Before anyone knew it, it was time for the solo auditions. While everyone was out in the hallway after the group warm-ups, going over the song they had prepared, Tabitha was trying everything to calm down and not be so nervous. She tried breathing excersies, closing her eyes and counting to ten, you name it and she probably tried it. So far nothing worked and it waa aggrivating her.

"Hi, you're Tabitha, right?"

Maeve had been reassuring Tabitha everything was gonna be alright when she was interrupted. The two best friends looked over in the direction they heard the familiar voice from and when she saw it was the blonde-haired girl from lunch the smile on Tabitha's face fell for a quick second before she quickly forced it to stay.

"Yeah, I am." Tabitha exchange a confused glance with Maeve before they both look at the blonde girl. "Um, can I help you with anything?"

"Oh, I'm Lily." The blonde-haired girl introduces herself, sticking her hand out for Tabitha to shake.

Tabitha reluctantly shakes her hand, chuckling nervously at the tight grip Lily had. She didn't think she could be intimidated by someone because of their handshake but here she was. "You got a tight grip there."

Lily just smiles at her, pulling her hand away seconds later. "Thanks. By the way, your sets last semester for HSM were specular." She tilts her head to the side, raising her eyebrows. "You're making the sets for this play, right?"

"Um," Tabitha glances at Maeve with nervous eyes and Maeve sent her an encouraging smile. Part of Maeve wanted to step in and help Tabitha but she knew Tabitha needed to learn to stick up for herself and be more confident with herself. "No, actually. I'm-I'm not." She looks back at Lily with a small smile. "I'm trying out for the play."

"Oh?" Lily raises her eyebrows. "Well," She smiles. "Then I guess good luck with that stage fright of yours."

As Lily turns around to head back to the auditorium, Tabitha furrows her eyebrows. "How'd you know I have stage fright?"

Lily stops, turning to face her. She purses her lips together, shaking her head. "It was obvious."

Hearing that didn't help her feel any better. Tabitha slowly nodded, faking a smile and awkwardly waved goodbye at her while Lily turned back around and continued walking back to the auditorium.

Tabitha sighs heavily, turning to her best friend with a small smile. "Let's just get this over with."

"That's the spirit!" Maeve smiled slightly, wrapping her arm around Tabitha's shoulders as they walk back to the auditorium. 

First up was Ashlyn and Kourtney. Ashlyn explained her song '1-2-3' was about the power of friendship and how she originally wrote for one, but that felt wrong so she wrote it for three instead and it ended out that she and Kourtney will be singing it for two. 

From her place sitting between EJ and Maeve, Tabitha glances over at Lily with a glare when she heard her gasp and say, "Amateurs."

Maeve leans over to Tabitha, whispering to her, "Can I punch her? Please tell me I can punch her."

Tabitha looks at her, chuckling a bit and shakes her head. "As much as I kind of want to punch her too violence isn't how we solve things."

"Dang it." Maeve muttered, leaning back in the chair. 

"Wait!" Gina exclaimed, getting up to go on stage.

"Are you okay, honey?" Miss Jenn asked her.

Gina nods in response and looks at Ashlyn and Kourtney. "Is there still room for a third?"

Ashlyn smiles. "Do you know the song?"

Gina shrugs. "I was curious, so I spent the afternoon kinda studying it. It's brilliant."

Kourtney smiles, gesturing with a nod of her head for Gina to join them. "Get in line, Tercet."

Gina smiles and stands beside her. EJ got up and went to pick up a boombox, bringing it onto the stage. He sets it beside the desk Miss Jenn and Carlos sat at.

"Whenever your ready." Miss Jenn told the girls.

"Oh, just one thing. Uh, picture us all in sequined jumpsuits." A wide smile was on Ashlyn's lips as she speaks. "On a light-up dance floor. In an abandoned warehouse."

Carlos nods, looking at her with a smile. "Very Spice Girls meet Drag Race."

