on't like

a few lockers down. They looked at me suspiciously and then decided to find

ue, and the other was yellow. I felt annoyed as I read th

the programs mentioned on the papers I was holding. My stomach felt uneasy, and I nervously bit my lip as

of these stone walls. Sliding into my seat in history, I undid the backpack on my shoulder and let it drop unceremoniously to the ground. I had to play the par

igraphy handwriting danced across the page, providing dates, times, and locations, plus a few ideas on what we would possibly be performing. Many would be singing,

The play would be put on for the entire city-four shows-at a cost of $8 per ticket. All proceeds would be split 5

toms stemming from the denial of my body's basic desires were steadily worsening. My 'Slime', code

e to school. The words had tumbled out of my shaky mouth and into th

adore had been an abject failure. There had been no development that would

ighting chance. They deserved the ability to leave and find a w

musical audition. An open audition scared the living crap out of me. Being in that situat

my direction, assessing my every move. I avoided speaking directly with her, despite my love for her

antly crossed as she sat in her rolling office chair. "I don't want to have to fai

s, Her accent was still slightly halted, and sh

pered, glaring around the empty clas

lasses perched on her petite nose. She curled her plump lips inward, crossing her arms

clenched as I answered, tired of t

you be more active in the class? Have you considered extrac

nothing you can do. No, I don't want to join your club or your sport

as tiring. I really just wanted to be

you live by yourse

that's any of

lled. "I worry a

worry about me, t

your a

ut to roll my eye

the books on her desk and handed me the yellow flyer. "Th

n eyebrow,

other judges. The other judge

ho

They will help me make the final decision. Typically, it would be Miss Bellamy from the

et from her fingers and leaned my hi

isper, "we'd like to keep the lucky

eeth sank into my bottom lip as I considered the offer. No cameras? No recordings? Seal

tood, stacking her papers on her desk with a

t this. I knew I was

'll see

re were my fears again, clouding my brain and making me queasy. I found the reassur

ngle microphone was positioned in the middle, nearly at the front edge of the black stage. I glar

theater. I grasped the mic in my hands and nodded to

ning before winding down the lyrics. Butterflies unfurled in my chest as I began to sing. It was the first time in a long ti

smile and hurried out of the theater to my Jeep. When I was safely inside, heading

ing had

g had made

he singing that w