The class continues and girls audition for the secondary roles, extras, stagehands, and more. Tommy 'Whorehouse', the only other boy in your class, actually volunteers to be on the production side of things this time. You suspect that has more to do with him wanting to "work with the girls" backstage, than doing actual work.
After all the roles have been applied for, Ms Garcia rehearses a scene with you in front of the class: your first visit to the talent agency.
A smartphone off to the side of the stage plays smoky jazz music. The lighting is set low and dim. You enter Ms Garcia's 'office', miming your entrance through a door. She's sitting on a chair, pretending to do paperwork on an invisible desk. She sees you and grins like a crocodile.
"There you are, toots. Marcus, right? You're my 3 o'clock. Listen, I'll make this quick. You wanna be a star. But do you have what it takes? Lemme get a closer look at you."
Ms Garcia gets up and circles you.
"Mm, very nice. You're fit. Country boy?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Stick out your arms and give us a twirl. That's right. Now bend over."
The girls in the audience whoop and whistle. You feel the tips of the teacher's hands running over your backside. She cups your cheeks and squeezes them.
"Is this really necessary for the audition, ma'am?" you breathe.
"This isn't an audition, Marcus. I need to see what I'm working with before I can send you out into the world. Stand up straight."
She gets behind you and wraps her arms around you. You're facing the rest of the class now, and you see the hunger in their eyes as your teacher toys with your body.
"Do you think I've got what it takes?" you ask.
"I think you just might," she answers. "End Scene."
The class starts cheering.
"Yeah, baby, you've got everything we want."
"Show us that sweet ass again!"
You look to Ms Garcia to bring the class under control but instead she praises them.
"Very good, girls. That's exactly the sort of spirit I want you bringing to the performance. Whether you're in my class, at lunch, or in another lesson, if you're with Marcus, just go for it. If another teacher asks, tell them it's for my play and I'll handle it."
That was the last thing you wanted to hear.
As everyone talks amongst themselves excited for the new production, you notice that the stage lights are still on. Curious, you walk around back and knock on the door to the cramped effects room. You hear a gurgling noise, then the click of a switch. The lights flicker back to normal. Finally the door opens and two very happy girls exit, followed by Tommy. He wipes his lips with his sleeve and fixes his hair, but you still see a thin trail of white on the corner of his mouth.
He swallows and smiles at you.
"Good performance, Marcus. I just know you're going to love the theatre as much as I do."
The girls in your class have all taken Ms Garcia's words to heart, and start treating you differently. Taylor is even more aggressive than before. Even Iris, the shy wallflower in the baggy jumper, seems different when she approaches you after Drama finishes.
"S-So, Marcus. How do you feel, getting to work with a bunch of g-gorgeous girls like us? I hope we're not too much for you." She blushes and her voices speeds up, "Because if you're nervous that's totally fine I don't wanna scare you or anything so tell me if I'm overdoing it okay?"
You tell her it's fine and that you're happy to be working with her.
'Wow. Assertive Iris is even cuter than shy Iris. Hmm... Shyris?'
You're still thinking about possible nicknames for her when Taylor pulls you aside and slams you up against a wall.
"Listen up, Marcus. You may be co-starring with Ms Garcia but she's the teacher, you understand? You're mine. If I hear about any of the other girls 'method acting' you into their bitch before I do, they'll have another thing coming."
With that said she releases you from her grip and saunters off into the distance.
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