Finally, when everyone has gone, we move on to chemistry reads, the last piece of the puzzle. It is always my and Henry’s favorite part of auditions because it is the first time we see the character interactions that make the words in a script come off the page. At this point, we already have our top contenders. The chemistry reads are to seal the deal, to make sure our actors can work together and their energy feels organic, which is why we do them last. We call frontrunners and backup contenders to read. I cross my fingers behind my back, wishing all goes smoothly with my favorites. Mainly, that Fitz knocks it out so hard that it removes the memory of her disastrous tap from everyone’s memory.

Danica says, voice low, “What are we going to do about Fitz?”

So much for that. Reid’s eyebrows rise, like he’s been vindicated.

“Fitz has been Adina from the start,” Henry says.

Oh my God.

He speaks!

To Danica. Not me. But it is a defense of our vision of Melted.

“I mean, she said she couldn’t sing. But I assumed… she was being dramatic,” Danica says.

I shake my head. “Fitz has two months to figure it out. She will. We just have to be really great directors and help her.”

“Can I just try something?” Reid asks before standing and turning around to face the chemistry read hopefuls. “Emerson Roper?”

Emerson stands and smooths her skirt, her brown eyes wide and nervous. “Yeah?”

“Can you read scene three with Danica?” Reid asks.

Emerson frowns. “But we’ve both been reading for Emma?”

“You’ll read Adina,” Reid says.

Emerson’s mouth practically drops open. “Really?”

“Really.”

Wow. So much for collaboration! The first opportunity Reid has to undermine me in front of the future cast of our musical… and he does it. I know I said I would compromise. Codirect a musical. Put our history aside.

I look over at my dad grading papers in the balcony, and remember why.

But Reid can’t just steamroll me!

He has to be willing to compromise too.

“Fine,” I whisper to Reid. “But Fitz needs to remain an option.”

Henry’s expression is incredulous.

Fitz and I lock eyes from her spot in the wings, where she is sitting with her arms wrapped around her knees. She mouths, What the hell? and I mouth, I don’t know, and it’s not even a lie. Danica and Emerson stand center stage. Emerson adjusts the hem of her T-shirt. She’s also so young, she looks better suited to be onstage opposite Delia and Hannah, especially next to Danica.

“Emerson looks like a fetus,” Henry says, like he read my mind.

It makes me miss him and how we’re always on the same page. But it also feels like he’s only here to support Danica and make things hard for me.