Episode 21

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Episode 21

Scene 1:

Piper nervously scuffed her sneakers on the ground. Why? Why was she doing this? She wasn't even sure if she could find the courage to audition in front of the director and if she did manage to do that could she act in front of one hundred or so people. A lot of the people looked like they knew what they were doing, as if they had done this a thousand times. Yep, she would end up on crew. Finally, Dinah emerged from the audition room.

"How did you do?" Piper asked.

Dinah shrugged and tossed her copy of the play in her book bag. "Let's just say I don't see acting in my future," she replied. "I stunk and I made the director cringe."

Piper cringed. If Dinah couldn't do it, how could Piper? "Oh god, I'm next. How do I look?" Piper asked, though it was unimportant. She smoothed her hair and scanned her monologue with her eyes. A woman appeared around the side of the audition room door and asked for Piper. Piper looked expectantly to Dinah for some last words of advice.

"Break a leg," Dinah said with a smile. "Oh and he's sitting in the back row so speak up, got it?"
Piper nodded, suddenly feeling almost nauseous. Deep breaths. She smiled nervously at the face of the woman and followed her into the room. She had no idea what to do and it was quite obvious.

"Name and age please," Frank Farley called as the lithe blonde climbed the steps to the stage. She had an interesting look that might work well for a couple of different characters. But then, he had thought that about the last one and she had been a disaster. "And also what character you'll be reading for."

"Piper Conlan, 17," Piper said as she checked her monologue though she had Helena's part memorized perfectly. "Helena." She knew Midsummer's by heart, it was her favorite Shakespeare comedy.

"That's an unusual name." Frank said casually sensing the girl's nervousness. "Is it a family name?"

"No, I was the only one in the family given a weird name," Piper said with a slight grin, surprised by the director's casual nature.

"I don't think I would call it weird, Miss Conlan," Frank laughed. "It's unique. Imagine having a plain name like Frank. How drab!" He watched as the girl relaxed a bit under the lights. "You may begin now."

"Oh, yeah," Piper nodded, looking down at her monologue, before looking back up, "I've never done this before," then, embarrassed back down at the scrap of paper, not that she needed too.

"How happy o'er other some can be! Through Athens I am thought as fair as she. But what of that? Demetrius things not so...," Piper wasn't even bothering with the scrap of paper anymore, "He will not know all but he do know. And as he errs, doting on Hermia's eyes." It was getting easier. "So, I admiring of his qualities." It made her think of Noah. "Things base and vile, holding no quantity..." Just like Helena the one she loved did not see her. "Love can transpose to form and dignity." How easily Piper could relate. "...to have his sight thither and back again."

Piper looked back down at her paper. Was she already finished? It was kind of disappointing. Piper shook her head. How embarrassing. Piper looked up at the director, awaiting that tone that said thanks, but no thanks.

Farley nodded and scribbled a few words to remember her by on his notepad. "Miss Conlan, would you mind returning tomorrow night? I would like to see you interact with other actors."

Piper couldn't hide the surprise, "tomorrow night?" she choked. "Interact with other actors?" Piper blinked, "yeah, yeah, okay."

"Thank you Miss Conlan. I'll see you tomorrow night," he nodded to the assistant director to bring in the next person.

Piper bounced down the steps of the small stage. Tomorrow night? Other actors? That had to mean something good. She entered the foyer where Dinah was waiting expectantly.
Dinah glanced up at Piper's flushed face. "So? What happened?" She asked jumping from her seat.

"He asked me to come tomorrow night," Piper said, unable to suppress the excitement.

"That's great!" Dinah exclaimed, feeling the ridiculous need to hug her best friend. "I guess I might just be looking at the new Julia Roberts." Dinah scooped up her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "That's so cool Pipe."

"Yeah right," Piper said. "I still have to make it past tomorrow night."

"You'll be great," Dinah answered as the doors to the lobby opened. Dinah turned a quick glance at them, not quite comprehending what she was seeing. "And anyway, you're so pretty and..." She turned her head back to the doors as her brain processed who had come into the theater. "Piper, Noah's here," she whispered feeling her knees turn to jelly.

