Page 53 of Pride High 2: Orange

“He didn’t get a single line right,” Mindy said.

“I kind of liked it better,” Keisha replied. “Whitney played well off him. That’s the sort of Belle I could get behind.”

“It’s a little late to do rewrites,” complained a guy from farther down.

“So we let them improvise,” Keisha said. “As long as the essence is there, who cares?”

“Um, our parents will when they hear all that swearing!” Mindy said.

“Cuss words aren’t acceptable,” Ms. Deville interjected. “But if you can rein him in…”

“That was fun!” Whitney said as she reappeared on stage. “You’re giving him the role, right? Do I get a vote?”

“He’s got the look,” Cameron said. “And the bass of his voice practically made the seats shake.”

“I wouldn’t have to layer him in bathrobes to bulk him up,” Mindy said grudgingly.

“And he does have a certain chemistry with our lead,” Keisha said. “Although I wonder how he would do with the mushier stuff.”

“Get him back out here,” Whitney called. “Let’s run some lines!”

“We’ve got one more audition first,” Keisha said. “Micky Schmitz, you’re up!”

A chubby guy with blond hair and bright red cheeks walked on stage. Then he started giggling, which continued as they ran the scene. This made Whitney laugh. Soon enough, neither one of them could get a line out because they were both too tickled.

“Is the big guy still here?” Keisha asked while shaking her head.

“I’ll go see.” Cameron sprang down the aisle and hurried backstage. Ricky and Diego had already gone, although nobody knew where, so he jogged to the nearest exit. Once in the parking lot, Cameron saw them hanging out next to a beat-up old car. “Hey!” he said.

Ricky turned and smiled. “Hi!”

Diego’s reaction wasn’t as friendly. “Cameron fucking Huxley,” he sneered, straightening up to his full menacing height.

“I know, I know,” Cameron said, raising his hands to show his palms. “I’m not your favorite person. As far as I’m concerned, that’s all ancient history. I’m willing to let bygones be bygones.”

“You started it,” Diego said, crossing his arms over his chest.

Which was preferable to him clenching his fists. “Depends how you look at it,” Cameron said quickly. “Listen, that’s not why I’m out here. The theater group really liked your audition.”

Diego snorted. “I didn’t even try.”

“You didn’t?” Ricky asked him, looking wounded. “You said you would!”

Diego rolled his eyes and sighed. “I tried a little.”

“For me?”

“Don’t push your luck!”

Cameron stared in confusion until Diego noticed and looked self-conscious. “Uhh… Anyway, if that was you barely trying, we’d love to see what you can really do. Can you come back in?”

“Now?” Diego asked incredulously.

Cameron nodded. “Yeah. If you have the time.”

Ricky nudged Diego meaningfully. They seemed close. Which made about as much sense as being best friends with a forest fire, although Ricky sure looked happy. Diego not so much. He was currently scowling. At him.

“Wouldyoube my boss?” he snarled, not hiding his feelings on the subject.