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Chapter One
Samantha Cocker
“How are you, Sam?”
Confused, I tilt my head to reply, “Sorry?”
My throat dries.
You can’t be serious.
I missed my dance cue?
My audition is blown?!
Blinking at my witnesses, blood ice-cold from fear, I swallow hard. Their power and influence couldn’t be more devastating at such a profoundly awkward moment. The long fold-out table is like a barrier between me and my dreams of a successful life onstage.
On the left sits the person who asked if I’m okay — Atlanta’s most talented director-choreographer, Ms. Tasha Galloway. A former star herself, she has traveled with illustrious productions throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, Russia — oh, everywhere! Since retirement, she has brought our Alliance Theater five of its six hits in the last three years. I’ve been in all of them, but only as a background dancer.
This was my shot.
They want a girl to dance with the lead male star. The role has been opened to lesser-known talents like me because the character has no lines. She doesn’t even sing. Which is good, because my voice inspires people to shield their ears.
But stars do not want zero lines. They want many.
Me?
Not so picky.
Yet here I stood, staring at my feet when the music started? How is that even possible?! I wish I could crawl under that table, grab her famous legs and beg Ms. Galloway for another chance.
Center is Broadway producer Stuart Rogess, a man who looks as if he has also traveled the world, but by yacht, and was wholly unimpressed by every square foot of our beautiful Earth.
Beside him sits a quiet, bug-like man whose purpose I do not know. But if he’s here, he is huge!
Oh.
My.
God.
Ms. Galloway inhales like her bun is yanked to the heavens. She repeats, “I asked how you are doing, Samantha. Are you okay?”
Ashamed, I whisper, “Yes.”
But…am I?
My brother Caden is moving to Chicago. We had a family dinner last night to say goodbye. Not one of our big Cocker Family BBQs. Just immediate family.
Mom was not herself.
Dad, a wreck.
My sister, Lexi, snapped at Mom, her idol.
Our baby brother, Hunter, stayed even after dinner was over. That’s how we knew how dire things were.
And our oldest brother, Max…I’ve never seen him so sad.
