Chapter 15
Chapter Fifteen
Katherine
“Marina, you are so much fun,” Brielle giggles as we all walk down the street to get some hot dogs. Marina is walking ahead of us, pretending she’s a Supermodel on a Catwalk and she is waving at every hot guy that walks past us.
“I’m so tired,” I say and I massage my calves as we walk. “And why do I have zero rhythm?”
“None of us has rhythm,” Willow says as we stop next to a street vendor. “Which made the night even funnier, because everyone thought we were taking ourselves so seriously.”
“What do you mean none of us have rhythm?” Marina says, looking slightly aghast and offended. “What about me? I thought I did well.”
“Really Marina?” Willow gazes at her in surprise.
“Honey, I just met you tonight, and I love you,” Brielle says, wrapping her arms around her, “but you have zero rhythm.”
“What? I thought I was doing well,” Marina pouts.
Brielle starts laughing. “It’s a good thing that you can act and sing, because I don’t think dancing is your thing.” I freeze for a second, worried that Marina will start crying or take it personally, but she just looks at Brielle and starts laughing.
“I know. I was in ballet lessons when I was younger, and the ballet teacher told my mom that she felt like she was doing a disservice taking her money because I was so bad,” she laughs. “I wonder if that’s why I didn’t make it as a Rockette.”
“You were a Rockette?” I ask in absolute shock.
“I mean, I was never a real Rockette, but I did have hope. Katherine, thank you so much for inviting me out tonight. I had so much fun. You guys are amazing, and I’m so glad that y’all live in the city now because I’ve been hoping to make friends like you.”
“Aww, you are so sweet,” Willow says. “We’re so glad to have met you as well. You are so fun, and I really hope that you make it on Broadway.”
“Oh, she’s definitely going to make it,” Brielle says. “How could she not? She’s stunning.”
“Thank you,” Marina says, then her face lights up.
“Is everything okay?” I ask her nervously. I recognize that look on her face from the office and I’m scared of what’s about to occur.
“Yeah. I just had this brilliant monologue that came to mind.”
“Oh,” I say, wondering if it’s actually going to be brilliant or just brilliant in her head. I do not want to encourage her.
“When Rome was taken,” she says dramatically, holding her hand up. “I fought. I fought hard because I knew what it was to be a fighter.” She stomps her feet into the pavement and Brielle jumps in surprise.
“Is everything okay?” Brielle asks, confused. “What happened in Rome?”
“I think she may be acting,” Willow says, giving me an amused glance.
I smile nervously because I know Marina is just getting started.
“Oh, do you not know that line?” Marina asks. “I thought it was famous.”
“You thought that line was famous?” I ask her before I can stop myself.
“The fall of Rome,” she says in a thunderous voice. “It was devastating to all of us, but even more so to Caesar.” She points at me like I’m her opponent in a boxing ring. “Down with him. Down with Caesar.”
“Caesar?” Brielle asks. “Julius Caesar?”
“I am Julius Caesar!” Marina starts chanting and I can see other people looking at us now. “I am Julius Caesar.” She waves her hands back and forth. “I am Julius Caesar, the emperor of Rome.” She starts marching down the street like a soldier. “Follow me. I am your leader.”
“Is she okay?” Brielle whispers to me. “What the hell is going on?”
I nod. “This is just something Marina does.”
“Like, every day?” Brielle says, trying not to laugh.
I nod slowly and look over at Willow, who is laughing.
“I have just never seen anything like this before in my life.” Willow sounds like she’s going to die from laughing so hard. She’s practically wheezing.
Marina stops and turns back to us. “So, what do you think?” She asks normally as if she just put on an Academy award winning performance.
“It was kinda cool,” I say. “I have to admit, I’ve never heard of or seen that song or performance before. I don’t know if it was historically accurate, but it was definitely interesting.”
Marina shrugs and then shouts. “I just had an idea.”
“Oh? What?” I ask her.
“There’s this Off-Broadway show opening tomorrow, and I know the director is going to be talking to members of the audience. I figured if we go, maybe I can ask some questions and possibly do a little audition on the spot.”
“Do an audition on the spot?” Brielle asks. “What do you mean?”
“Well, I’ll ask a question. I’ll be like, ‘How long did it take you to direct this?’ And then I’ll get my answer, and then I’ll be like, ‘Thank you. I’m Marina, and I’m an actress looking for work.
’” Marina starts singing. “Then she’ll hear my voice and be like, ‘Wow, you’re talented.
