‘That’s the whole point,’ says Olive. ‘Why are you allowed to wear trousers when we’re not?’
‘And why aren’t you allowed to wear a skirt?’ I add. ‘Which you might want to do, Nathan.’
‘Exactly,’ Tori says.
‘Why would I want to do that?’ he asks.
‘It’s the principle of the thing,’ Olive insists.
‘Totally. You’re welcome to keep wearing your trousers like always, but I’m not going to let them stop me doing the same any more.’ Eleanor shrugs.
‘Me either.’ Tori and Olive speak at the same time. It’s quiet for a moment, they look at each other, then Olive breaks eye contact again. I reach unobtrusively for Tori’s hand as I see the disappointment on her face. There’s still something weird between them, there’s no denying it, but even if Olive’s the world champion at pretending she has no emotions, I get the impression they’re slowly edging closer to each other again.
‘We need our Romeo!’
I jump slightly as Mr Acevedo walks into the costume store. He stops in the doorway.
‘Oh, wonderful!’ He studies me first, then Eleanor. ‘An empowered Juliet and an easy-going Romeo. I knew I could rely on you all.’ He nods towards Olive, Marian and Nathan. ‘Could I borrow the two of you for a moment now? We’re rehearsing the next scene.’
TORI
Just about two hours later, the whole cast has their costumes and today’s rehearsal is over. Olive and I didn’t get another chance to speak, but that brief moment during our uniform discussion felt like more progress. Charlie asks if he should go on ahead as everyone leaves the theatre, and I’m sure he knows what I’m thinking. This is my opportunity to talk to Olive.
I nod gratefully, giving him a quick kiss, then pack up my things extra slowly. Then I see that Olive isn’t even here. She must have left in the throng, without me noticing. Maybe I cancatch her on the way up to our wing. Or has she got swimming training? What’s the time?
I go to take my phone from my back pocket and find it isn’t there. It’s not in my bag either, and then I remember I put it down on a shelf in the costume store earlier. The last few people are heading for the door as I slip backstage. There’s still a light on in the storeroom and I can see my phone. I reach for it and I’m moving to turn off the light when I hear a sound.
‘Hello?’ I say.
There’s no reply, but I take a few more steps. And then I see her.
Olive’s still crouching on the stool by the dressing room. Even if I hadn’t spotted the crumpled tissue in her hand, I’d know she’s been crying. Her eyes are red and glassy.
She throws the tissue away and jumps up when she sees me.
I come closer. ‘Is everything OK?’
‘Fine,’ she says, wiping her hands on her leggings. ‘I just wanted to . . . uh . . . you know . . .’ There’s a look of concentration on her face and her head is bowed. I know that look. The little ridge Olive always gets between her dark eyebrows when she’s putting all her effort into not bursting into tears.
I say nothing. I just wait. It’s quiet. Olive doesn’t move.
‘I miss you,’ I say, in the silence. Her eyes meet mine in the mirror, and then everything happens very fast. Olive’s green eyes fill with tears. She lowers her head and buries her face in her hands as a quiet sob escapes her. She just stands there by the dressing room as I walk towards her. And then I give her a hug.
Her shoulders shake, her whole body trembles. I only let Olive go so that I can dig a fresh tissue out of my bag. She bites her bottom lip as I hand it to her.
I wait until she’s blown her nose, but the tears keep running down her cheeks. It seems to me almost like everything she’s been carrying around for the last few weeks has burst out ofher. It scares me, because I’ve never seen my friend like this. Unlike me, Olive practically never cries. She doesn’t cry at films, however sad or emotional they are, and she doesn’t cry when she feels unfairly treated. The only time I’ve ever seen her cry was in the second form, when she fell in PE and everyone thought she’d broken her ankle. It was only sprained, but it looked bloody painful.
‘What’s wrong, Livy?’ I whisper.
She shakes her head.
‘Please, talk to me.’
‘I can’t.’
‘Has something happened?’
Olive swallows hard and shrugs her shoulders.
