Day 10
Vasily fucks me in Kseniya’s guest bathroom when he picks me up for the audition. It’s fast and rough, and with him behind me so his piercings rub just right while facing the mirror so I can watch as his eyes go so bright with his orgasm I feel like he’s going to set me afire? All that seems like a great idea.
Three hours later, when I’m getting up on stage and my panties squish, it feels less like a great idea.
No, it was a great idea. The fact that I let him bully me into not cleaning up before he pulled my panties up and buttoned my pants was the bad idea. God, I need to get some control in this relationship.
Or whatever it is.
The first two rows of the theater are filled with students. The director, his assistant, and the musical director are sitting in the center of the theater. Vasily stands at the head of the walkway to the exit, a compromise that was made when the director informed him that this was a closed audition and Vasily informed the director that he would not be leaving. I’d already gotten pulled away by a few classmates who wanted to know where I’d been, so I didn’t get the specifics of the conversation, but apparently this was what was agreed upon.
All eyes are on me as I talk with the pianist about which song I’ll be auditioning with. It’s not unusual that eyes are on me, of course — I’m literally on the stage of a theater, a stage I’ve been on hundreds of times before — but something feels different now. Most of the group is reading over their lines or having quiet chats or staring at me with disinterest, but there are a few boys who are whispering excitedly. It’s enough of a distraction that while the pianist tinkers out a couple bars to get the music in her head, I look out into the crowd.
I know all four of the boys causing the disruption. I had to kiss Trevor Johnson last year in a production of Hamlet. My brother was furious about it, so I told him Trevor’s gay even though he’s actually a bit of a Lothario who’s asked me out multiple times, and actually, he makes me uncomfortable.
He’s grinning at me like he knows something I don’t, something that gives him power.
They’re passing a phone between them. Hunter Degrassi looks at the screen, at me, back at the screen, and then at Vasily. His lips form a wide O.
Jaxson Smith next to him makes an obscene sexual gesture at me, and suddenly I realize what’s on the phone.
I’ve already signaled to the pianist that I’m ready when she is, and she launches into the intro bars as my throat dries up, robbing me of my voice. Vasily, who seemed to be casually leaning against the wall scrolling through his phone, suddenly straightens up, and before I can do anything to show why I’ve panicked, he’s moving.
I shrink back, already telling myself this audition was doomed from the beginning and everything will be easier if I don’t get the part anyway, but Vasily doesn’t head toward me. After one quick scan of the students assembled, he plows straight through to Trevor’s group. They’re laughing until they see the violence written in his features, but they’re stuck where they are, other students having filled the seats surrounding them.
Vasily doesn’t care about the other students. He pushes through them and grabs that phone in one giant hand and crushes it in his fist.
The melody trails off, the pianist watching this unfold same as I am. We exchange a look, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one whose panties have just dampened further.
But he’s mine. I’m not irritated with Kayley for being attracted to him, but he’s mine. “Go on, zvyozdochka, ” Vasily purrs from where he stands next to the assholes. “Sing for me.”
“Holy hell,” Kayley whispers as she begins the song again.
Everyone is frozen to their seats, most people looking at Vasily. Since most of them have no idea why a blond giant just randomly smashed this cell phone, I understand why they’re nervous.
Vasily’s eyes are fully on me, though, as I begin singing my audition song. I stare right back at him, pleased that he seems to enjoy it, getting all the way through the first chorus before I realize neither of the directors have ended it a few bars in as is usual. A lot of people are auditioning, and we’ve all graduated from high school theater. We know it’s nothing personal.
I glance to the center of the theater, wondering what’s happening, only to see the fear on the directors’ faces as well.
Oh, right. Easier to let me sing an extra couple minutes than risk further violence from Vasily.
I love singing. I love being on stage. I’m questioning whether I’ll get a role after this, and if so, if I’ll get it honestly or should just back out after today so the director isn’t put in a bad situation, so I take advantage of this moment.
When I finish, there’s more silence. Not unusual at an audition. But then Vasily begins to applaud and, when everyone else remains silent, yells, “Well? She is incredible, da? Cheer for her!”
Everyone does with hesitation, and if nothing else, I have a memory I’m going to laugh about until the day I die. When I exit the stage, Vasily meets me and says, “Come, zvyozdochka , show me restroom.”
Oh dear.