The Train by Sarah Bourne (fiction books to read txt) 📕

ages for the next one, shifting from one foot to the other, trying to calm herself enough to think through the next couple of hours.

Once she was on the Docklands Light Railway, she wished she’d told Maddie what she was doing. She’d have offered to take the day off to come with her. She felt out of her depth and needed a friend. London was so big and so unfamiliar, and she too young and vulnerable and unready. It was an unusual feeling, and made her all the more uncomfortable for being so. The man opposite stared at her without embarrassment and she wanted to run away and hide, even though he was her type – good-looking and youngish and well dressed. She looked out the window, trying to ignore him, but she remained conscious of his eyes on her, and blushed.

‘Get a grip, girl,’ she said to herself under her breath. If all went well today, there’d be a lot more than just one good-looking bloke gazing at her. She was going to enjoy that.

As they approached her stop she picked up her bag, winked at the bloke, and waited for the door to open.

‘Where are you off to then?’ asked a voice right behind her.

Shit. How embarrassing. She’d never have winked at him if she thought he was getting off there too.

‘ExCel.’ She hoped he was going somewhere – anywhere – else.

‘Me too. Ever done it before?’

Alice drew herself up to her full five foot three, pulled her shoulders back, and looked him in the eye. ‘No. First time.’ The train had stopped, the doors opened. ‘Good luck.’ She marched off.

‘It’s this way,’ said the bloke.

When Alice looked back he was smiling.

‘Right.’ She felt herself redden again.

‘Look, you’re nervous, understandably. Let me show you where you need to go. I promise I’m not trying to pick you up.’

Alice didn’t know whether to be relieved or offended. What was wrong with him? He’d spent all that time on the train staring at her like he wanted to get into her pants, and now he was telling her he wasn’t interested.

‘It’s okay, I’ll find my own way.’ She started walking down the platform, then turned back to him. ‘Good luck for today.’

‘Thanks, but I’m pretty sure I’ll be fine.’

Alice thought what a prat he was. An arrogant prat. Why were all the good-looking blokes such plonkers? Seriously, where did he think he was getting off with an attitude like that? Stupid sod. She hoped he got put in his place today. In a big way. She hoped he was completely humiliated.

A crowd hovered around one of the doors, and Alice approached a girl on its rim. She turned away as Alice was about to ask her question.

‘This where I need to be for the auditions?’ she asked the next closest person, a fat boy in dungarees and a backward cap who looked like he’d just finished the milking. He smiled and said yes. He had crooked teeth and bad breath so she edged away and started her preparation. Slow, deep breaths and several wide yawns to soften her lips and the lower half of her face. She started humming very quietly.

The crowd moved and within minutes she was inside the door. In the foyer were long tables, the people behind them looking bright and welcoming. One of them beckoned to her.

‘Name?’

Alice told her and she looked it up on her tablet.

‘Okay – here, this is for you.’ She handed Alice a lanyard with a number written underneath the famous logo. ‘Don’t lose this – no lanyard, no audition. It’ll be a while until you’re called. Lots of people here today. Good luck.’

Alice thanked her and moved on with the stream of people heading towards a vast hall. There were seats in clusters, most already taken. She looked around for a toilet to change in and saw the man from the train nearby. He gave her a thumbs up and disappeared into the crowd.

In the Ladies a couple of girls chatted as they repaired their make-up. They turned as Alice entered, and said hello.

‘Nervous?’ one of them asked.

‘Terrified,’ said Alice. ‘I was okay until I got here, but now, well–’

‘Yeah, it’s pretty full-on, isn’t it?’ said the other girl. She was black and had green contact lenses in that looked amazing. Why hadn’t she thought of doing something like that? She knew she was attractive, but she should have done something more to make herself stand out. Suddenly, Alice needed to be alone. Comparing herself to others wasn’t making her feel any better. She wished them luck, ducked into a cubicle and changed into her black skinny jeans and turquoise spandex boob tube. When she came out they’d gone. Alice assessed herself in the mirror. Her make-up was still fine. She needed to do something with her hair. Some of the girls out there must have been at it all night doing theirs. She’d spent a fortune having hers straightened and now she scraped it back and tied it high, pulling a few strands out to frame her face and hide her ears, which stuck out slightly. She teased the ponytail into a fuller, messier bunch. Casual but sexy. Once she was satisfied, she put on a bit more lippy and pouted at herself, turning her head this way and that, imagining a photographer taking dozens of snaps. Finally, she blew herself a kiss for luck, poked her tongue out at herself for being such a wanker, slung on her bag and left as another group of girls entered, giggling.

Out in the melee again her legs felt like they wouldn’t hold her up. So many people. So much noise. People were talking and laughing with each other, a few were crying, others singing or humming to themselves. What chance did she have? Breathe. Just breathe. You’re good, you’re well prepared, you can do this. She took a sip of water, found a corner, and began her voice exercises. She’d learned them