Initiation (22 page)

Lauren: I will.
I put away my phone, happy that I'd talked to my sister
before my audition. Today hadn't been the best day, and sharing something with Becca made me feel good.

I paused in front of a giant wooden door with a sign taped to it.

GLEE CLUB AUDITIONS. PLEASE ENTER QUIETLY.

I eased open the heavy door and blinked to adjust to the different lighting. Beside me, a girl sitting at a banquet table waved me over. She was tiny and sweet-looking, with dimples and blond spiral curls, which were pushed back with a skinny gold plastic headband with tiny teeth that combed the hair away from her heart-shaped face.

“Hi, I'm Melissa Peeples,” she said. “Are you trying out for glee club?”

“Yeah. Hi—I'm Lauren,” I said, returning her infectious smile.

“Welcome, Lauren! I'm the glee club cocaptain! We're always excited to see new people audition. Just fill out this info sheet and pass it back to me when you're done.”

“Thanks.”

I took the paper and pen that Melissa gave me and filled out the form.

Name: Lauren Towers

Grade: 7

Previous experience: 1 year in glee club at Yates Preparatory, frequent shower singer

Song choice: “Seasons of Love” from
Rent

I handed the paper back to Melissa and she scanned it. “Thanks! And
no way
!
Rent
is only like the best musical
ever
! Insanely good audition piece.”

“Thanks!” I said. I wondered if Melissa was also captain of the cheer squad. She might have been the nicest, most bubbly person I'd ever met. “It's my favorite song, too.”

“You came at the
perfect
time. If you want to head downstage, I'll give your info to Mr. Harrison, our glee club advisor. You can audition now!”

Melissa disappeared, and I stood for a minute, rolling my shoulders back, tilting my head up high, and reminding myself to breathe before walking down the aisle.

The auditorium and spotlit stage felt much bigger than when I'd been here for Headmistress Drake's first-day assembly. I'd wanted more time to prep, but maybe this would help me beat stage fright.

My phone buzzed in my back pocket. I pulled it out, glad it had done that now and
not
while I was onstage! I set it to silent and read the new BBM.

Khloe: BREAK A LEG!!

I smiled at my roomie's thoughtfulness and
freakishly
good timing. I put my phone in the back pocket of my skinny jeans and climbed the small set of stairs to the stage.

An
X
was marked with black tape on the floor. I walked to my mark. Behind me, a pianist sat at a grand piano. I walked over to tell him the song I'd chosen, and he smiled at me. “I know it well,” he assured me. He smiled again, and then I walked back to my spot.

The lights changed, dimming around me so I wasn't blinded, but I still had to hold my hand over my forehead like a visor to see Mr. Harrison. He was young, like Ms. Snow, with thinning light brown hair.

“Hello, Lauren,” he called. “My name is Mr. Harrison. I am the faculty advisor for Canterwood's glee club, Vocal Harmony.”

“Hello,” I replied.

“And you will be performing ‘Seasons of Love'?”

“Correct.” I smiled.

“Wonderful,” he said with a warm smile. “Please begin when you're ready.”

I nodded. My heart rate sped up and I felt an adrenaline rush. But I kept my breathing in control and waited for my cue. While I sang the lyrics to a song about
endless, timeless love, I thought about my family—Becca, especially—and Whisper. At the song's end, I blinked away tears and smiled at Mr. Harrison. “Thank you,” I said.

“Lauren,” he said, “the pleasure was mine. That was an excellent sound choice for your voice. The meaning of the song seemed to resonate with you. You have a lovely voice.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Welcome to Vocal Harmony!” Mr. Harrison said, grinning. “Congratulations!”

“YES!” came a shout from the balcony. Mr. Harrison turned around to look.

I put my hand over my forehead and squinted to see. Had there been other Vocal Harmony people listening in?

“You rock, LT!” There was a flash of long blond hair, and then she was gone.

Khloe.

“Friend of yours?” Mr. Harrison asked, clearly amused.

“Um, perhaps an
ex-
friend,” I joked. I couldn't decide whether to kill her or hug her.

“I'll see you next week on Wednesday for rehearsal,” he said. “And your cheering squad”—he raised his voice— “should be very proud of her talented
ex
-friend.”

I laughed, thanked him again, and rushed offstage.

Khloe and I reached the center of the lobby at the same time. She was already dressed for riding in navy breeches, boots, and a T-shirt.

“Yaaay!” Khloe squealed. “Lauren! I'm so proud of my ‘ex-friend.' ” She laughed.

“I can't believe it!” I hugged her, then shoved her. “How long were you up there?”

“Long enough to know that Melissa needs some
major
cheering up. She seriously seems depressed!”

Even I had to laugh at that one.

Khloe approached a girl and boy—definitely high school students—who were headed into the theater.

“OMG! Khloe!” But it was too late. I put my hand over my eyes, spreading my fingers just enough to see a tiny bit.

“My roomie, Lauren.” She pointed at me, and I felt my face go watermelon pink. “She just got into glee club!
And
she rides horses!
And
speaks French!
And?
Boys
luuurve
her!”

My watermelon face turned into a tomato.

