Between You & Me (22 page)

I walk back into the dressing room to warm up and my heart leaps to see a bunch of red daisies on the table. There's a note. I pick it up.
Knock 'em dead
. I hear someone in the hall behind me and instinctively scrunch the note into a ball. A rumor about notes from Mia is the last thing I need. I glance over my shoulder. The door doesn't open and I look back at the crumpled paper in my hand. I try instantly to flatten out the crumple but it's not the same. The flowers will die! The note I could have kept.

I am peeking through the curtains at the side of the stage to see the audience filing in. I see Mia at the theater door, surrounded by a group of friends including the girl from the coffee shop. Mr. Handsome has his hand on the small of her back, a girl is clasping her arm. And Mia is talking animatedly. She seems different. She tips her head back, laughing, I think, and there is that pain in my chest. Humiliation! Tonight it seems clearer than ever: I'm a tiny part of her life. I see only a piece of who she is. So much exists just in my head, and I know that, but tonight of all nights it hurts to remember. She has her own set of approvals to seek, and they have nothing to do with me. I close my eyes, trying to shake the painful embarrassment that starts in my stomach and wells up through my chest to my face.
Come on, Phyre. Forget about her.
There, up at the lighting board, I see you. My embarrassment eases and I draw back, staring instead at the set of the Price house behind the curtain and concentrating on what comes next: Lily.

Trying for a minute to regain my focus, I sit alone at the mirror. You appear behind me.

YOU

Hey, you okay?

ME

Tip-top.

My heart is going a mile a minute with nerves. These last ten minutes are killing me. You smile.

YOU

Almost time.

ME

Almost.

YOU

I came to say break a leg. You got my note?

ME

Your note?

YOU

Yeah. With the flowers?

…

ME

Right. Yes!

How many times, Phyre! How many times can you make the same mistake?
I have a moment of perfect clarity, and meet your eyes.

ME

You're the best. Thanks for everything.

YOU

Well. See you out there.

You smile one last time and close the door quietly behind you. I rub my hand across my forehead. I'm an idiot.
You're
the one that cares, not Mia, and this time I won't forget.

I hear the music start onstage and try to focus. This is it, the real thing, my chance to prove myself. Excitement claws at my throat as I make my way backstage.

Standing silently in the semidarkness, with only the slits of light between the curtains to show me the way, I take a few paces to relax, and bump into a figure coming toward me. Even in the dark, I know it's Mia. She squeezes both my hands in hers and puts her cheek against mine. Pressed to her, I remind myself again and again that we're not the only two people in the world. She whispers something to me but the music has picked up and her voice was too quiet to hear. I think of pulling her back to say
pardon
but she puts me at arm's length, her eyes catching the light for a second, and then she disappears through the curtain. She's gone. And she's not what's important.

Lights up. The buzz is incredible, the excitement, the nerves, and the feeling of focus on one point in space. Light surrounded by darkness. I am Lily, dancing to the music and getting ready for my date with the man of my dreams.

The first half of the play sails by. I follow Gabe offstage to a bustle of excitement as the houselights come up. Cast members stop in at the dressing room to say how well it's going. I
can hear through the speaker system the clangs of the set being changed and the floor of the Price house being taken up. As soon as I'm in my dress for the second half, I come out to have a look. Through the backstage curtains I can see the dark shape of the pool and there you are, wrapping silk greenery around the balcony rail. I think I catch a wink. When the curtain opens minutes later, I hear audible murmurs of appreciation from the audience as they notice the swimming pool. I can't wait to leap back into Lily's world, a world that feels so much more real and comfortable tonight than my own.

THE COUNTRY HOUSE OF PENNY FOSTER. EVENING.

Lily stands on the balcony overlooking a swimming pool. She gazes into the glistening blue water. Light glows through the windows of the house. A party is going on inside. There are voices and the clink of glasses. Bobby comes through the French window behind her. He hands her a soda bottle, then tugs at his suit sleeves and smooths his hair nervously.

BOBBY

Well, cheers.

LILY

Cheers!

Lily bubbles over.

Bobby! How did you get us in here? I can't believe you know these people.

BOBBY

I do have friends.

LILY

I see that. These girls would never have invited me.

BOBBY

I said I'd bring you out for a good time. And that's what I'm gonna do.

He glances inside.

You might not wanna go in. Your friend Michael is there.

LILY

Michael!

She scoffs unconvincingly.

I'm with you.

BOBBY

And you look beautiful.

At that moment, Michael comes onto the balcony with a girl. Lily quickly turns away from him toward the water. Flirting with the girl, Michael moves to put his arm around her when he sees Lily.

MICHAEL

Lily! You're here! I didn't know you knew Penny.

LILY

We have friends in common.

MICHAEL

Well, it's good to see you. Hey, I'm sorry I didn't make it the other night. The craziest thing happened and I tried to reach you.

The girl still stands beside him, hands on her hips. He is looking at Lily.

Can I get you a drink?

The girl rolls her eyes and stalks back inside, an insult echoing behind her.

I think she likes me!

Lily refuses to smile.

So. Can I call you?

She bites her lip.

LILY

Better if you don't.

Bobby steps up and takes Lily's hand.

BOBBY

Ready for that dance?

Michael raises his hands in mock surrender. He looks at Lily one last time before reluctantly going back into the house. Lily lets go of Bobby's hand, clapping hers together in satisfaction.

LILY

Ha. Did you see that! I turned him down and he walked away. That was amazing. Thanks. I owe you.

Bobby tries to hide his disappointment.

BOBBY

Sure, any time … Listen, I'm gonna grab another drink.

He gulps the rest of his drink and heads back inside. A figure has been watching from the doorway. She comes forward, a glamorous girl in a narrow-waisted polka-dot dress, seventeen, like Lily.

PENNY

What's your name?

LILY

Lily. I came with Bobby. You do know him, right?

PENNY

Of course. He does everything for us around here.

She looks carefully at Lily.

I'm Penny. I live here.

LILY

Right.

Penny leans against the balustrade, looking down into the pool.

PENNY

Lily. He's mentioned you.

LILY

He has?

PENNY

Do you like him?

LILY

Sure. He works for us too.

Penny looks unimpressed.

Oh, I'm not his girlfriend.

PENNY

I know that. But he likes you.

Penny tries to hide her jealousy. After an awkward silence, Bobby comes back out onto the balcony.

BOBBY

Penny! This is Lily, the one I told you about.

He is beaming with pride to be with her. Penny smiles politely.