"I don't know if I can do this," I say nervously, shutting the music off. Chad glances up from the couch where he's been busy scribbling in his notebook. He's probably writing a song. I reach down to unstrap my tap shoes to give my poor feet a break. I've been practicing in my living room for over an hour now.

"Nope, keep tapping." He cocks an eyebrow and starts the music again. The energetic number fills the room and I start to hum along. "Try not to worry. It's just practice. You've got this."

"The audition's in a few days!" I sigh and lose myself in the dance again, moving my feet in rhythm. I know I'm doing it right, but I can't help feeling self-conscious. Tap dancing isn't really my forte, especially in these heeled tap shoes. "Do I look as stupid as I feel?"

He studies me like a scientific researcher. "I don't know. You look pretty stupid, so I hope not." 

"You're supposed to be my supportive friend," I remind him teasingly. My hair keeps falling into my face as I move, so I quickly tie it up into a high ponytail. "I'm freaking out about this audition!"

"I'm not a cheerleader. If you wanted a supportive friend, you should have called Mandy." 

"Do you live to irritate me?"

He snaps the notebook shut and reaches over the coffee table for his guitar. "I only have two possible motivations for anything I do. I do it for spite or I do it for the aesthetic."

"Which is it this time?"

"Secret reason number three: get my best friend the lead in the musical," he replies sassily. His fingers pick out an intricate melody on the strings. I'm perpetually in awe of his songwriting skills, how he can create music out of silence. "Now stop talking and start tapping."

I shake my head at him but go back to rehearsing the dance break in 'King of New York.' If I even have a shot of playing Katherine Plumber in our production of Newsies, then I need to nail this. No room for mistakes whatsoever. The audition's in three days. Between preparing for it and completing my other schoolwork, I've barely had time to think of anything else. The soundtrack has lodged itself eternally in my brain and my nerves have been through the roof. 

My cell phone begins to vibrate, pausing the music. Chad reaches for it with a mischievous expression, but I'm quicker, and I grab it before he can answer for me. I've learned that lesson the hard way too many times. Shutting off the music and putting the phone to my ear, I answer. "Hello?"

"Hey there, Eliza." Excitement fills me at the sound of his tired voice. 

"Hi Bruce!" Out of the corner of my eye, I see Chad make a distasteful face at the mention of my brother. I whack him playfully on the head and wander into the kitchen to talk. My tap shoes click loudly on the tile floor. Leaning on the counter, I ask, "How's it going? It's been weeks!"

"It's all right. I just wanted to call and ask how your first week back went."

I tap my fingers on the granite countertop absentmindedly, glad that he remembered. "It was fine. I've been hanging out with Mandy and Chad, mostly. All of my classes are pretty good. There's this really cool mythology elective I'm taking. Oh, and I've been practicing for an audition in a few days!"

"Really? Mom always said you have a pretty voice. What are you auditioning for?" He asks. I think I hear him flipping through papers. Of course. Only focusing half of the conversation on me. It stinks that I'm used to that, but I try not to let it bother me. At least he called. Most of the time, I'm the one who reaches out.

"Our spring musical. We're doing Newsies. It's set in 1899 and it's about the Newsboy Strike, and I'm actually auditioning for a lead, which is, well, it's crazy nervewracking, but-"

 "Wait, hold on one second." I roll my eyes as he yells for someone on his end to leave something in his lab alone. "Sorry about that. What were you saying? Something about your musical?"

My heart sinks. "It's nothing," I mumble, refusing to linger on that moment. "How's your experiment coming along?"

"Could be worse, could be better. I'm still not exactly sure what it is I'm working on, which is tough. It's so weird working for the government. Ross says we're supposed to be preventing radiation poisoning, but vita radiation isn't strong enough for the serum."

One thing I do like about Bruce is that he's never talked down to me. Even though he's older by thirteen years, I never feel like he's condescending. He gives the facts to me straight. We make fun of each other but still respect the other's intellect. 

"You'll figure it out," I reassure him. My brilliant brother never quits until he reaches perfection. "Bet you could figure it out in half the time if I was there helping you."

He chuckles. "Get yourself a Ph.D., shortie, and then we'll talk." 

"Well, that's the plan. Don't get used to being the only Dr. Banner around here." I smile. "I miss you."

"I miss you too. The scientists I work with don't blast eighties music while I'm trying to work. I'm not used to being productive. Getting work done is new to me."

"Ha ha ha," I say dryly. "You shouldn't have introduced me to Def Leppard if you didn't want me to play their music really loudly, even when you're working from home."

"My bad, then," he jokes. "I've got to get going, Eliza."

"Oh, okay." These talks with my brother never last long enough. Especially since I live alone now, I miss him more than ever. "I'll talk to you later."

"Bye." 

He hangs up before I do, leaving me with an ache. I miss my family. I would give anything to go back to the times where we'd stay up late playing board games in our pajamas or watching movies we rented for the first time. That was back when I was younger, back before Bruce had any doctorates to his name. Simpler days. 

I let myself dwell on the memories, but not for long. It doesn't do me any good to get lost in the past. That's how I spent the weeks after my parents' deaths, and I was an emotional mess. I can't afford that anymore. I have college applications, auditions, exams, and my current relationships to deal with. Too much in the future depends on now, not years ago. 

"Chad, cue up the music!" I yell, drinking some water before tapping back into the living room. "I'm gonna nail this audition."

He grins. "That's right you are."