Original Stories Fan Fiction ❯ Thoughtful Misconceptions ❯ Auditions ( Chapter 2 )

Erin untied her apron and set it on the bar, sitting in a barstool. The Sunday rush was over and her last table just paid so she was free to count her money and clock out. She counted the bills grimacing. The Sunday church crowd tended to be cheaper tippers.

“Bad day?” Sabrina asked as she sat down on the bar stool next to her.

“It wasn't terrible but it could have been better. I'm working the morning shift again tomorrow so that will help make up for it.” Erin answered. “You?”

“Pretty good actually. I got that big group that came in and they tipped well.”

“Nice.” Erin responded not really meaning it. She really liked Sabrina and she liked working with her but it always frustrated her that Sabrina always made more money than her. Sabrina didn't have to work to get by, she was living on student loans and her parents' help and she mostly only worked for experience and a little extra spending money. Erin, on the other hand, paid her bills with tips she earned as a waitress. She stuck her bills back into her book. “All right, I'm going to turn my money in and I'm out of here.”

Sabrina nodded. “I think I'm going to order food. Do you want to split something with me?”

“I can't. I promised Ian I would help him with his homework when I got home and I promised to be nice about it.”

Sabrina laughed. “Poor Ian.”

Erin grinned, shrugging. She dropped her money off to her manager, waiting impatiently while he counted it and headed off to her truck parked in the back of the parking lot. Poor day aside, she actually felt better than she had last night. Ian, although still frustrated with her, was doing his very best not to show it. When they woke up in the morning, his rustling waking her, he had leaned forward and kissed her forehead and that was it. Neither chose to talk about it and after that they went back to their normal. She had cooked scrambled eggs and Ian sat at the counter drinking his coffee almost sullenly while he woke up. They planned out their day together feeling comfortable again.

She pulled up to their apartment seeing Ian out on the balcony playing on his laptop. From his quick movements, she doubted he was doing homework like he promised he would.

Erin turned her truck off, shading her eyes to look up at him. ”Hey, idiot.”

Ian jumped looking around for her voice.

“Ha, you looked.” She said when he found her in the parking lot. “Idiot.”

“Don't be snotty, Erin.” Ian answered looking back at his computer.

“I'm not being snotty.” Erin answered still standing in the parking lot. “And is that homework?”

“Yep.” Ian said simply.

“Doesn't look like it.”

“Well, come up here and look and you'll see quite clearly that this is not a video game and that it's definitely a paper about A Midsummer Night's Dream.” Ian answered back, still not looking at her.

Erin sighed. “I try to help you.” She entered the building, not bothering to continue their argument.

She reached the balcony and Ian was playing a video game as she expected. “Oi, you could at least have pretended by the time I got up here.”

“I know but I'm on a roll.” He answered still not looking at her.

Erin sighed dramatically and walked over to stand next to the laptop. “Ian.”

“What?”

Still refusing to pay her attention while he clicked around on his laptop, she reached forward and closed the computer. Ian stared up at her incredulously too surprised to be angry. “What the hell, Erin?”

“I told you wireless keyboards were stupid.”

“What?” Ian spat out flipping his laptop open again, hoping the computer hadn't been closed long enough to go to sleep.

Erin smiled, walking back into the apartment to change out of her work clothes. “If you had been using it normally, I wouldn't have been able to close the laptop on you.”

Ian growled in frustration. “You're lucky I just saved.” He yelled to her.

She came out wearing yoga pants and a sweatshirt. “Yeah, I was really worried.” She sat next to him, tossing his backpack next to him. “You know that I am trying to help you.”

Ian scowled. “You have an odd way of showing it.”

She pulled out her own books to read over her most recently written paper. Ian mimicked her pulling out a black folder and a playbook. He handed her the playbook. “All right, what's this about?”

Erin eyed him disbelievingly. “Please tell me you are kidding and that you've read A Midsummer Night's Dream?”

“Nope.”

“Ian, “She said exacerbated. “Your paper is due this week and you want me to help you write about a play that I haven't read since high school?”

Ian nods. “Well, you were in it, weren't you?”

“In. High. School.” Erin said slowly.

“So what if it was in high school, you should at least be able to tell me the story.”

