Adina was the only role up for debate and the rest of the cast list comes together with little fanfare. Everyone who auditioned will get a role in the ensemble, of course. Outside of the main cast there are featured roles, principal dancers, and key solos to cast, but we mostly agree. When we don’t, Reid concedes to me because we have an Adina who can sing.

“We did it,” Reid says. “We have a cast.”

I review the typed, final list.

MELTED: THE MUSICAL—THE CAST

Adina: Emerson Roper

Emma: Danica Martinez

Moritz: Toby Daniels

Kris: Kevin McGuire

Featured roles, ensemble, and orchestra

members are listed below. Please

initial after your name to confirm your

participation in Melted: The Musical.

The rehearsal schedule has already been

confirmed and approved. Please do stop by

Mr. Jacobson’s classroom to pick up a copy.

The first rehearsal is Tuesday, December

1st @ 2:30 p.m. in the music room. We are

so excited to begin!

Sincerely,

Natalie Jacobson and Reid Callahan

Codirectors of Melted: The Musical

I can’t lie. I feel Fitz’s loss—seeing her name in the ensemble.

But excitement is there too.

Because next week, I get to direct.

Well, codirect.

The Setup

“Reid asked me if I wanted to get sundaes on Sunday. I mean, what a dork, right?”

I gripped my phone so tight the joints in my fingers turned white. It had been one month and Madeline was still swooning over Reid via FaceTime. Swooning. Our friendship had strained in an excruciating way, with Reid now in the middle of it—his dorkiness consuming much of Madeline’s thoughts. Every time Madeline came over for a movie night or to paint each other’s nails or whatever, she’d ask for Reid. If he’d be around, practicing the clarinet. If the answer was yes—she’d leave me midactivity to go knock on Dad’s studio door and say hi.

Seriously. One time she left me with an unpainted thumb, distracted by Reid’s texts.

In retrospect, our friendship was failing the Bechdel test hard.

It had been building, a slow crescendo over the past thirty days. And I was tired of waiting. I had to take matters into my own hands.

“Madi, I think… you like Reid too much.”

Madeline frowned, confused. “He’s my boyfriend, Natalie.”

“It’s only been, like, a month,” I say. “You don’t know—”

Madeline shook her head. “Look, it’s not that your feelings aren’t valid! But the prank wars drama is your thing. Yours.”

“Reid doesn’t like you! He’s using you! To mess with me! How is that not obvious?”

The silence that followed extended so long, I thought we’d maybe disconnected.

“That’s… really mean.” Madeline’s eyebrows pinched together, like she was trying not to cry.