Shelby successfully anchored down on one of the few chairs outside of the casting call. It had been a LONG 12 hour wait but she wasn't about to move an inch as her eyes soaked in the bars for her audition piece. She'd left Lima in the fall not long after graduation and now it was June, with school on break it was much easier to audition. Back in Lima; she'd won a lot of competitions, had been in her school's musicals, and lived for her high school's show choir. This was a bigger and broader world than any of those had been. The girls were catty and vicious, others were so utterly clueless it was just painful to watch, she almost felt bad for them, had they not been so arrogant about their own abilities.

The musical she was auditioning for was cutting edge, so she thought a more sexy outfit would be fitting. No, it wasn't leather and chains, but it was a slim fitting pair of jeans with a purple tank top that showed off the best assets of her figure, while her dark hair was in wild long waves. Shelby was not about to jump on the casting couch, but she knew she'd have to show off some sex-appeal for the role she was hoping to be considered for. She bit her thumb as she kept looking down at her paper, ready to jump at a moment's notice. She wasn't by nature a nervous person but there were a lot of girls there today, a lot more conventionally pretty than she was, and she'd heard of a lot of girls getting passed over for someone less talented because of the fact. She breathed making herself relax.

"Number 1146: Shelby Corcoran? They're ready for you."

Guess she's have to relax later. Shelby rose immediately and tried not to look totally desperate or excited as she scooted to the door. She smiled, at the casting directors, then placed a free hand on her hip, stated her name and the song she was singing. "I don't know how to love him." from Jesus Christ Superstar.

"I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changed, yes really changed
In these past few days
When I've seen myself
I seem like someone else..."

She sang with all her heart and soul, trying to truly lose herself through the meaning of the lyrics. It was about a girl who was so desperately in love with a man, a man she couldn't be with, and all the mixed feelings that came with it; admiration, compassion, shame and the biggest of all, heart ache.

Derek in boarding school would have not been described as patient, though he was likeable by most of his classmates, but seeing him running back and forth to fetch coffee or whatever popped into the heads of the creative team would have been a joy. He had to make sure not to roll his eyes at every little request, it took an enormous amount of self-control, especially since he mused himself more insightful with more vision than these people who were twice, and three times his age. He had a thick skin, any man interested in theater had to expect a lot of opinions about their masculinity, but at this point it had only served him well. All in time, he would be would be sitting where they were. He used his father's connections to get into the door, but before long Derek would surpass him too.

He was also on summer break from Columbia, so with the free time he had he was going to get as much experience as he could. He'd been there for the full 12 hours, watching the different performers pass through, some good, some awful, few really stood out, and left little inspiration. That was until a young, slender brunette walked into the door. He stood a little straighter, when she smiled he felt himself inadvertently smile along. She was great looking, piercing eyes, long wavy dark hair, her face was gorgeous and unique with high cheekbones and a sharp jaw line. But when she sang there was no taking your eyes away from her. There was such a sweetness to how she sang, ironic since she had a deeper tone with a distinct rasp. He noticed the way she acted as if she was in playing that part, as if she was Mary Magalene fighting with her emotions. She must have spent every free moment she had working on her skills since she looked so young to be this skilled.

"Thank you, Miss Corcoran, that's all we need."

She ended the song smiling at them and a few of them looked impressed, while the other half looked at her like a rack of yard tools at Sears. "What? Are they insane? She was fantastic!" Derek said under his breath to another PA.

"Shhh, they'll hear you. You know how this goes, don't take it so personally." they scolded him then suggested "You could still try to flirt with her, she may be easier now because she's been rejected."

Derek sighed looking back at the girl, seeing how hurt she was but choosing to smile through the pain of it.

'That's all we need' That sounded callus. Shelby's heart sank hearing, she wanted to stomp out of there and slam the door, she wasn't about to look like she was as devastated as she felt. Once she became so emotional in a song it was hard to just turn it off. True, she was still very, very, new to this whole scene and needed to remember most of the greats weren't just handed anything; Barbra, Leigh, Patti…."Thank you for your time." When Shelby was out of the room she went for the closest door possible to leave. Okay, she wasn't going to cry, she wasn't going to cry...

"You really were very good." a deep thick British accent stopped her in her tracks, taking another moment to breath, and not bawl in front of a complete stranger. She turned to face him, he was about her age, not her usual type but he was really cute. He was tall with dark brown hair, that was super straight and floppy, with almond shaped green eyes. "The best here today." he confirmed.

"Well, thanks, but I was not what they were looking for." she was telling herself that too, really, it was all a matter of taste, not her lack of talent.

"Because they have no bloody taste." he said leaning against the building, very relaxed and confident in his belief in the fact. "Or they may have been sick of that song since there were 26 girls before you singing it."

