Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
The kids were floating and I didn’t blame them. They hit every mark, delivered every line without my help, and even the spinning backdrop worked like a dream. There was the one cell phone that went off during act two, and Hannah’s sneeze when she was supposed to be unconscious, but neither of those occurrences dimmed the performance.
If anything, their ability to keep going despite those distractions was commendable.
“Lindsey, you should have warned us,” Becca said when they caught me after the show. “I would have packed a whole box of tissues.”
“It wasn’t that sad,” I said, giving her a half hug. “Thanks again for coming.”
“We never miss an opening night.” Donna nudged Calvin. “He cried more than I did.”
“Some of us have softer hearts than others,” he replied, staring at her with an accusatory expression.
She rolled her eyes as Josie said, “The kids were so impressive. Linds, you did a great job with them.”
“That was all their hard work and talent.” Turning to Miles, I said, “Thanks again for helping with the backdrop. It worked perfectly.”
“No problem,” he said.
“Will you go back to a musical for the spring?” Megan asked. “Or pick another drama?”
I still didn’t know if there would be a spring production. Tonight was nearly a sold out crowd, but who knew if that was enough to convince the powers-that-be not to cut our funding?
“Ms. Pavolski?” cut in a stranger before I could answer. “I’m Jordan Franks from the Gazette, and this is my photographer Vanessa Brooks. Would you be willing to give us a short interview about the show?”
“The Post Gazette?” I asked. Why would the biggest paper in the city cover our little play?
“That’s right. Two minutes is all we need.”
Confused but happy for the publicity, I said, “Sure. We can go backstage, if that works.”
“Perfect,” the reporter said.
Shooting a what the heck look at the girls, I led the pair to the spot from which I’d watched the production. Vanessa snapped pictures of the stage while Jordan swiped at his phone a couple times, then pointed the end toward me.
“Thank you for doing this,” he said. “Choices isn’t a play most people have heard of. What made you pick this production?”
“I was looking for something more relatable for the students. We’ve done well-known musicals in the past, which required elaborate costumes and sets, while dealing with few modern day topics. I liked that this one is more contemporary and covers themes and topics many students deal with today.”
I probably sounded like a goober, but it’s not like I did interviews every day.
“According to the program, some of your cast members have never acted before. Were you worried that they might not be able to pull off something this dramatic?”
Pausing to think about my answer, I realized that was never a real concern.
“Like I said, these kids are dealing with this stuff every day. Bullying, peer pressure, parental pressure, a thousand choices that can affect their futures. Even at the audition phase, I knew they could convey what this play is about, and I’m proud of how hard they worked to get here.”
Jordan nodded and Vanessa snapped a picture, startling me. Hoping I didn’t have my mouth open or my eyes closed, I tried to pretend she wasn’t there.
“Will you stick with this genre of play for the spring production?” the reporter asked.
Again, who knew if there was going to be a spring production? “We still have two more performances of this one, so that’s where I’m focused right now. We’ll see what the future holds when the time comes.”
The photographer’s camera clicked several more times before Jordan turned off the recording app on his phone. “I think we have what we need. Thank you for taking the time to talk to us.”
“Thank you,” I said, grateful they would even mention us in the paper. Curious, I had to ask. “How did you know about the play? I mean, we don’t typically get media coverage.”
“Our sports reporter got the suggestion from Coach Collins, and the editor liked the idea of covering both arts and athletics from the same school.” He turned to Vanessa. “Did you get enough shots?”
“I’ve got plenty, yeah.”
“We’ll run this online tomorrow morning,” he said to me, “along with the performance times for the rest of the weekend. Good luck. Or I guess we should say break a leg.”
“That’s for the actors, but still appreciated.”
The pair walked off and I dropped onto the chair I’d occupied for the last ninety minutes. Trey got us coverage in the newspaper? A little warning would have been nice.
“There you are,” Carole Fabian said as she ducked around the long black curtain. “What are you doing back here?”
“I just did an interview with the newspaper.”
“Really?” she said, crossing her arms. “I can’t believe they showed up.”
Not the surprised reaction I expected. “You knew they were coming?”
“I knew Trey called them. He asked my permission first, which I appreciate, but I get the impression he would have done it no matter what I said.” Carole dragged over the chair from the props table and took a seat beside me. “That man would tackle a bus for you, you know that, right?”
“ That man has barely spoken to me for two weeks.”
“That’s because he’s been dragging me from meeting to meeting to figure out this funding mess. We’ve met with everyone from the booster club to the head of the school board.” Leaning back in the seat, she crossed her legs. “He charmed every single one of them into doing what he wanted, while making it seem as if it was the other person’s idea every time.”
If we were talking about anyone other than Trey Collins, I’d believe she was describing a conman.
“Does that mean my club won’t be cut?”
Carole snorted. “No one is getting cut. We now have the money needed to keep all of the clubs going.”
There was still the promises they made to Trey. “What about the football team? Will he get what he asked for?”
