of them in that room, experiencing the same story beneath the same roof, was overpowering. She understood midway through, that live performance could easily become an addiction, like the best kind of drug. She loved the screen, but the theater was instantaneously rewarding.
That Tuesday night, she went on the same journey with Lauren that they’d gone on together every day in rehearsal. The audience only enriched their story and gave it texture. God, Carly could really get used to this.
When the curtain came down, the audience applauded and cheered loudly. Lauren fell into her arms. It was hands down the best moment of Carly’s life, thus far.
“That was amazing,” Carly whispered.
“You were,” Lauren countered. “You’re so talented, Car. Really. You broke my heart back there.” There were tears in Lauren’s eyes when she said it.
“It was you who stole the show,” she said, as they dashed into the wings, hand in hand.
When the curtain rose again, the audience applauded enthusiastically for their cast members, and when it was Lauren’s turn to bow at curtain call, Carly watched in awe as the audience stood in unison. A standing ovation. Because of her recognizable name, Carly had been given the final bow. As she stepped downstage before the audience, she looked into the faces of each and every person she could see through the bright stage lights. She took in the moment, then finally bowed, as her heart soared. Her year had been full of ups and downs, but this made it all okay again. She joined hands with Kirby and Lauren as they all took their company bow together. She waved to the audience and headed to the wings. The show was complete. She’d made it.
“What the hell just happened?” Carly asked, in the midst of the most intense rush of her life. She placed a hand over her chest. “Do you feel that?” she asked Lauren. “Because I do.”
Lauren laughed, every bit as giddy as Carly. Trip raced down the hallway whooping. TJ put Kirby in a celebratory headlock. Lauren threw her arms around Carly’s neck and hugged her. “That completely just happened, and it was amazing.”
Lauren was in Trip’s arms next as they all took turns hugging each company member. “Lala, my eyes only misted over eight times seeing you up there like a star.” He kissed her cheek with a smack. “Maybe twelve. You dazzled.” Carly couldn’t have agreed more. Lauren had been versatile, charismatic, and lovable tonight, and the audience adored her.
“Cast party at The Argyle in an hour,” Trip announced to the celebrating company.
Once alone, with the door closed behind her, Carly danced around her dressing room in silence, as one did when they’d just conquered a grave fear. She leapt onto the couch wearing her black pants and a bra and played air guitar in her private celebration. She couldn’t wait to see her friends, eat some food, drink some wine, and maybe even dance a little bit more. Yet it felt so different from the partying she would do in LA. She couldn’t get trashed. Didn’t want to. Tomorrow, she needed to be sure she was fresh and ready for show number two.
“Are you coming?” Lauren asked, bag on her shoulder. Somehow, she’d opened the door without Carly hearing her. “Or do you have another guitar solo on the way.” She held up a hand. “Don’t let me stop you. It’s an enjoyable view.”
Carly glanced down at her nearly bare torso and the tops of the breasts she had on display. Never one to feel modest, she hopped off the couch and walked slowly to her clothing rack. “If I’d known my performance was being enjoyed, I’d have worked it a little more.”
“I’m not even sure that’s possible,” Lauren said, with a lazy grin. She wore a tweed jacket with a black belt and black boots that made her appear both smart and sexy.
“Give me ninety seconds and I’m yours.” Carly pulled a red sweater over her head and began to pack her bag. She joined Lauren, and they walked down the hall together, with Carly’s arm around Lauren’s waist.
“Shall I drive or would you like to?” Lauren asked.
“Well, if you’re offering, how can I say no? I never pass up a jaunt in a Mini Cooper.”
“And why would you?”
When they exited the stage door, a series of bright flashes nearly blinded Carly. She only stuttered for a moment. Though she’d been out of LA a couple of months now, she was still used