Chapter 43
Tate
“Why in the world is Gabriella calling me? And how did she get my new number?”
Tim, Callie, and I picked up sandwiches and headed down to the sand for a beach day. Tomorrow will be all about getting ready for the show, so it’s our last full day in LA to do nothing but hang out and then it’s back to the tour.
Callie sucks in air through her teeth making a sheesh-like sound. “She may have DMed me last night asking for it, and I may have given it to her. Is that wrong?”
“No, of course not.” I sigh before picking up.
“Hey, Gabriella, what’s up?”
“What’s up? That’s it? No I’m sorry I changed my number and haven’t responded to any of the messages you’ve sent?
I’m sorry I’ve been a bad friend? Nada, huh?
” Her voice carries over the pounding of the waves.
Both Tim and Callie look at me wide-eyed.
I take her off speaker and mute the call before saying, “You see?” while walking a couple paces away.
“Gabriella, are you there? I’m at the beach and reception is spotty...”
“So the rumors are true. You’re here.”
“I am, and you’re right. When I left, I should have 100 percent called you. I just, I don’t know, you were dating Levi and it was weird for me,” I explain honestly.
“For you and me both, but you know it wasn’t real. And between us, I think you broke the boy.”
I laugh in a way I haven’t since probably the last time I talked to her.
“What do you mean I broke him? I didn’t do anything, and as far as I can tell, he’s unbreakable.”
“Hmm,” she hums into the phone. “Everyone’s breakable given the right circumstances. Anyways, I’m glad you’re here. I have a favor to ask you...”
“Oh man, what is it now and how much of my dignity is it going to cost me?” I grab a fist full of sand before letting it run through my fingers and then repeat the motion.
“No cost! I actually think you might enjoy it.”
“Okay, tell.”
“So, Levi and I decided to try and pull a fast one on Jan because...well, you know. So for our final performance we’re going to perform double duets.”
“Double duets...” I repeat. There’s a pinch in my stomach that goes off every time she puts herself with Levi in a sentence. It’s not anger, something hairier. Them doing duets feels like a replacement of ours, even though I know that’s silly.
“Yes, I’m to perform first and we’re doing ‘Over and Over’ by Nelly and Tim.”
“Mm, yeah, that’s a good one. Nice choice.”
“And for Levi’s, he wants to do...” Then nothing. Just the ruffling of the phone on skin.
“Gabriella?”
“Yeah, it’s just...it’s the worst song, and I can’t do it. I just can’t.”
“It can’t be that bad, G...”
“AND THE OUTFIT!” she wails. “He wants us to dress the part, but there’s no way I’m wearing leather pants and red heels.
I’ll look like a...like a...UGH! He bugs me so much.
And he won’t budge, Tate. I suggested about five hundred other songs with better outfits, and he said no. It has to be this one.”
My mouth breaks into a smile. “Gabriella, you haven’t even told me what song it is...”
Her breath comes through the receiver in a whoosh followed by nearly inaudible language.
“ItstheonethatIwant.”
“Huh?”
“‘You’re the One That I Want!’” she yells. “As in Grease the musical!” She’s yelling but I’m spinning. I pull the phone down from my ear and open my texts to Levi last night, and sure enough, it’s there.
You’re the one that I want. Followed by This is my favorite part.
I put the phone to my ear again and Gabriella is in the middle of telling me all the ways she hates Grease.
“Don’t get me started on Rizzo...”
“I’m sorry, Gabriella... That must be...
hard on you? The good news is it’s just one night and it will be over before you know it.
” I consider telling her this is all my fault, but don’t.
“Did you say you wanted to ask me a favor?” I look over just in time to see Callie and Tim running full force into the water, hand in hand, crashing into the cold Pacific.
Her latest drawing bleeding from his shoulder blades in a rainbow of colors.
“Yes, that’s why I’m calling. I want you to do it.”
“I’m sorry, you lost me. Do what exactly?”
“I want you to take my spot in singing Sandy’s portion with Levi.”
My words come out numb and disoriented. “I, uh, I’m not on the show anymore. I don’t think it would be right to take the stage...”
