Jen stood up. "Yeah, i sure do" he smiled, there still being a hint of malice in his eyes though. "I could show you before lunch is over if you want" he shrugged. The moment he looked over at her she was trying to fake a smile that didn't quite look right on her. He sighed deeply. "It's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. I'm just a miserable person who has nothing more to do other than mess around with people." He got up, garnering his stuff. "Come on, I'll show you around." He seemed more chill now. "If you need anything after this you can go and ask the other students because let's just say that i don't quite trust you." He put it bluntly.
"I wouldn't expect you to. You just met me, after all." Daniella said, her tone and words fairly casual, despite the stiffness in her hunched shoulders as she stood as well. Her hand closed around the matchbook as she tucked her other hand into one of her hoodie pockets, shrugging a shoulder. She didn't have a bag, part because she couldn't afford one, and part because it made quick travel easier. "I'll just figure it out on my own, after. Two classes on my own isn't much."
Jen shook his head. "It's not because I just met you. There's just something more about you" he didn't elaborate after that. "Cool, that way you don't have to bother me." Jen walked out from behind the bookshelves, half expecting for Daniella to follow. "I'll also show you to the audition and gym, since those are two huge things here. We often have events in those two places."
(Do you want to keep going through the classes or skip to a different time?)
((Drama at the end of the day, or some sort of run in between classes?))
((Gotcha gotcha gotcha. My start?))
By the time the end of her last class came about, Daniella wanted to find a safe and secluded spot, and take a nap. Realistically, she knew she wouldn't even be able to fall asleep, but the thought was nice. Frivolous hopes. You've got things to do, anyway. Sadly, she really did. First, she needed to suffer through the rehearsal she had been signed up for without warning. Then, she needed to find somewhere to spend the night, that didn't cost any more money than she could spare. A job of sorts might have to wait until tomorrow, but a shower wouldn't, as she'd snuck a shower in the locker rooms just after her second to last class ended.
Fiddling with her matchbook once more, she pushed the doors to the school's theater open hesitantly. The matchbook acted as an anchor for her, despite the connotations and memories that came with it. Light a fire and watch it burn. You can always go out your own way. Daniella shook her head, huffing something like a wry laugh as she made her way silently along the aisle inbetween two rows of seats, towards the small group of about five students and a middle-aged man in a bright red scarf gathered on and near the stage. Not everyone was there yet, apparently.
(Oh yeah, my character is supposed to be in this too right?)
((Yup! Agfdsf I realized my use of the word drama might've been easily taken as in like, a hot mess, instead of rehearsal, sorry. Jen would be the actor for the male lead, of a musical I don't have much of an idea for except something slightly ironic))
(XDDD it's alrighty, I'll get it started)
Jen walked into the threater and went straight to backstage, he was late. He set his stuff down and sighed heavily. He had a bruise near his mouth as he looked in the mirror. He frowned. He was hoping that it wouldn't leave a bruise but that was just wishful thinking. He was too exhausted to do this today, but he couldn't just bail out. He walked on stage, going to the group of kids and teacher. He looked over to all the people that would be participating, he skimmed right past Daniella then he froze. There was no way that they would put the new girl as the understudy- nO WAY- He forced a smile. He just prayed that no one would get sick or have last minute changes. "So is everyone here?" He asked the the teacher, feeling like everyone was present.
"Not yet, it seems." The man-Silas, as he had insisted Daniella call him-said. She guessed everyone else already knew that, considering they had had him as a teacher longer. "But our wonderful new understudy has just showed up!"
Daniella's steps faltered just slightly as Silas pointed her out, drawing all seven pairs of eyes on the stage towards her. Her shoulders hunched even more, a force of habit, as she tightened her grip on the matchbook in her pocket. "Uh-yeah. Hey." As her brown eyes landed on Jen, a flicker of annoyance passed through her chest. Great. The guy who hated her, and seemed well aware that she wasn't who she pretended to be, had a part in the musical she'd been unwittingly signed up for. That meant she'd be stuck with him until she could leave town.