Ashlyn grins, pointing at him. "Exactly what I was going for when I wrote it." She puts her hands on her hips, glancing at her cousin. "Hit it!"

EJ pressed play on the phone that was connected to the boombox and the song began playing. The song was for sure a hit. Tabitha knew she wasn't the only one who enjoyed it and thought the girl's performance was amazing based on everyone's reactions after the girl's were done. She stood up along with everyone else, cheering for the three girls. She noticed how Big Red cheered louder than anyone else and she thought that it was sweet how he was cheering on his girlfriend. She also didn't fail to notice that Lily was the only one who wasn't cheering.

The next one who auditioned next was the boy who played Coach Bolton in the last play they did and he sang Ashlyn's song 'Wondering'. Maeve went after him, singing her original song she wrote called 'What It's Worth'. Towards the end of the song Tabitha got up and went out to the hallway. Her heartbeat was beating rapidly the closer Maeve got to finishing the song and Tabitha knew she was next which is why she was out in the hallway, freaking out.

Back in the auditorium, everyone cheered for Maeve when she was done with her song. After she sat down, Miss Jenn announced that Tabitha was up next. Miss Jenn looked around the auditorium when Tabitha didn't come up on stage after she called her name. "Anyone know where Tabitha went?"

EJ noticed that Tabitha had went out to the hallway a few moments ago, but he thought maybe she would be back by now. EJ got up from the seat and was already walking towards the door as he responds with, "I'll go find her."

Walking out into the hallway, EJ saw his girlfriend sitting on the floor with her back against the wall. Her knees were pulled up to her chest and her head was laid on her knees with her arms wrapped around her legs. He frowned and walked over to join her on the floor. 

"Tabs," EJ puts a hand on her shoulder, gently shaking her. Tabitha lifts her head and EJ grew sad at seeing the tears in her eyes. "Hey, don't cry, alright? When you cry I cry. You're gonna be amazing on that stage. You're amazing and super talented, you just need to realize that." 

Tabitha sits up straighter, still having her arms wrapped around her knees. She only let go to wipe the tears from her eyes. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and when he pulls her into his side, she rests her head on his shoulder while he continues. "I want you to realize that."

"I do realize it." Tabitha nods, unwrapping her arms from her legs and sits in a crisscrossed position. She fiddles with the black bracelet with the white bead she wore, biting her lower lip. "It's just...I want to get over my stage fright. So bad. I just didn't think it was gonna be so hard to do."

"You can do it, Tabs." EJ encourages her, rubbing her shoulder for comfort. "I believe in you. You just need to believe in yourself." 

She looked at him with a small smile when he said that. "I can do that."

EJ smiles at her and kisses her temple. "You ready to go back in there? If it'll help, I can stand on stage with you." EJ offered.

Tabitha smiles softly, her heart fluttering at his sweet offer. She shakes her head. "Thank you, but I have to do this by myself. Just knowing that you're in there with me will hopefully be enough help."

EJ nods and stands up, reaching a hand to her. She smiled at him, taking his hand, and he helped her up on her feet. They walk back into the auditorium and Tabitha walked over to the stage while EJ walked back to sit back down. 

"There you are." Miss Jenn smiles at the girl walking on stage. "Is everything okay, Tabitha?"

Tabitha nods, standing on the center of the stage. "Yeah...Yeah, I think so." 

She walks over to the piano, asking the person at the piano if they could switch places for her song. She sat down at the piano after the person got up and went to stand off to the side of the stage.

"Okay, I got this..." She mutters to herself, resting her shaky hands on the keys of the piano. She nods, biting her lower lip. "Yeah, t-totally got this."

She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath before she began playing. She kept her eyes on the piano, not daring to look at the audience when she starts singing. "Hey, hey. Uh-huh. Hey, hey. Uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah. I'm finally me."

