Ramin took another deep breath and planted his feet down on the stage. He closed his eyes, and Keeping great posture, he started to sing,

"On the first day that we met, I saw you dance without a net." The auditorium disappeared, and now the gym of his old school formed around him.

"You took me through the steps, I was willing to try with you." He envisioned Mandy in front of him, holding out her hand to dance like they had a long time ago.

"I found silence in the loudest part

Cause you're the one that took my heart." Her friends came up to them and they talked and danced for majority of the evening.

"And we talked until the sun came up

And in the morning light, I found love." They we're now on his old couch, talking that night. He took off his tie and jacket, but still in his outfit. They talked all night until they both fell asleep on the couch together.

"And we flew away

Being pulled away." He remembered the morning when he told her he was leaving.

"Didn't know where we were going, but our hands just held on tight." He remembered yelling at his parents, not wanting to go, watching Mandy cry as he left her.

"And our dreams are like balloons

Oh you loose them far too soon." He has only dated her for a couple of years, he felt like it wasn't enough.

"We tried everything we know

Before letting the last one go." He remembered putting the bracelet on her in remembrance.

"What was then may not be now." Now, he was in Denver with Sierra and Hadley.

"I still lay my whole life down

I will wear this broken crown

And shoulder all the faults." Denver transferred back to Canada where he had a fight with Mandy because he forgot about her birthday and let her stranded at home. They had multiple fights throughout their relationship.

"But make no mistake my love was clear

Never doubt the way I feel

I know I'm far from a perfect man, but I really tried when it all began." Fight after fight, they'd end them with hugging and kissing each other once they were done.

"And we flew away

Being pulled away

Didn't know where we were going, but our hands just held on tight

And our dreams are like balloons

Oh you loose them far too soon

We tried everything we know

Before letting the last one go." His notes soared through the auditorium. When he sang the chorus, he wished he could see Mandy once again to just said how sorry he was. Not just for leaving her, but for falling in love with someone else. Their love was a balloon that simply floated away.

"We watched them float away

Carrying our yesterdays

But some things never fade." The memories of her stuck in his mind finally. Even through he didn't feel the love for her anymore, he would always remember her.

"And we flew away

Being pulled away

Didn't know where we were going." He knew where we was going this time. Home. His home in Denver with Hadley and Sierra.

"And we flew away

Being pulled away

Didn't know where we were going, but our hands just held on tight

And our dreams are like balloons

Oh you loose them far too soon

We tried everything we know

Yeah, we tried everything we know

Before letting the last one go." The final notes were finished. Sierra, Hadley, and the director were all jaw dropped. Hadley and Sierra gave him a thumbs up of approval and the director took notes.

"Thank you very much you three, I will hopefully post the results by this weekend." She stated as they walked off.

Ramin never felt as much happiness as he did in that moment. Performing that song filled him with so many emotions, but also anxiety.

Hadley put his arm around Ramin, "You know, Canadian Boy? I feel like you landed yourself a pretty great part back there." He said, laughing, "I bet you might get The Phantom himself."

He shook his head, "I didn't do that great!" He argued, laughing at them, "I feel like Sierra will get Christine though!"

Sierra smiled and gave a shrug in response to Ramin's comment, "But you did do great Ramin. When did you make that song?"

"Oh, last night. That's why I slept in this morning. I spent all night making it." He replied, rubbing his eyes and yawning, "And I'm still tired."

She sighed and ruffled his hair, "Well, it sounded great!! You'll have to explain the background history as to why you wrote it."

They all laughed and got into Sierra's car to go to Ramin's. On the way there, they danced and sang to multiple broadway theatre songs. They jammed out and got Panera Bread on the way there. Once they got to his house, they chowed down and talked about musical theatre until Hadley said he had a date with Rosaline.

When Sierra looked at Hadley, she shook her head, "This will not do." She said simply, "Ramin. Get him some better clothes."

Ramin was already on his way. He returned with a suit and comb, Hairspray under one arm. Together, Sierra and Ramin worked to make Hadley look presentable and sent him on his way, "Thank you!! I'll come back when we're done!" Hadley yelled as he walked out.

"Don't worry about it, go get her champ!" Sierra yelled back at him. She laughed and looked back at Ramin, "I feel like a proud mother. We can be like lesbian mothers!"