(Sorry i haven't replied, I've been with my family since i came to visit them at Colorado but i swear I'll try to make time to respond more frequently)
Jen nodded, acknowledging Daniella as the understudy, though he didn't like it. He'd have to go through everything with her. Teach her from the beginning. He wasn't even sure if she'd ever done anything of the sort. "Anyways i think we should get started now. I think everyone's here and we only have a limited time to get Daniella through the basics. I also have to leave early since i have work again today" he told the professor, crossing his arms, looking like he was posing. Jen was going to get that vehicle finished before he went to school tomorrow, even if he had to pull an all nighter. The though made him sag, he was tired just thinking about it.
((Dude, you're totally good. My own response times are gonna be wack for the next week or so, bcs I've got my own family to contend with))
"Just give me my lines, and I can worry about everything on my own." Against her better judgement, Daniella spoke, her voice clear and steady enough that there was no way anyone would miss it. Jen was getting under her skin a bit, sadly, and she didn't like the insinuation that she couldn't handle whatever was needed for her without a bunch of teaching.
The slight tension didn't go unnoticed, but Silas's response was cut off by two more students, a boy and girl with similar features, hurrying in. "Sorry!" The girl called as she and the boy neared the stage, both looking slightly out of breath. "Jenkins kept us late with his normal 'the bell doesn't dismiss you' bullshit."
(Ah alrighty, sorry I've been gone for a long time, im complete garbage when it comes to trying to keep up with rps)
Jen's eyes said it all. He was clearly looking down on her. "Sounds like a plan, i have absolutely no complaints to that" he turned his back on the kids and went to start off doing things on the stage.
A kid who was watching from afar in the shadows finally spoke up. "I'm here too Jen" Jen turned to see a kid all the way in the back of the theater, leaning against the wall. Jen rolled his eyes as he kept doing his thing, setting everything up so they could begin practice. "Why waste your time here? Go screw with someone else" he said like casual talk. As if they were something close to friends.
(And uhhh i don't know what to do here im sorry XD)
Daniella bit her tongue, literally, to keep herself from speaking. There were so many things she wanted to say, but she was no stranger to keeping quiet and shutting herself up for her safety. So instead of speaking, instead of digging herself an early grave, she accepted her copy of the script from Silas and sat on the edge of the stage, as far from the others as she could to read over her script.
((It's cool lmao. If you want, we could skip like a little teeny while or something and have some drama start. Ha, drama at drama))
(Alrighty, cool~)
While the other people were goofing off and practicing on stage, Jen was sitting on the edge of the stage, his legs hanging off, sewing up some torn clothes. It wasn't his job- the apparel class did it for them- but he needed something to do before he lost his damn mind. Jen had already practiced and memorized everything he needed to know, so he was good to go. The guy from before stood in from of him. "Nice bruise you got going on there" he said motioning to his own mouth. Jen glared up at him but stayed quiet. "You know that if i told them what i saw you would be suspended or worse, kicked out of theater for good?" Brett said casually. "And you know that if i told them that you smoke weed in between classes they'll do the same?" He looked up at Brett calmly, not really caring. Brett scoffed and said nothing. "Why don't you go and tell the new girl to get off her ass and start practicing." Brett teased, thinking that Jen liked Daniella. Jen gave Brett a hard look. "Don't talk about people like that. She's new, she has to read the script first. With a little luck she won't even need to put herself in front of a crowd." Jen said, sewing the needle through some pants and snapping off the thread with his teeth, his two hands occupied. He glanced over to Daniella. Not really knowing if she knew what the heck she was doing.
