Page 124 of The Failed Audition

I uneasily shift my weight from one foot to the other, noticing how she steps near him. Noticing how her body language isn’tclosed off, despite being frustrated and incensed. She leans towards him. Like they’re good friends.

I’ve blocked out his dynamic with Elena, thepassionthey’re supposed to exude on stage. I just pretend that she doesn’t exist.

The same way he pretends I don’t work at Phantom.

My chest caves, and I realize that training is going to be cut short. By me. “I’m going to go,” I tell Nikolai when there’s a pause in his conversation.

He rubs his eyes, exhausted, by whatever she’s telling him. “I wish you wouldn’t.”

Elena is throwing knives into my body, glowering like I’ve stolen her time with him. In this situation, maybe I have.

“You should practice with her.” I let go of the silk. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Tonight,” he rephrases.

I shake my head. “I’m going to head home.” It’s weird that I consider my apartment my home now, when Ohio still exists. Waiting for me. I guess I’m not waiting for it anymore.

Nikolai looks more conflicted, but Elena distracts him with a barrage of Russian. I’m too used to not understanding three-quarters of conversations to be annoyed. I simply wave him goodbye and depart, planning on a hot shower and a night with my paranormal book.

I still have time to conquer the death drop, RBF, gracefulness, and passion before auditions. I hope. It feels like a lot.

Like more than me.

ACT THIRTY-NINE

Luka plops down in the auditorium seat with two buckets of popcorn, offering me one. I raise my brows at him, not exactly trusting how he acquired it. Our “Skittles” pact still exists—I won’t rat him out.

He smiles, a contagious one that his brothers usually possess too. “I paid for them, I swear.” He shakes the tub.

I accept one graciously. “That’s sweet of you then.”

He kicks his feet on the empty velveteen seat. “It still would’ve been sweet regardless if I paid for it or not.”

“But this is better.”

“Why?” He scoops popcorn, a smirk playing at his lips. He knows I suck at back-and-forth.

And now I’m open-mouthed, trying to find a suitable answer. “Because…”it just is.In another life, I hope to be a wordsmith. And a chef. A chef with great words.

“I likebecause.” He lets me off the hook, seeing my struggle.

Thankfully.

I return my attention to the round stage, the surface cherry wood, sleek and more elegant than concrete.

Nikolai surprised me with a ticket to Amour tonight, rerouting my plans to fall asleep to a vampire and werewolfbattle. I think this is his way of apologizing for Elena’s appearance at practice. I couldn’t turn him down. I’m not that prideful, and I’ve really, really wanted to see this show since I first arrived in Vegas. The tickets are so expensive that I haven’t been able to watch Nikolai perform.

Artists don’t even receive complimentary tickets for family and friends, so I know Nik paid for me to be here too. From middle-center seats, I drink in the atmosphere for the first time, trying to stare at everything at once.

The long icicle lights drip from seemingly nowhere, a city skyline painted as a backdrop. It’s like Amour takes place in New York, during the holidays. While more people find their seats, music plays, a serene violin tune, romantic and subdued. Layers of fog already ooze across the stage in white puffs.

A flash of light goes off in my face.

I scowl at Luka who has his phone braced at me. He snaps another photo with a laugh.

“Is that necessary?” I shield my eyes, wondering if we’re going to be in trouble. We’re not supposed to take pictures in the auditorium.

“Oh yeah,” he says. “I promised my brother I’d get your first reaction. And the pissed off one is an added bonus.” He clicks into the photo and holds his cell to me so I can see myself.

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