12. White Roses #2
We scooted into the row of seats and set our stuff down with her mom.
Allie and I went to grab some popcorn and a drink before settling in.
As we waited, she was telling me how excited she was because they were performing Beauty and the Beast, and her sister was playing Belle, which also happened to be Allie’s favorite movie and princess.
She was telling me how she had helped her sister prepare, since she did theater during high school here too, and could help her with both the lines and the music.
I wanted to ask her if that meant she was a trained singer, but the director came on stage to welcome everyone and asked us to silence our phones.
The lights dimmed, and the music started, the curtains drawn back, and then Olivia came out on stage.
Allie leaned over, swatting my chest. “There she is! She looks so beautiful!” Her gaze was set on her sister, but I couldn’t take mine away from her.
Excitement was radiating from every inch of her.
Clasping her hand in mine, I kissed the back of it and settled back into my seat, watching the opening number unfold.
She was only seventeen, but she had a killer voice, and so did all the other performers too.
They danced across the stage in the makeshift town, all while Belle had her nose in a book.
Smiling to myself, I peeked over at Allie and found her mouthing along to the words, and she mimicked some of the smaller movements.
Completely immersed in the show happening.
Normally, musicals weren’t my thing, but I actually had a fun time.
After they finished and did the final bows, we waited in our seats for the cast to disperse. All the characters hopped down off the stage to find people throughout the crowd.
“Sissy!” I heard someone yell, and when I turned, Belle herself, in her giant yellow dress, was running right toward us. I stepped out of the way so Allie could catch her sister and hug her.
“You did amazing! Olivia, I’m serious, you absolutely killed it! I’m so so proud of you.” She was squeezing her tightly and peppering her face with kisses.
“My sweet girl, I can’t believe this is your last play. You’ve grown up so much, just look at you.” Donna was trying not to cry as she took pictures of the two girls.
“Mom, it’s not going to be my last play, don’t be dramatic,” she rolled her eyes, but she couldn’t keep the smile from spreading across her face.
Seeing their loving interaction made my heart ache, knowing I never did, and never would have this, but I’m glad that they have each other after the rough times they’ve gone through.
“Olivia, these are for you, and here I have someone I want you to meet.” Allie pulled me up from standing back behind them, giving them space. “This is Spencer, my friend. Spencer, this is my baby sister, Olivia.”
“Hi Olivia, it's nice to meet you. I also brought these for you. Your sister told me how important this was.” I handed her the bouquet of roses, which earned me a giant grin.
“Thank you so much, they’re beautiful and also my favorite too!”
“Yeah, I found out after I got them. Just a funny accident.”
“It’s nice to meet you, and thank you for coming as well. I’m sure you’d much rather have been somewhere else. It means a lot to the theater department for the support.”
“No, I actually had a fun time; the whole cast did great. You were awesome up there.”
“Here you three stand together, let me get a picture of you!” The girls’ mom asked us as she waved her hands around to motion where she wanted us to stand. We spent the next few minutes taking pictures or stepping aside so their mom could take pictures of Olivia and other cast members or teachers.
After about thirty minutes, Olivia handed her flowers back to us so she could go backstage to change and leave. While we were waiting, we discussed where to eat, and landed on pizza being delivered to Allie’s since everyone was tired.
“Sissy, can I ride with you back to your house?” Olivia asked when she made it back out and hopped down from the stage, giving Allie the biggest puppy dog eyes possible.
“Well, I rode with Spencer, so it’s up to him.” Allie shrugged and turned to me.
“Oh uh, no, I don’t mind at all, as long as your mom’s okay with it. She is the ultimate adult here.”
“She won’t care, let me text her quick.” Olivia whipped her phone out from her jeans and fired off a text to her mom.
“Yeah, just to be on the safe side, and so she doesn’t wait for you, thinking you’re going with her,” Allie said while we waited.
“Okay, yep, we’re good losers. Let’s go, I’m starving.”
I leaned down so only Allie could hear me, “Yep, I see what you were talking about with the whole teenage thing. Were we like that?”
“Right! I don’t know, honestly, I was busy fighting for my life.” Leave it to Allie to make a joke about her trauma.
We all loaded up and headed back to Allie’s, and she placed the pizza order while I was driving. When we stopped at a red light, I fished my wallet out and handed it to her.
“The black one in the front, use that to pay.”
“Absolutely not. No. You don’t have to buy everyone's pizza. Seriously, Spencer, you just met them and—” She tried to shove the wallet back toward me.
“Allie, don't be dumb, take the man's money,” her sister said without missing a beat from the back seat as she scrolled her phone.
I barked out a laugh. “Yeah, Allie, don’t be dumb. Take the man's money.”
“I regret bringing you tonight.” She shot daggers at me and grumbled, but used the card and placed the order. I reached over and squeezed her thigh, then grabbed her hand and pulled it into my lap. Much better. Friends could totally hold hands.
When we got in, I went and took Dolly out for her so she could get changed. Her mom was in the kitchen pouring herself a tall glass of sweet tea, and I was suddenly very nervous, because at least before we were in a crowd of people, and Allie was there to act as a buffer. Now it was only us.
“So Spencer, tell me a little about yourself now that we can talk. How’d you meet my Allie?” Let the questioning begin.
“I first saw her at the gym with her friend Emma, but we didn’t talk. The next day, I got a ticket at work that someone needed a laptop repair, and it ended up being her. Talk about a small world where the job I started was where she worked.”
“That’s cute, and how’re you liking the job? What is it you do?”
“So far, I like it; it’s a lot more relaxed than my previous job, so it’s a nice change.
I primarily do IT work for Prestige, fixing computers and updating software, or if any coding or changes are needed on internal systems, I’m their guy.
I also recently moved back, so I’m still getting settled in my apartment. ”
“So you’re from Maplewood then?” Donna asked as she took a sip of her tea. Those curious eyes assessed me, trying to make sure I wasn’t a threat to her family. I swallowed nervously as I answered.
“Yes, ma’am, I am. I lived here my whole life, but I moved away when I graduated high school and went to college. I lived in Knoxville for a few years working, but decided I was over living in the city.”
“Certainly don’t blame you there, hun. Knoxville has grown even more, and it’s always so busy.
What about your family?” Right after she asked, the doorbell rang, thankful for the interruption, so I didn’t have to get into it.
I went and answered the door. It made sense she’d want to know about me, especially if she sensed that Allie and I could be more than friends.
She’d want what was best for her daughter.
I just needed a little more time to mentally prepare and not be awkward.
“Pizza’s here, everyone!” I called out, and Olivia and Allie came barreling down the hall.
“Will you two knock it off, like a couple of damn bulls in a china shop!” Donna yelled out in a tone that left no room for anything except the yes ma’am they both let out in unison. Allie shuffled over to me with her head down after being reprimanded by her mom.
“Ooh, someone got in trouble,” I said as I walked up behind her and hugged her.
“Oh fuck off.” She laughed and tried to elbow me in the stomach, but I jumped out of the way in time.
“Ewww, can you two stop being so cute? It’s sickening,” Olivia said as she made a plate and made a gagging face.
“You’re just jealous, here want some lovins little sis, come here!” Allie pinched her cheeks and tried to peck kisses over her face like an overly affectionate grandma would do.
“AGH! STOP THAT!” Olivia was doing her best to stay out of her sister's grip.
“I swear those two. I got lucky having two girls who love each other so much,” Donna said as she came and stood next to me.
“Yeah, I can tell how much they love one another. You did a great job raising them. Allie filled me in on a little of her upbringing.”