The New Faces

The drama room was bustling again the next day, but this time it felt different. There was a charged energy in the air, the kind that comes with fresh faces and new possibilities. Ria sat quietly in the back, her notebook perched on her lap, eyes scanning the unfamiliar students scattered throughout the room. The auditions had brought in a mixed bag of personalities—some nervous, others far too confident for their own good—but it was exactly what they needed. Fresh blood.

And, at least for now, it was a distraction from everything weighing on her mind.

"Alright, folks," Ms. Reyes called out, her voice cutting through the chatter. "Let's get this started! Today's our official callback day, so I want to see some strong energy. Give me everything you've got."

Ria watched as the newcomers gathered at the front of the room, the more familiar faces of the drama club members mingling with them, chatting and giving encouragement. Olivia was flitting around the room like a hummingbird, her usual enthusiasm dialed up even higher now that she had potential cast members to work with. Alex was more reserved, staying near the back by the lighting controls, their sharp eyes assessing the group with quiet focus.

"Ria, did you get a chance to look over the audition sheets?" Olivia asked, bouncing over to her and waving a clipboard filled with names. "I think we've got a few standouts. Kael was really excited about the guy from third period—Ethan? You saw him, right?"

Ria blinked, trying to place the name. "Ethan?"

"Yeah, Ethan Dawson," Olivia said, her voice lowering like she was about to share a secret. "He transferred here this year. I heard he's got a bit of a reputation at his old school for being, like, the guy. Star of the show, you know? Apparently, he's really good, but... well, you'll see."

Ria's eyes followed Olivia's gaze toward a figure lounging near the front of the room, talking animatedly with one of the other auditioners. Ethan. He stood out immediately, not just because of his height—he was easily one of the tallest in the room—but because of the way he carried himself. There was an ease to him, a kind of effortless confidence that wasn't just rehearsed—it was real. His dark hair was slightly messy in that way that seemed intentional, and his smirk never seemed to leave his face.

"Oh, that's him?" Ria murmured, already sensing something about him that made her uneasy. She couldn't place it exactly, but there was something about the way he moved, the way he dominated the space around him without even trying, that reminded her of someone trying to take over the narrative before they had even been cast.

"He's something, huh?" Olivia said, grinning. "Kael thinks he could be our lead, but I'm not so sure. We'll see how he does today."

Ria nodded, her eyes still fixed on Ethan. He was new, sure, but there was already a kind of tension in the room that seemed to center around him. The others kept glancing his way, some sizing him up, others clearly impressed. It was clear he wasn't just another face in the crowd.

"Let's get started!" Ms. Reyes called, clapping her hands. "Ethan, you're up first. Let's see what you've got."

Ethan flashed a grin, one that seemed designed to charm the entire room, and stepped forward. As he took his place in the center of the makeshift stage, he moved with the kind of ease that only came from experience. The other students fell silent, their attention fully on him.

He glanced down at the script for a moment before tossing it aside, as if he didn't need it. "Mind if I improv a little?" he asked, his voice smooth, confident.

Ms. Reyes raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Go ahead."

Ria felt the room shift slightly, everyone leaning in just a little more, curious. Ethan began his scene, and it didn't take long for his talent to shine through. He had a presence that filled the space effortlessly, his voice commanding but not overpowering. It wasn't just the delivery—it was the way he moved, the way his expressions shifted naturally from playful to intense in the span of a few seconds. He was good. Really good.

Ria scribbled a quick note in her notebook: Natural leader. Charismatic. Could clash with Kael.

When Ethan finished, the room erupted in applause. He shot the group a quick wink, that smirk still plastered on his face, and took a step back as if this was all routine for him. He didn't seem at all affected by the applause or the way everyone was looking at him.

Ms. Reyes smiled approvingly. "Nice work, Ethan. We'll see you in the next round."

Ethan nodded, his confidence never wavering as he stepped back into the crowd, still grinning.

Ria tapped her pen against her notebook, her thoughts swirling. He was talented, no doubt. But something about him made her feel uneasy. Maybe it was the way he seemed so at ease with everything, like he had already decided how things would go. She couldn't shake the feeling that Ethan wasn't just here to audition—he was here to take over.

"Next up—Emily!" Ms. Reyes called, and the shy girl from choir stepped forward.

Emily had a quiet presence about her, almost the opposite of Ethan. Her hair fell in soft waves around her face, and she clutched the script tightly in her hands. Unlike Ethan, she read from it carefully, her voice trembling slightly as she delivered her lines. But there was something raw about her performance, something unpolished but real.

Ria found herself leaning forward, drawn into the vulnerability in Emily's voice. She wasn't the kind of performer who dominated a room like Ethan, but she had something else—a kind of quiet intensity that crept up on you.

"She's good," Ria whispered to Olivia, who nodded enthusiastically.

"I know, right? She's a little nervous, but I think she's got potential."

When Emily finished, there was a round of supportive applause. She blushed furiously, tucking her hair behind her ear as she stepped back into the crowd.

As the callbacks continued, a few more familiar faces took the stage—some promising, others less so. But Ria's mind kept drifting back to Ethan and the way he had commanded the room, how easily he had slipped into the role of someone in control. She could already see it—the potential for conflict, the way his confidence might clash with Kael's quiet but steady leadership. And with everything she knew now about Kael's health, she couldn't shake the feeling that introducing someone like Ethan into the mix could tip the balance of the entire group.

But maybe that was exactly what they needed.

As the callbacks drew to a close, Ms. Reyes clapped her hands again, drawing everyone's attention. "Alright, great work today, everyone. We'll be posting the final cast list by the end of the week. I want to thank all of you for your hard work and dedication. We've got a big year ahead of us, so get ready."

The room buzzed with excitement as the newcomers exchanged smiles and whispered to each other. Ethan leaned against the stage, chatting easily with a few of the other auditioners, his voice carrying above the others. Ria caught snippets of their conversation—he was talking about his old school, the drama productions he had starred in, how this one was going to be "next level."

Ria packed up her notebook, her thoughts still tangled. She glanced over at Kael, who had been quieter than usual during the auditions, standing off to the side with Ms. Reyes, his expression unreadable. He was watching Ethan too, and something in his face told Ria that he saw the same thing she did.

Change was coming.