Just to be safe, Justin got into the auditorium twenty minutes early, slightly disappointed the list was not posted. He sits in the same seat as yesterday and watches as other cast members came in and took a seat, all politely saying hellos to each other. 'Man, you can feel the tension in this room this morning.' He spots Rebecca coming into the auditorium and realizes that she was actually pretty. 'Too bad she has such a bad attitude.' She takes a seat and settles in, taking a notebook out of her bag and a pen. Soon after, Justin spots David taking a seat next to her and sees her give him a big smile hello. 'Dude, why are you even watching those two?' Justin wonders just as the director comes in.

"Good morning everyone! I am glad to see that everyone is here on time. I'm impressed. Perhaps morning rehearsals are better for all of you," the director says as he hands over a stack of papers to his assistant. "What you are each getting right now is a cast list. It was tough but I think I've matched people up appropriately to their different parts. There are thirty of you and only thirteen can be leads. Many of you are actually understudies but don't let that get you down. I've done productions where the leads have crashed and burned and the understudies got to step into the light. Do your best and I'm sure this will be a great production. I'll let you look it over for a few minutes."

Justin gets the piece of paper from the assistant and feels his heart plummet to the ground. 'Eddie? He's definitely not the lead. I should have known better. Oh well, at least I am understudy to Sky.' Justin scans the list and notes that David is not Sky as he had expected. David's name appeared next to Harry Bright. Justin could not help but smile that the pair from last night was not matched together. Before he could look any further the director calls for order.

"Now that all of you know your parts, I would like to start running through lines as your characters. Those of you that are ensemble should probably stay so you get to know your part as your understudies. We will get into one of the songs after lunch. When I call your name, please come up and take a seat. I just want to remind everyone that rehearsals are key because we have a shorter amount of time than usual to rehearse. Please put 110% into this people." He looks down at his list and clears his throat. "First, I would like Rebecca to come up. She will be our Sophie. Next…" He continues down the list until everyone is seated.

'Thank God he didn't call me Justine!' Justin thinks as he finds himself seated across from Rebecca. 'I should have known she would get the lead. Oh well. At least I'm not her fiancé!'

The group begins the read through, getting comments from the director here and there about the voices that should be used. Half way through the read through the actors began to get up and interact with one another. By the end, the director seemed impressed by the progress they had made.

"Good job everyone. I had lunch ordered in for everyone so we could get to know each other better. After lunch, I want to work on some key scenes while the choreographer works with everyone else in the studio. That'll be in an hour so please, enjoy lunch!"

Everyone digs in and Justin finds himself sitting by himself. He looks around and realizes that the ensemble cast members have gathered together to talk around one table while the leads were sitting at another. 'Figures. Guess it's just me and myself.'

Just then, he feels a hand on his shoulder. "Justin, why don't you join us?" He smiles up at Sara, the woman who was playing Sophie's mother. "I'm sure everyone else would like to get to know you better."

Justin looks up and meets Rebecca's glance his way. 'Not everyone,' he thinks but smiles at Sara. "I would love to. Thanks."

The pair walk to the table and Justin is instantly involved in a discussion about what projects each actor has done in the past. When it came to his turn, Justin didn't know what to say but the truth.

"Well, I've done the Mickey Mouse Club in my younger days and little talent things here and there but my latest work has been as a member of a singing group called 'NSync," he says, thankful no one outright laughed.

"So this is your first musical then?" Seth, the guy who was cast as Sky asks.

"Yup. It's a completely new feel for me."

"So you were a boy band member huh?" David asks.

"Yes. I don't like calling ourselves that but I guess most of the media and public did. I gained a lot of experience during those years."

"I'm sure you did."

"What's that supposed to mean David?"

"Absolutely nothing."

"Guys, come on, we're going to be working together for at least a few months. Don't start this off on the wrong foot," Rebecca says, wanting to end the little face off as soon as it started.

"I guess you're right," David says as Justin nods his silent agreement. Their lunch continues without any other glitches, to Justin's relief. 'Maybe Rebecca isn't as bad as I thought she was,' Justin reflects, realizing that Rebecca could have just left the argument to get ugly before interrupting. 'There's a thought!'

They have a few minutes before rehearsal starts again so Justin slips out of the building to try giving his buddies a call again. He gets only voicemails and sighs and walks back in. 'Maybe I should try to make amends with Rebecca. She's right, we will be together for at least a few months.'

Justin makes up his mind and makes his way over to her.

"Joseph, you are so crazy! So things are going great? I'm glad to hear that. I do miss you sweetie. No one here can make me laugh the way you do. Yeah, everything is going well with everyone. It's much more pleasant than I thought it would be. Hey, I have to go. I'll talk to you soon, okay? Bye!" Rebecca says, ending her cell phone conversation.

"Rebecca?" Justin asks, kind of cautiously approaching her.

"Hey Justin. What's up?" Rebecca says, a look of surprise on her face.

"I just wanted to say thanks for being the mature one at lunch. I know we started off on the wrong foot and I just wanted to be the first to try to make amends for the wrong start."

Rebecca smiles. "That's sweet Justin. I'm sorry too. I guess we really did start off on the wrong foot. I look forward to hearing you sing. I didn't realize you belonged to 'NSync. That's cool."