(this is what the song 'i'm finally me' sounds like on just piano. putting this video here so you get the idea of what tabitha is playing. if you wanna listen to the song just look up 'i'm finally me by laura marano' on youtube)

https://youtu.be/yAt2MN-1LyE

"I never felt this before. I'm not afraid anymore. Been writing words on a page 'cause I got so much to say. Woah." Her voice sounded a bit shaky while singing because this is her first time singing on stage in front of people since the time she ran off stage.

The first verse was actually very true. She had a journal she always written her songs in and never let anyone touch or see what's inside. She has been writing songs since she was in middle school and her songwriting has improved so much since then.

The reason she had stage fright was because she got embarrassed in front of a lot of people. It was at an elementary school concert. The second she got on stage and saw everyone staring at her, her mind was completely blank. When she got some courage to sing the lyrics, she ended up forgetting the lyrics.

A kid started booing and others joined in on booing her. She ran off the stage after that embarrassing moment. That was the first and last time she gotten on a stage and performed in front of people until today.

"I'm getting ready to fly." She begins to sound less shaky the more she sings. "I know it's my time to shine. Don't care if I make mistakes. I'll do whatever it takes. 'cause I got so much to say. Woah."

"I'm finally me. Got everything you need. What you get is what you see. I, I, I'm finally me. And I've never felt so free. There's no one else that I'm trying to be. I'm finally me."

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed it seemed like most of the audience seemed to be enjoying her performance so far which helped calm her nerves down a tiny bit.

"Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah. I'm finally me."

She glances at the crowd as she plays, locking eyes with EJ, who sat beside Maeve. He looked at her with a proud smile and her lips curled upwards a bit. "I'm stepping out of my shell. Feels good just being myself."

She looks at Miss Jenn and Carlos, seeing they were both looking at her with encouraging smiles and her smile widens. "Not scared to show what's inside. I'll put it all on the line 'cause I got nothing to hide. Woah."

She looks back at the piano to make sure she's playing the right notes, slowly beginning to get more confident. "I'm finally me. Got everything I need. What you get is what you see. I, I, I'm finally me. And I've never felt so free. There's no one else that I'm trying to be. I'm finally me."

"Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah. I'm finally me. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah."

She slows down playing the piano when singing the next verse. "I've got quirks, but they work. I've learned to love those things, yeah. You don't have to be anyone else but you. So let me hear you sing."

She goes back to playing the same speed she was playing throughout the song. "I'm finally me. Got everything I need. What you get is what you see. I, I, I'm finally me. And I've never felt so free. There's no one else that I'm trying to be. I'm finally me."

"Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah. I'm finally me. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey, uh-huh. Hey, hey. Yeah. I'm finally me."

When she was done with the song, applause and cheers filled the audience. She blinks in surprise, not thinking she did that well. She glances out at the audience, smiling upon seeing everyone (besides Lily) were standing up. She grinned when she realized EJ and Maeve were cheering the loudest.

"Very well done, Tabitha." Miss Jenn smiled proudly at her as she went to stand on the center of the stage again.

Tabitha smiles. "Thank you, Miss Jenn."

She walked off the stage while Miss Jenn called out for the next person to audition which happens to be Ricky. She walks over to the right side of the seats and went to the second row, taking the empty seat beside EJ and Maeve. Maeve hugged on Tabitha's arm, sharing a smile with her. She looked at EJ with a smile and he smiled back at her. 

"I'm proud of you." EJ whispered to her which made her smile widen. She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. When she pulled away she was surprised to see a hint of blush on his face as he looked away with a shy smile on his lips. She giggles quietly. "You're so cute." She whispered and that comment only made the blush on his face more visible.

They look at the stage when Ricky finally walks on stage after a few moments. Tabitha raises her eyebrows when Ricky asked the band if they knew 'Bet On It' since he said he didn't have time to prepare a original song. Don't get her wrong, 'Bet On It' was a good song and Ricky sounded well singing it at the New Year's Eve party. But Ricky acted really nervous in the group warm-up and he still acted that way so she only hoped that he will do well.