"26 girls? I guess I'm going to have to shelf that one now..." Shelby realized aloud to herself

"Perhaps, that song is sung a lot but not everyone can do it well... You would be a wonderful Mary Magdalene."

Shelby quirked an unconvinced brow and let out a laugh. He really didn't back down from his opinions it seemed like. "How old are you? 19? 20? What do you do here? Are you an actor?"

"I'm a PA, for a short while anyhow." Derek assured her "And 20 as of last month, Darling." He closed more space between them, standing on the sidewalk with her feeling like he now had her full attention. "Now I only have a few more hours here. What you were doing later?"

Shelby smirked a little at him "Ah, planning a hostel take over then?"

"When its completed you'll be the first one I call." Derek said, acually liking the idea. "And you didn't answer my question, what are you doing for the rest of your day?"

"Working, I'm a nanny." which was true, and also her way of telling him she didn't feel up for going out now that she was rejected.

He smirked at the idea of her being a nanny, usually since "nannies" brought about certain ideas in a young man's head, or any man's head for that matter... "All right, well If not today then when?" Derek persisted.

Shelby thought for a moment but decided not to take him up on it. "Next time... if you can find me." two could play the cocky card, and she was curious about what he'd say or do next.

"Challenge accepted." he retorted. Derek smirked watching her leave. The wankers in charge of the show may have not seen her spark but to him it was impossible to miss.

She waved at him not turning back around to see him smiling at the view of her from behind.

"Derek! They're looking for you, Miss Russell is out of potato chips." That quickly interupted his thoughts, he did his best not to let his poker face show as he turned and went down to the deli for the umpteenth time that week for those stupid 'chips'...

Some time in between, both continued on with their lives during the summer. Shelby babysat for a little family in Manhattan and lived for her auditions, so her social life, aside from the few friends she'd met during auditions and work, was in the toilet. She was kind of used to that but she also wasn't the super star like she was in Ohio, and she was feeling less and less special.

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!" Shelby walked around in the darkness of her apartment, with her arms feeling the space as if she was some kind of blind mummy. She knocked over the lamp, she no longer needed since her power was cut off. That's what you get for not paying your bill. Just before the lights went out she was looking at all her trophies and awards she'd won over the years to keep her spirits up. Shelby was the kind of girl that would stay at home on a Saturday to master a new song or dance, well, its not like she had a ton of friends at school. She could be a little grating with her passion, she knew it, but being on the stage was where she wanted to be. She was in a world now where she was one of many girls who had done the same thing, grown up the same way. Now it was a matter of standing out and figuring out how to stand out. That was the real challenge, since there was so much competition and so many hungry people. If she could convince the right person she had it, then she would live the rest of her life proving it. She was able to snatch a candle off an end table, her mother had given it to her a couple birthdays ago. She felt stupid for what she was about to do but she needed some kind of light until the sun came up. She knocked on the apartment across the hall, hearing someone had just moved in, but hadn't the chance to meet them yet.

Derek heard through the thin walls someone cursing and stumbling around. The building was practically paper and held together by starving artists looking for inspiration, or a suitable place to stay until the next pay check came. Derek rose from his couch, setting down the script he taken from the production, making notes on what he would have done differently. He looked through his peephole finding a very pleasant surprise and opened the door with a cocksure grin. "And it looks like you've found me. I knew you couldn't stay away."

"Oh God, you live here?" Shelby's eyes widen seeing who the occupant of the apartment was, not expecting to run into this guy again. This place didn't seem like his style, he had the vibe he came from money, or at least a pretty rich background.

"Just moved in, would you like to come in? I don't bite."

Shelby wasn't sure about going into a stranger's apartment, it was a sketchy part of New York and just going into some weird guy's apartment was asking for something to happen, or that's what her mother insisted the entire ride to the airport when she first came out here. "Thanks, but I just need a light." She showed him her candle. "Do you have one?"

Derek smiled, a little more genuine, it may have made her mad but he thought she looked rather adorable standing there with her candle. "Yes, I have one, come in."

Shelby smiled slightly, and shook her head "Do you always have to have things your way?"

Derek pulled a face "I could easily ask you the same thing. Why are you so defensive?"

Shelby "What do you mean? I just asked you for a light."

"I paid a compliment to your singing, asked you out, you turned me down, I invite you into my home, and you turn me down again. "

"I had to work. Besides, I didn't have to go out with you because you were nice, and your nice strikes me as more of a guy that's used to getting what he wants." There were so many of those in Lima, and did Shelby ever hate those types. They were the biggest jerks to the show choir, thinking somehow running around after a ball they were doing something important. The last thing she was wanting to do is play the part of the little ol' naive girl from the Midwest around the guys here, especially when she was feeling vunerable enough in such a big place.

