Dreams of Something Bigger
The New Mexico sun poured through the window of Aubrey Parker’s small bedroom, illuminating the soft yellow walls she had painted with her mom two summers ago. A dusty breeze carried the faint scent of desert sage and wildflowers through the open window, teasing her as she tried to focus on the notebook spread across her lap.
Lyrics filled the page in messy handwriting, the words scratched out and rewritten a dozen times. She sang a few lines under her breath, trying to find the right melody, but nothing felt right. Her pencil hovered over the paper, then tapped against the edge of the notebook.
“Come on, brain,” she muttered. “You can do this.”
From outside, the familiar sounds of Arroyo Creek drifted in: the distant chatter of neighbors, the clank of a metal gate swinging shut, and the faint hum of a passing truck. It was a quiet town, the kind of place where everyone knew your name and your business. To Aubrey, it felt both comforting and suffocating.
Her gaze wandered to the bulletin board above her desk, where newspaper clippings and old concert tickets were pinned beside photos of her and her best friend, Amelia. Tucked between the photos was a new addition: a flyer for the Sandstone Theater auditions happening that weekend. The bold letters at the top read: “A Star’s Journey” - Auditions Open to All Ages!
She’d found the flyer at the library a few days ago, and it had been haunting her ever since. Her stomach tightened every time she thought about it.
A car horn blared outside, and Aubrey jumped, snapping out of her thoughts.
“Coming!” she called, even though no one could hear her. She grabbed her bag and stuffed the notebook inside, barely pausing to lace up her sneakers before bolting downstairs.
Her mom was in the kitchen, her hands covered in flour as she kneaded dough for bread. “Heading out with Amelia?”
“Yeah,” Aubrey said, pausing at the door. “I’ll be back before dinner.”
“Try not to get into too much trouble,” her mom said with a knowing smile.
Aubrey rolled her eyes but grinned. “We’re angels, remember?”
Her mom laughed, shaking her head as Aubrey slipped outside.
Amelia’s Jeep was parked in the driveway, its red paint faded from years in the sun. Amelia was leaning against the hood, her dark hair pulled into a messy bun and her sunglasses perched on her nose.
“About time,” she teased as Aubrey climbed in. “I was starting to think you’d decided to become a hermit.”
“Funny,” Aubrey said, buckling her seatbelt. “Where are we going?”
“You’ll see.” Amelia grinned mischievously as she backed out of the driveway.
The Jeep rattled down the dusty streets of Arroyo Creek, passing familiar landmarks like the diner, the library, and the Sandstone Theater. Aubrey’s gaze lingered on the theater’s marquee, her chest tightening as the words AUDITIONS THIS SATURDAY came into view.
Amelia noticed and smirked. “Still thinking about it?”
“Thinking about what?” Aubrey asked, even though she knew exactly what Amelia meant.
“The auditions. Don’t play dumb, Parker. I know you better than that.”
Aubrey sighed, sinking back into her seat. “Maybe. But it’s not like I’m going to do it.”
“Why not?” Amelia shot her a glance.
“Because it’s terrifying,” Aubrey admitted. “What if I get up there and forget my lines? Or my voice cracks? Or—”
“Or you blow everyone away and become the star you’re meant to be?” Amelia interrupted, her voice dripping with sarcasm. “Seriously, Aubrey, you’ve got this. You’re just scared because it matters to you.”
“Of course it matters,” Aubrey muttered, staring out the window. “Singing is the only thing I’ve ever really wanted to do. If I mess this up…” She trailed off, the weight of her expectations settling over her.
Amelia reached over and gave her arm a reassuring squeeze. “Hey. You’re not going to mess up. You’ve got a voice that could make people cry—in a good way. Just give yourself a chance.”
The Jeep pulled into the parking lot of a quiet park on the edge of town. Amelia parked under the shade of a cottonwood tree and climbed out, motioning for Aubrey to follow.
The park was one of their favorite spots, a little oasis where they could escape the world for a while. Amelia flopped onto the grass, her sunglasses sliding down her nose as she stretched out like a cat.
“Okay,” Amelia said, shielding her eyes with one hand. “Here’s the plan: you’re going to audition on Saturday, and I’m going to be there to cheer you on. No excuses.”
Aubrey sat cross-legged beside her, picking at the grass. “You make it sound so easy.”
“Because it is.” Amelia grinned. “The hard part is believing in yourself, but lucky for you, I believe in you enough for both of us.”
Aubrey smiled despite herself. “You’re annoyingly convincing, you know that?”
“It’s a gift,” Amelia said, sitting up and brushing grass off her jeans. “Now, let’s grab milkshakes. My treat—because I’m feeling generous.”
“Generous or hungry?” Aubrey teased as they headed back to the Jeep.
“Both,” Amelia admitted with a laugh.
As they drove to the diner, Aubrey’s thoughts drifted back to the flyer in her bag. The idea of auditioning still terrified her, but for the first time, it felt… possible.
Maybe Amelia was right. Maybe she could take the first step toward her dream.
