Carmen's POV

I arrived for auditions at the Moon Theater and see the line is like a mile long. Maybe I won't get in. Maybe I'm not good enough. No, I can do this. Just think of your parents I tell myself. I go over the lyrics for my song in my head. As I smooth my long purple skirt. I'm in my work clothes, but hopefully that won't matter.

Anyway we each are only doing a verse or two of our chosen songs. Because of how many of us there are. I decide to sing the first two verses of my chosen song, On My Own. Hoping I've made the right choose in song and which verse to sing.

We all go inside and we listen to the others audition. The first up with a male pig in a sparkly yellow jump suit. "Rah rah ah ah ah
Ro mah ro mah mah
Gaga oh la la
Want your bad romance" he sang as he danced. Next up was a trio of frogs.

"Jump, jump, jump
You might as well jump
You might as well jump (ooh)
jump" they sang. Next was a nervous male sheep with a big voice.

"Baby, if I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the gray" he sang. Then five female red pandas sang. They were so adorable. After them was another group, four turtles this time. After them was a buffalo doing a solo.

"Come my lady, come come my lady
You're my butterfly, sugar, baby
Come my lady, you're my pretty baby
I'll make your legs shake, you make me go" he sang.

After him was a hippo on a piano. I had no idea what he was singing at all. Though he seemed really happy. Then three rabbits went onto the stage.

"Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt
Oh my gosh, look at her butt" they repeated. Is that even a song? They just repeated the same phase four times in a sing song voice.

Then two porcupines sang and the girl had an amazing voice. Though it sounded like an original song, as I'd never heard it before. They both were playing electric guitars.

After them was a llama with a classic guitar. She spent her whole time slot fiddling with her guitar strings. Getting it tuned. Honestly, why didn't she tune it last night or this morning before auditions? After her were a group of toucans and only one of them sung. Then a crocodile, followed by a beaver and joey. Then red backed spiders appear and I loved the song they did.

"Aserejé, ja de je de jebe tu de jebere sebiunouva
Majavi an a" they sang. I hummed along. Then a camel did opera followed by a snail. After them was a soulful singing giraffe called Daniel.

"Carmen Porter!" Mr Moon calls me forward. I take a deep breath and step onto the stage. I head over to the mike and start to sing. Forgetting everyone around me and thinking about my parents.

https://youtu.be/zarjXmLFcwY

"On my own
Pretending he's beside me
All alone
I walk with him 'til morning

Without him
I feel his arms around me
And when I lose my way I close my eyes
And he has found me" I finish and bow to Mr Moon and his secretary a chameleon before walking off of the stage.

"That was amazing dear" a motherly pig says.

"Thank you" I say. I hear that voice again and turn back to the stage. To see the same gorilla from the alley way singing.

"This ain't love it's clear to see
But darlin', stay with me" he sings and looks my way. I blush faintly.

"I think you have an admirer dear" she giggles.

"I doubt it, I don't even know him" I tell her.

"Wow, thank you Johnny" Mr Moon says. I freeze, did he say Johnny? Just then an elephant is called onto stage.

"Hey, you ok?" a guy asks waving his hand in front of me. I blink and see it's Johnny. I gasp and back away. Nearly falling over a cable. But he catches me wrapping his arms around my waist. "Are you ok?" he asks me concerned.

"I'm fine" I stammer.

"I'm Johnny" he tells me with a smile.

"I know, I mean I heard Mr Moon call you that" I tell him.

"So you don't remember me?" he asks me sadly. Letting go of my waist. I look into his soft warm brown eyes with my purple ones.

"Wait, little Johnny?" I ask in shock and he smiles brightly. "Wow, you've grown" I tell him smiling. Giving him a hug

"So have you, grown more beautiful I mean" he tells me and I blush. As we stop hugging "I'm sure you'll get in" he adds.

"I hope you do to, I never knew you could sing" I tell him.

"Not as good as you" he says scratching the back of his head. "Do you think we could catch up some time?" he asks me hopeful.

"Sure" I tell him with a smile. Just then we're called back onto stage. We both made it in with half dozen others. We both went to leave when Mr Moon called us back over.

"So I know Johnny will be doing a solo, but how do you two feel about singing a duet together?" he asks us.

"I would love to sing with Carmen" Johnny tells him.

"I don't mind singing with Johnny" I add smiling.

"Great, I'll find the perfect love song for you both to sing" Mr Moon states. Before leaving.

"Wait, love song?!" I exclaim blushing.

"It will be fine, you can sing anything" Johnny assures me. "If we win together, you can have the money" he tells me.

"No, we'll split it 50/50" I tell him. "But how can I sing a love song, if I've never felt love before?" I ask him.

"I'm sure we'll figure it out" he assures me.

Just then a mouse asked to see the prize money. But Mr Moon told us to go home as rehearsal starts early tomorrow morning. Guess I'll have to get Jasmine to mind the cafe a little longer. I'm sure she won't mind. Johnny walks me back to my apartment building. "So do you want to hang out tomorrow after rehearsal?" he asks me.

"Of course, I'd love to catch up with you" I tell him with a smile.  "Anyway I have to call my co-worker and ask her to cover for me. I'll see you tomorrow Johnny, sweet dreams" I state.

"You to Carmen" he tells me with a smile. Before I entered my apartment and went to call Jasmine. Before making myself some dinner.

(Garage) Johnny's POV

I just got back and dad notices me. I notice Stan and Barry present also. "There he is! I got a surprise for you, my son" Dad laughs.

"What's that?" I ask him confused.

"Tell him the plan" Dad tells Stan.

"Right. We've been told there's a ship carrying $25 million in gold gonna dock at night right here. With the usual guards here and here, but lucky for us, there's a sewer right under here. So, the getaway driver meets us here" Stan explains pointing at the map.

"And that is gonna be you this time, Johnny" dad tells me.

"What? You want, you want me to drive?" I ask him shocked.

"Yeah. It's time my boy had a proper role in the gang, eh?" he asks me proudly.

"Hang on, hang on. Dad, Barry's always been our driver" I remind him.

"Barry don't mind. Do you, Barry?" dad asks him.

"No. No, that's fine" Barry assures him.

"Yeah" dad says in agreement.

"So when exactly is this ship comin' in then?" I ask him. Hoping it won't conflict with my rehearsal time. Or performance night.

"We ain't exactly got a date yet" Stan answers.

"Probably won't be for a while though, will it?" I ask hopeful.

"What do you care? It's the last job we ever need to do. When it comes in, we go. Right?" dad asks me.

"Great. Can't wait" I mutter and leave them. I go to my room and lay on my bed. Thinking about Carmen, I can't believe she remembers me. And we're going to sing together.

A/N

Video above of the auditions and video in chapter of Carmen's full song. Pictures in chapter of Carmen and her outfit.