“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?”
