Dream Chaser (8 page)

Ms. Fuller began the intro. Tyson’s eyes settled on me; he smiled. I took a deep shaky breath and stared at the music.

I missed the entrance.

 
“Let’s try that again,” Ms. Fuller said with patience. I heard a few kids snicker from the safety of their seats. Ms. Fuller’s head snapped around to drill them with her evil eye. I appreciated the gesture of support.

“Sorry,” I said. What did they expect? I never claimed to be a singer. I just wanted a small part in the chorus.

 
“You know what?” Tyson walked to the piano, “I think we should start with some simple scales. I know we’ve put you on the spot here today. You didn’t audition the first round of cattle calls, so today must be pretty nerve wracking.”

“Yeah,” I said, relieved he seemed to understand.

“By the way, why didn’t you audition the first time around?” he asked.

“Oh, I was already on the cheerleading squad.”

“Ah, that’s right,” he nodded. “Now, let’s have Ms. Fuller run you through some warm-up scales.”

My nerves flared again, but not as bad as before. Ms. Fuller played the chord and gave me the beat with a nod of her head. I opened my mouth and sang low, moving up the scale and back down with each note. Each set started a note higher, and I sang my way up the scale and down. Each scale sounded stronger, and I felt better even though my legs shook. Then my voice broke on a high note. I cringed and stopped.

“Let’s hear that song now,” Tyson said.

I opened the music again, my nerves only a tiny bit calmer.

Ms. Fuller played the intro again. This time I came in on time, but I sounded breathy and quiet. When I got to the high note, my voice cracked, and one of the kids snorted.

Eli was right, crash and burn. My hopes were going up in flames. The director wandered the carpeted area in front of the stage as he listened; his face a blank mask, making it impossible to read his thoughts. When I finished, he walked to the piano and spoke privately to Ms. Fuller.

Unsure what to do, I closed the music and held it behind my back. I shifted from leg to leg and tried to pretend they weren’t talking about me, or that Eli and the others weren’t still staring.

“Thank you, Willow,” Tyson said.

I swallowed, embarrassed and ready to go home and hide in my room with Twinkie. With the music limp in my hand, I waited to be excused.

Tyson turned to the peanut gallery. “Okay, you’ve been
idle
long enough. Let’s get Chloe and McKenna on stage with Willow.”

Chloe and McKenna’s heads snapped up. They were as surprised by the request as I was. They took the steps on stage and looked at Tyson.

“I’d like to see the three of you do the dream number. Just the first segment,” he said to Chloe and McKenna. “Willow, that’s the sequence Eli taught you earlier.”

I wracked my brain to pull the sequence forward. I’d just barely learned it twenty minutes ago, and now I had to be compared to Chloe and McKenna. I stepped to the side to allow them space on stage. Chloe, a super tall blonde with a pointy nose, stood center stage and ignored me; I knew her from dance with Ms. Ginny. Chloe had been Jessica’s understudy before the pot brownie incident. That meant that she was now the lead. I had no idea what role McKenna played.

The music played, and we ran the number. Thankfully, my nerves hadn’t wiped away my memory of the steps. Tyson watched, deep in thought. He sat and mulled for a minute and then asked to see it again. Now that I was dancing again and not singing, I embraced the situation and flowed through the lyrical steps, forgetting about the girls who danced at my side.

“McKenna, you may take a seat,” Tyson paced and rubbed his chin. He turned and focused on Eli, who slunk low in his seat. “Eli, hop up on stage with them too.”

Eli eased out of his seat with his head low and lumbered forward. He leapt onto the stage and took up McKenna’s former position.

“Stand between them, please,” Tyson directed.

Eli moved center stage. At least now the scrutiny was on the others too! We stood like specimens under a microscope. It was nice not to be the only one up here, but what was going on? Did he want to see if we could work together as dancers?

“Let’s see that sequence again.”

Eli groaned.

