Take a Bow

Ethan’s reaction doesn’t change. But Emme eats it up. “Exactly! You did such a good job and it is one of my favorite songs by Ethan. We’re going to record it this weekend for his Juilliard pre-audition.”

“Impressive.” Carter’s attention moves back to the group after he scans the paintings on the wall. “You have to pre-audition?”

“Yeah,” Emme says, “you have to send in a tape, and that factors into whether or not you get asked to audition.”

“Yikes!” Carter makes a face. It isn’t very attractive.

“I know, and to add insult to injury, the Juilliard audition is two weeks after the showcase, so it will not be a fun winter. That is, if we get into the showcase and are asked to audition.”

“Are you two auditioning together?” Carter gestures at Emme and Ethan.

Emme shakes her head. “No, we’re playing on each other’s audition tapes. But the band will be auditioning for the showcase … if we’re asked.”

“There’s no way you guys aren’t going to be in the showcase. No way.”

I wish Carter showed that much enthusiasm about me being in the showcase.

Emme smiles at Carter. I don’t know what’s going on between the two of them, but I don’t like it one bit. Emme has had a few dates, but the band keeps her too busy to have a serious boyfriend. Not that it isn’t obvious to everybody that Ethan worships her. Well, obvious to everybody but Emme.

“Hey, Carter.” Emme nudges him. “Let’s go say hi to Trevor!” She grabs him by the elbow and leads him off.

Ethan just stares at me.

“What?”

“I know you pressured Emme into playing the song for you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Yes, you do.”

“I’ll admit I asked her about it, but Emme plays by the rules too much to do something ‘illegal’ like give me an advantage.” Emme’s naïve belief in playing fair guarantees that she will not make it in the music business. If she thinks CPA is cutthroat, wait until she gets to the real world. No one, not even Ethan, can protect her then.

“No, she wouldn’t do that … without being manipulated.”

“Honestly, Ethan, think what you want. I’m telling you the truth.”

He scowls at me. “Please. You are not that good an actress.” He walks away and heads over to the rest of his groupies.

Let me think; I was able to get holier-than-thou Emme to basically cheat to give me the leg up, promise me that I can record a demo that I can send out, and get her to write a song for the Senior Showcase … because we are BFFs. Not to mention that I’ve got the most famous student at CPA as my boyfriend.

I think that makes me an excellent actress.

Opening night.

For the past six weeks I’ve been pulling eighteen-hour days: Wake up at six, exercise, eat, go to school, study for two hours, and then rehearse my role as Desirée in A Little Night Music.

My parents and Emme worry that skipping college and going right into the “grind” will be too much for me. But I’ve proven that I can not only handle long and grueling days, but thrive. This is what I want to do. I love the busy days, rehearsing, performing. I understand that being worn out is part of this business. I know exactly what it’ll take to be a star. And I’m not afraid to go for it.

I step out on the stage and feel the warmth of the spotlight.

There is no question that this is where I belong. Every eyeball is on me.

Lead role in a major CPA production.

Check!

Now all I need is to land the lead spot in the showcase and it will all be mine.

Sophie is amazing. She gets a well-deserved standing ovation every night.

I look over to see her being congratulated at the after-party of our final performance. She’s beaming, as she should be.

“Here you go.” Ethan hands me some punch. “To getting it over with.”

We clink our glasses together. With our musical requirement out of the way, we can concentrate on our final project.

“I’m sick to my stomach thinking about the fact that we mailed our applications.”

Ethan and I went together to mail our pre-audition applications and CDs before tonight’s show. I don’t think I would’ve had the courage to do it if he hadn’t been with me, practically pulling the envelope out of my hand.

“Your songs are incredible. You sounded incredible.”

“Don’t remind me.” I have a hard time listening to me sing. The first take we did of my vocals was awful. But I got used to singing; it helped that Ethan was being so supportive. Although he is the only person I’ve allowed to hear me sing. Well, Ethan and the admissions staff at Juilliard. “What did you make me do?”

He laughs at me. “Oh, I don’t know, help you accomplish your dreams. Really, a simple thank-you will suffice.”

“Thank you.” I raise my glass to him.

“Don’t mention it. Actually, mention it … often.”

I don’t exactly know what’s happened to him, but he’s really turned around the last few weeks. There’s no drama, no self-pity; he’s just plain, regular Ethan.

“Okay, I have a favor to ask.”

He looks at me with a smirk on his face. “Oh, really? This ought to be good.”

“You have to promise me that you’ll tell me the second you hear from Juilliard and the other schools.” He scowls slightly. He’s always the first one of us to get his CPA acceptance for the following semester, but he always waits to tell us until we all receive ours. “This is a really big deal, and I want you to feel like you can celebrate it and not worry about if I’ve heard anything. Promise.”

He pauses for a second before he responds. “Okay.”

“Say it.”

“Promise.” He looks down at the floor for a few beats before he looks up at me. And he seems nervous. “Emme, I need you to know that —”

“Hey, guys!” Tyler Stewart approaches us. “Great job!” Tyler was the lead pianist in the orchestra for the show. I also had a little bit of a crush on him when we were in Advanced Piano last year.

“Thanks, although I really didn’t do much. You were extraordinary.” I feel my cheeks grow hot.

He smiles at me. “Oh, come on, that triangle can be pretty tricky.”

I laugh like an idiot. I’ve never been good at flirting. Ever. That’s probably why I’ve only had about four dates at CPA. I like to blame it on how busy we are. But it’s because I’ve got absolutely no skills when it comes to boys. Sure, I love the guys in the band, but they’re like brothers to me. There was never any question that we were only going to be friends, so there’s never been any pressure to be anybody but me.

“Well, I’m a girl of many talents.”

Oh, my goodness. What did I just say?

Fortunately, Tyler laughs and replies, “I’m sure you are.”

Ethan interrupts us. “I’m ready to head out.”

“Oh, okay.” Tyler looks disappointed.

The guys in the band are extremely protective of me, and always have been. There was this one guy who used to come to our gigs all the time last year and talk to me afterward. The guys referred to him as my stalker. He was i

“Um, actually, I was going to hang around and go back to Brooklyn with Sophie,” I say. That’s technically not a lie. Sophie and I didn’t make plans to go back together, but I just assumed. Plus, it lets me stay longer and talk to Tyler without me appearing desperate.

Tyler lights up. “Great!”

Ethan hesitates. “Okay, see you tomorrow.” He gives me a quick hug and nods at Tyler.

After Ethan leaves, Tyler leans in. “I’ve got a confession to make. Ethan intimidates the crap out of me. That guy is a genius.”