Between You & Me - By Marisa Calin Page 0,17

go to a movie this weekend … maybe.

Shit.

ME

This weekend? I’m sorry, I can’t this weekend but some other time for sure. Thanks though.

I give him a semi-thumbs-up, which then seems silly. I’ve never been very good at this. He nods, pauses as though he may say something else, and then walks away. You look at me, puzzled.

YOU

Some other time?

ME

Oh, you know I didn’t really mean that.

YOU

Why did you say it then?

—!! Everyone else has arrived so there’s no chance to ask What the hell is with you? I turn my attention to Mia, as usual. She is perched against the front of the stage and seems cheerful, not sad or distracted about her breakup like I thought she still might be. There go my hopes of being her shoulder to cry on, deflating with an audible whistle inside my head. She presses her fingertips together as she talks about her plan for the class.

MIA

Today is about listening.

I spare you a look of irony.

Really listening onstage is essential. We never know what’s coming next. We’re not exchanging lines, we’re responding to a thought with a thought. Remember when you were a kid—didn’t you think the aim of sword fighting was to clang your swords together? Really, you aim for the person and they deflect the strike. Acting is the same.

Everything you do is a response, not a preconceived pattern of one, two, one, two. Volunteers?

I have zero intention of volunteering today so I purposely look at the floor.

Phyre!

Yes. That would happen. She can tell I want to curl in a ball. I feel almost angry. When I catch her eye, I hope she can tell. To make matters worse, she calls you out as my scene partner. You slip off your jacket and we clamber equally reluctantly up on stage, standing side by side as if caught in headlights.

MIA

Contain your enthusiasm! Everyone’s going to try this.

She smiles at me, igniting that spark in my chest. I try not to respond, setting my jaw, but despite my anger and despite feeling my heart sink every time I think of our last meeting in the hall, I smile back.

MIA

Can either of you fence?

My eyebrow shoots apprehensively skyward. I needn’t shake my head, my expression has it covered.

MIA

Physical activity is a great way to stay in the moment. We’ll try an exercise that combines fencing and karate.

Your cheek shifts into a smile that from this angle looks smug. Probably because you are—at the thought of my pinkness and sweating.

MIA

Think of this as a physical conversation.

I’ll give you a physical conversation. I want to grab your sunshine-yellow shoulders and give you a shake.

MIA

The aim is to tap the shoulder or hip of the other person, their left side with your right hand, and vice versa. To defend yourself, swing your forearm on the same side up in front of your shoulder or down in front of your hip. Simple, right?

She smiles.

Keep it steady. Remember, you’re communicating. Recognize that their action causes your reaction. Take it in turns, so the person who just blocked takes the next tap. Gentle. Go!

You reach out almost instantly for my left shoulder and I swing my forearm into your path. Pretty Karate Kid–esque if you ask me. I can’t suppress a smile, and go for your left hip. Your forearm meets mine before I’m even close. We go on like this, your taps getting faster, but I’m equally committed. You swing for my right shoulder—there’s sting in your effort. Gentle! She said gentle! You meet my eyes; you know me well enough to see you’re pissing me off. It seems only to fuel the fire and, eyes locked, we’re getting more determined. I started angry, this isn’t helping. It’s just getting more intense and I’m considering trying to concede with my eyes when:

MIA

All right! A nice example!

I relax, rubbing my forearm and knitting my brow at you.

The next step—the same idea with words.

She looks at you.

Let’s imagine you’re in homeroom. Phy, you’re going to come in with a purpose. First—

She beckons me over. I take my time. I still want her to know that I’m angry. When I reach her, she cups her hand around my ear and puts her lips so close I can almost feel them. I hear her swallow.

MIA

Come in with something really important to say. Raise the stakes for yourself.

She straightens up and I return her nod somberly. She holds my gaze for a second and I try to make mine say everything that needs to