shot. It's high school, they can't say no or else you can just lie that you have crippling depression and being rejected sends you over the edge."

"That..." I blinked and nodded slowly. "O-okay. Noted." I cleared my throat as she stood up, facing me.

"This is gonna be so fun!" She jumped a bit then calmed herself down. "Okay. Your line's first. I'll play Kris's part as Prince Luca of Sanslovakia."

"Wait, I haven't read the story."

"J!" Mae lightly smacked my arm. "It's published on our school's website. You really need to get a feel for your character."

"I know, I'm sorry. I guess I'm more interested in the Kris aspect of it all than the role itself."

"Yeah, well, you're not getting either if you don't read it. You have one night before audition, so you might have to pull an all-nighter. Omg, maybe Kari and I can sleep over and stay up with you!"

I chewed the inside of my cheek, considering it for a second, but I shook my head in disagreement. "No, sleep-deprived Kari sounds very frightening and it's not Halloween yet."

"That reminds me, we're all going to Homecoming in October right? I mean, if none of us snag a boyfriend or girlfriend before then. Or at least a date."

I sent her a flat look. "You're a cheerleader now. The boys and girls are already lining up for you as we speak. As for Kari, I'm kinda sure she's aromantic, but she'll never go with me for the heck of it."

"Oh, we're not going as your dates, silly. You're gonna be fashionably late and have a dramatic entrance."

"Say what now?" I pursed my lips and furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"Duh. Ever since Corbyn shared that the theme might be Masquerade, my mind instantly went to A Cinderella Story!"

"Oh no. You're making me wear a huge white ball gown. No, please, I cannot lose my dignity so early in my high school career."

"Relax, J. It's just an inspiration. My plan is to turn you into a freaking swan for the dance. You're gonna be so hot and mysterious that not even Kris will forget such a marvelous sight."

I blushed when I thought of the possibility of that happening. I doubted it would ever happen to me though. "Seems too good to be true, Mae. Besides, he wouldn't even know who I was."

"That's the point. You get to be someone else for a night. Maybe a version of yourself that you're too shy to express without a mask on. Like, hello? That's why it's called A Cinderella Story!" She rolled her eyes as if that should've been obvious to me. She snapped. "Alright! Scene read. Start from ''tis a shame.'"

I came back to earth from my wandering imagination and gazed downward at the script. "'Tis a shame to have never known love. I believe-"

"Alright, stop for a sec. You sound really flat. Like you're reading to your little sister."

"I'm sorry! I'm not an actor."

"You don't have to be. That's why reading the story's important."

I folded my arms. "Think you can give me a rundown?"

"Fine. Jaxxon is crazy about Prince Luca, just like you are about Kris. Maybe you could use your feelings as inspiration."

I nodded. I could definitely do that. There was no faking my feelings. "How did they meet?"

"Jaxx is a serving boy in the palace. He comes from the rival kingdom but settled in Sanslovakia with his family after the war."

I groaned. "I really should read the book."

"Don't despair! That's not what you need to know for the audition. You'll only have three minutes to deliver your lines, act them out as you go along, and blow everyone away. Just know that before this scene, Jaxx and the prince kissed. Your character is a romantic, and the prince thinks love is foolish. In actuality, he's just afraid that Jaxx will be accused of seducing a royal, especially a fellow man."

"Got it. So, I'm convincing the prince that gay love rocks?"

"If that's how you wanna put it, by all means. Just please don't sound like a robot."

I cleared my throat and started my lines again. "'Tis a shame to have never known love. I believe nothing surpasses the experience of dedicating one's heart to another. What do you believe, my Lord?"

Mae giggled then put on a serious face. "I shall not indulge in such idle conversation." She giggled again, finding the script somewhat amusing.

"You think it's foolish to love?" I asked.

"Is it not? No good comes of it! 'Tis for the weak and faint of heart." She laughed, breaking character. "I'm sorry, I just..." she covered her mouth and laughed helplessly, squeezing her eyes shut. "Y-you're so not getting the role. We're screwed."

"Gee, thanks. This is stupid. You're an optimist and even you think I have no chance."

"No. Okay, I'm sorry. I should be coaching you not laughing at you."

"Actually, I should be practicing the talent that I do have, and not wasting my time with the one I don't have." I dropped the script onto my bed and went to pick up my violin that was leaning against the wall.

"J, I didn't mean to upset you."

"You didn't. I knew I didn't have what it takes." I sat down on the bed disappointedly and she sat down with me.

"Look, I've noticed that you've been giving up on yourself a lot lately and there could only be one reason why. I just didn't wanna bring it up because... I dunno, your mother doesn't define your abilities or your success. I just want you to see that."

"I really care about her and she just walked away from all of us."

"I know. And it's easy to feel less than you really are because someone you love left you in the dust. You're talented, Jaden. Seriously, you're a badass violinist and you know what? Your songs can tell stories and convey rollercoasters of emotions. Maybe that's all you need: to relate music to acting. Give me a tune on your violin, but when you play... I wanna feel what you feel when you think about your mom." She picked up my bow and handed it to me. I rested my mother's violin underneath my chin and took a breath, deciding to just go with my heart.

I was often told that I made excellent use of my face and body language whenever I played the violin. I would serve emotional expressions and slightly exaggerated movements without thinking about it because of how lost I was in my music. It could be excitement, anger, grief, sorrow, pride or passion, and I could deliver it all.

With the thought of my mother, I felt despondence and betrayal. Anguish. Yearning. I'm sure Mae could feel that, with my swift variations of the lowly, somber G and D strings to represent my frustration and sadness.

I couldn't even finish the tune. I paused with my bow hovering over the strings, holding my breath until I realized I was actually trying not to cry.

"Aw, come here." Mae took my instrument from me and gathered my form in her arms. Her sympathy prompted me to cry the tears that I was holding in and I didn't care about being brave anymore. I wanted my mom back.

"I guess I-I know what to think of when I have to act the sad and painful parts."

"Kari and I are gonna be there for you. Cheer up. You'll get to act with Kris Hamilton!"

"Oh my God, I have to speak to him and make eye contact," I panicked. "I'm going to meet the love of my life, officially this time."

"That's the spirit!" She squeezed my shoulders in excitement. "It's gonna be epic."

🎗🎗🎗🎗🎗

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