"Ouch. Well, aren't you a sharp little minx, but no, you caught my attention and I wanted to meet you... I'll invite you in again, but only if you want to, don't think you're doing me any favors, sweetheart." despite the fact she had been more than a little rude, she held his interest, and he was one-track minded when it came to things he liked. "And you didn't even ask my name, that is just terrible manners."

She sighed, giving him an 'Oh please." look. Shelby knew she was more in the wrong but didn't want to admit it, or apologize just yet. "Hello, it's nice to meet you, I'm Shelby Corcoran. What can I call you?" she smiled as if she was introducing herself for the first time to him, then added "And you can light my candle?"

"Shelby, the formidable Mary Magdalene, you can call me 'Derek Wills.'" he smirked.

"Derek Wills, would you please stop comparing me to a biblical hooker?" she teased.

"She's much more interesting than that..." Derek insisted further.. "I would love to light your fire." Derek added in a way that could easily have more than one meaning and opened his door to her.

Shelby raised a brow at him then walked in, keeping on her defenses since she didn't know him, but a part of her felt he probably just did want to get to know her. "Your place is really nice." she commented looking around. "Why are you living here if you can afford all this stuff?" A thought occurred to her just after. "Oh god, are you a drug dealer?"

He just started laughing, he didn't know if she was being serious or not but still struck him as funny. "The market has been booming this year." and saw shortly after he started laughing she did too. "No, unless you're into that kind of danger then I could make up a very interesting lie."

Shelby laughed so more "I should hope so from someone with so much vision. But really, if you could live somewhere else, why not?"

"Artistic inspiration, I suppose. The bohemian life seems to be apart of the process to grow as an artist, my mother hates the idea but its been a very enlightening."

"Hmm, so live in a building that's nearly crumbling when you have the option to be somewhere better? Seems like a waste."

"And where are YOU from since you seem to have a lot of opinions about my life."

Shelby was caught again, finally giving him a little more of a break she opened up a bit more "Lima, Ohio, and I could be in a better place too. If I was there now I'd probably be going to Ohio State, living in a dorm, and working at breadstix, but I never wanted easy. This feels right; the moments its good, the moments its awful, there's still no other place I'd rather be. I've felt like this ever since Les Mis came through Columbus when I was in fourth grade." her tone was so much softer than when she was speaking several minutes ago. Oh god, she was rambling on and on to this guy. "And I've said WAY too much."

"No, no, I don't mind hearing it and I do think you are something sensational." Also he was glad she didn't mention a boyfriend waiting for her.

"What makes you so sure?" Somehow the words from her audition song began playing in her head, I don't know how to take this. I don't see why he moves me. He's a man. He's just a man ...

"I know these things, call it a sixth sense if you wish to, I'm very intuitive..." he leaned in to kiss her.

Shelby backed away and started laughing "Seriously? That's when you were going to go in?"

He did laugh with her, thinking at least this was progress, it was the kiss he wanted but she was warming up to him. Derek had a lot of girlfriends in school, so he wasn't inexperienced even in his young age. Though, most of the girls he dated didn't put up much of a fight, perhaps that was also drew him to Shelby was that she wasn't completely open to him right away.

"Hmm, now Derek, I've told you a little about me, and I know now you're not a drug dealer, what are you doing here?"

"As I told you the first time you rebuffed me, I'm a production assistant, and student at Columbia. I grew up in London, my family moved back and forth between England and the states, most of my time was in boarding school."

"That's a start, but why did you get into theater?"

"My father has worked in theater for years, so I've been to many plays, I couldn't sing, but I could dance. I've been training for years, but who I always admired were the directors. The ones in charge of it all. That's what I want, to build my own visions and oversee them."

Shelby felt more at ease, he was really sure of himself, but he also seemed to really care about the art of it, she had to smile.

"I see a smile, does that mean you no longer detest me." Derek teased lighting the candle.

"I didn't 'detest' you." Shelby said 'detest' playfully mocking his accent. "I just need to be wise when I'm out here, can't just take people at their word. As soon as I say 'Midwest' people assume I traveled here by cow. I don't want to turn into some huge cliche." Shelby replied but didn't bother to let her smile go

"Well, neither do I." he said without any trace of cockyness, with a thoughtful smirk. "I like when you smile by the way." Derek did trace the edge of her jaw and she blushed. "Now what are you planning to do for the rest of your night?"

That made her remember something. "Tom! Oh no, I almost forgot." she jumped up.

"Tom?" Derek repeated, already jealous.

"He's my friend, he's a musician, he goes to Columbia too actually. We were going to camp out for Rent tickets since they're going to draw names and give 20 away." She went for the door, then had a thought, Tom was already acting like the brother she never had, it may be smart to have him give her an opinion about Derek. "You wanna come along?"

"Just let me get my jacket and a blanket." Derek accepted the offer grabbing both and followed Shelby down.