I need you in my next play.’ And I’ll be like, ‘Sign me up. That’s why I’m here. ’”
Brielle’s eyes widen, and she nervously licks her lips. “Oh my God. She can’t sing well either,” she says, gazing at me.
“Brielle, shush,” I say.
“Look, girl, is anyone being honest with her? She thought she could dance, but she couldn’t. Her singing is atrocious. I mean, we sing better than her, and we sound like cats in the rain during a thunderstorm. Please tell me she can act.”
“I mean, I’ve never seen her in a performance,” I say, starting to laugh. “Stop it, Brielle. You’re going to get me into trouble.”
“Hey, Marina,” Brielle says and I give her a death stare. “How many plays have you been in, or movies, or TV shows, or whatever?”
“I was in my church’s plays for several years.”
“Your church had plays?” Brielle asks. “Really?”
“Well, you know the nativity scene at Christmas? One year I was Mary, and another year I was a wise man because all the guys dropped out because they didn’t think it was cool to be in the church play anymore.
So I had to take a spot as a man. But it’s cool because now I can play men and women,” she grins.
“I mean, I’m not going to cut off my hair or anything, but if I have to put it under a wig, I could be a man,” she says in a deep voice.
“Okay,” Brielle says. “Anything else you’ve been in?”
“When I was in high school, I was also in a play that I wrote for the drama club.”
“Oh, so you’re a good writer?” Brielle asks. “Can you tell us some of the lines?”
“Why, of course,” Marina says excitedly. “I’d love to share it with you. Thank you so much for asking. You really are a girl’s girl, Brielle.”
“I like to think so,” Brielle says. I stare at Brielle and just shake my head.
“Well, the name of the play was We’re Not All Cheerleaders.”
“That sounds quite appropriate for a high school play,” Willow says encouragingly.
“Hi, I’m Brittany,” Marina says, twirling her hair.
“I like bubblegum and Barbies, and I like jumping up and down and singing and twirling and grilling and twerking and working. At the pizza shop you got a buck, you got two, you got three. Give me some glue so I can put these pompom girls on my costume.” Marina starts jumping up and down and twirling around.
Willow, Brielle, and I just look at each other with panicked expressions on our faces.
“I’m surprised that one didn’t make it to Broadway,” Brielle says sarcastically.
Marina looks at her and giggles. “How sweet. Did you think it was that good?”
“Brielle, don’t,” I say as Brielle steps forward.
“Look, someone has to be honest with her,” Brielle says, looking at me. “And if we’re her friends, we’re going to have to be those people. I’m sorry, Marina but—”
“Brielle,” I interrupt, “maybe now is not the time.”
“Maybe now is the time! Before she embarrasses herself.”
“What are you talking about?” Marina asks. “What’s going on?”
“Marina, honey,” Brielle says, “you know I think you’re fab.
I don’t know you that well, but we’ve had a great time tonight, and Katherine works with you and vouches for you.
She says you’re cool. So I feel like maybe someone should be honest with you.
I don’t know how long you’ve been chasing this dream of being an actress and a performer and a dancer and trying out for the Rockettes or whoever else you want to try out for, but girl, you can’t sing. ”
Marina’s jaw drops. “What are you talking about?”
“You can’t sing,” Brielle says, then looks at Willow and me. “Girls, you’re my best friends. If I were Marina, what would you say to me?”
I press my lips together and sigh. “Marina, have you thought about voice lessons?”
“Voice lessons?” Marina’s lower lip trembles. “What do you mean?”
“Let’s just say if you auditioned for The Voice, I don’t think anyone would turn around,” I say, and Brielle rubs my shoulder.
“I agree,” Willow says. “None of them would turn around, girlfriend. You can’t sing.
And from what I can tell, your writing abilities aren’t really that great either.
I’m sorry,” she adds with a nervous giggle.
“I don’t want to be mean, but I want to be honest. You have a dream, and if you want to achieve that dream, you have to put in a lot more work. ”
“You seemed shocked when I said you couldn’t really dance,” Brielle says gently. “No one’s ever said that to you before, huh?”
Marina looks up, upset. “I know I could stand to get more professional help with my dancing,” she sniffles. “But I thought I had a nice voice. But what about my acting? Do you think my acting’s good?”
I look at Brielle and Willow. They both stare back at me. I don’t know what to say.
“To be fair,” Brielle says softly, “we haven’t seen your acting because you keep bursting into song. Maybe if you just give a monologue—like a theatrical monologue—without the singing or dancing or jazz hands, we could actually tell you what we think.”