Erin put her face in her hands. “I've been in a lot of plays. It's hard to remember details of each one. I remember snippets, you idiot, but not concisely enough to write a paper.” She sighed, “I mean, it's mostly about sex but I'm sure there's more to it than that.”

“It is?” Ian asks surprised, thumbing through the book.

“I cannot believe you,” Erin stated, shaking her head. “Look, you'll need to either read the play really fast or just go rent the movie. If I remember right, it's pretty accurate.”

Ian was still looking through the book, ignoring her. Erin ripped it out of his hands. “Ian, stop being a pervert and listen to me.”

Ian grinned at her. “I'm not the pervert.”

Erin hit him in the head with the playbook. “Get online and see if you can rent it. Now.” She said in a tone that brooked no argument.

Ian grumbled, rubbing his head. “No need to get your panties in a bunch.”

Erin's eyes widened in anger as she hit him again, “No mention of my panties from you ever again.”

Ian laughed this time and started searching on his laptop. Erin settled into her chair, laughing with him.

~*~*~*~~~*~*~*~

Erin pulled into Marcus' driveway and honked her arrival. He lived in a small home in a decent neighborhood. He bought it soon after his teaching job became official and as far as Erin knew he was really happy with it.

Marcus came outside, locking the door behind him. When he walked in front of her truck, she honked the horn again making Marcus jump. She half laughed, half cackled as he opened the passenger door and sat down. “I know you think that sort of thing is funny but I do not.” He commented, dryly.

Erin shifted the truck into reverse. “Ian thinks I'm funny.”

“Yes, the guy with the emotional maturity of a five year old thinks you're funny,” Marcus sighs, “That shows a lot of promise for your sense of humor.”

Erin laughed again. “Don't be grumpy.”

Marcus sighed again. “So what are you singing tonight?”

“I hadn't totally decided. I'm going back and forth on a few different songs.” She glanced at Marcus. “Should I do something from the show?”

“It might be worth trying, especially if you want a specific part.” He paused. “I guess I didn't ask. Are you going for a specific part?”

“I'd really like the part of Lucy but I could definitely deal if I was cast as Emma instead.”

“She says with the confidence of someone who thinks they are going to get the main role.”

Erin laughs. “I guess I think I have a pretty good chance. Jekyll and Hyde is one of the few musicals that actually have two strong female leads. That almost never happens.”

“That's true.”

“Can you sing low enough for Hyde?”

Marcus shrugged. “It's been so long since I listened to the musical, I couldn't say for sure.”

When they got to the local theater building, there were a decent amount of cars filling the parking lot. Erin found a spot somewhere in the back and they headed in to sign up and find seats among the audience.

A shorter, almost nervous looking man walked out onto the stage causing the low rumble of conversations to subside. He smiled still looking a little nervous. “Hello, everyone, I'm Henry.” He rubbed his hands together. “I'm glad we had so many people turn out for auditions. Jekyll and Hyde is a large cast and we have plenty of towns' people parts for anyone who doesn't get the role they were planning on.”

He reached to the closest chair and pulled his clipboard off, scanning the list of names. “Uh…let's see. Could I have Aidan and Amy up here?”

Two people stepped forward, joining Henry on the stage. Henry grinned as they both stood next to him. Amy looked a little self conscious and Aidan actually looked borderline bored. “Ok, someone give me a scene and a situation. We are going to do a little improv.”

Some people yelled out a few suggestions and Henry listened until one caught his attention. “Ah, perfect. A break up scene.” He sat, giving them his full attention. “This is should be sufficiently challenging,” He paused and smiled, “And a little awkward.”

Erin grinned at Marcus covering up a snicker. She enjoyed improvisation but also hoped she was partnered with Marcus. He was good at her reading her and they could put on quite a scene if they were working together.

Aidan had looked bored when Henry explained their scene to them but as their improve scene unfolded, he became intense. She found herself watching him alone.

He half smiled at Amy, dodging her questions in the scene. Erin shook her head finding herself staring at Aidan. He was gorgeous. Short blonde hair and very blue eyes that made her think of Ian. It wasn't just coloring either but at the same time she almost contradicted herself. Aidan carried himself differently. It was like he displayed a confidence that Ian was lacking. It was hard to put her finger on it exactly. She looked at Marcus who seemed to have his eyes on the pretty red head named Amy. “Hey, Marcus.”

He barely glanced at her. “Yeah?”