Scene 2:

Since the ME dinner, Jamie had been pleased with the buzz he heard around the office. People were excited about the changes. The weather outside was beautiful and the boys were happy in the new house. The only thing that kept this from being a perfect day was Michaela. She was still under the weather a little and had a doctor's appointment today. Her due date had come and gone without an inkling of labor pains. From her worried expression half the time, he hoped the baby would come and soon. With any luck, he would be hearing something good soon.

Jude knocked briefly before entering Jamie's office. They had been in the habit of meeting a few times a day just to reassure each other that all was right with the world and the company. So far, luck was on their side. Jude took a seat across from Jamie and looked at him. Jamie grinned back happily.

"What are you so happy about?" Jude asked smiling.

"Oh, the blue sky, Jesse, Chris, Hallie," Jamie laughed. Jude shook his head.

"I don't think I would be happy about Hallie. Come on, what is it?" Jude persisted.

"Michaela is at the doctor right now. With any luck, he'll tell her what we've both been dying to hear."

"I'm sure he will, Jamie. Isn't she a month over due?"

"Not quite. Two weeks. But she's ready for this baby and so am I. I've never been so ready for anything in my entire life. The house is ready and the family is ready. We've got a girl's name picked out and a boy's name. We are ready." He paused for a moment and studied Jude. "What about you?"

"I'm ready for your kid," Jude laughed. Jamie shook his head making Jude sigh. "Okay, I know what you're getting at. But it isn't true. Hallie is making a mountain out of a molehill. Cynthia's baby isn't mine. The math is wrong. Hallie doesn't know a thing."

"You know I believe you. I just don't want to see you thrown to the wolves with this thing. The press can be merciless."

"Not when you own them," Jude pointed out. The phone rang on the desk in front of them but neither made a move to get it. "Go on, answer it," he said. Jamie picked up the phone and said hello. He paused and let a smile creep across his face. When he hung up he grinned at Jude.

"That was Michaela," he said. "Tomorrow we welcome the newest member of the Mason family."

Scene 3:

"Noah?!" Piper said, suddenly dropping her voice to a whisper. "Why's Noah here?"

"How do I know?" Dinah almost snapped. "Maybe he's auditioning."

"I didn't know Noah acted, he never mentioned it before," Piper said, still whispering as she tried to blend into the shadows. She didn't want Noah to see her here.

"Maybe this is his first time," Dinah suggested. She tried to duck into the shadows with Piper but he caught sight of them and waved a hello. Dinah waved back and nudged Piper in the side. "Too late for hiding. Might as well say hello." She didn't think she could handle watching Piper blush the entire time they talked to him or the ridiculous older brother expression he always gave them.

Trying to act casual Piper said, "Hey, what's up Noah?"

"Not much," Noah said as he approached the two girls. "What are you two doing here? Not causing trouble are you Dinah?" He leaned casually against the wall next to them. So close, Dinah thought. She glimpsed at Piper who looked like she wanted to throw up. This was not good.

"No, no trouble from me," she replied and stuck out her tongue.

"We were...um...auditioning...," Piper trailed off. Why was it so difficult to think of comprehendible sentences around Noah?

"For Frank Farley?" Noah said his eyes wide with surprise.

"Yeah, so?" Dinah frowned. "Is he someone special?"

"Only a Tony award winning director. He's big...no, huge in New York. You've honestly never heard of him?"

Piper's eyes widened as she let out a sharp gasp. ''Please, say you're joking," Piper said.

"How embarrassing," she mumbled. He was probably laughing it up now at her attempt to act.

"I'm not joking," Noah remarked. "Are you okay Piper? You look kind of pale..."

Piper turned around to rest her head against the cold wall, "I can't believe I attempted to act in front of him." Couldn't she have picked a play with some new director to match her new acting skills.

Dinah laid a hand on her shoulder and tried to soothe her. "Hey, whoever this Farley guy is asked you to come back remember? If he's as huge as Noah says he is he must have seen something he liked. Quit thinking your terrible. I mean it, Piper."

Piper rolled back around, giving a look to Dinah that clearly said I don't believe you, but she didn't say anything else.

"You read for Frank Farley, Piper, and he liked you. That means you're good. Right Noah?" Dinah said turning to Noah for help.

