Chapter Text
“Even if it doesn’t happen… You’re not any less of the amazing person you are.” Patton’s heart was beating out of his chest as he faced his laptop. He had made sure his background of his small bedroom was pretty and neat, and asked his mom to stand by the side for accompaniment as he might receive the biggest news of his life.
Patton was just a normal high schooler from Wisconsin. He went to the nearby high school, struggled through algebra, chatted with his friends during lunch break as he tried to swallow the plastic cafeteria food. He couldn’t be spotted in a crowd, yet he was sat in front of his sticker-adorned laptop – raring for that all to change.
Hybe, a Korean music agency, and Geffen Records - a US agency – had opened global auditions for a new boy group to hit the stage for an international audience. They wanted the type of boy group that was a triple threat in terms of dance, vocals, and visuals. Patton applied to the training program, half as a joke, he had a decent singing voice from being in musical theatre since middle school and he fell into the younger age range for applications as he was fifteen now but would be sixteen a month into the training program. He also absolutely loved Kpop – it was his binoculars into the world outside of his small town where everyone was cookie-cutter. So even though he was on the younger side, he knew what the expectations of being a Kpop idol were – and he was ready to fulfil it.
Right now though, he was in his childhood bedroom in front of his laptop with his mom brushing his hair. He had finished school an hour ago, surprised by an email from the HybexGeffen casting directors while he was in his last lesson of the day. They had emailed asking for a video call, not supplying more information. Nothing on whether the call would supply good or bad news – but Patton was raised by a bunch of optimists, making him quite an optimist himself. “Just be yourself,” the mom whispered, giving her teen son a kiss on his temple. “You’re destined for the stars whichever path you take.”
Patton looked out the window as the words were said, at the small-town suburbia he called home. Small town, small high school, in small Waldo, Wisconsin where everyone knew everyone’s name and the students he was with he had known since pre-k. With his future in reach once he graduated high school, he had told his parents he wanted to leave the hometown for a bit. Maybe he’d study abroad for college or at least move out - or take a year volunteering abroad like his older sister did a couple of months ago. The audition came at a time Patton was getting the itch to explore – and it was following a dream that every young creative had of moving to Los Angeles and making it big. The news that would decide his life for the next year relied on this one Zoom call.
The piercing sound of the Zoom call caused Patton to jump out of his skin as his mom made her way to sit on the soft blue bed covers out of the camera’s view, watching her son intently. He brushed off some fluff on his t-shirt. When he accepted the call, he was met with the complete opposite of the green oak trees and birds chirping outside. The city was personified through the casting director, as she wore an expensive-looking black sweater, the grey walls with no windows around her making the background look small and cramped. But the smile she gave helped Patton remember to breathe again.
“Patton Moore,” she said that name with a stress like it was important in the thousands of people around the world that sent in applications. “Thank you for making time for this call.” That smile must mean good things, right? Unless the casting director was a sadist that liked watching teens cry – but she didn’t seem to be that sort of person. “You don’t mind this call being recorded, do you?”
“Of course not!” Patton cheered, trying to swallow the nerves through his confident tone and his smile. The same tone and smile was only used when Patton wanted an extension on homework. Out of the corner of his eye, Patton watched his mom. She was folding the pyjamas Patton had left on the end of his bed and gave her son a soft grin. After a few seconds of silence while the casting director shuffled paper, she reached over and held her son’s hand under the desk. “It’s great to meet you, Michelle.”
“You too. Your energy is very infectious.” The director, Michelle, left the papers to the side of the camera for a second, bringing one paper forward in front of her. Her smile remained. Patton counted his inhales and exhales as the silence continued, but eventually she spoke again. “You also have a wonderful singing voice, is it musical theatre training?” Patton nodded, although he wouldn’t really call it ‘training’ as opposed to schmoozing the theatre director to get a few lead roles as a sophomore. “Your stage presence is definitely your best quality, as we’ve said – you’re a captivating person to watch.”
So far, she was just saying good things. Patton clasped his mom’s hand tighter, receiving a softer smile from the older woman and a stroke of his hand with her thumb. The casting director looked back at the screen, directly into Patton’s eyes – and the next sentence would change the teenager’s life forever.
“After careful review with the team, we want to congratulate you on being selected to be a part of our training and development program.”
“OH MY GOD!” Patton couldn’t handle the excitement in his body. Due to the volume he immediately bounced to apologising. The casting director just laughed, her human side showing again.
And Patton had his mom’s arms around him in a second, wrapping her son up tight as tears – not of upset but excitement – fell on her sleeve. After the last formalities and congratulations, the call ended, and Patton looked up at his mom with wide and excited eyes. He was going to finish his sophomore year as a normal Wisconsin boy before being whisked away in late June to Los Angeles. Training for his dream job. He could hardly handle the excitement going through his body.
“You’re so grown up, Cupcake.” She whispered, re-adjusting Patton’s circular glasses and giving him a kiss on the forehead. Her youngest child was now going to live in Los Angeles for a year, performing every day, living the life people usually only dreamed of. “Are you ready for this?”
“More than ready.” Patton grinned back. He wanted to pack his bags and drive to the airport now! The only solution to dissolving his wave of energy was to run towards the stairs and scream to the family members who waited downstairs with cupcakes and cuddles if the news was bad. “I got into the training program!”
Noise erupted from downstairs and Patton immediately ran to receive all the hugs from his family. The hugs he knew he’d miss living so far away – but he was super excited to perform, learn, and meet new people. The cupcakes were eaten and, as there weren’t any other places to celebrate in the small town of Waldo, the family booked a table at the only restaurant – Chissy’s Pub and Grill.
Patton would never forget the feeling of standing out in Waldo in the early evening. With the light from the sun disappearing over the flat fields in the distance, the tall trees around him sheltering Patton in the world he felt safe but was excited to finally escape. The birds were quiet, preparing for their nightly slumber, and when once in a blue moon someone was walking on the street they would be whispering – scared to disturb the peace. Los Angeles would be like Patton. Loud, chaotic, extroverted in every sense of the word.
And although Patton would have to live for a year without his family, who he was really close to, he knew as a sociable kid he’d get friends in no time. Hopefully those friends would end up feeling like the family he was reluctant to leave.