“Who does he remind you of?”

Marcus glanced at her for a second before looking back to the improvisation scene playing out. “Who?”

“The guy on stage, idiot.”

“Oh,” He glanced at Aidan, “Wow, he looks like Ian.” He paused. “He really looks like Ian.”

Erin chuckled a little. “I know, right? Their names are even kind of alike.”

“So says the girl named Erin who is best friends with a guy named Ian. Those names are too similar.” Marcus responded not finding the similarity between the two men nearly as interesting as Erin did.

Amy and Aidan finished their scene taking a little bow. Erin clapped with everyone else. It was actually good. Both of them were comfortable and creative, playing off of each other's cues. Oddly enough, it made Erin a little jealous.

“All right. Great.” Henry said, standing. “Could I have Erin and Marcus come up?”

Marcus grinned at her. She shook her head, dispelling her thoughts about Aidan. Henry looked to the others auditioning, “Suggestions?”

A few people called out but one voice rang out, “Husband caught cheating.” Erin glanced around to find the voice. It was Aidan looking bored again. He met her eyes, looking a little amused although no smile touched his face.

“That's great.” He sat again. “You guys don't hold back with each other.”

Marcus grinned at Erin and then took on a serious tone, acting like he was straightening his shirt and glancing in the mirror. Erin turned miming washing the dishes. “Where did you say you were going tonight?” Erin asked softly, almost tentatively.

Marcus glanced at her as if he couldn't be bothered with her. “I told you, we're going out to Joe's Sports Bar for drinks to celebrate John's promotion and watch the game.”

“What time do you think you'll be back?”

Marcus rolled his eyes. “I'm not sure. You know how these things go. I could plan on getting home by 10 but then time gets away from me.”

Erin smiled tremulously. “It would be nice if you could give me a good idea.”

Marcus sighed. “All right, how about I promise to be home by midnight?”

“So late?” Erin said questioningly.

Marcus turned to her stopping his fussing in the make believe mirror. “Erin, do you have something you would like to say or are you just going to dance around questions all night?”

Erin turned to Marcus. “There's no reason to be nasty.”

He slumped his shoulders looking at her impatiently. She crossed her arms defensively. “Fine.” She paused and took a deep breath. “Are you having an affair?” She asked bluntly.

Marcus looked at her surprised. “Erin, how could you ask me such a thing?”

“I… I… I don't know, I just…” She stammered.

“Erin, you know that I love you.” Marcus said softly, moving closer to her. She tried to take a step back but Marcus grabbed her wrist. “Erin, don't. I can't believe that you would accuse me of such a thing.”

Erin looked at him suspiciously. “I looked at your computer, Marcus.”

He looked angry. “You went through my computer?”

Erin tore her hand from his grip. “Yes and I don't appreciate what I saw.”

“I haven't actually done anything wrong.” He spat out angrily.

Erin stared at him. “You haven't?”

He moved closer before she put up her defenses again, wrapping his arms around her waist. “No, Erin. I promise. I would never hurt you.”

“You already have, “She said softly, and almost childishly.

“Oh, my love, you know that I love you.” He leaned down and kissed her full on the mouth. Erin kissed him back until he deepened the kiss.

She jerked away and pushed Marcus' chest and making him stumble back a step. “And, scene.” She said laughing. Marcus grinned, hands up in mock innocence. The rest of the audience giggled as Henry came back onto the stage. “That was great, you guys.”

Erin and Marcus bowed before making their way back to their seats. “You're an ass.” Erin said quietly.

Marcus smiled and wrapped his arm around her. “I know but you're so committed that I wanted to see what I could get away with before you broke character.”

Erin playfully punched his leg. “You can't take advantage of my professionalism.”

“Oh, just wait and see what'll happen if we're cast as love interests.” He said confidently, “Plus when's the last time you've been kissed? Pretty girls like you need to be kissed once in a while.”

Erin tried not to blush. “I do fine.”

Marcus suddenly looked interested. “Who have you kissed recently?”

“You, for starters, pervert.” Erin said sarcastically.

Marcus laughed and squeezed her shoulder. “You loved it.”

Erin rolled her eyes. “Whatever.” She didn't really want to discuss the other night with Marcus. She was struggling. She knew that Ian and herself could fall into a relationship very easily. They fit together well. They knew the best and worth about each other and loved each other anyway. It just didn't seem right to discuss her thoughts about their relationship in such a joking manner with Marcus, especially when she would barely talk about it with Ian.