“I'm not kidding,” she told them, laughing. “Boy
magnet
. We're going to celebrate! By the way, my name is Khloe Kinsella, and you have just been given a PSA about my new roommate. And,” she said, with a serious and sincere expression, “she is my new best friend.”

“Congratulations,” the older girl said. “Enjoy your celebration with your new BFF.” She winked at me, heading inside. “And nice to meet you, Khloe Kinsella!” she shouted.

“Khlo!” I said, laughing harder and harder. “They were probably
sophomores
!”

She rolled her eyes. “Please. I'm so happy for you that I would have said the same to the headmistress herself.”

I looked at her, an eyebrow arched.

“Okay,” Khloe said, rolling her eyes playfully. “Maybe not the
headmistress
.”

“I have to text my sister!” I said. “She'll be so excited that I got into glee!”

I sent Becca a BBM.
Made it!!!
J
First glee club practice is nxt Weds!

Becca, really the best sister ever, must have been waiting by her phone.
KNEW IT! YAY! So proud of u, LaurBell. Do u want 2 tell Mom & Dad?

Lauren: Mom & Dad. Tell them. Riding lesson. Tell them I'll call ltr.

Becca: Will do. OK. Have a good lesson
JJ
Mom & Dad will b so xcited!

I locked my phone and my eyes misted. “I wish you could meet Becca.”

Khloe smiled. “If she comes to Family Day, we have to meet. Know about Family Day?”

We turned down the sidewalk. “No,” I said. “What is it?” A slight breeze picked up. The scent of horses, hay, and freshly cut grass wafted through the air.

“It's late in the fall,” Khloe said. “Parents, siblings, grandparents, et cetera, come visit. It's usually the first Friday of November. The family gets to shadow the student. Please note: The food in the caf gets mysteriously better the very week of Family Day. Coincidence? I think not.”

Khloe and I laughed.

“Last year,” Khloe said, “I was so excited to see my mom and dad. They got here, met my roommate, and came to science class with me. Then my lab partner passed me a note. Dad saw the note and ‘whispered' to me about it. Side note? My father damaged his hearing when he was young and at war. Roadside bomb, thank God no one got hurt . . . well, except his eardrums. So now he's superloud about everything.”

“What did he say?” I asked.

“Nothing. He
yelled
, ‘You like this boy? He passes you notes in class?'”

My mouth dropped open.

Khloe continued, “So, after the whole class finished
laughing
hysterically
—oh, and did I mention that
yes
, I was crushing on him?”

“Oh, Khlo . . . ,” I said, “What'd you do? Who was it?”

“Well, I stood up, unfolded the note, and said, ‘Hi, everyone. I'm about to read something my father wants to hear.”

“You didn't!”

“Sure did,” she said. “So I read it. ‘KK: Do you have any extra paper? I ran out.' Really romantic, huh, Dad?”

“No!” I said, giggling.

“I got sent to the headmistress's office. And when I got there and explained what had happened word for word? She stared at me for thirty whole seconds before laughing like a hyena for five then ten minutes. So, see? No matter how much you love your family . . .”

“Be prepared for disaster on Family Day.”

Khloe nodded.

“Oh, Khlo. Who,” I asked my new BFF, “was the guy?”

Khloe
blushed
. She covered her face with both hands. “Drew Adams.”

BACK IN MY ROOM I ERASED AN ANSWER ON
my multiple-choice English take-home quiz for the sixth time. I rubbed so hard, a hole appeared in the paper.

“Ugh,” I groaned, tossing my pencil down and massaging my scalp. (Dad always did it soo well—mine was puny compared to the awesome scalp massages he gave me. Mom said it's one of the reasons she married him.)

Khloe played with the edges of her script. “Have you thought about seeing the guidance counselor?”

“Why would I do that?” I asked.

“You're so stressed over classes, and you have every right to be—you're taking a
lot
of advanced ones. I know I keep bringing it up, but have you thought about dropping any?”

“Not once,” I said. “I expected classes to be this hard! It's only the first week. Soon I'll figure out how to balance everything.”

“It
is
the first week,” Khloe said. “And you've been up all night once, and it seems like you will be again tonight. I wish you'd have time to enjoy Canterwood a little, too.”

“I am. I just made glee club! And the riding team is great. I promise, if I still feel overwhelmed in a week or two, I'll go talk to Ms. Utz.”

Khloe smiled. “Good.” She went back to reading her script.

When my phone buzzed on my desk, I answered instantly.

“Bri!”

“Laur!”

I wanted to hug her through the phone.

“Why does your phone sound all echoey?” I asked.

She laughed. “You caught me. I just finished homework and I'm putting the finishing touches on my new clean room.”

Brielle and I had been two of a kind—both neat freaks and overachievers. I felt like I was there in her room. I could smell the vanilla cupcake candles she always burned. I imagined lying on her bed, our stomachs down, our feet
wrapped behind us as we watched
Sin City Celebutantes
.

“I miss you so much,” Bri said. “I'm so glad we're finally on the phone.”

“Me too. And it's only been a couple of days!”

“How's everything?” Bri asked. “You sound . . .
meh
.”

“Meh” was the word we'd all come up with at Union to describe a bad mood when we didn't even know where it came from.

And Brielle was right—I felt “meh.”

“Well,” I finally said, “I had a bad riding lesson today.”