I stood backstage, peeking through the curtain at the audience. I took a deep breath, then another.
"Get to your places! Curtain opens in one more minute!" The director of our school play, Ms. Hampton, calls out. I took a deep breath, backing away. My stomach turned, and my heart jumped into my throat.
"Break a leg." I turned to see Victoria, or Tori, standing there, waving.
"You too." I said. She smiled, getting back into her place in the house flat.
"Welcome, everyone, to the Bradford High School Performance!" The principal said through the microphone. My stomach churned, and my heart hammered inside of my chest. I stood next to Quinn, who was co-starring in the play.
"Good luck." He whispered. I looked around. Figuring he was talking to Miranda. The most popular girl in the school. "Hey, Eeh-Rhine. Good luck." I looked at him.
"Oh, me?" I asked, shivers running down my spine. He nodded, smiling. "Thanks. Uh, you too." I said. He nodded. Then looked forward where Madison was standing, holding a basket of flowers. Looking like Misses "Perfect". I sighed. Then looked forward.I took a deep breath, closing my eyes.

Gold thoughts in.
Black nerves out.

I opened my eyes, seeing the curtains about to open. I put on my biggest smile, slightly swaying back and forth.
"Oh, Jack! Look at the birds! Aren't they just wonderful?" I said, with a sigh.
"They're beautiful. But, not as beautiful as..." I looked at him, fake bracing the moment when he says how much he loves me, "Sally over there. Isn't she so beautiful." I gasped.
"I thought you were gonna say..." I began, trailing off like the script said.
"Jenna? Oh, no. She's pretty. But, Sally is just so...wonderful." He sighed, then looked at me. "Is my hair okay? Is there anything on my teeth? Manure on my clothes?" He gasped, "Does my breath smell bad?" He asked. The crowd laughed.
"No, Jack. But, oh my. Oh, no, no, no, no, no." I said.
"What is it?!" He gasped.
"Your cursed!" I gasped. "You're eyes have been blinded!"
"How do you know?" He choked.
"For you cannot see that I am your true love and that she does not love you!" I said, storming off.

---

I walked out on stage for cast call, pleased at how well the performance went. People clapped and cheered as each assigned group stepped out and bowed. Finally, it was Quinn and I's turn. People clapped, whistled, and cheered as we bowed, our arms separate. He nudged my arm, and I turned to him. He grabbed my hand, lifting it up, and bowing. My stomach tightened. And my head was dizzy. We bowed a couple more times, then everyone else joined us. We bowed together, as people got up on their feet, clapping. I smiled. And held hands with Tori. We bowed a few times. Then let the director talk.
"I have been blessed this year. These students are all hard workers, and very talented actors and actresses." I smiled even brighter. "At this time, I'd like to present my seniors. Victoria Hensworth." She stepped forward, gracefully bowing. "Quinn Dawson." He stepped forward, flipping his hair, causing some of the girls to go into a frenzy. "Miranda Cox." She stepped forward, smiling. "And finally, Erin Smith." I stepped forward, waving. My parents whistled, and the parents clapped. "I have known these students since they were just starting out in middle school. Victoria, or as most of you know her, Tori. She is just a bundle of energy. She's always happy, or bouncing around. She is a talented dancer. And I hope she peruses it in her future." "Quinn. He always had a smile on his face. Even during times that were serious. I actually kept getting on to him for smiling during the sad scenes." People laughed. "He worked very hard, and is a phenomenal actor." He smiled to the crowd, causing more girls to go into a frenzy. "Miranda Cox." Girls, and some guys, screamed when she said her name. "I have known Miranda since she was just a kindergarten when I was a teacher then. I have watched her grow, and with that, watch her passion for acting grow with it. She is very talented. And a pleasure to work with." She smiled a "Duh" smile. "Erin." I looked at her. She was smiling. "I have enjoyed teaching her and showing her how to be a wonderful actress. And I have watched her step out of her shell, and blossom into a beautiful young lady, and a wonderful actress. She has told me her future plans in the theatrical world, but I can't stress enough how badly she is needed. At the first rehearsal, she was just a shy, young girl, who stayed towards the background. But, she has always been my hardest worker. There were days I thought she would quit, but, she always came back, a harder worker each time. I have enjoyed working with her. And can't wait to see who she becomes." People clapped, a couple whistled. I just smiled.
"Why did she get the longest compliment?" I heard Miranda whisper sharply. A sharp pain jolted through my spine, but I acted as if I didn't care. Ms. Hampton talked some more about the others, and the acknowledgements. Finally, she finished. And we bowed one last time.

