Many years have passed. "Are you sure you're going to okay, sweetheart? I mean, snows getting heavier and it's already freezing cold. Do you really need to do rehearsals today?" Chelsea asked her daughter, Callie who is now entering the Apollo Auditorium. It's already December and the temperature is getting low. "Mom, you know that being the lead actress in this stage play means a lot to me. You don't have to worry, I'm going to be alright." Callie reassures her mother. The freezing temperature didn't stop her from attending the rehearsals for the upcoming stage play. What really makes her excited is she got the main lead role, and not to mention, she is the only female cast in this stage play because the rest of the cast are consists of seven boys! As Callie is walking her way through the lobby, she immediately sees one of the cast members, Nate Anderson who is walking towards her direction with a smile on his face. "Good morning, Callie! Oh look at you, looking like
"Good morning everyone! I'm glad that half of the cast are already here. But the other two are not here yet. And now I'm thinking of giving a punishment for the latecomers..." the old director seriously stated. They started getting scared after hearing the Director. Director Oliver is really a disciplined man, and what he hates the most is wasting time... "Come to think of it, Grant and Edward are not here yet." Nate whispered at Callie. "Are they in a bad situation?" Callie asked in return. Nate, Chase, Kent and Randall all stared at her with dark expression on their faces. “More than you can imagine.“ Chase answered my question. She suddenly felt goosebumps after hearing his answer. "R-Really?" she said, almost in a whisper. "---Let's stop wasting our time waiting for those latecomers. Let's start with our rehearsals." Director Oliver quickly decided. "Yes, Sir!" all of the casts who are currently present said in unison. "I hope Grant and Edward could still make it." Cal
"Anyway, let's resume on our rehearsals." Nate suddenly suggested. "Are they both going to be alright later?" Callie can't help herself but to ask again. "Well, except for the muscle pains, they'll be okay." Kyle answered. Chase, Kent, Randall and Kyle joined the group, and Nate, the team leader, decided to take over the rehearsals. "Okay, everyone... We'll begin practicing the scenes wherein all of the celestial guardians are gathering to protect the heroine. Shall we start with that?" Nate asks for everyone's approval. "Let's do it." Chase nodded in agreement. All of the casts started looking at our own scripts, and they started throwing lines to each other. While the others are busy saying their lines while reading their script booklet, Nate discreetly moved near Callie and he whispered something into her ear. "Callie... Do you have time to talk later? I need to tell you something really important." he suddenly asked. She can feel his warm breath unto her ear and it sends
Nate was about to say something more but he decided to stop when he heard Randall calling them. "Here are the drinks, guys! Come and get it!" Randall announces, while holding two grocery bags full of drinks. "Wow, that was fast! Thanks, man." Nate smiles at him. The other boys started getting their own drinks. Meanwhile, Kyle started giving Grant and Edward a mentholated body plasters, to help them with their muscle pains... And while the others are busy doing their own thing, Nate suddenly held Callie's hand. "I'll talk to you again later, okay?" he whispered at her again, then afterwards, he joins with the other boys. Callie stared at her hand that has been touched by Nate's warm hand. "Is there something I should look forward yo later?" Callie smilingly wonders to herself... =============================== Few hours later. It was already 9 'o clock in the evening. Their rehearsals for the day is finally over. "As always, good work, everyone." Director Oliver commended
“And how can you calmly stand there, Chase?” Kent demanded, while giving Chase a challenging stare. "Just relax, guys. She's not that weak. I'm sure that she's alright." Chase suddenly enunciated. "Wait, what are you saying?" Grant asked, while looking confused. "The point is, let's just trust her, okay?" Chase mysteriously said, then afterwards, he didn't say anything else. All of the boys looked at each other. Then afterwards, the focused their attention towards the security guard. "Please, give us more time, Sir!" Edward requested, in a polite tone. “We want to wait for our friend!” Grant pleaded as well. The guard cleared his throat, and he nodded as an answer. "Alright, boys... Ten more minutes!" the guard finally gave in. ============================= Back inside the Apollo Theater. Callie tightly closes her eyes, as she is waiting for any sharp object to stab her. She is fearing for her life, but she can't do anything because her whole body feels powerless, as if th
Apollo Theater. 6:45 in the morning. Callie felt a hand gently shaking her shoulder. It was to tenter and she felt like she was being touched by an angel. "Callie..." I heard that familiar voice calling my name, with a sense of urgency. She slowly opened her eyes and she saw Nate looking at me with a worried look on his face. "Oh, it's you, Nate." I said still half-asleep. "Yes. Good morning, Callie." he greeted her. "Good morning to you, too." she greeted him back, as she is now fully awake. "I'm so sorry for waking you up, but we need to get out of here as soon as possible." Nate told her, while looking apologetic. And with that, Callie remembered everything that happened last night... She voluntarily locked herself inside the Apollo Theater with Nate last night, and they had their very own "private rehearsals" until the late hours of the evening. "Oh, right! Thanks for waking me up, Nate." Callie thanked him in return, while trying to stand up. "No problem... By the way,
The first half of the meeting is finally over. Director Oliver stood up and looked at everyone. "That will be all for the time being, everyone." the old man announces, while closing his own script booklet. All of the cast members let out a sigh of satisfaction because they were able to have a productive today. Director glances at his wristwatch, and then he decided to speak again. "It's almost lunchtime. Any suggestions for lunch?" he asked. "Well, burger and fries combo would be great!" Kyle suddenly suggested. "Oh, how about a New York style pizza?" Edward made a suggestion as well. "A Chinese take-out sounds nice." Grant joins in as well. All of them did a mock vote for our lunch for today, and in the end, the majority of the cast voted for an extra large New York pizza. "Callie, it's your turn to run errands for us. Please buy the pizza for us, and this is your punishment for being late today." the old director suddenly informs Callie. "Yes, sir." she agreed ri
While Callie and Chase are walking towards the pizza restaurant, he was the first one to break the silence. "You must me wondering why I have that photo on my phone." he started talking. "Yeah." Callie said, as she want to know his story. "Well, I was dead worried about you and Nate last night. I was worried that the two of you might get locked up inside the Apollo Theater." Chase started. "How did you know we're inside?" she curiously asked him. "I really don't know how to explain it, but I had this inkling feeling that you and Nate are inside." answered Chase, while shrugging his shoulders. Callie explained that it was our mutual decision to stay inside the Apollo Theater to have private rehearsals, as she and Nate are feeling more pressured to perform well for the upcoming stage play... "So that's the reason why." Chase spoke again, as he understands everything now. "And I'm really sorry for making you and the rest of the boys worry too much." she sincerely apologized to hi