Over the next four days, Holden recounts every second of his date which is too much for me and occasionally mentions he's on the team now.

"...And she had rocky road. I had to wipe it off her chin-" He says for the fifth time and I slam my script into his locker door.

"Holden, I know you're head-over-heels at this point but you said you'd help me rehearse," He sighs and takes the script from me. "You're the bard, Gregory." He snorts before reading.

"Cas, why are you telling them you're a highly trained warrior?"

"Because I am highly trained with this sword," I wave my hairbrush in a way that says that the character Cas isn't highly trained. "How am I lying?"

"Self-taught is not the same as being highly trained. I have multiple scars from you being 'highly trained', this one looks like a moon," Holden exposes his collarbone dramatically as the bell rings. "I've got practice, see you later. Break a leg!" He tosses me the script and I catch it quickly. I hurry to the auditorium and see Lawson outside, waiting for someone. He looks up and waves sarcastically at me.

"We thought we'd have to start without you," I shrug and he gives my outfit a once over in a way that makes the heat rise in my cheeks, I thought wearing my outfit that makes me look like Link complete with green hat (according Holden) was a good idea, now I'm second guessing myself. "You look ready to act but do you have a song prepared?" I blink, hoping he's joking. "The director added songs for Cas, Gregory, Tanya and Azrael, you can sing any song from a musical." I smile, knowing exactly what to sing.

"Good thing I love musicals," He holds the door open for me and I turn as I walk through. "I never asked, who's the director?" Lawson gives me a massive grin that makes my stomach sink slightly, uh oh.

"Me." I look around the auditorium with a smile and feel someone tap my shoulder.

"Hey Dion," Lavender smiles down at me (I'm 5,3, everyone has to smile down but her smile makes me feel like I'm beneath her) "I know I posted that video but I need help setting up the stage." I set my bag and script down.

"Where do you need me?" Lavender links her arm through mine. Lavender's at least 5,7 and wears enough pink to make Sharpay look like she's copying Lavender.

"I need you to go to the prop room and get a theatre cube," I nod slowly and she points to a side door. "Through that door and to the right is the prop room." I head off and she moves some fake trees and rocks around stage. I through the doors and open the prop room door. I look around with a frown, the only cube I can see is one with wheels. I take the cube and carry it so I don't do something stupid like fall on my face. I still do something stupid when I nearly knock over a pretty girl with coffee skin and black hair with rainbow stripes.

"Sorry, are you okay?" She nods and helps me carry the box to the stage. "Thanks, sorry for nearly killing you with this." She grins at me as she turns it slightly.

"It's fine. I'm Bri," She offers me her hand and I shake it. "You're Dion, right? Mr Wolfe's niece?" I nod, really hoping she doesn't ask about sexuality. "Well, break a leg." I grin at her.

"You too," I hop off stage and find River sitting beside my bag and script. "Why are you sitting beside me?" He points to Bri and a tall guy wearing a skull t-shirt who are sitting far too close.

"Because I don't want to sit beside the happy couple because they're about to kiss," The guy kisses Bri quickly before hopping over her with a 'I love you, break a leg'. "And I would've got kicked in the face," I open my script and look at Cas' lines before he clears his throat. "Want to help me rehearse for Azrael?" I shrug and flick to a Cas and Azrael scene.

"Want to do the epic smack down or the flirting inappropiately?" He gives me a smile and I flick to the flirting inappropiately. "I know I'm not exactly trained with a sword but at least I'm not wearing an ass as a helmet." He sits up straight and gives me a smirk worthy of Azrael.

"Huh, you didn't think that the night we met outside the tavern," He reaches out and puts my hair behind my ear before I slap his hand away. "I heard you whisper to Gregory that you liked my ass, I like yours as well." I roll my eyes.

"Is that how you get women in the city? It doesn't work in villages like this." Uncle Freddy clears his throat and I move away from River, heat rising in my cheeks. Uncle Freddy and Lawson stand on the stage, Lawson pointedly looking away from River and I. I frown at him as Uncle Freddy looks at his clipboard.

"Up first for the role of Cas is Bri, sing your song first." Bri gets up and stands on the stage.

"I'm going to sing Rose's Turn," The song plays over the speaker as she begins in a high, sweet voice. "Why did I do it? What did it get me? Scrapbooks full of me in the background. Give 'em love and what does it get ya? What does it get ya?" She jumps onto the cube and I'm already running towards her as it rolls from under her. "AH!" The song stops and she falls with a sickening crack.

***

She broke her leg. I had reached her first and saw the bone sticking out of her leg. Auditions are now happening on Saturday and everyone's wondering how a theatre cube with wheels ended up on stage. After everyone else leaves, I approach Uncle Freddy and Lawson who are looking at the new order for people.

"Uncle Freddy, Lawson, I put the cube on the stage. Lavender asked me to get a theatre cube but it was the only one I could find," Uncle Freddy hands Lawson the paper and puts his hands on my shoulders. "I'm so sorry, it's my fault she broke her leg." He smiles at me gently.

