I go to his house after school on Monday and Tuesday, and we run lines like maniacs, scene after scene until we’ve run out of pages. Mimi’s snacks provide us with the fuel we need to get through it, and Lenny provides us with brain breaks, interrupting us now and then to explain why some types of mushrooms are poisonous and others aren’t.
I text Carlton back both days when he offers to run lines with me himself, telling him I have too much homework to catch up on, and Zayne doesn’t comment.
When he helps me memorize our last scenes, a wave of triumph hits me so strong, I almost collapse.
We’re done.
It feels so good.
When I rehearse at school on Wednesday, it’s the first time I’m acting completely off book, like everyone else.
This time, I’m one of them.
“Oh, Nelly,” I wail in character as Cathy. I’m lying on three chairs in the rehearsal room set up to temporarily serve as a bed, and Meredith is perched above me with pretend concern etched on her face. She’s probably shooting mental daggers at me, butno hint of her disdain is visible, a clear display of her talent.“I wish I were out of doors,”I continue.“I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free.”I fan myself, arching my back as I pretend to be feverish in bed, and rest the back of my hand on my forehead.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Mr. Saltzman raise his eyebrows and nod from his chair in the center of the classroom. He looks…impressed.
It happens during my scene with Zayne, Carlton, and Rue. Rue, playing Isabella, gestures to Zayne and says.“Look who I found wandering in the hall.”My character is married to Carlton’s here, but when I see Heathcliff, I’m supposed to be filled with a terrible, aching longing. And that’s exactly what I try to portray. I stare at Zayne with the same intensity described in the script, hoping my expression fits the scene. Rue says her next line to Carlton. “Has Mr. Heathcliff not changed beyond all recognition?”
I can’t tell if Carlton’s stony expression is acting or not.“Indeed.”
I let my gaze progress from Zayne’s black sneakers all the way up to his face. A heat travels through my body, but I try to focus.“Heathcliff,”I say in the tortured way I’d imagine Cathy to speak.“It’s you.”
After the scene, Mr. Saltzman gives us his notes. “Rue, try not to sound quite so eager. I know Isabella is trying to catch Heathcliff’s eye, but she must still hold some regard for her brother’s negative opinion of the guy. Carlton,” he pauses, pressing his lips together in concentration. “Mostly good, but a little dry. Try to give it a bit moreoomf, if you know what I mean. Remember, this is a show. And Silverman, you were perfect, as usual.”
Carlton jerks out of his chair. “I need some air.” His steps are loud on the floor as he exits the classroom.
Mr. Saltzman frowns. “Is he alright?” He clears his throat. “Hm. Anywho, Dot. I must say, you’re doing amazing. I’ve actually been really blown away by your scenes today, specifically. Whatever you’re doing, don’t stop.”
I feel a swell of pride. Part of me has been worried I’d let Mr. Saltzman down if my acting didn’t prove good enough, that he’d regret taking a chance on me when he chose me to play Cathy.
But that’s clearly not the case. Which means my hard work is paying off.
A week later, we get our costumes and Mr. Saltzman tells us we’re going to do a dress rehearsal and tech test.
We get to act out the entire play in costume. With mics. On the stage. In the school theater.
I’ve never been so excited about anything in my life.
“Places, everyone,” he calls, ushering the first group of actors onto the stage. Zayne is among them, and I find myself watching from the audience instead of going over my lines backstage for my first scene. Zayne’s not in costume or anything, but it’s still fun to watch him get into character.
“Hey.” Carlton’s voice startles me from my reverie.
I smile faintly. “Hey.” It seems like rehearsal has taken precedence over everything else this past week. I can’t even remember our last real conversation.
He tilts his head. “Why aren’t you backstage?”
“Um.” I shift in my seat. What am I supposed to say?I’m enjoying watching Zayne play Heathcliff?“I was just about to go, actually.”
“Cool.” His smile is tight. “Let’s go, then.” He holds out his hand to help me up, and I take it, glancing once more at the stagewhere Zayne is running his scene with a boy named Owen, who’s playing Lockwood.
As soon as we’re backstage, some of the tension in Carlton’s shoulders eases. “I just can’t stand being around that guy.”
I bite my lip. “He’s really not so bad once you get to know him.” I intend for the words to sound reluctant, but my voice sounds much more confident than I want it to. And even a little…dreamy.
Carlton whirls around. His gaze is intense, like I’m a math equation he just can’t seem to figure out. “You’re kidding, right?”
When I don’t say anything, his forehead scrunches together, making the skin buckle into several thin lines. I just shrug, because I’m afraid anything else I say will only make things worse.
