Between You & Me - By Marisa Calin Page 0,46
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.
DRESSING ROOM. CURTAIN UP: TEN MINUTES.
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.
BACKSTAGE. CURTAIN UP: THREE MINUTES.
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.
THE CURTAIN RISES.
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