Chapter 1

There was little Jarvis found more exciting than starting a new acting job. New lines to learn, new fans, and most importantly, new colleagues. Even though Jarvis was only eighteen, he was no stranger to the theater. His father, Rory McIntyre, was a successful director so Jarvis had been on Broadway since he could walk.

But this time it was different. "Whispers and Werewolves" was a musical that Jarvis had written himself. To star in your own play on Broadway at eighteen... that was quite something.

He walked into the Bingham Ferguson Theater with all the confidence of an expert twice his age. When he signed in, it was easy to find his name because it was right at the top. Then he sauntered to the green room, hoping that there would be brownies to eat.

A handful of actors were already there. He had specifically written the characters to be middle school age so that adults couldn't possibly play them and therefore some younger people might have a chance to start their careers. Not everyone was blessed with his background, which had and always would make everything come easier for him.

And indeed, the actors were all high school age. Two beautiful girls sat in the corner talking, a gorgeous blond guy was reading his script and another gorgeous Latino guy was on his phone!

'Hey,' he said to the room at large, putting on his most dazzling smile. 'I'm Jarvis McIntyre.'

'Really?' said the girl with long brown hair, clutching her friend's arm in excitement.

'You're even better looking in person!' said the blond guy.

'I saw you in "Love Island" last year', said the Latino guy.

'I can't believe you wrote this play and you're only my age,' said the African American girl. 'I can barely write a decent essay at school.'

Jarvis loved this kind of attention.

'I'm not so amazing, really. Lots of people can write.'

'But this is some seriously good stuff,' said the Latino guy.

'I'm glad that you're all here to be a part of it,' said Jarvis. 'What are your guys names?'

'You mean you haven't heard of me?' said the blond guy, acting offended.

'Sorry, no.'

'Just checking,' he said. 'I'm James Lovell.'

'I'm Rose Gold,' said the African American girl. 'Yes, I know that's a color.'

'I'm Susan Prince,' said the brunette.

'And I'm Jorge Gonzales.'

Jarvis felt childishly excited. Everything was really happening.

'Do you guys want to run some lines while we wait for my fa- the director?'

'Sure,' said James.

They hadn't even opened their scripts when they heard the director walk in, yelling at someone on the phone.

'Let's go to the stage,' said Jarvis. 'Quietly.'

They climbed the creaking wooden stairs to the backstage area. Jarvis loved the view from the stage into an empty theater. Hundreds, maybe thousands of identical green velvet chairs, the walls chiseled with designs, the ornate ceiling held up by pillars and a massive chandelier hanging above the stalls, hopefully not going to fall like in "Phantom of the Opera".

'-and if it's not done by tomorrow, you're fired!' Rory McIntyre finished his phonecall.

He then faced the new actors with his hands on his hips. He was not a tall man, but he was buff and his violet eyes shone with the same determination as Jarvis's.

'Good morning guys,' he said, 'and welcome to "Whispers and Werewolves". We only have two short weeks before we open, so I hope everybody is ready to work hard.'

Standing next to him was Mr Francis, the young composer who, five years ago, had made Jarvis realize he wasn't entirely straight. Jarvis still couldn't look him in the eye.

'Who are we still waiting for?' he said.

Just then, Xander, the choreographer, walked in, followed by a few younger teenagers of about fifteen, all with slender dancer figures.

'We are here!' he announced. 'Here is your ensemble, McIntyre.'

He stopped to strike a dramatic pose and the nearest kid walked into him.

'I think that's everyone,' said Mr Francis. 'Let's start blocking the scene.'

'Right,' said Mr McIntyre. 'From the top. In this scene, Hemera and Nyx's mother has just died. Start stage left. The rest of you, prepare yourselves for Scene Two.'

'Let's go over the dance one more time in the green room.'

The speaker was not Xander, but a skinny pale teenage boy with floppy dark hair. He wore a skin tight white t shirt and thin black dance pants and jazz shoes.

'No Lee!' said a girl with frizzy brown hair and brown skin.

'We could do the dance in our sleep,' added a tall, thin red haired boy.

'Well I'm going to practice,' Lee said.

Xander put a hand on his shoulder.

'Just chill. You of all people don't need to practice. You'll just wear yourself out.'

'I thought Broadway was going to be professional,' he said.

Jarvis sat down next to him.

'Are we not living up to your standards, Your Highness?' he joked.

'Jarvis McIntyre!' he said, looking delighted. 'I'm a huge fan of your work.'

'You want to be an actor?' said Jarvis.

'No, a dancer and choreographer. I want to revolutionize the art of dance. I find a lot of fault with the way it is right now. Of course I want to act in my free time.'

'So acting on Broadway is more of a hobby?' said Jarvis, incredibly amused.

'Oh no Mr McIntyre! I take it very seriously.'

'Call me Jarvis,' he said. 'Mr McIntyre is my father.'

They looked at the stage where Susan was sobbing hysterically, being comforted by Rose. She was an amazing actress. One could literally feel her pain as she portrayed her character.

'Scene Two!' yelled Mr McIntyre. 'Romulus and Remus!'

'That's me,' said Jarvis, hopping onto the stage.

His brother in the show was James. He smiled at Jarvis in a way that made his heart speed up.

'The scene starts with the two of you lying together.'

Behind Mr McIntyre's back Rose snickered. Jarvis lay next to James and they stared the scene. Even though they weren't lovers in the story, the scene felt charged with sexual

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 06.09.2020
ISBN: 978-3-7487-5648-4

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Widmung:
To Mom and Nicole.