"Absolutely," Noah agreed. "I've heard he's merciless on the bad actors."

"He is," Dinah cut in. "He told me I belonged in a kindergarten play."

Piper resisted laughing at Dinah's last comment. "Tomorrow I have to come back to interact with other actors? What does that mean?"

"It means you made a callback, Piper. A lot of actors would kill for where you are right now," Noah said.

Piper nodded. So basically all that mattered now was being able to perform in front of a larger audience and then an even larger audience. "Wait, why are you here Noah? Are you auditioning?" she asked as the idea suddenly occurred to her.

"No. But there was an ad in the paper today for a lighting job. School's out for the summer and I'd like to stay in the Glen so, I need a second job," he confessed. Dinah bit her lip trying not to be happy that he not only wanted to stay but that he would be closer especially if she managed to worm her way into some aspect of the play production.

"Oh," Piper said as she tried to shield her disappointment. It would have been nice if Noah was in the play too and got the part of Demetrius. She would even get to kiss him maybe. She was being so stupid! She wasn't even in the play yet! "That's cool."

"I hope you get a part, Piper. And just think, we can hang out together while we're both here. It'll be fun.

"Yeah, that would be cool," Piper said eagerly. Hanging out with Noah! Piper prayed she would get the part now.

Dinah frowned a little but tried not to let her disappointment show. Of course, he was just being nice to her, she thought, because she was so down on herself right now. "Well, come on Piper. My mom will freak out if I don't get home by seven tonight," she said breaking into the smile were giving each other.

"Huh?" Piper said, tearing her eyes away from Noah's. "Yeah, okay,"

Dinah dragged Piper away shaking her head but paused when Noah called her name. "Dinah! I almost forgot. You left your sweater in my car the other night. I can drop it off later okay?"

Dinah nodded feeling her face flush. He was supposed to return it but did he need to say that in front of Piper?

Left sweater in his car? The other night? Piper looked at Dinah, confused. Was that guilt? No, couldn't be. None the less, Piper gently pulled the arm that Dinah had a hold of back to her own side. Why would Dinah be in Noah's car? He was probably just giving her a lift or something. Yeah, that had to be it. Piper quietly moved ahead, trying to contemplate it.

"Hey wait up. It's not what you think Piper," Dinah said as they hit the outdoors. "Remember the day we went to Richmond? After I ran out, he gave me a ride home. That's all."

"I wasn't thinking anything," Piper said, her eyes narrowing at Dinah's jumping to conclusions. Oh, she was just being ridiculous. Dinah was her best friend, she wouldn't hurt her. "I know you wouldn't do that to me, you're my best friend."

"No way Piper. I wouldn't. Besides...," she grinned. "He's too nice for me. I want a guy who will take me away from this town on his motorcycle! And he'll have blue eyes and blonde hair. Cause I really don't like the tall dark and handsome types at all," she joked.
Piper laughed, "I thought those types that drove bikes were dark and then the jocks and surfers were blonde."

"You can be a jock and drive a Harley. It could happen," Dinah laughed.

Piper shrugged, "just doesn't fit the stereotype." She grinned as she opened the door to the car.

"So I'm not into stereotypes either. So sue me!" Dinah climbed into the driver's seat and buckled her seat belt, glad that she had averted that mini crisis. There was no way she could be interested in Noah now. Not at all. She smiled at Piper. "Come on, let's get the star home!"
Piper rolled her eyes, "we'll just see about that whole star thing. If I don't end up in a puddle opening night...if I even get that far."

"Oh you will. I can see it now...you'll be fantastic and Frank Farley will ask you to go to New York and star in his next play on Broadway." She giggled at the idea. "And I'll be left here to take your job waiting tables at Connie's."

Piper laughed. "It's a nice concept," she agreed. She would probably be stuck in the Glen the rest of her life like the rest of her siblings.

"Concept? If you believed in yourself a little bit more, it might actually be more than a concept," Dinah scolded her. "And I want to be able to say I knew you when."

Piper sank into herself slightly. She didn't have any reasons to believe in herself, but she wasn't going to argue that with Dinah. "Okay," she merely said, though it was obvious Dinah's words did not make much of a difference.