Yeah, he did not do well. Tabitha felt bad for him because she knows that he has talent. She figured he was just nervous because Nini wasn't there. She didn't blame him. She knows that she would've been a lot more nervous if EJ wasn't there when she preformed.

"Um, I'm sorry, Miss Jenn," Big Red apologizing, walking onto stage. "Um, I-I know you didn't call me yet. But if it's alright with you, I know I'm the last person to go, and I'd kinda like to get it over with?"

Smiling, Miss Jenn nods. "Show me what you got, honey."

"Whoo!" Ashlyn cheered, clapping for her boyfriend. 

Miss Jenn chuckles and smiles encouragingly at Big Red. Big Red started tap dancing great then he fell whenever he went to do a spin. A look of concern forms on Tabitha's face as she gasps along with everyone else. But there was one person who laughed. Did you guess Lily? If you did you guessed right. 

Lily laughs, shaking her head. "Seriously?"

Maeve went to get up to most likely punch her but Tabitha pulled her back down. Big Red sat on the stage, facing the back wall. "Hey. Hey, hey..." His best friend rushes over to him, kneeling beside him. "You got this, dude." 

Ricky helps Big Red on his feet. "Breathe. Just breathe. Okay? I've got you." He turned Big Red to face the front and patted his chest before he walked off to the side. Tabitha smiled, thinking it was sweet he helped out Big Red.

Big Red takes a deep breath and starts tap dancing again. He lands on his feet when he does the spin twice. At the end of his performance, everyone cheered for him loudly with Lily obviously being the only one who didn't cheer. 

****

"Clear!" 

Everyone went over to where Carlos posted the cast list after he did it. Tabitha's eyes widen and a smile tugged on her lips when she saw she got a minor role as one of the Silly Girls. She thought she would've gotten like an extra or be in the ensemble. 

She grinned whenever she saw who got Belle and glanced over at Ashlyn who had a look of shock on her face. "Tabi, we're both in the play!" Maeve excitedly said as she went over to Tabitha with a grin on her face.

Tabitha nods, grinning back at her. "I know! It's exciting and nerve racking." 

"I got the role of Madam Wardrobe, AKA the Wardrobe!" Maeve squeals, jumping up and down with excitement. Tabitha chuckles at her best friend's actions. "She's like one of my favorite characters in the movie!" Maeve beamed.

"Congrats! I'm proud of you, Mae!" Tabitha commented, pulling her in for a hug. 

After the hug she excused herself from her and went over to her boyfriend. "EJ! You got Gaston! Congratulations!" EJ grinned at her, wrapping his arms around her in a hug and she hugged him back. She giggled when he spun her around for a few seconds before setting her back on the ground. 

"Thank you, Tabitha." EJ smiles at her. "And I told you that you could do it! You killed it on stage." He smiles proudly at her. "You deserved getting that minor role. Even though it's just a minor role it's a big step for you and I'm so proud of you." 

They pull apart from each other and Tabitha intertwined her hand with his, smiling widely at him. "Thank you, EJ."

****

To celebrate, the drama club members went to Salt Lake Slices (Big Red's family's restaurant). Tabitha was sitting beside her boyfriend and Ricky, sitting across from Maeve who sat beside Kourtney and Ashlyn. The other booth behind them was filled by Big Red and Gina and across from them were Carlos and Seb.

Ricky had gotten up and went off to the side, facetiming Nini, letting her know he has gotten the lead of the Beast. Tabitha wasn't exactly for sure how Ricky got the male lead, but she understood that it was most likely because Miss Jenn already knew Ricky is talented and would be a great Beast. 

"Is that Nini?" Kourtney asked.

Ricky turns his phone to everyone so Nini could see them. Everyone excitedly greeted her. Nini smiles. "You guys, hi!"