"It's okay. Breathe, don't panic," Uncle Freddy's phone rings and he glances at Lawson as he fishes it out of his blazer. "Lawson, do you mind...?" Lawson pats beside him on the stage and I hop up beside him as Uncle Freddy leaves. "Hi Mister Russo, how is Bri?" The door closes behind him and Lawson nudges me gently with his shoulder.

"We know it was an accident. You know, if you want to forget, you could practice your song for tomorrow," He gets up and goes to the piano, cracking his fingers. "What are you going to sing?" I get up and sit on one of the rocks, looking at my brown boots.

"Journey To The Past," He starts to play it and I begin to sing. "Heart, don't fail me now! Courage, don't desert me! Don't turn back now that we're here. People always say life is full of choices. No one ever mentions fear! Or how the world can seem so vast on a journey ... to the past. Somewhere down this road I know someone's waiting years of dreams just can't be wrong! Arms will open wide." I stop, blushing and he grins at me, everything about him nothing like the perfectionist Uncle Freddy had made him out to be.

"Your voice is Cas worthy, you know," I look down and he comes over slowly. "Bri may be a good singer but hers is nothing compared to yours," He crouches beside me. "Too bad your uncle has to sign off or I'd make you Cas right now." I smile at him through my hair before a sudden wave of guilt hits me.

"Lawson, my uncle-"

"Asked you to audition because of your endless patience," I frown at him. "Your uncle told everyone else and I overheard. When I talked to you the first day, I was going to be mean to you but you were too annoyed at the teacher about her outing you as Mr Wolfe's niece. You should've been angrier but you were just a little annoyed because people want to know who he finds attractive...He told the drama people on day one that he's asexual. Then I saw you with everyone else and...Maybe I need someone to be patient with me if I'm too anal about these things." I gently take his hand and smile at him.

"Well, I need to say I made a friend without Holden's help. Can I count on you, James?"

"Always, Wolfe. I like this last name thing."

"Ahem," I let go of Lawson's hand and smile at Uncle Freddy as his eyes flick between us. "Your brother's practice is over so it's time to go home." I get off the rock and smile at Lawson.

"I'll see you tomorrow, James."

"See you, Wolfe. Drive safe, Mr Wolfe." I wave at him as I follow Uncle Freddy out. Uncle Freddy gives me a lot of side eye.

"What?" Uncle Freddy shrugs, smiling to himself in a way that makes me think there's something.

***

Holden's leaning against Rain's car with her tongue down his throat. Uncle Freddy and I mime gagging until they stop and notice us. Holden kisses Rain quickly.

"See you tomorrow at the library!" He yells and Rain blows him kisses before getting in her car. Holden grins at me. "How was auditions?" I throw myself into the front and put my head against the window, letting Uncle Freddy answer.

"There was a mishap with a theatre cube and Bri Russo broke her leg."

"It was my fault. I could only find one with wheels." Holden nods slowly.

"Damn, I thought Michael Keane breaking his nose was the most dramatic thing today...That was actually my fault so..." I give him a look in the mirror. "I think yours was actually the prop person's fault." Uncle Freddy winces thoughtfully.

"The prop person was off so I was the prop person...Also Michael's girlfriend is Bri," I close my eyes (Why did it have to be us?) "Brichael took a hit today." I give him some side eye.

"Uncle Freddy, do you ship students together?"

"Occasionally. Besides Brichael was their campaign name for prom," Uncle Freddy looks at Holden in the mirror. "Holden, are you sure about River liking your sister?" I give him a dirty look while Holden clears his throat.

"I mean he's kind of auditioning to be her love interest in the play," I move my seat backwards and ram him in the knees. "What the hell, Dee?" I pull my seat back to where it was and smile at him over my shoulder.

"River stares at me when he thinks I can't see him. Maybe there's some gunk near my eyes. It doesn't mean he likes me."

"Are you sure you aren't hoping he doesn't like you because you may like Lawson?" I sigh, pinching my nose while Holden sticks his face between the seats.

"Lawson? Oh my," I gently push his head back and he whacks my hand, looking at Uncle Freddy. "Why do you think something's going on between them?" Uncle Freddy shrugs innocently.

"Just that I saw them holding hands," I pull my hat over my face as Holden gasps dramaticly. "And noticed Lawson looking jealous at River and Dion when they were rehearsing a flirty scene." I pull my hat off my face as we pull up at the house.

"See you tomorrow, Uncle Freddy. Stop talking about Lawson, River and I." I get out of the car as my phone pings along with Holden's and I look at mine with a frown (Why would Rain send me a message?) I open it and read the words I hadn't realised I'd been dreading. Party tomorrow at Rain and River's house for the new members of the basketball team and cast members for the new play. Holden grins at me from his phone. This is going to be Hell.