Back To You ?River Phoenix?

(For the sake of decency, pretend Wil is fifteen as well.)

"Tuck in your shirt."

"It is tucked in-"

"Do you want this role, Carlton?"

I groaned. "Yes, Gus."

"Alright," He says, mood swinging faster than I'd ever seen anyone mood swing before, "here's the scenes you'll be reading for your character. That is, if they even want you to audition for her. While you read, what's the name of the book or movie."

"Hold Me Closer." I flipped through the scenes. Most of them involved an extreme amount of emotion... and there was a kiss scene.

"Oh, that scene you're on now is extremely important. It's a key part in the movie and the book."

"The kissing scene?"

"Yes! If you want the role, you kiss whoever's up there with you. It'll guarantee you a spot at callbacks, even if you suck."

He pats my shoulder aggressively. But now I'm nervous. Nervous that I'm going to suck at this, or have to kiss some ugly stranger.

"Go get 'em, tiger."

So auditions progressed as they usually did. There were a ton of kids there, more than I could count. I was only in a room with other girls, and I had only read twice. They had placed me in a small group of girls, labeled 'Section B'. I was pretty sure that they were going to send us home.

Gus sent me a thumbs up from a line of parents against the back wall of the room.

After everyone had read a monologue that Mary, the character, said in the beginning of the book, we waited for ten minutes in complete silence as the casting people muttered to each other.

One man with a big beard stood up. "everyone in section A can go home. You did well, but this wasn't the role for you."

Some looked like they were about to cry, others shrugged it off and left with their guardians without even lifting a brow. The girls in Section B with me became antsy as the bearded man walked over.

"You all are potential Mary's, Lisa's and Karen's. I only need Carlton, Brown, Sink, Henderson, Trotta," he rattled off a couple more names and told the other ones to come back for callbacks the next day. "The rest of youTravel over to room B, we're mixing you up with the guys."

Gus ran up to me, other adults eyeing him, judging. I didn't care, though. I couldn't believe that I had gotten this far.

"Great job, kid!"

"Thanks I cant believe that I might get Mary!"

"Might." He muttered, adjusting his glasses. "But we've got fingers crossed for 'will'. Mary's the lead role and a high salary."

"I don't really care much about salary." I say as we walk down the hall, stopping in front of a room labeled 'B'. "I just want to have fun."

"You will. So, when you step into this room, the grueling bit starts. These kids are the best here in Chicago. This is the only place they're having auditions, too. So you need to nail this." He said through clenched teeth, staying silent as some people walked through the door. "You know what to do when that scene comes along."

I nod, and he grins his toothy grin and pats my shoulder. We walk in, and I scan the room. Suddenly, my eyes lock on a familiar face.

"Wil?"

"Lydia?"

He stood up immediately and ran towards me, grinning. And my only thought was,

Holy shit. Talk about glow up!