Big Red's mom walks over, carrying two trays of pizza. "Pizza tonight for the world's best kiddos." Ashlyn gets up, getting one of the trays as Big Red's mom sets the other tray down at the booth Big Red, Carlos, Gina, and Seb are at. "Don't forget to tip your waitress."

Big Red chuckles. "Mom!" 

His mom points at him. "You love me, and you know it."

Kourtney got up and talked to Nini as Ricky sat down. After the two best friend's short conversation was done Ricky's phone ended up being passed around to everyone who told Nini what role they got. Kourtney sat back down while everyone got their slices of pizza. When Tabitha got Ricky's phone, she waves at Nini with a smile on her face. "Hi, Nini!"

Nini grins at her. "Tabitha, hi! You got a role in the play! Congrats!"

"Thank you, Neen!" Tabitha grins. "I just can't believe I actually auditioned without fainting." 

"I believe it." Nini nods. "You were born to be on stage, Tabi. I'm proud of you for starting to overcome your stage fright."

Tabitha smiles at the brunette-haired girl. "Thank you, Nini. That means a lot to me."

Nini smiles back at her and Tabitha passed Ricky's phone over to Ashlyn when the red-haired girl reached for it. "Nini! What's going on at your big fancy boarding school right now? Make us jealous!"

"Oh, um, nothing nearly as exciting as what's going on with you!" Nini responds. "Congrats, Ash! Of course, you get Belle."

Ashlyn smiles. "Oh, actually, there was this one girl who auditioned, who kind of looked like a literal Disney princess."

Maeve looks at Tabitha, rolling her eyes while muttering to her, "More like a evil villain in disguise."  Tabitha giggled a bit and shook her head at her best friend.

"I think I saw a bird land on her finger while she was singing." Gina chimed in and everyone laughed at her comment.

"Wait," EJ furrows his eyebrows, pointing at his cousin. "If I'm Gaston, I just realized that you and I have..."

While giving Ricky's phone back to him, Ashlyn points at EJ. "Okay, don't. Choosing not to think about it."

EJ nods and turns to his girlfriend, looking at her with a smirk. "And you have to fawn over me since you're one of the Silly Girls." 

Tabitha rolls her eyes at him, feeling her face heat up. "Ugh, yeah, I know." She pretended to sound disgusted, shaking her head. "It's awful, isn't it?" 

EJ pretended to look hurt, putting a hand over his heart. Tabitha laughs a bit. "You know I'm kidding." Butterflies formed in her stomach when he wrapped an arm around her shoulders as he said, "Yeah, I know." She couldn't help the smile that formed on her lips when he kissed her cheek.

"Before you get dessert, mom get's a picture." Big Red's mom came back over with a tray of cupcakes this time. And on the cupcakes were figurines of the characters from 'Beauty and the Beast'. She set the tray down on the table. "That's the rule."

"Mom!" Big Red protested.

She points at him. "That's the rule." She stepped back, getting her phone ready to take a picture as everyone squeezed into frame. Ricky had even turned his phone around so that Nini could be in the picture as well. "Got you all, and...It's cute!"

Ricky said goodbye to Nini as Seb gotten up and delivered everyone's cupcakes. Tabitha picked up her cupcake after she got it, smiling at the Silly Girl figurine on it. Getting a role in a play was a big step for her to overcome her stage fright. Even though it's a small role, it still means a lot to her. She knows she's ready and might actually be able to overcome her stage fright. It's just gonna take baby steps to get there.

A/N i made sure this was longer than the recent one which is kinda short, i apologize for that. i thought 'i'm finally me' sung by laura marano was a perfect song for tabitha 'cause it really is her time to shine & she's starting to slowly overcome her stage fright. she wants to overcome it because she loves singing & wants to maybe release some songs of her own. she always wanted to be a professional singer but her stage fright prevented her from making her dream come true & now with the help of her loving boyfrined ej & her besties she might overcome her stage fright :) also ugh, i love nelswell so much, they have my heart !