Not Following The Script

Chapter 1: Audition

Chapter 1

I learnt from a young age that acting wasn’t just a hobby or a job, but a life skill. I was around 6 when my mother came home in a drunken rage, screaming and cursing about things I didn’t understand at that age. The nanny tried to rush me to my room away from the monster my well made up mother had became. Suddenly my mother turned on me, screaming malicious slurred words. I ran to my room a sobbing mess, scared of my own mother. The next day the nanny finally forced me out of the room and out to the foyer, where both of my parents were dressed to perfection. My mother looked like she did any other day, looking as pretty princess in one of her flowing dresses. Bending down to eye level with me, her pale pink lips curved into a smile.

“Don’t you look pretty,” she said, smoothing her hands down my pink puffy dress. Planting a kiss on my forehead, she stood up with my hands still in hers. “Like a princess.” She finished, making me giggle with glee. The incident totally slipped my mind until a few years later when she had another episode. It’s only recently I found out it was over my father cheating on her. I also found out my mother is a fantastic actress for putting up such a perfect facade to the outside world.

Standing to the side of the stage, I shook with nerves and excitement as I watched the girl and boy on stage finish up they’re lines. I had been practising for this role ever since they released the script for auditions, trying to achieve perfection. The play this year was Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, and I was auditioning for the main role of Juliet. The head of the drama department, Mrs. Blake, was ecstatic about it, she had been planning it for ages. It was all she ever talked about in drama. Personally, I thought it was quite over done and over rated but our teacher had her eyes set on “the greatest love story of all time”. She disregarded all the complaints and suggestions from the student body, nothing could change her mind.

“Next,” my heart was pounding in my chest, as if trying to escape. I met with Romeo in the middle, and I didn’t think it was possible for my heart to beat any faster then it was. I was either going to vomit on the guys shoes or go into cardiac arrest.

Instead I just froze gaping at the beautiful boy in front of me. I had never seen him before, I would of remembered if I had. He was the type of boy girls talked about and giggled over, always trying to get attention from. Black strands of hair fell in his crystal blue eyes, his teeth sunk nervously into his chapped lip as he turned towards the judges. His clothes were wrinkled and a bit tight, clinging to his lean frame. If I was a single lady I would totally jump him. Turning towards the judges myself, finally tearing my gaze from the boy I was shamelessly ogling, I was plastered a fake smile on my face. 

“Names?” Mrs Blake asked in a monotone voice, staring us down. 

“Uh, Lolita Garner”

“Romeo Garrison,” I instantly squashed the urge to choke on air. The dudes name is Romeo? It was in this moment I believed there was a possibility that I may be dreaming. Or suffering from hallucinations. I honestly had to mentally stop myself from saying something like “Hey Romeo, are you looking for Juliet? Because I’m her.” No I internally scolded myself Your a taken woman, you have an amazing caring, hot boyfriend. Stop fantasising about the one beside you! Unfortunately, I was born a rebel and never took the advice given. Especially not from myself. 

Mrs Blake gave a nod for us to begin, totally oblivious to my internal argument. Turning, I looked into Romeo’s eyes as he began his lines. His eyes sparkled like the ocean on a sunny day, his lips curled into a half smile. I felt slightly breathless looking into those ocean blue eyes, maybe this is how Juliet felt being with Romeo.