"Not a fan huh?"

"No offense!"

Justin laughs. "None taken. So who were you talking to?"

"Joseph? Oh, he's a special guy in my life. Kind of kept me at this musical business when I wanted to give up."

"That's cool. Hey, I think we're regrouping. Ready to be the leading lady?"

"Never!" Rebecca says with a laugh, hoping it hid her nervousness.

Instantly, the director pulls Seth and Rebecca on the stage, along with Sara, David, and the other actors involved in the scene. Justin watches from the audience as the rehearsal continues, keeping a close eye on Rebecca. 'She looks and acts as she's supposed to but something is missing. What is it?' As Rebecca and Seth try their first shot at kissing, Justin feels an annoying sense of jealousy. 'Where is that coming from?' he wonders, noting that he has no ties with the girl. In fact, he's hated her up until a few hours ago.

Soon, the director calls him up and they get a rough idea of what the first part of the show would be like. The director was demanding but fair. Justin felt, when he left at the end of the night that this musical was going to be a challenge but a success in the long run. He even was beginning to like every aspect of the show from the cast members to the plot to how it was looking. 'I wonder if I should call JC to hang out. Oh, he's still out of town. I should probably get rest anyway. I have a feeling that tomorrow's rehearsal will be just as grueling and tiring as tonight.'

Justin finds his keys in his pocket and drives off into the night.

"Rebecca, do you need a lift home?" Sara offers, noticing Rebecca standing at the curb in front of the theater.

"No, I'll be okay. My friend is supposed to swing by because she wants to do ice cream so I can tell her all about the first rehearsal. Thank you for the offer though," Rebecca replies, giving Sara a warm smile.

"You know, you are a lot more mature than I thought you would be. You're also more talented."

"What are you talking about Sara?"

"The way you handled the two boys in there. You know that they both really like you."

Rebecca laughs. "Now I know you are kidding. Justin has been a real creep with me for a while up until tonight and David is just a friend."

Sara smiles knowingly. "Young love is so fun to watch now that I don't have to experience it! I think you'll find out what I'm saying is the truth soon enough. I'm actually looking forward to these next two months. I also look forward to watching you blossom."

"Thanks Sara. I look forward to working with you as well. You seem much more talented than I am for sure!"

"I've had more experience. Listen, if you ever need help or just someone to talk to, let me know. I know I only play your mother but I'd love to be a friend to you."

"I'd like that. Oh, that's my friend coming right now. See you tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow morning it is! Have a good night Rebecca," Sara says, watching as Rebecca got into the car.

"You too Sara. Night," she says, closing the door and waving.

Mary takes off down the street before asking, "Who was that woman you were talking to?"

"She plays my mother on the show."

"Your mother? Oh my God! You got the lead!" Mary exclaims, letting the wheel turn a little too much, causing the car to swerve into the other lane. "Why didn't you tell me brat?"

Rebecca laughs. "I wanted to surprise you but I didn't want to get us killed in the process!"

"You are such a brat! I was dying all day to find out!"

"Well now you know."

"So who's your leading man?"

"This guy named Seth. He's pretty good."

"Is he cute? Have you kissed him yet? What happened to that creep?"

Rebecca smiles at her friend's excitement. "Slow down chica! Seth is good looking and he does kiss nicely. Justin, as you know as the creep, got cast as the friend to my character's fiancé. I don't know how he feels about that but he is handling it well. He may not be such a creep after all."

The car swerves again. "WHAT?"

"Mary, if you can't drive straight, I'm going to have to drive or stop telling you this stuff while you are driving! All I meant is that he apologized for his behavior during the past few days. We agreed that if we would be working together that we would call a truce and try to get along."

"He likes you! I knew it!"

"Will you stop that? He does not! He's just being mature about a messy situation, that's all."

"Right. And I have like ten guys all fighting over my affection. Whatever! It's that classic situation where the guy acts like a creep just so the girl won't know how he really cares for her because he doesn't want to be all vulnerable!"

"You need to stop reading all those romance novels Mary!" Rebecca exclaims, not wanting to believe anything her friend said.

"Becca, it is so obvious! It's so romantic!"

Rebecca roles her eyes. "That's it! I'm banning you from the romance section in the bookstore from now on. You are reading way too much into this!"

"Whatever! I bet you other cast members would be able to see this chemistry between you too! I bet you even feel the same way for him! That's why you got unusually hostile with him!" The car swerves yet again.

"That's enough! First of all, I'm serious about taking over the driving if you swerve one more time! Second, I do not care for him in that romantic sense you are creating in your head nor does he care that way about me. We're just trying to make the best out of the situation. Third, I was hostile to him because he was a creep to me first!"

Mary laughs. "Whatever. Instant denial! I wouldn't expect you to admit this anyway."

"Argh! I give up on you! Where are we going for ice cream?" Mary asks, desperately wanting to change the subject.

"31 Flavors of course. Just think about what I said and you'll see I'm right."

Rebecca lays her head against the head rest and stares out the window. 'Maybe she and Sara are right. Could Justin really like me? Yeah right Rebecca. He's going to fall for some girl he just met, who almost ran him over, who he knocked over, in the matter of days when he's had all those girls drooling over him. Keep dreaming.'

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