He gave her a playful death glare, but laughed, "I guess you're right, the father wouldn't really be happy with their son going on a date."

They say in silence for almost a minute until Sierra broke the silence, "I'm so nervous to find out who got in the show. I should've turned in a form to be in crew in case I didn't make a role." She ranted, crossing her arms.

Ramin sighed and gave her a hug, "You'll make it in, don't worry." He told her reassuringly.

Suddenly, Ramin got a notification on his phone. An email from their director.

'Mr. Karimloo,

Thank you very much for auditioning for the musical this evening. I would like both you and Mr. Fraser, I assume you know him well, to come back in tomorrow after school for callbacks for the part of Raoul. You will both be given the script and asked to read off and sing some lines from the production.

I apologize if this conflicts with anything either of you have after school, but it is necessary for the cast list to be published as soon as Monday. Thank you once again.

Best regards,

Ms. Nancy.'

Ramin read the letter through almost seventeen times. Callbacks for Raoul. They could've just asked him to be Gustave Daae, the dead violinist father Of Christine, and he would've had the same feeling. But going against Hadley made him upset. If one of them got the role, and the other didn't, they'd be sure to have a broken friendship. His heart sank and Sierra noticed this and took his phone.

She read through it and looked shocked as well, "B-but you'd be perfect for the Phantom!" She argued loudly, "This director does not know what she's talking about."

He sighed and shook his head, "I won't argue with the director." He said simply, "I'll go to callbacks and see how it goes." Raoul was a part that he thought he would've gotten anyway. It wouldn't be a big deal.

That night, Ramin and Sierra watched countless movies and ate a lot of snacks. Ramin enjoyed a bag of sour patch kids and skittle muffins.

That next day, they were still on his couch. Sierra woke up and realized it was five in the morning. She went back home and got ready, making them back healthy smoothies for breakfast. Soon enough, she went back to his house and woke him up, "Ramin." She said softly, shaking him, "Time to get up for school."

"Ugh.. five more minutes mom.." he replied, groaning and pulling a blanket over him.

She pulled the blanket off of him and laughed, "Come on, Ramin. It's time to go to school."

He got up and noticed it was Sierra, who was holding up two travel cups of smoothies. She handed one to him and ruffled his hair, "Thanks for this. I'll be back down soon." Ramin said and ran upstairs.

Ramin took a quick shower, did his hair, got dressed, drank the smoothie, brushed his teeth, and ran back down stairs. Little did he know, he still had thirty minutes left before they had to go to school.

They spent the morning together before leaving for school. Once they got there, they met up with Hadley and Rosaline.

"How was the date?" Sierra asked them, wiggling her eyebrows, "Did Hadley woo you?"

Rosaline smiled, "He took me out to dinner. He was handsomely dressed up for someone who always looks like he dresses only a couple of minutes before he walks out the door."

Hadley playfully scoffed before looking at Ramin, "Callbacks for the same role, huh? Good luck man." They both shook hands and smiled, "No hard feelings when I get the role."

School was the same as it always was. After school, it was time for callbacks and Sierra and Rosaline waited outside the auditorium for the two boys.

"I'm glad you're both here." Ms. Nancy said when they both entered, "There are small portions of the script down there. Since we don't have a Christine, I would like both of you to sing this small portion of this script for me."

They both looked at it, it was the part where Raoul talks about their play to catch the Phantom in their trap.

"Ramin." Ms. Nancy continued, "I would like you to start."

Ramin stood there, not excited about these callbacks, "We have all been blind, and yet the answer is staring us in the face." He sang sternly, "This could be the chance to ensnare our clever friend." He stopped for the manager's response, "We make certain they're armed. The curtain falls. His reign will end!" He sang loudly.

It was good without a doubt. However, everyone in that auditorium knew that he was far too aggressive for the part of Raoul. His voice simply did not fit.

Now, it was Hadley's turn. He sang the exact same, but with more toughness instead of loudness. It was obvious who had gotten the part, Hadley. They left the auditorium and Ramin congratulated his friend.

"Thank you, Thank you!" He said, bowing, "But that doesn't mean you won't get a part Ramin."

Of course, he knew that. He could be an understudy for all he knew. In all, he knew the cast list would be posted in three days time. Now, all he had to do was wait.