I woke up and rubbed sleep from my eyes. I took a deep breath and sighed, staring at my room. Granted, it wasn't a very big room and we had just moved in, but I had managed to fill my wall with framed playbills from every show I've seen since middle school and massive, framed posters of my personal favorites. Essentially, I had one wall (from above my desk, to a foot below my ceiling) filled with a grid of equal sized playbills. (But not wall to wall. I'm classy.) And above my bed were three large posters. (In The Heights, Wicked, and Kinky Boots if we're being specific.)

I slipped out of bed and padded over to the bathroom. (My mom has the bathroom downstairs so I get this one all to myself.) I washed my face and stared at myself in the mirror. Not Mia.

I mean, I saw the way they looked at each other. I'm just Penelope. Not Mia.

But Penelope was determined to get the lead in the musical.

"Thanks mom." I said as I headed towards the recording studio. My mom works for a major record company, but works at a smaller studio. I have yet to record something. I'm just here to practice. I was not about to use the studio at the school. Or their practice rooms. Auditions were tomorrow and there would be tons of kids there, trying to practice.

I shut the door behind me and pulled out my instrumental tracks CD. I played the song before my audition piece, giving myself time to get into the booth. I pulled the headphones off the mic and put them on. The end of Reflection from Mulan played and I got ready to sing. I took a deep, silent breath and sang when the time came. I opted to skip the first word of the song because I was the only one singing.

"This is my street, I smile at the faces I've known all my life, they regard me with pride. And everyone's sweet they say 'you're going places.' So how can I say that while I was away, I had so much to hide, 'hey guys it me, the biggest disappointment you know.' The kid couldn't hack it. She's back and she's walking real slow." I felt myself lock into the character. I closed my eyes singing the riff on "Just breathe." The song blew by and before I knew it I was staring intently at a record hanging on the wall in the other room, belting the notes, emotion pouring through my words. "When I was a child I stayed wide awake, climbed to the highest place on every fire escape. Restless to climb, I got every scholarship, saved every dollar, the first to go to college." I could feel myself tear up as my voice reached its peak in the song, "How do I tell them why I'm coming back home, with my eyes on the horizon." I instinctively reached out with one arm, pointing towards an imaginary horizon. "Just me and the GWB, asking 'Gee Nina, what'll you be?'" I finished the song and took a deep breath and looked at the floor as the instrumental track for When You're Home started playing. The music stopped and I looked up seeing Charlie standing in front of the control table, clapping. I slipped off my headphones, blushing.

He pressed a button, "Wow," he breathed.

"How did you-" he cut me off before I could finish my sentence.

"My brother. He's recording a few rooms down today." He smiled, "Got bored and heard you singing. Well I didn't know it was you till I opened the door and, wow." He said. Okay it was more of a ramble. "Why are you here?"

"Oh I'm practicing for rehearsals." I answered.

"Obviously, I mean how did you get in here."

"Oh, my mom works here." I said laughing.

"Woah really?" He seemed surprised, "That's so cool."

"Yeah she just helps run the building." As I said it I realized that it sounded kinda like I was bragging.

"Woah, well maybe I can listen to your monologue?" He asked, implying that I should perform it.

"Okay cool." I pulled a folded paper out of my pocket and glanced it over quickly before putting it back in my pocket. "My name is Penelope Takahashi and I'll be playing Gina from The Audition." I said completing my slate.

I finished the monologue and did a little curtsy. I came out of the recording booth and joined Charlie in front of the control panel. "You're really good." He told me, he backed up and flopped into the small couch in the room.

I gently shoved his legs off the couch, forcing him to sit up, and sat beside him. "Yeah but not Mia good." I said sadly.

"Yeah, you aren't Mia good." He agreed, not making me feel better.

"Not helping."

"Let me finish." He sighed, "You're Penelope good. You're so much better than Mia. Honestly, she over acts onstage and sings like a child. She gets cast a a childish lead because she plays less mature parts. But you, God, you could play some amazing leads." He paused, "I mean, you're really good." He said awkwardly.

"Thanks. Oh," I laughed, "there's that blush again. I seem to do that a lot."

"It suits you Penelope." He smiled, flashing his teeth.

"Penny."

"I like Penelope." He said quietly.

"Why? Penny is just a nickname." I reasoned.

"Penelope is your name. And," he stopped himself, standing up quickly. "I like you." He rushed out of the room leaving me both speechless and confused.

Like me? As in friend? Or like he wants to take me out. Friend. We're friends.

Charlie's POV:

I rushed out of the room, my back against the wall. Did I just say that? We've known each other for two weeks. God, what if she thinks I'm crazy? I heard her gathering her things and walked as fast as possible back over to the studio Chase was recording in.

"Hey man, where'd you go?" Chase asked as I landed face first on the couch.

"Wandered, I found a friend from school, told her I liked her." I told him, my voice muddled by the cushion.

"Wait that Asian girl you keep talking about?" He asked.

"Yeah, Penelope, she was practicing for auditions tomorrow." I turned my head, looking up at Chase.

"And?" He sat on one of the chairs in front of the control table. "What'd she say?"

"I don't know I basically ran out after I did." I admitted, it wasn't like me to be nervous or awkward. I couldn't help it with Penelope, she just so, wow.

"Woah," Chase made a face.

"Yeah, I feel so stupid." I sat up and put my head in my hands, "I was like, 'I like you.' and then I literally left the room. What? Why did I do that?" I asked mostly to myself.

"Okay, so tomorrow at the audition, ask her if she wants to get lunch afterwards, you'll both have spent the morning at the school so you'll both be hungry." He offered.

"Maybe, if I go." I grumbled.

"Oh you're going, it's your last musical as a high school student. If you don't go I'll put nair in all your hair products." He threatened.

I put my hands up in defeat, "Okay okay, I'll go, I'll go."

"Good." He smiled, "Maybe you guys will finally do In The Heights and you can play Usnavi." He said.

"Eh, I'd rather play Benny to be honest." I said, "You're an Usnavi."

"You're right." He said, smiling like he was the best. I didn't blame him, he's recording his second album. His first major album, that last one was just an EP. This one may put him on the charts.

"Okay I gotta go practice my monologue." I said, huffing as I got up. I gave a two finger salute and headed out of the studio. As I left the building I caught a glimpse of Penelope getting in her car.

I ducked behind a bush until she left.