At least I wasn’t the only one tired of this process.

“Last time, I promise.” Tyson clicked on the music, and the three of us danced again. I became one with the music and the graceful flow of the moves. I loved the dance and wished I knew more. After performing the dance so many times, I knew I’d delivered my absolute best.

We waited, out of breath, as Tyson looked us over. I couldn’t imagine what he was thinking. Either I was good enough to make the show or not. I’d been afraid my long break from dance would ruin my audition, but I had proved myself wrong. It all came rushing back to me, like
ice skating
did each December. Granted, my singing sucked, but that shouldn’t keep me out of the chorus. I hoped.

Miss Ginny and Ms. Fuller watched but didn’t interrupt or try to sway his decision either way. This was Tyson Scott’s show and Tyson Scott’s decision.

“Thank you, that should do it.
Willow
,
please come down
. Everyone else, up on stage for vocal warm-ups.”

Finally! I took a quick peek at Eli, but he’d turned his back on me and talked to Chloe.

I joined Tyson. So this was it.
Moment of truth.
I tried to act cool and not reveal my jumble of nerves. Miss Ginny nodded her approval, but said nothing.

Tyson led me away from the kids who were supposed to be filing on stage, but instead were holding back to hear what he said.

“That was a nice audition. You have great technique.”

“Thank you.” I wished he’d get to the point. Up close again, it was hard not to feel intimidated. He had this chiseled jaw. I never understood what that meant until I met Tyson. He carried himself with amazing confidence. God, it would be great to be in his show.

“I’ll give you a call tonight, and we’ll talk.” His exceptional eyes softened.

“Okay,” I said dumbfounded. That was it?

Tyson turned and rejoined the group.
So, no concrete answer.
He said he’d call, so I must be in. But if I was in, why didn’t he just tell me so I could join today’s rehearsal? I turned and walked out of the auditorium. I knew that the eyes of all the cast members followed me out. Was this my walk of shame? I didn’t think so, but they probably did.

“Why doesn’t he just call and put me out of my misery?” I said from the couch where I tied the fringe of the afghan in knots.

Dad handed Breezy a puzzle piece. “He’s probably some sadist who likes to make teenagers suffer.”

“He’s probably still at rehearsal putting them through boot camp.” Mom looked up from her Sudoku book.

“Or maybe he’s scooping their eyeballs out with a melon baller,” Breezy said making ghoulish expressions

“Did you hear that? She is totally warped. Dad, aren’t you the least bit worried?”

“Breezy, are you warped?” Dad asked.

“Totally.” She pretended to remove her eye with an imaginary melon baller.

The
old fashioned
wall phone rang!

Everyone froze and looked across the room.

“I got it!” I leapt off the couch and raced across the room.

Dad blocked my way like a basketball player. “Are you sure? I can get it.”

It rang again.

“Dad, not funny.” I stepped left to go around.

He moved left with me and kept my path blocked. “What, I just want to help.” He smirked.

“Step aside old man and don’t make me hurt you.” I gave him the evil eye and moved right.

The phone rang again.

I dodged past, but he grabbed me around the waist and swung me away from the kitchen, like he did when I was a little girl headed to the kitchen for a cookie.

“Daddy, stop it!” I squealed. “It’s my call. I have to answer it. Mom! Make him go away.” I broke free and ran to the phone, beating Breezy by a hair. I answered just as it rang again.

“Hello?”

“Hi! May I speak to Willow?” the low smooth voice of Tyson Scott asked.

“This is Willow.” My entire family stood next to me like a bunch of puppies waiting for a treat.
Go away
, I mouthed and waved at them.

“Is it
him
?” Breezy blurted loudly.

I covered the mouthpiece with my hand. “God Breezy, yes. Now go away. All of you.” I glared at Mom and Dad but they didn’t budge. Why did my family have to be so weird? I stretched the long spiral cord to the other end of the kitchen and turned my back.

