Glaring at me as if I just committed murder.
Fantastic.But instead of running offstage and explaining myself to him like I want to, I remain planted in front of Zayne. I try to stay in character and act out the rest of the scene with him.
I just hope that the guilt isn’t written on my face for Zayne, Carlton, Mr. Saltzman, and everyone else who’s watching to see.
When the scene cuts, Mr. Saltzman claps his hands together. “Excellent job, you two.” He lowers his glasses to look at me. “Dot, you’re really letting your skills shine through lately. I’m impressed.”
“Th-thanks.” I avoid looking at Carlton and try my best to keep my voice even. Like I meant to kiss Zayne that way. Like it didn’t catch me completely off guard. Like I’m not still lost in the way it made me feel, not still reeling from it.
“Carlton,” says Mr. Saltzman. “Let’s have you up here now in the classic scene with all three of you. This one is my personal favorite and one I know the audience will be looking forward to as fans of the novel.”
Carlton drags his feet as if they weigh a ton as he walks onto the stage. This is one of the scenes the three of us practiced at the garden. Zayne and I rehearsed it plenty of times on our own, too, with Zayne reading Carlton’s lines in addition to his own.
Carlton takes his place on the stage. His eyes skip over me as he turns to face me. I’m not sure if I prefer this, or his previous glaring, to be honest.
When he finally looks at me, the intensity in his gaze makes me shrink back.“This is insufferable!”The words are a snarl. I know his character is supposed to be angry, but I can’t help but wonder if he’s using his character’s bad mood as an excuse to let his own anger show, rather than putting a commendable effort into our rehearsal.
Zayne doesn’t react or break character. Crossing his arms, he says,“That, I echo.”I wonder if he notices the change in Carlton, or cares.
Carlton turns to Zayne and says his next line.“Your presence is a moral poison that would contaminate the most virtuous. For that cause and to prevent worse consequences, I shall deny you hereafter admission into this house!”He emphasizes each word.
It’s his best performance yet.
So I, too, stay in character. And when the scene is over, Zayne, Carlton, and I exit the stage to the green room.
Carlton makes a beeline for his table, opening his backpack to get a water bottle. “I do not want to talk to you, Dot.”
I search for words. Anything to calm him down. Anything to explain my behavior. “It was only acting, Carlton. You know that.” But the feeble words, insistent as they are, recycled and repeated from my subconscious, aren’t even convincing me.
He starts to say something, but then yelps, pulling his hand out of his bag. He peers inside and yells, “There’s a snake in my backpack! I just touched it.”
“What?”
“A snake, Dot!Look.” He opens his bag and holds it in front of my face. Sure enough, a tan snake with dark brown blotches along its back is coiled atop his sweatshirt.
“That looks like a gopher snake,” says Zayne from behind me. “Don’t worry. They’re harmless.”
Carlton points at him. “You put it there, didn’t you? I know you did!”
There’s a grin on Zayne’s lips. “Where would I even get a snake? Grow up, Carlton.”
“This is just like the stunts you used to pull when we were kids!” Carlton looks at me for help, like me announcing that I believe him is all the proof he needs.
“I’m terrified of snakes,” Zayne states. “Why would I go near one just to put it in your backpack?”
I suppress a laugh, remembering Zayne telling me about snakes being his biggest fear when we were texting. “It’s true. Zayne is afraid of snakes. And geese.” I fight back a grin as I remember our time in the garden before Carlton arrived. I grin at Zayne and he smiles back, the simple lifting of his lips stirring something in me I can’t describe.
“Seriously?” Carlton booms. “You’re defendinghim?”He shakes his head, mouth agape. “And stop smiling at him! What’s wrong with you?”
“Carlton.” I reach to touch his hand, but he yanks it away like I’m holding a hot poker.
“Don’t touch me. And don’t talk to me.” Grabbing his backpack, snake and all, he storms out of the break room. I know I should probably follow him, but I can’t seem to find it in me. I’m just so tired of defending myself to him. Of having to explain myself. I know I’ll probably kick myself later for not caring more right now, but for the time being, it feels good to just brush it off.
“You think he’ll take it to a pet store?” Zayne mutters.
I turn to face him. “What?”
“The snake. Do you think Carlton will take it to a pet store? Or maybe just set it loose somewhere?”