---

I walked out, back in my old clothes. I walked to my parents, who were cheering.
"You did so wonderfully, Erin!" Mom said, showering me with hugs. I smiled.
"You did great, Erin." Dad said. I hugged him, happy.
"Great job, Erin." I turned to see Quinn standing there, smiling. I smiled, looking at my feet. I pushed some hair behind my ear.
"Uh, thanks." I said, softly.
"Some of the others in the play and I are going to get some pizza. You want to go? I mean, if your parents are okay with it." I looked at Mom and Dad.
"Uh, Mom, Dad, can I go?" I asked.
"How are you getting home?" Dad asked.
"I'll get her back by seven at the latest." Quinn said.
"Six. Not a minute later." Dad ordered.
"Yes, sir." He said.
"I'll see you at six, honey." Mom said. I smiled, nodding. I turned.
"Uh, can Tori go?" I asked. He nodded.
"Uh, yeah. Sure." I smiled.
"Great! I'll go get her!" He nodded, looking around. I turned, and walked over to Tori.
"Hey, Tori. Want to go get some pizza?" I asked.
"Eh-hem." Her step dad said.
"Uh, is Tori allowed to go get some pizza with me and some kids in the play?" I asked him.
"As long as Tori does laundry when she gets home, she can do whatever she wants too." He said. I smiled. Tori took a drink of her Monster, and smiled.
"Thanks!" I said, dragging her away.
"Wait, what other play kids?" She asked.
"Uh, well, Quinn?" I asked. She froze.
"Quinn Dawson?" She asked. I nodded.
"Yeah. Weird, right?" I asked. She stepped on my foot.
"Quinn Dawson?" She asked again. I froze. "He invited us?"
"Yeah. Well, at first, he invited me. But, then I got permission from Mom and Dad. And they said yes, as long as I was home by six. And then I asked if you could go. and he was all like 'Uh, yeah, sure.' So I came and got you." Her face dropped.
"So, he doesn't like me." My shoulders sank. Then, I perked them back up.
"Of course he does!" I explained.
"Of course who what?" Quinn asked. Tori froze.
"Of course my dad would be totally cool with Tori staying the night." I said, quickly. I could hear Tori exhale in relief. I bit my lip. Madison walked up behind him, flipping her blonde hair, and giving us the death glare.
"What are you doing here?" She asked.
"Uh..." I replied, staring at Quinn.
"I invited them." He said. She turned to him.
"Why?" She asked.
"Cause they're in the play." He replied.
"I can barely stand Erin and her, annoying, goody-two-shoes, ways. But, Tori? Really?" She asked, acting as if we weren't there. Tori pushed me sideways, walking ahead. She splashed the Monster on Madison, smirking as she did it..
"That should take care of the jerk on your face." She said, smiling, "Oh, wait. I missed a spot." She clenched her fist, swung it back, hitting her square in the nose. "Got it!" She grabbed my wrist, dragging me away. I stifled a laugh, waving.
"Bye!" I said, watching Madison cry idiotically.
"I just got a nose job last week!" She cried. I held back a laugh.
We rushed out the doors, and into the warm spring air. Tori stopped pulling me, turning around. We stared for a moment, and for a split second, I thought she was going to yell at me. But, suddenly, she began laughing like crazy. I couldn't hold it back anymore, and started laughing too.
"Victoria Hensworth and Erin Smith." I turned to see the principal standing behind us. We stopped laughing. "My office. Now."

Notes

First chapter!

Yay!

So, my previous username, Scarlet_Fox, has been changed to lizZ_Zzy. So, if you happen to be reading one of my other books, I changed it.

But, I hope you like this! I was trying not to laugh when I was writing it!
Comment, Rate, Subscribe, blah, blah, blah. You've been told a million times. So, you should know to just DO IT!

Thanks. :D