Tyson laughed on the other end. “Sounds like you have a little sister.”

“Yes, I’m sorry, she can be a total demon.” I looked back and stuck my tongue out at her. Breezy fell backwards as if hit by an arrow in the chest.

“No problem. Growing up, I was the annoying little brother.”

I couldn’t imagine him as annoying or as a little brother. He was so cool and collected like he had been born a really awesome guy. But whatever his childhood had been, I wished he’d get on with it and stop with the small talk. I turned to lean against the kitchen counter, but saw Mom pantomiming and asking what was happening. I glared and turned back around.

“I wanted to tell you how impressed I was with your audition today.”

“Really?”
Yes!
I clenched the phone. Now say the words. Tell me I’m in.

“Yes. I would never guess you’ve been away from dance so long. You have excellent technique. But more than that, you have amazing stage presence.”

“I do?”

“Yes,” he chuckled. “When you dance, everything else disappears. You become one with the music. So many kids your age still perform like little
rockettes
with cheesy smiles. You dance with a passion I don’t see very often. Especially in someone your age.”

“Wow.” I didn’t know what to say. Tyson Scott, a Broadway choreographer, loved the way I dance.

“So please tell me this means I’m in the show.” I couldn’t bear to wait for him any longer. A noise sounded behind me. Breezy, Mom and Dad were sneaking up like they were on a black ops mission.

“Yes, you are in the show,” he said and I grinned and bounced up and down. “However, there is a little more to it and I want to run it all by you before you say yes.”

“Okay.” I stopped bouncing. Why couldn’t it be only good news? Why did
there
have to be a “but”?

The phone cord went taught. Mom tugged on it to get my attention. She gave me
a thumbs
up and a thumbs down choice. I returned the thumbs up with a grin. They fell over themselves on the floor in silent cheers. I rolled my eyes.

“When you came in, I was looking for someone to join the chorus. As you know, we lost Jessica and Chloe is the understudy. However, once I saw you dance, combined with the physical match up and chemistry of you and Eli, I’d like to cast you as the lead, Lauren.

My eyes bugged out and I’m pretty sure my heart stopped. I looked at mom in shock. The silent cheering ended as they stared. I couldn’t begin to respond.

“Willow? You still with me?” I detected humor in his voice.

“Yeah,” I uttered.

“There is one catch though. Your vocals aren’t where we need them.”

What an understatement. I pictured Eli’s crashing missile gesture.

“You have a beautiful voice. Your choir teacher Ms. Fuller agrees. But you lack experience and confidence. So I’ve arranged for you to take some crash course voice lessons from an old friend of mine. She is an excellent teacher and is willing to rearrange her schedule to squeeze you in if you take the part.”

“Are you sure I can do it? I’m not much of a singer.”
Hugest understatement of the year.

“Listen, we have singers who also dance and dancers who also sing. The role of Lauren is for a dancer who also sings. I wouldn’t cast you in the role if I didn’t believe you’d be able to get up to performance level in time for opening night.”

I couldn’t believe my ears. All I wanted was to get out of cheer, and now not only was I in the
show,
he was offering me the lead. My annoying family started whispering questions. I stepped past them and went to the hall pantry and closed the door. I sank down to the floor and leaned against Twinkie’s twenty-pound dog food bag.

“So, you’re saying that if I agree to voice lessons I have the lead?” A sheen of perspiration appeared.

“That’s right. However, I want to be sure you understand that it won’t be nearly as easy as it sounds. We’re almost three weeks into rehearsals and you’ll have a lot of catching up to do.
 
As Lauren you will have rehearsal six days a week.
 
It will be a grueling schedule, but I spoke to Miss Ginny and your cheerleading coach, Ms.
Klahn
, and they both assure me you have an amazing work ethic and are one of the most dedicated kids they’ve worked with. We all believe you’re up to the challenge. So if you take the part, you’re going to spend a lot of time looking at my ugly mug.”