THE LOVE WE NEVER FORGET

EPISODETWO

The Audition

The following morning, Juliet Brian woke before her alarm.

For a few seconds, she stared at the ceiling, wondering why her heart was beating so quickly.

Then she remembered.

Harmonia Music Academy.

She immediately sat up.

Today was the day.

Juliet had dreamed about Harmonia for years. Everyone in Aurelia knew the academy. Its graduates filled concert stages, music charts, television screens, and award ceremonies.

Getting accepted could change everything.

She quickly got dressed and hurried downstairs.

Her mother was already in the kitchen.

"You're awake early."

Juliet smiled nervously.

"I couldn't sleep."

"Because of the audition?"

Juliet nodded.

Her mother walked over and gently straightened her collar.

"Don't try to impress them. Just sing the way you always do."

Juliet smiled.

"I'll try."

Outside, her phone vibrated.

Julius: We're leaving in ten minutes.

Juliet stared at the message.

She typed a reply.

Juliet: Okay.

She hesitated.

Then added:

Juliet: Good luck.

A reply came almost immediately.

Julius: You don't need luck.

Juliet frowned.

Before she could answer, another message appeared.

Julius: You're already the best singer there.

Her cheeks warmed.

She quickly locked her phone.

"Why am I smiling?" she whispered.

She had no answer.

---

Twenty minutes later, the six friends stood outside Harmonia Music Academy.

The building was enormous.

Glass walls reflected the morning sunlight, while a giant silver sign stood above the entrance.

HARMONIA MUSIC ACADEMY

Jaden Knight stared upward.

"Okay."

Jake Williams looked at him.

"What?"

Jaden swallowed.

"I suddenly feel like I can't rap."

Joan Robbert laughed.

"You?"

"Yes, me."

Jessica Coal shook her head.

"That's the first sensible thing you've said all week."

Jaden placed a hand over his heart.

"That hurt."

Jake laughed.

Juliet looked around nervously.

There were hundreds of applicants.

Some carried guitars.

Some held sheet music.

Others stretched, practiced dance routines, or quietly sang to themselves.

Juliet's confidence disappeared.

"Maybe we shouldn't be here," she whispered.

Julius heard her.

He stepped closer.

"Hey."

She looked at him.

"You belong here."

"But there are so many talented people."

"So?"

"What if we're not good enough?"

Julius smiled.

"Then we'll become better."

Juliet stared at him.

He lowered his voice.

"And if you're nervous, look at me."

Her heart skipped.

"Why?"

"Because I'll be watching."

Before Juliet could respond, Jaden suddenly appeared between them.

"Are you two planning to stand there staring at each other all morning?"

Juliet immediately looked away.

Julius laughed.

"We're talking."

"Sure."

Joan smirked.

"Jaden, leave them alone."

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to."

Jaden grinned.

"Interesting."

Juliet's face became even warmer.

---

The audition began.

One by one, applicants disappeared behind the large doors.

Some came out smiling.

Others looked disappointed.

Then a staff member stepped outside.

"Jaden Knight."

Jaden froze.

"That's me."

He looked at the others.

"Wish me luck."

"Don't embarrass us," Joan said.

"That's encouragement?"

"No."

Jaden laughed and entered.

Ten minutes later, he returned.

Jake immediately asked, "How was it?"

Jaden grinned.

"I destroyed it."

Joan rolled her eyes.

"Of course you did."

Then—

"Joan Robbert."

Joan took a deep breath.

"I'll see you guys on the other side."

She entered.

One after another, they auditioned.

Jake.

Jessica.

Juliet.

Finally, Julius.

When Juliet came out of the audition room, she was still trying to control her breathing.

Julius was waiting outside.

"How did it go?"

"I don't know."

"That's not an answer."

"I think I did okay."

"You did more than okay."

Juliet smiled.

Then Julius' name was called.

He looked at her.

"Wish me luck."

She smiled.

"You don't need it."

Julius paused.

Those were his exact words to her earlier.

He smiled.

"You're learning."

Then he entered.

---

Almost an hour later, all six stood outside the academy.

None of them knew what to say.

They had given everything.

Their voices.

Their talent.

Their dreams.

Now all they could do was wait.

"We'll know in three days," Jake said.

Jaden groaned.

"Three days?"

"Yes."

"That's torture."

Joan laughed.

"We'll survive."

Julius looked at Juliet.

She was unusually quiet.

"You okay?"

She nodded.

"I'm just thinking."

"About?"

She looked toward the academy.

"Everything is going to change if we get in."

Julius didn't answer immediately.

Then he said,

"Maybe that's what we're supposed to be afraid of."

Juliet looked at him.

"Why?"

"Because sometimes getting what you want means leaving behind the life you already know."

For some reason, those words made Juliet uncomfortable.

She didn't know why.

---

Three days later, the six friends gathered at Julius' house.

Their application results had been released.

Jake opened the academy website.

"Everyone ready?"

"No," Jessica said.

"Absolutely not," Joan added.

Jaden grabbed a pillow.

"If I don't get accepted, I'm blaming all of you."

"How is that our fault?" Jake asked.

"I haven't figured that part out yet."

Everyone laughed.

Jake entered the application numbers.

The page loaded.

Then six results appeared.

He stared at the screen.

His mouth fell open.

"What?" Julius asked.

Jake didn't answer.

"Jake?"

Still nothing.

Jaden grabbed the laptop.

Then he froze too.

Joan rushed over.

Jessica followed.

Juliet stood behind them.

"What does it say?"

Nobody answered.

Juliet's heart began pounding.

"Guys?"

Julius took the laptop.

He read the first name.

Then the second.

Then the third.

His expression changed.

Juliet stepped closer.

"Julius?"

He slowly looked at her.

"All six of us."

Juliet blinked.

"What?"

"We got in."

For several seconds, nobody moved.

Then the room exploded.

Jaden screamed.

Joan jumped onto Jessica.

Jake started laughing.

Juliet covered her mouth as tears filled her eyes.

Julius simply stood there, staring at the screen.

They had done it.

Their dream was becoming real.

But just as everyone began celebrating, Jake's phone vibrated.

He looked down.

His smile disappeared.

Jaden noticed.

"What?"

Jake didn't answer.

"What happened?" Jessica asked.

Jake slowly turned his phone around.

A message had appeared from Harmonia Music Academy.

It wasn't an acceptance message.

It was a notice.

IMPORTANT: ALL SIX STUDENTS MUST REPORT TO THE ACADEMY TOMORROW AT 8:00 A.M.

Below it was one final sentence.

Jake read it aloud.

"Failure to attend will result in immediate cancellation of admission."

Everyone went silent.

Jaden frowned.

"Why would they need all six of us there?"

Nobody knew.

Then Juliet noticed something else.

At the bottom of the message was a name.

A name none of them recognized.

Director Adrian Vale.

And beneath his name were four words:

"We need to talk."

Juliet's smile slowly disappeared.

For the first time, becoming a star didn't feel like a dream.

It felt like the beginning of something none of them understood.

And tomorrow morning, they were going to find out why.