She nodded. “The boosters agreed to raise the money. He won’t get everything right away, but Trey says he’s okay with that.”
So everything I’d been stressing about for weeks was… gone. When I told him we might not work, which looking back now, was me being my typical dramatic self, he spent two weeks fixing the potential problem. All this time I thought we were over before anything had begun, while he’d been doing everything in his power to make sure that didn’t happen.
Stunned, I stared at the curtain in front of me. “I had no idea.”
“You weren’t supposed to.”
“What? Why not?”
Carole rose and straightened her gray skirt. “Trey asked me not to tell you. I was supposed to take the credit, but since I know how stubborn you are, and since your sisters asked me to make sure you don’t mess this up, I’m telling you anyway.”
I didn’t know whether to be grateful of offended.
“Maybe he did it for the kids and not for me,” I said, clinging to the story I’d told myself.
Why would I be so important that he’d go to such lengths? He didn’t just make sure the drama club could keep going. He made sure everyone could.
With a heavy sigh, she bent until we were eye to eye and lowered her voice to a near growl. “That man is head over heels for you and if you don’t get out of your own way and lock him down right now, you’re an idiot.” Straightening, she added, “ Don’t be an idiot.”
There was no need to be so aggressive about it. “You can stop saying idiot, okay? I get it. He likes me.” Gnawing on my thumb nail, I said, “But for how long?”
Carole returned to the seat beside me. “There are no guarantees in life or love, Lindsey, but that doesn’t mean you don’t take the risk. Isn’t that what this play was about? Making choices, even when they’re hard? Follow your heart, woman. That’s the only way you’ll get an answer.”
That was the message of the play. I picked it for the kids, but maybe I needed the reminder myself.
When I nodded, trying to breathe around the weight in my chest, she stood, kissed the top of my head, and whispered, “You’re worth fighting for, my dear. Remember that.”
While I did my best to absorb her words, she walked off, and the buzz around me fell away, drowned out by the voice in my head. The one that insisted that I not fall for this trick. That I not get my hopes up or even consider the possibility that maybe I was not the problem. That I might not be so unlovable after all.
Maybe it was time to tell that voice to go to hell.
“Come on, woman,” said Josie as I walked down the corner steps off the stage. “We’re all headed to this party at Trey’s house.”
Speaking of… “Where is Trey?” I asked, looking around and not spotting him anywhere.
“He went to find you. Have you not seen him?”
“No, I was sitting off stage talking to Carole.” Processing what she said, I turned her way. “Did you say a party?”
“Yeah, he told Miles we should all head over to his place, and then he went looking for you.” She waved to Miles at the back of the auditorium, then held up a finger to say she’d be there in a minute. Turning back to me, she said, “Do you want me to help you find him? He has to be here somewhere.”
“No, that’s all right.” Remembering I didn’t actually know where Trey lived, I said, “Text me his address though.”
Blonde brows shot up. “You don’t know his address?”
“I haven’t had a reason to know it, and until five minutes ago I didn’t think I would.”
“What happened five minutes ago?”
I needed to talk to Trey first. “I’ll explain later. Just text me, okay?”
“Will do,” Josie said as I headed back to the stage. She was right. He had to be back here somewhere.
I found several in the cast still milling about and I realized I had yet to tell them how amazing they were. I normally would have done that by now, but the newspaper and then the talk with Carole threw me off.
The first person I found was Emma. “You were great up there. How did it feel?”
As the most experienced member of the cast and the female lead, she could give me the most feedback on how the production felt from the inside. If we should make changes before tomorrow night, I needed to know now.
“Ms. P., that was the best experience ever. It didn’t even feel like performing. We were just living it.”
Definitely not making any changes. “That’s how it felt watching as well. I’m so proud of all of you.”
“That was so much fun,” Kaitlyn said, rushing up to join us. “Is it true even the newspaper was here?”
“The newspaper?” Emma repeated.
“It’s true,” I assured them. “They said we’ll be in the online edition in the morning.”
The pair, who’d grown closer over the last few weeks, danced with joy.
“This is so cool. Our first newspaper review.” Emma stopped dancing. “You don’t think they hated it, do you?”
There was no way to know for sure, but the reporter didn’t give that impression. “I have no doubt whatever they post will be all good things. And hopefully, it’ll put even more people in the seats.”
We had a good size crowd for opening night, but there were still tickets left come show time. The first show was often that way, and then word of mouth either drew more people in, or could keep them away.
“She’s right,” Kaitlyn said, ever the confident one. “We nailed that performance. Even I wanted to cry, and we’ve done it a million times.”
Emma relaxed. “People did cry, didn’t they?”
“Couldn’t you hear all those sniffles?” Kaitlyn replied. “I can’t wait to do it again tomorrow. What are we going to do in the spring? It needs to be dramatic, like this one.”
Not having to lie about whether there would be a spring play was such a relief.
