I got the lead. I got the lead. I didn't get Benvolio. I got the lead, I got it.

Inside, Dan is a million different things. Relieved, excited, proud.

Outside, he's one thing.

Annoyed.

Dan doesn't know when, or why for that matter, he ended up like this.

Why he traded everyone he used to love for the group of jerks he calls "friends". The only person that truly likes him for him is Penny, and she's just barely holding on.

You're the lead. Leaders can't be friends with everyone. Leaders can't open up, can't show weakness. Leaders have to, well, lead. And they can't do that if they're weak, shy little nerds, can they?

Dan keeps repeating these things in his head. They're true, right? Of course they are.

From his spot sitting on the edge of the stage, Dan can see almost everyone in the play company. More and more people are coming in. Choreographers, assistant directors, stage managers, producers, everyone behind the scenes that make the play happen.

Dan bites his lip and looks down at the script in his lap.

Ah, the ever classic Romeo And Juliet.

Dan loves it. Shakespeare, acting, everything. The entire atmosphere of being a part of something bigger than himself makes him feel all warm inside.

But of course he would never show it.

"Dan!"

Dan looks up from his script to see Penny running up to him. He tries not to sigh.

"Yeah?" He says.

Penny leans on the stage and looks up at Dan. "Diana wants to see yo-"

"Why?"

Penny pushes back the hair in her eyes. She's used to being cut off in real life. But on stage, during a play, Dan knows how powerful she can really be. He wonders why some people shine sometimes, but not all the time.

"Something about Phil."

Dan returns to reading his script. "Who's Phil?" He asks, not at all interested in whoever this guy is, or whatever he wants.

"Don't you remember? He's the guy that came in lat-"

"Camera Guy?" Dan scoffs.

Penny nods and tucks a piece of light orange hair behind her ear.

"Where's Diana?"

"Up in the loft."

Dan closes his script and hops down off the stage.

"Do something with your hair," Dan says, not even looking back at Penny. "It keeps falling in your face."

With that Dan walks away, not noticing Penny pulling her short hair into the best ponytail she can.

He also doesn't notice a certain guy with a camera looking for him.

*~*~*~*

"You wanted to see me, Diana?" Dan asks his director after climbing the stairs to the dimmer loft, where all of the lights, sounds, and special effects are dealt with.

Diana turns around from talking to a lighting assistant. "Dan! We're going to start interviews soon, so I need you to-"

"Interviews?" Dan asks.

"Yes, interviews," Diana rolls her eyes. "Stop cutting me off, Howell. Phil and some of his colleagues from the film company will be interviewing the main cast members."

"About what exactly?"

"I don't know, whatever the hell they want! I'm very busy so can you please just go do it?" Diana snaps.

Dan frowns. He loves Diana to death (in an endearing older sister way), but during play season she gets really stressed out, resulting in her yelling at everyone. Regardless of whether she likes you or not.

Dan steps out of Diana's way as she rushes around the loft, clipboard in hand. He leans on the railing of the loft and looks out at the stage.

In just a few short months, he's going to be on that stage, standing in the spotlight.

He sighs, lost in thought as he walks down the stairs.

Back on the ground floor, Dan searches for any sign of that nerdy camera guy.

Shut up, you used to be a nerd too.

Dan shakes his head. Key words: used to be. He used to like what he wanted to like without caring about anyone else. He used to be a fun, crazy, video game and anime and fandom loving nerd.

Used to be.

Something changed in Dan, but he's not exactly sure what.

Maybe it will take someone else to help him realize it.

*~*~*~*

"Yeah, Chris, right there will be fine."

Dan wanders into a dressing room backstage to find Camera Guy-Phil-and two other guys busy setting up cameras.

He clears his throat.

"Oh, Dan," Phil smiles at him like they've been best friends for years.

Dan doesn't really like the feeling growing inside him.

"You're finally here!"

He sure perked up in the last few hours. Why is he so happy?

"I'm just going to have you sit in front of that cool looking mirror, okay?" Phil nods to a chair in front of the lighted dressing room mirror.

Dan scoffs. "It's just a mirror."

"O-okay-"

"I told you to stop stuttering," Dan sits down and crosses his arms.

Phil twists his mouth and stays silent for a moment, adjusting the tripod in front of him.

"Why do you do that?" He suddenly bursts out.

Dan blinks. "What?"

Camera Guy closes his eyes and sighs. "Say those stupid one-liners like you're trying to help someone, but you're really just being mean."

What is this guy talking about? Who cares. Just...just don't let this catch you off guard.

Dan shakes his head. "What are you talking about?" He asks incredulously.

Phil looks away from Dan and down at the camera. "This morning, the only thing you said to me was to stop stuttering. A little while ago I overheard you telling Penny to put her hair up. Who do you think you are exactly?"

Dan leans back in the chair, arms still crossed. His eyes narrow and the corner of his mouth pulls up into a tiny smirk.

"I'm The Lead."

*~*~*~*

Hey hey hey! Thanks so so sooo much for reading this chapter! Hope you liked it!

Sorry for making Dan a bit of a jerk, but stories have to have a little thing we call ~CONFLICT~

Please comment and vote if you'd like me to write more updates!

~Lizzy ☆彡