~*~*~*~~~*~*~*~

“So what were your thoughts on the night's auditions?” Marcus asked. He picked up a fry and popped it into his mouth.

Erin set her burger down considering Marcus' question. “Well, I'm still pretty confident that we'll do well enough.” Marcus rolled his eyes at her. She grinned, “I'm not being arrogant, all right? I'm just being realistic.”

Marcus waved his fry around dramatically. “Seriously, no offense, but…” He said in a mock falsetto.

Erin laughed, “Well, yeah, I'm not exactly known for tact anyway.” She smacked his hand. “Either way, I do think that Aidan guy is going to get Jekyll and Hyde.”

Marcus nodded, “Most likely. His singing audition was really good.”

Marcus had given a good audition. He was dark haired and handsome, a good singer, and he had energy on stage. Had Aidan not tried out, Erin would have said that Marcus would definitely get the main role but there was something about the way Aidan had moved around on the stage that told her that he would be playing Jekyll and Hyde. She wondered if she would be playing one of Jekyll's love interests.

“He really did look like Ian, though.” Marcus said, looking thoughtful.

Erin shrugged, “I mean, it's not likely but I guess they could be related. Ian was adopted and Ian never had much interest in finding anything out about his birth parents.”

Marcus laughed, “Sounds like the beginnings of a soap opera. If you end up being Ian's sister then we could send in a script to Days of Our Lives.”

Erin laughed and threw a fry at him. “That's disgusting.”

“So who was it?”

“Sorry, who was what?” Erin said surprised, having no idea what Marcus was talking about.

“Who have you kissed recently?” Marcus asked, looking too smug for Erin to think that he actually needed to ask who she recently kissed.

“Who do you think, dummy?” She asked without much vehemence.

“Well, if I only get three guesses then my first two guesses are Ian.” Marcus said.

Erin sighed. “If you knew then why did you ask?”

Grinning, Marcus leaned toward her resting his chin on his hand. “You have my utmost attention.”

“You know you're not as nearly funny as you think you are.” Erin commented dryly.

He laughed and sat back. “All right, I'll stop teasing you.” He gestured at her as if uninterested, “Tell me but only if you want to.”

“Eh, there's not a lot to tell. Ian came home the other night and he kissed me.”

“And?”

“What do you mean `and', pervert?”

Marcus tried to look innocent. “I mean did you guys talk about your relationship or anything?”

“Oh,” Erin eyed him like she didn't believe him. “He wanted to talk about it but I really didn't want to. Our relationship is complicated.”

“It wouldn't be if the two if you just talked about it.”

“Oh yeah, Marcus, you think having a little heart to heart about our feelings will just make everything all right?” Erin crossed her arms, feeling defensive. “Look, you don't know everything about our relationship, all right? It's a little more problematic than just checking the yes box on a do you like me letter.”

“Why?” Marcus asked simply.

Erin closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. She didn't know how to explain to Marcus why it would be so hard without divulging information that she hadn't told anyone. Ian loved her, she knew that he did but she wasn't sure if he loved her as much as he should. She had once been brushed aside for someone else. Once something like that's been done, she didn't think you could go back from it. “Just trust me.” She said softly not quite keeping the shake out of her voice. “Please, Marcus. Just trust me. If Ian and I are meant to be together then we will be. For now, I'm all right with the way things are.”

Marcus stared at her like he was trying to read her thoughts. “All right, fine.” He piled his napkins and silverware on his plate, “You ready to go?”

Erin nodded feeling guilty. Marcus looked really hurt. They had always been close. Not as close Ian but Marcus and her had a lot of things in common that kept them companionable. It wasn't that she couldn't trust him but at this point in her life, she didn't feel like she could trust anyone. If Ian let her down then anyone would.

Erin sighed as she pulled into her parking lot. Marcus had moved the conversation back to the musical citing quotes and musical quips to cheer her up. He had squeezed her hand and kissed her cheek before jumping out her truck. She knew that Marcus meant well but his pushiness had made her feel anxious and she found herself stopping by the nearest gas station and picking up a pack of cigarettes. She had quit a few years ago and had a relapse over the summer but suddenly, she needed a cigarette again. Ian would complain a little but he wouldn't make a huge deal out of it. They both had their ways of dealing with things.

