CHAPTER 5 VAMPIRE TRYOUTS

Billy leaned against the stage and gazed out at the kids who had shown up for play tryouts. There were about thirty of them—everybody talking at once, laughing, telling jokes, teasing each other.

Which ones? he thought.

He studied their faces. Were any of them vampires? Did the cute girl in the front row sleep in a coffin all day because direct sunlight would kill her?

How about the two boys giving each other high fives?

Where are they? he wondered. Where are the vampires who killed Joelle?

A short, round woman with her blond hair in a bun strode onto the stage. “All right, everybody!” she shouted, trying to be heard over all the noise. “Let me have your attention.”

The noise slowly died down. “I’m Ms. Aaronson,” she announced. “I run the community theater here at Sandy Hollow. And I’m thrilled to see so many young people here.”

Billy tuned her out as she talked about the play. He stared intently at the other kids in the auditorium seats. Each friendly smile could hide sharp fangs, he knew. Each strange face could belong to a monster.

Ms. Aaronson cleared her throat. Billy glanced up at her again. “Let’s see,” she said. “Ah, here we are. Jay Windley, you’re first. Please read from the script.”

Jay stepped forward, looking very tense. Billy couldn’t help smiling when Jay gave Ms. Aaronson one of his lopsided grins.

Jay took a deep breath and began reading. He was usually pretty soft-spoken, but now his voice sounded deep and powerful as he said the lines.

He’s pretty good, Billy thought, surprised. He’s really getting into the part.

Jay completed his reading without blowing a single word.

“Hey, you were great,” Billy told him.

“I guess it went okay,” Jay replied, smoothing back his brown hair. “I just wish I could do that well with girls.”

“You seem to be doing okay with April.”

Another lopsided grin. “Is she here yet?”

“Haven’t seen her,” Billy reported.

Jay nodded. “I hope she comes to tryouts tonight.”

“Relax,” Billy said. “This whole thing was her idea.”

“Hi, Billy.”

Billy turned to find Kylie standing next to him. She gazed at him with a smile. “I guess I’m a few minutes late.”

“They just started. This will be going on for hours,” Billy told her.

“Which part are you trying out for?” Kylie asked. She moved closer to him. He could smell her perfume.

“Just a little part. A delivery boy. He has five lines.”

“I’m trying out for the lady vampire,” Kylie informed him proudly. “I think I’m going to get it. I’m a natural.”

“Is April here?” Jay asked eagerly.

Kylie frowned. “I didn’t see her yet tonight,” she answered.

“Was she at her house?” Jay pressed.

“Looking for me?” a voice called.

Billy turned, startled. April and Irene stood right behind them. I didn’t even hear them come up, he thought.

Jay grinned. “Yeah, I thought you changed your mind,” he told April.

“Not a chance,” she replied. “Let’s sit down.” She dragged Jay to a seat in the auditorium.

Irene hurried over to sit with Nate.

“Looks like it’s you and me,” Kylie told him. She tossed her long hair over her shoulder and grinned.

Billy glanced at her. “I guess,” he said. He wasn’t sure he wanted to be stuck with Kylie. She seemed way too intense. But it wasn’t as bad as he expected—Kylie seemed really into the auditions. She barely spoke to Billy as they watched all the kids read.

“Time for the part of Natalie,” Ms. Aaronson finally announced, consulting her clipboard. “Let’s see, who’s first? Ah, Kylie. You here, Kylie?”

“Yes,” Kylie replied, stepping forward.

“Do you have a last name, dear?” Ms. Aaronson asked.

“Yes,” Kylie answered. “But I never use it.”

Ms. Aaronson frowned, apparently trying to decide whether she should insist on having Kylie’s last name. She sighed. “Okay, Kylie with no last name, you’re up.”

Kylie glided to the center of the stage, smiling, looking pleased with herself. Wow, Billy thought, she really likes being the center of attention.

“It’s so hard being a vampire,” Kylie began. “No one appreciates what we have to go through.” She moaned about how much she needed human blood.

“Pretty good,” said a girl’s voice next to Billy. “But she’s overacting a little.”

Billy couldn’t help laughing. “Don’t tell her that!” he said. He turned to see a pretty, black-haired girl standing next to him.

She smiled at him. “I shouldn’t be mean. I’m probably just nervous,” she admitted. “I want the same part!”

“Mae-Linn Walsh! You’re up!” called Ms. Aaronson.

“Wish me luck,” whispered the black-haired girl. She ran lightly up the steps to the stage.

Wow, she’s really cute, Billy thought.

When she began to read, the auditorium fell silent. Mae-Linn paced back and forth, playing the part of someone faced with a major decision. She wrinkled her nose, cocked her head, smiled, frowned. Everyone watched.

I know who’s going to be the star of this play, Billy decided.

Mae-Linn finished her reading. She blushed when the kids began to applaud. Then she climbed down from the stage and walked over to Billy. “You were great,” he told her.

“You really think I did okay?” she asked. “I hope I get the part. It would be fun.”

He studied her sparkling brown eyes. She had such soft, old-fashioned looks.

Billy felt his heart begin to beat faster.

“You doing anything after the tryouts?” she asked.

“Not really,” Billy replied.

“Want to get a Coke or something?”

“Hey, great. I’d love to.”

“I came with two other girls,” Mae-Linn told him. “I’ve got to let them know.” She disappeared through the curtains at the back of the stage.

This summer is looking better already, Billy decided.

Shifting his gaze toward the seats, he spotted Jay and April leaving together.

“Ms. Aaronson is supposed to announce who got the parts in a few minutes,” Kylie said, coming up behind him.

“Think you’ll get the lead?” Billy asked.

“Why? Do you think someone else did better than me?” Her expression darkened. Her green eyes narrowed.

“Uh, no,” Billy answered, a little surprised by her reaction. “I was only asking how you thought it went.”

“I got the part,” Kylie assured him. “No problem.”

“Well, congratulations.” He wondered whether that was the right thing to say. “You were really excellent,” he added.

“Want to take a walk around town, see what’s happening?” she asked brightly.

“I can’t.”

“Why not?” Kylie demanded.

Her eyes met his. They seemed to grab him, pull him into another place. A strange, dreamlike place. He felt as though he were falling.

He forced himself to look away.

Kylie seemed surprised. And annoyed. “Why don’t you want to hang out with me?” she demanded.

“I, uh, . . . I already told Mae-Linn I’d take her for a Coke.”

Disappointment spread across Kylie’s face.

“I’m—I’m sorry,” he stammered, surprised at how upset she seemed.

Kylie turned and stalked off the stage.

“May I have your attention,” Ms. Aaronson called. “Here are the names of the people I’ve selected for the play. Now, I want you to understand that everyone did a wonderful job. But there are only so many parts to go around . . .”

Nate, Jay, and Billy all got parts. So did April, Kylie, and Irene. Billy wasn’t surprised when Mae-Linn got the lead role.

But he saw that Kylie looked astonished.

“Hey, we both got parts,” Mae-Linn called happily as she ran up to Billy.

“There was never any doubt about you,” Billy replied.

“You really think so?” Mae-Linn asked shyly.

“You kidding?” Billy replied. “You were amazing.”

She flashed him a dazzling smile. “Ready for that Coke?” she asked.

“Let’s go,” Billy answered.

He pushed open the theater door and gestured for Mae-Linn to walk ahead of him. As Billy followed her, he heard a strange sound.

A hissing sound.

Behind him.

The hiss of a snake?

“Look out!” he cried.

Date: 2015-04-20; view: 630