The three of us stepped through the auditorium doors with what I hoped looked like casual confidence. The familiar scent of old wood and stage dust filled my nostrils as we made our way down the aisle between rows of burgundy seats.
I've personally never been in a theater room but Jim had, unfortunately not for a while thanks to his troll like appearance.
Toby was practically vibrating with nervous energy beside me, his hands shoved deep in his pockets, but somehow he still managed to find his voice.
"Wow, look at that line," he said, gesturing toward the handful of students clustered near the stage. "We might actually have to wait a whole three minutes before they get to us."
I couldn't help but grin at his attempt at humor, even if his voice cracked slightly on the last word. There were maybe five other kids ahead of us, hardly the overwhelming crowd we'd been expecting. Leave it to Toby to find the silver lining in our school's apparent lack of theatrical ambition.
Claire, however, was all business. She strode forward with purpose, her dark hair swishing behind her as she made a beeline for the woman standing center stage with a clipboard clutched in her hands. Mrs. Janneth our music teacher and the director of this year's production – looked up as we approached.
"Mrs. J!" Claire called out, reaching up to tap the teacher's shoulder as she climbed the stage steps. "I brought you a new recruit. Meet your potential Romeo."
Mrs. Janneth turned, raising an eyebrow as she looked us over. She was a tall woman with slightly graying hair pulled back in two practical buns, but something in her posture suggested she'd commanded far bigger stages than our high school auditorium.
This was my moment. I stepped forward, extending my hand with respect.
"Jim Lake, ma'am," I said, offering her a firm handshake. "I'm here to sweep Juliet off her feet , metaphorically speaking, of course. I promise not to actually drop anyone."
For a moment, Mrs. Janneth's stern expression didn't budge. Then, almost despite herself, the corner of her mouth twitched upward. She jotted my name down on her clipboard with a quick stroke.
"Take your seats," she said, gesturing toward the front row. "We'll get to you shortly."
The three of us settled into the worn seats just as she called the first auditionee to the stage. Eli bounded up the steps wearing what appeared to be a cardboard box painted to look like armor, complete with a plastic sword duct-taped to his side.
"I am Romeo Montague!" he declared, striking a dramatic pose.
What followed was... well, let's just say it really did sound like a high school play. The kid threw himself into it with enthusiasm, I'll give him that, but his voice cracked on every other line and he nearly tripped over his cardboard breastplate twice.
I found my attention drifting from his performance to my companions. Claire sat with laser like focus, her dark eyes tracking every movement on stage, mentally taking notes I was sure. This was her element she belonged here in a way I admired.
Toby, on the other hand, stared straight ahead with unfocused eyes, clearly somewhere else entirely. His shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight that grew heavier by the minute. I could practically see the spiral of doubt and worry playing out behind his expression.
I needed to reach him somehow, and I had a feeling my usual tech based solutions from my previous life wouldnt exactly help. This required something more personal, more human. I just had to figure out how to make him understand what I was seeing that there was more strength in him than he realized.
The cardboard Romeo finished with a flourish, bowing deeply as scattered applause filled the auditorium. Mrs. Janneth made a note on her clipboard and called out, "Claire Nunez, you're up."
Claire rose from her seat with determination written across every line of her body. As she passed me, I caught her eye and gave her an encouraging nod.
"Go show them how it's done," I whispered.
She flashed me a smile before making her way to the stage.
"Claire Nunez, auditioning for Juliet," she announced, her voice carrying clearly to the back of the auditorium.
What happened next was nothing short of magical. Claire transformed before our eyes, becoming someone else entirely as she launched into Juliet's balcony scene. Her voice rose and fell with perfect emotion, her gestures natural and fluid. She somehow lived the lines she read, breathed them, made them her own.
"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" she called out to an imaginary lover, and for a moment I could almost see him there, just out of sight in the wings.
Even Toby seemed to snap out of his funk, sitting up straighter as Claire commanded the stage. There was something infectious about watching someone pursue their passion with such skill and dedication. It made you want to rise to that level yourself.
When she finished, the auditorium erupted in genuine applause. Claire took a graceful bow, her cheeks flushed with the adrenaline of performance, before making her way back to us.
I stood as she approached, unable to contain my enthusiasm.
"I thought you were pretty boss before," I said, grinning widely, "but you're totally boss and then some more!"
Claire ducked her head, scratching the back of her neck with a shy smile that seemed almost out of place after her confident stage presence.
"Thanks," she said. "I've been doing this for a while, is all."
I glanced back at Toby, hoping Claire's performance might have sparked something in him. He seemed to catch on to my expectant look and offered what I hoped was meant to be encouragement.
"Yeah, that was... that was really good, Claire," he said, but his words lacked the enthusiasm the moment deserved.
I sighed internally, but before I could figure out my next move, Mrs. Janneth's voice rang out across the auditorium.
"Jim Lake, you're up."
Alright now that I'm up I'll use this chance to tell Toby something important. As I went to leave, I leaned close to him.
"There are lives in our hands," I said quietly, meeting his eyes. "Remember that."
I didn't wait to see his reaction, didn't give him time to ask what I meant. Sometimes the most important messages needed time to sink in.
Grabbing a prop plastic sword and making my way to the stage, I felt the familiar flutter of nerves mixed with excitement. The lights were brighter up here, the auditorium larger, but it felt right. Like I belonged in this moment.
"Uh, hey," I began, looking out at the small audience. "I'm Jim Lake, auditioning for the position of Romeo. I'll begin now."
Instead of choosing one of the traditional Romeo monologues, I'd decided on something different. Something that felt more personal, more true to what I needed to say. Not just to Mrs. Janneth or the other students watching, but to Toby sitting in that front row. And myself.
"Destiny, Destiny is a gift," I began, my voice growing stronger with each word and rise of the sword. "Some go their entire lives, living existences of quiet desperation, never learning the truth – that what feels as though a burden is pushing down upon our shoulders is actually the sense of purpose that lifts us to greater heights."
I found Toby in the audience, directing my words straight to him even as I stayed in character.
"Never forget that fear is but the precursor to valor." I point my sword to the audience, "That to strive and triumph in the face of fear is what it means to be. a. hero. Don't think." I ended with with practices twirls of my sword.
"Become."
The auditorium had gone completely silent. I could see Toby's eyes widening, recognition dawning across his features. Around him, other students leaned forward in their seats, caught up in words that spoke to something deeper than just a high school play.
When I finished, the silence stretched for a heartbeat longer before applause broke out, the loudest coming from Mrs. Janneth herself.
As I took my bow, I caught Toby's eye one more time. The message had landed. Now I could only hope he'd know what to do with it.
You must become,I thought to myself as I walked off the stage. We all must.