“Not for you, Tate. I’m not doing it, so without you he’s going to be singing to no one...”
“Gabriella, I’m not sure if anyone has told you this, but you really excel at getting your way.”
“My parents have expressed that just about every day of my entire life.” We both laugh, but I still feel uneasy about the whole thing.
“So, you’ll do it?”
“You didn’t give me much of a choice...”
“You are a legend, Tate! Here’s the plan.
You’re going to show up as a guest, take pictures at the front, and then take your seat.
As we come on stage for my performance, you need to sneak backstage and quickly change.
Once we finish, Levi will split to a separate dressing room and won’t be back till his set where you will replace me as Sandy in that awful outfit. ”
“Wait! So, Levi doesn’t know?”
“No, you know how he is, and I thought it could be a surprise.”
“I’m almost positive he hates surprises.” I groan.
“It will be fine. Better than fine, I promise. You good?” Each word rides on one breath and no space in between.
I feel everything but good, but I say, “Yeah, all good. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“You are the best! Thank you, thank you, thank you!”
“What are friends for?” I say, wondering if I even truly know the meaning at this point. The phone clicks off and I wander in a daze back to our spot on the sand. Tim and Callie make their way up the beach, visible goose bumps littering their arms.
Callie collapses onto the towel beside me, her smile like the sparkles off the water. Mesmerizing. “What did she want?” she asks as Tim takes the space beside her.
“It was no big deal. She just wanted to know if she could borrow a kidney.”
I watch my sister roll onto her back while rolling her eyes simultaneously. Growing up, she would often lovingly refer to my sense of humor as dad jokes. I giggle, falling to the ground beside her.
“What did she really want?”
“She asked me if I would take her spot singing a duet with Levi tomorrow night.”
Callie turns her head to look at me and I mirror her. “You said no, right?”
“Well, it’s more complicated than that...”
Callie props herself up on her elbows to look down on me, a face of pure shock “Tate, you said no, right?”
“It’s Grease, Callie. Not just that, it’s ‘You’re the One That I Want.’” Her mouth drops open, speechless, before tapping Tim in. She tells him everything and at the end he looks just as perplexed.
“Tate, this isn’t good. You have a label now. I don’t think you can just pop on stage and perform without letting them know...”
Point one.
“Also, what happens if Jan intervenes? Levi could be disqualified from the competition and lose everything he’s been working for...” He cradles his forehead in his palms.
Point two.
When he reemerges, the upper half of his face is red from the pressure and warmth of his hands. “And I’m almost positive Levi really dislikes surprises...”
Point three.
“Okay, okay. Clearly, I didn’t think this through.
..” The two of them nod wildly, eyes open wide.
“What do I do?! I can’t call Gabriella back and change my mind.
Plus, she’s pretty adamant about not being Sandy.
Levi will be forced to do a duet by himself.
That doesn’t even make sense. He can’t be Sandy and Danny.
He just can’t!” My breath is heaving out of me.
“It’s fine. Nothing that can’t be worked out.” Callie’s hands follow her words, rubbing large circles against my back. “Tim, your delivery could use some improvement.”
“Noted.”
“Tate, if you’re really going to go through with this, then there are some calls you need to make.
The first to Adam to explain the situation and get the okay to go on.
” I nod before Callie continues. “The second is not going to be as easy and is contingent on getting approval from the label.” She pauses, and I already know I’m not going to like what’s coming next.
“You need to call Jan and then Levi and tell him what’s going on.
.. I don’t know about Jan, but I don’t think Levi will mind.
In fact, given the huge flower arrangement he sends every show, I think he’ll be thrilled. ”
I chew on my bottom lip. I know she’s right, but I wish she wasn’t.
“What about Gabriella? She seemed very intent on keeping this a secret...”
Tim leans forward. “If she’s your true friend, she’ll understand.”
“Ooooh, honey! So wise!” Callie turns, wrapping her arms around his neck and pressing her lips to his.
“Alright, let me call Adam... So much for a relaxing beach day,” I say, coming to my feet again.