She went inside, planning on smoking her first cigarette in months on the patio. She opened the sliding glass door and jumped in surprise because Ian was already out there. “Hey.” She said softly as she came out to stand near him.

He smiled at her genuinely. “Hey, how'd your auditions go?”

“They went really well. There were some good people auditioning.” She pulled out her pack. “The director was a little unconventional but it made for some interesting auditions.”

“Oh, yeah?” Ian eyed her cigarettes but didn't say anything.

She smiled and popped one between her lips, waiting for his comment. “Marcus thought it would be cute to cop a feel.”

Ian sat up a little straighter. “What kind of feel?”

Erin laughed, lighting the cigarette, “He thought it would be funny to kiss me during an improvisational scene because I refuse to break character.”

Ian look irritated. “I will hit that pervert.”

Erin inhaled, closing her eyes. “Don't worry, Ian, he was just playing around.” She shooed his arms back and sat in his lap and he wrapped his arms around her without thought.

“You know I'm not a huge fan of you smoking again.”

Erin shrugged holding the cigarette smoke from Ian's face. “I know but it sounded good.”

“Gross.”

“Well, yes, but it still sounded good.”

He chuckled low and kissed the back of her neck. “Disgusting habits aside, you're still pretty cute.”

She inhaled slowly not saying anything. She didn't want a repeat of the other night. She didn't want to fight with Ian. He also didn't compliment her often and when he did, it was a much bigger deal to her than she cared to admit to herself. She stood up and leaned against the railing of the balcony, taking another long drag. “Why are you being so nice?”

“I'm always nice, woman.” Ian grunted, crossing his arms.

“No, you're not.” She said with a grin.

“I don't know. I just thought I should tell you that you're pretty.” He refused to meet her eyes.

She smashed her cigarette butt into the ashtray. She grabbed his hand pulling him up into a standing position. She smiled as she wrapped her arms around neck. “Kiss me.”

“I'm not sure if that cigarette taste is worth it.” Ian said as he leaned in and kissed her. His hands tightened around her waist, pulling her against him. She knew that she did smell like smoke but Ian's enthusiasm and admittedly her own, was not dampened.

She pulled away suddenly. Ian had kept his hands at her waist and back but it had felt so good to kiss him again that she didn't want the situation to get out of control. “I should go to bed.” She said with their arms still wrapped around each other.

Ian grinned at her a little guiltily, as if he knew he was pushing boundaries again. Oddly enough, though, she wasn't upset with him. She was just unsure of him. She pecked his cheek. ”Goodnight.”

She went to her bedroom feeling tired. She cared for Ian. She even loved Ian. She had always loved him like a brother. They cared for each other, stood up for each other, and sometimes even fought like siblings. He had been there since she was little and she didn't know what life was without him. She couldn't figure out if that meant she was in love with him. She didn't know what it was supposed to feel like. She had always thought that when you meet your soul mate, you're supposed to know it right away. If Ian was her soul mate, why would their relationship only be blossoming now? Why had it taken Heather to make him see her differently?

She slipped into bed and turned her bedside lamp off. It felt better to be in the dark. When that terrible thing had happened to her, Ian had not been at the apartment when she got home. She called him twice and nearly begged him to come home on his voicemail but he never called. She had been alone in her apartment for three days before he got back from his camping trip with Heather. She felt like she should still tell him what happened so he could tell her that she would be all right. That she shouldn't feel ashamed and scared anymore but when he came home, he brought Heather with him. So Erin bit down on her tears and told them she didn't feel good and hid in her room until they left. A part of her closed off to him then. Maybe that was why she was so gun shy on being more than just friends with him. She wasn't sure if she could love him after that. She felt betrayed.

She sighed. It sounded so melodramatic but it didn't change the way she had felt when she was here alone and hurt, physically and emotionally and no one was here for her. She rubbed her eyes, trying to stop the tears. Maybe Ian was the person she should be with. She wasn't perfect either. She had made mistakes. After what had happened, after what she had allowed to happen, maybe Ian was who she was meant for. Their baggage already went together well. Ian was adopted. That gave him his own issues and then when he dared to really love someone, she broke his heart. Perhaps one broken person can love another broken person.