Daniella looked oddly focused, absorbed in the script to the point that she had let her usual wariness subside. The different emotions of the character she was a backup for played out on her face occasionally, and she was just a few pages from finishing. A fast reader, and one with an eidetic memory to boot, was a great combo. Well, that was, when her memory wasn't causing her to perfectly relive traumatic events. About two more minutes had her pulling her hair up into a ponytail with the hair tie kept in her pocket, and shedding her hoodie as she set the script aside and stood.
The matchbook was in her back pocket now, the outline just slightly visible. Your own way. This isn't the worst and least enjoyable thing. Your own way. She caught Silas's eye, pointing down at the script and then nodding slightly, and he beamed.
"I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I trust you have the hang of it! Are we already for a quick scene run through?"
"What the hell?" Someone spoke up, one of the smaller group of boys in the whole theater group. He looked confused, but also slightly pissed. "You picked this chick up off the street, basically, and she dresses like it too. You're just gonna let her read the script and hope she's got it? Nothing else, no audition, nothing?"
"Anyways, when are you gonna ask the pretty girl out? You two seem to get along, better hurry it up before someone steals her from you~" Brett said, looking at how elegantly Daniella preformed, like she had already done this. She was a natural. Jen stared at Daniella, considering it for a split second, and he almost- almost found himself catching feelings for her. He rolled his eyes and looked away, focusing back on the pants he was repairing. "Yeah, whatever, I'm not interested" he said casually. Brett chuckled and shook his head.
Then there was a commotion between one of the students. Brett let out a low whistle at the insults thrown at Daniella, but not really doing anything to stop it. Jen set the pants down and stood up. "I'm sorry what was that?" He said, not because he hadn't heard but because he dared the guy to repeat himself. Jen hated discrimination and was ready to fight anyone who dared to pick on anyone else for their race, sexuality, or how they looked in general. Jen's eyes flashed to Daniella for a brief second, almost as a warning for her to stand down. Jen walked up to the group of boys, looking at the guy specifically. "I dare you to say that one more time, I'll throw you out of here faster than you can piss your pants."
The boy's words hit her full force, the insults slung at her after the scene's rehearsal all sharp words and veiled almost-slurs. The spark of anger in Daniella's chest was addictive, but the familiarity of it gave her pause. That wasn't her own anger. That was the anger that had branded the skin of her shoulder, that had left scars along her body as punishment for the smallest and biggest things. That was the anger that had killed the people closest to her. That was her father's anger.
Instead of allowing the fiery anger to bloom, she took a deep breath, watching Jen tell off the boys, and boy in particular. Her anger had started hot, hot enough to light a blazing fire in her chest, but she turned it cold. And regardless of the type of anger coursing through her veins, she didn't like being told what to do, when she'd fought so hard to keep her minuscule freedom already. She stepped forward, the slump to her shoulders gone almost completely as she smiled. It wasn't a very friendly smile. All sharp edges and showing teeth, one that didn't quite reach her eyes, it was chilling, made obvious by the sharp intakes of breath from multiple other students.
"That's your best attempt at fitting in? Putting other people down the best you can?" At first, Daniella's words didn't quite make a lot of sense. But the widening of the boy's eyes, before he straightened in some attempt to look more imposing, made it obvious they did to him. Reading people was a specialty of hers. Another skill that had kept her alive. "I expected a bit more, honestly, effort-wise. And that's not even counting your poor attempts at insulting me."
Jen turned to Daniella when she spoke up. He glared at her. He had wanted her to stay quiet because talking back would only get her into more trouble. Not in the moment but later when they had a chance of picking on her when no one was around. He knew from experience. Nonetheless he was inpressed by how she managed to defend herself. Jen shook his head. He should of just let her handle this.
Soon the teacher was clapping, trying to get their attention. "Alright everyone that's enough. No more. If i hear something like that again I will throw you all out. Since you all are curious as to why Daniella has the part, it's because we want to get her more involved, consider it a warm welcome to the new student." He said proudly.