The two of them met up with Tom who had been waiting for 20 minutes, Shelby greeted him with a kiss, Derek became more jealous though it wasn't before long that Derek found out Shelby was not in Tom's taste. The three of them sat on the sidewalk, talking about their favorite plays, music and books. She was a little surprised by how well the two of them got along, but it was a good sign to her about Derek.

It was only a few hours passing before Shelby woke up nuzzled against Derek, with his arm around her. She wiggled out of it, trying not to wake him, but before he could Tom let them know they had won a set of tickets. The next morning Shelby left her appartment, contemplating on saying "Hi" to Derek before she went to meet Tom. She opted not to, she still just wasn't sure about how to look at things. She may be planning way ahead but it was pretty obvious to anyone Derek was interested in her. She was hoping Tom would give more of an insightful opinion based on meeting him too last night. The two of them met at a little coffee show just off the broadway area was, a lot of performers hung out there. It had a rustic and worn look that was very inviting with unmatching furniture and throw pillows with old plays and books on the tables. Shelby grabbed her herbal tea and handed Tom his latte before both settled on a makeshift booth. "So last night was a lot of fun." Tom smiled. "So where did you meet him? He's really cute, great voice, that accent." he teased Shelby wondering to see if she was smitten by the British man.

Shelby rolled her eyes. "At an audition I bombed on, and yeah, he is very cute and he's friendly... but I don't know, don't you think he seems a little cocky?"

"Yeah, a little but so are you..." Tom said trying to be fair.

"Oh, I am not." Shelby protested.

"Shelby, to want to be something in this industry you kind of have to be, otherwise you'd just sing to yourself in your mirror at home and be satisfied with that."

Tom was so reasonable it drove her crazy at times even with their short friendship but he did usually have a good assessment of things, and he was so helpful on what songs she should sing and what she should wear to auditions. "You're right." she sighed greeting her taste buds with her tea. "I guess I'm just defensive since I don't want people to think I'm an easy target. If I'm distracted by a boyfriend I probably won't get a Tony by the time I'm 25."

"Yes, you could, Shelby really, I would just go out with him, that's how you'd really know if you like him or not. He already made it clear he likes you, no other way to find out if he's being sincere."

Shelby smiled a little "He did try to kiss me last night, but I just laughed at him."

"Well you looked really cozzy when I came back with the tickets..."

"I fell asleep, I had no control of that. By the way, what time is the show tonight?"

"Eight, and don't change the subject, if you like this guy just let things go naturally and maybe find out if he has a brother or cousin for me."

"I'll keep an eye out for one." she laughed, "Thank you though for being an ear for me."

"Of course, Shel." Tom tipped his cup to her.

They went to the show that very night, while Tom's advice lingered in Shelby's head. A little after 7:30 she and Tom went to the theater to get seated before all the late comers got there. Derek was the earliest of all of them, and God, he looked so cute. Tom shot a look of more encouragement to his friend, Shelby blushed a little though tried to hide it. They found their seats and before long the show began, the three of them were engaged by the music, the scenery and the performers, and the innovative story telling. Derek smirked at Shelby who returned the smile during 'Light my Candle' based on their second meeting, he tried to reach over to meet her hand. She saw this, and instead pulled out a piece of gum. "Apple trident; would you like one?" she smirked with a twinkle in her eye

"I'll have one." Tom said taking a piece, amused by her resistance, and not taking his eyes off the play.

Derek smirked at Shelby and took one, seeing she was a stubborn girl, but it made her more attractive to him too.

"When the Over the Moon" scene started he leaned over and commented to her "You should play this part."

"Maureen? You really think?" a thought came to her right after and twisted her brows giving him a look. "Or do you just want to see me kiss another girl?"

"That too," Derek confessed, feeling no shame. "But I do think you would be incredible. You have the right voice, you're charismatic, beautiful, sexy, everything that seems to make Maureen..."

Shelby stared at him for a moment, that song was playing in her head again. Don't you think it's rather funny I should be in this position? I'm the one who's always beens so calm so cool. No lover's fool, running every show. He scares me so...

No one had ever really given her so much praise before, never, and here was this young cocky guy telling her how amazing she was. This was more intense than she was expecting and these emotions he was making her feel were coming so fast, she didn't know what to think. "You keep saying these things but how can I believe it?" She didn't want to open herself up this soon, but she was attracted to him, and the more she was with him the more she liked him.

Their gazes were locked and he took her hand in his." Because its true, Shelby" he leaned in and this time Shelby didn't turn away, grateful to have given him the gum.

Their lips met in that dark crowded theater and the rest of the night went by in a blur .

I don't know how to love him
What to do, how to move him
I've been changed, yes really changed
In these past few days
When I've seen myself

I seem like someone else