This time, I make her jump.
She smiles when she sees me. “Hey, Stevie.” Her face twists into one of worry.Oh no.
“Stevie, wait!” Levi says, running toward me.
Dakota looks at him and then at my lip, where the dried-up blood is. My hair and makeup must be a mess, too.
She squints at Levi, who still isn’t in my line of sight. Something along the lines of recognition hits her, and her entire demeanor changes. Her eyes are sharper, her smile is gone, and her back is perfectly straight.
“You’re Jake’s friend,” she says to Levi, who’s come up next to me, and he seems to have fixed his hair.
“You know each other?” Not that I’m surprised, Jake’s a popular guy.
Levi nods, a little out of breath. “Dakota, right? Nice to see you again.”
She cocks a brow at him, and when she turns back to me, her smile reappears. She gently takes my forearm, moving mea couple of feet away from Levi. He and I exchange a confused look.
“Did he do anything you didn’t want, honey? You have a bit of blood on your lip.”
“Shit. I’m so sorry. Nothing happened.” Dakota gives me a flat look. “Nothingbadhappened.”
She shrugs. “Don’t be.” She pauses and hesitates before finally speaking. “Be careful with John—I mean, Jake. I don’t know enough about his friends, but Jake’s family isn’t…” She thinks for a moment. “Nice.”
Not knowing what to do or say, I nod. “How do you guys know each other?”
“Our families know each other.” She shivers. “It’s a long and boring story. Anyway, I recommend you go to the bathroom and get yourself ready.” She points to my face and hair. “Everyone’s waiting for the list to go up. They made up their minds very quickly today.” She grins again, and as I’m about to ask her something, she holds a finger up and puts the other on the earpiece. “Yes, sir. Be right there,” Dakota speaks into the mic and points to the bathrooms, politely telling me to go.
Levi follows me as we go to the bathroom in complete silence.
“Say something, Bambi. Please.” Levi runs a hand through his hair, and I hold up my index finger, telling him to give me a minute while I walk into the restroom.
I quickly wash my hands and look at myself. It could be worse, but it’s less than ideal for the occasion.
That felt good. No, it felt great, and I felt alive. Going from performing on the stage to that was extreme, but in the best way possible. I have no idea what this thing between me and Levi is, but for once, it’s fun not knowing. When it comes to medical matters, it is always about finding the right medication, treatment plan, test, or surgery. Yet like with art, attraction andfeelings aren’t an exact science. But boy, do I have questions—a lot of them.
After fixing the final strands of my hair and cleaning my face, I leave the bathroom and find Levi pacing the hall. He stops once I get out. There’s no more blood on his cheek, and his hair is back in check. His blue eyes look at me from top to bottom with concern.
“Levi, I’m okay,” I assure him. I’m not sure what he’s so scared of.
“List is up!” a girl screams.Literallyscreams.
As I look at the group that’s assembling, then back at Levi, we both take off at the same time. We stop as some girls look and cry, others shrug, and less than a handful celebrate.
“Fucking hell.” Levi looks at them as if they belong in a psych ward, and I snort.
“Difference between regular musicians and theater kids,” I inform him. “Don’t be surprised if I react the same way.”
He shakes his head. “You’re…you. It’s different.” I whip my head to him while he gently pushes past the girls and their friends who aren’t letting us see the list. “Excuse me,” he says to one girl who was crying, and she immediately stops when she sees Levi. Then all the ladies set their eyes on him, and some of their guy friends follow. All their mouths are wide open. He leans next to my ear. “Why are they looking at me like that?”
“Because you have dark hair, blue eyes, a perfect smile, and like men and women. You’re one in a million. Now move so I can see the frickin’ list. You know, the one that determines the rest of my semester?”
He smirks. “You said I’m one in a million.”
I roll my eyes. “Don’t let it get to your head.” He chuckles and takes me by the waist, guiding me across the large group where there are only five names.
“Stevie,” Levi gasps from behind me.
I shake my head. “That’s real, right?” Tears form in my eyes, and two hands turn me around. “I got a callback.”