Jen's jaw dropped open. That was it? Just for a warm welcome? What kind of bullshit was tha- He was disrupted by the teacher giving out more announcements of when the play was going to be among other things, though Jen just spaced out the while time. He didn't even know why he bothered coming to theater practice if he had everything he needed nailed down.
Daniella let her shoulders slump back as everything returned to normal, ignoring the glares from both Jen and the boy and his friends. She kept the smile in place, though not as full-force. A protective measure of sorts, almost. Her own smile, not one her father used, not one anyone she'd known used, but her own, that she could wield as she wanted. One of the few things she could say that about.
She fiddled with her matchbook as she watched Silas, who flounced around the stage as he talked excitedly and with way too much enthusiasm about the upcoming rehearsal schedules, show dates at the end of the two month preparation period, and different fundraisers and events for gathering attention for the show. Daniella had never seen someone get so excited about a musical, but looking around, his excitement seemed to be slightly contagious, at least with a few of the other cast and crew members there.
"Alright! Feel free to run lines, go over the choreography you already have, or just chit-chat about the show for the rest of rehearsal! Em and Danny, I recommend discussing your character together." Silas advised, hands on his hips. He was a gangly man, for sure, and it almost looked slightly ridiculous. "Get a feel for her, and make sure you're both on the same page. Have fun, try not to start any fights!"
Jen watched dully as the rest of the kids went on to continue what they were doing. Jen considered leaving early since he was mostly done with his job here in the theater and could use a little more time to spend on the car he had to fix up, but decided that it would be best to stay in case they needed him for anything. Jen grabbed the mended pants and went to hang it up backstage with the rest of the clothes.
Almost nearing the end of the practice Jen went up to the teacher to ask for permission on leaving a few minutes early. He had gotten tired of the boredom and thought that doing something more productive would be better. So without another word he gathered his bookbag and other materials and called it day. Even though he could of waited another five minutes when the rehearsal would end, he didn't.
Daniella was surprised to find that she didn't…hate this whole thing. She had thought she would, when Silas had first pulled her off to the side in the hallway, and when she first got to the rehearsal. But she didn't. It was bearable, maybe even gearing towards pleasant. And while she wasn't quite sure what to do with that, she knew not to look a gift horse in the mouth. If she could do something that didn't constantly put her in fear or danger, she would make the most of it before it was gone.
She watched Jen leave with disinterest, paying more attention to Em, the girl she was subbing for if anything bad happened. It was sort of eerie, the similarities in appearance the two had. The main differences were Em's hair, a light reddish brown, and her eyes, which were a dark grey. For a second, when the light shone right, Daniella almost thought she was looking in a mirror without her contacts or hairdye. And then her eyes landed on Em's bright smile, and the thought was shoved far from her mind.
Five minutes later, everyone was slowly filtering out of the theater, though Em and a few others seemed fine to stay there longer. Daniella excused herself, grabbing her hoodie and slipping it back on as she started for the door. The hallway seemed empty, though the sounds of talking from elsewhere in the building carried to her ears. She would have been stupid not to hear the footsteps that were following her, though, all the way out of the school and down the street as she wandered. Three left turns made it official. She was being followed.
Jen walked down the street, going into a shop that sold parts for cars and other machinery. He looked through the place, picking out the stuff he needed. Jen then realized that he wouldn't be able to carry it all in one go. He would have to come back later when he dropped off the first load.
As Jen came out of the shop he saw Daniella, she seemed to be walking aimlessly as she took a turn. Jen questioned if he should follow her but when he saw a guy take the same turn he frowned. There was definitely something off. He quickly caught up, taking the same turn but keeping his distance. Why was he even doing this? He shouldn't even care but there was something about Daniella that intrigued him- probably because she was mysterious and unlike anyone he'd ever seen. She carried herself with such secret that it reminded him of himself. He frowned again, this time at himself. He figured he should probably stop stalking the girl and drop his suspicion, it was none of his business anyways.