“I haven’t started thinking about the spring, but I’ll see what I can find.” I gave them both a quick hug. “You ladies made me proud tonight. Thank you for all the hard work you put into this.”
“It’s all thanks to you,” Emma said, drawing back. “None of us could have done this play justice without your guidance.” Tearing up, she said, “I’m really going to miss you when I graduate.”
I was not a crier by nature, but I also wasn’t totally dead inside. Fighting my own tears, I hugged her again. “I’m going to miss you, too. But one day I’ll come see you on stage in New York, and I expect to be thanked in your Tony speech.”
“Oh my gosh, I’ll never win a Tony, but if that miracle happens, you’ll be the first one I thank.”
Knowing that wasn’t true didn’t dim the sentiment in the least.
“Looks like we need tissues over here,” said Trey, appearing out of nowhere. “I hope these are happy tears.”
Emma nodded as she plucked a tissue from the box in his hand. “I’m really happy right now.”
“We need to go meet the others,” Kaitlyn said, snagging a tissue of her own. “Burke’s dad is taking us all out for pizza. You two are coming, right?” she said, looking from Trey to me.
“Are we?” he said, looking to me for an answer.
He didn’t mention that he was hosting our friends at his place, and I was tempted to see what he’d do if I agreed to the pizza. Presumably, he thought I didn’t know about his little get together yet.
“We’d love to,” I started, and watched his shoulders fall, “but Coach Collins is hosting a gathering of some friends at his place, and the host can’t not show up for his own party.”
“Then you can come,” Emma replied, pointing at me.
With a smile, I cut my gaze to Trey. “I’m actually going with him, but maybe next time.”
The girls took a second to catch on, but then their faces split into knowing smiles.
“Right,” Emma said. “That makes sense.” Taking Kaitlyn by the hand, she called, “See you tomorrow then,” over her shoulder as they hurried off to meet the others.
Trey watched me, his lips curving up in a grin. “How did you know about the party?”
“Josie told me.” My phone dinged and I checked the screen. “And now I have the address. Guess I’ll see you there.”
“Wait,” he said, snagging my hand as I turned to walk out. “Are we good? You had me worried before the show started.”
How should I answer that? Was I supposed to pretend I didn’t know? Let him keep his secret and act like I wasn’t a complete basket case for the last two weeks?
Who was I kidding?
“Carole told me what you’ve been doing.”
Disappointment swept the grin away. “I asked her not to do that.”
“Why?”
Trey sighed. “I didn’t want you to think I was trying to be a hero. I saw a problem and I set out to fix it if I could.”
I was not a schmoozer, nor did I have the connections he was afforded due to being the great Coach Collins. There was no way I could have pulled off what he did, and I never would have thought to try.
“What’s wrong with taking credit for that? You could have told me from the beginning. Not that you needed my help, but keeping me in the dark and letting me think we were over was a really crappy thing to do.”
“I never meant for you to think that.” He took a step closer.
Dropping my head, I whispered, “I thought I blew it.”
“No, Lindsey.” He lifted my chin with a gentle touch. “You were honest with me. Never apologize for that.”
I rolled my eyes. “There’s honest, and then there’s dramatic. I tend to be too much of both.”
“You aren’t too much of anything,” he assured me. “You’re just the right amount.” With a smirk, he added, “You can be a challenge, but I like that. Keeps me on my toes.”
That’s what he said now . “In my experience, guys get tired of being on their toes. Won’t that get old eventually?”
Taking my hand in his, he rubbed his thumb across my knuckles. “Are you asking if I’m going to get tired of you?”
My pride said change the subject or make a joke, but I needed this answer. “Yes.”
Trey tucked a stray lock behind my ear, stepped closer, and offered the gentlest, most heart-stopping smile I’d ever seen. Then he whispered, “Never.”
The weight of the last two weeks fell to my feet and before I knew it, my cheeks were wet with tears. “I want to believe that,” I said, forehead pressed to his chest.
He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me in. “You’re it for me, Lindsey. I knew it the day you fell off that ladder and stormed out of my classroom with more grit and grace than anyone I’d ever met. I won’t let you doubt that again.”
Aware that I was getting his shirt wet, I lifted my head with a sniffle. “No one has ever called me graceful before.”
His laughter shook us both. “Well, I think you’re graceful. And beautiful and kind and fierce and smart… Should I go on?”
The compliments were unnecessary. His actions showed me how much he cared already. But they were still nice to hear.
“We should go,” I said, sniffling again and remembering that the others were likely at his house by now. “They’ll be waiting for us.”
Pulling me into a full hug, he rested his chin on the top of my head. “They can wait. It’s taken three months to get you in my arms. Let me enjoy it a little longer.”
Breathing him in, I relaxed and rested my head on his shoulder. “Thank you for not giving up.”
He kissed my hair and said, “You’re worth fighting for, Lindsey. Giving up was never an option.”
And just like that, I crumbled again, thanking whatever higher power found the perfect man for me, and then sent him my way.