The theater lights are bright and hot on my face as I stand center stage, script in hand.
“I don’t need your pretty words, Moonshine,” I say in my best Southern drawl. “I need you to show me. Show me you mean what you say.”
Mr. Davies claps from his seat in the third row. “Excellent, Solana! That’s exactly the energy I want. Magnolia is fierce but vulnerable in this scene. She wants to believe him, but she’s been hurt before so many times. You’re capturing that beautifully.”
I smile, pride warming up my chest. Acting has always been my escape, my way of becoming someone else for a little while and actually proving I have talent and am somebody.
In a lot of ways Magnolia feels like a kindred spirit—a woman who’s been through hell but refuses to let it break her.
Derek, the guy playing Moonshine, clears his throat and holds up the prop flowers “Magnolia, I—” he falters, glancing down at his script. “I, uh... I brought you these... um...”
Mr. Davies sighs, rolling his eyes. “It’s ‘I brought you these magnolias because they reminded me of your beauty,’ Derek. We’ve been over this.”
Derek flushes bright pink. “Right. Sorry. Can we go again from the top?”
“Actually, let’s take a break,” Mr. Davies says, standing up. “Everyone hydrate, use the restroom. We’ll pick back up in ten.”
The cast disperses in different directions. I walk down the stage steps to the first few rows of seats where I left my stuff. I pull my phone from the side pouch of my bookbag and check my messages.
One from Silver:
Thinking about you.
I smile and type back a quick heart emoji.
“There she is. Pretending nothing’s up.”
I sense their presence at the same time I hear their voices.
I turn to find Shay and Yvette approaching from behind, their expressions sharp with malice. Shay’s got her arms crossed, her long nails tapping against her bicep like she’s been waiting for this moment. Yvette flanks her with a glare that can only be described as openly hostile.
“We know you’ve done something,” Shay says, stopping a few feet away. “First Kel goes missing. Now Spencer. Both of them just... mysteriously disappear. But you’re still here, practicing for your little play, thinking you’re gonna be the next Halle Berry or some shit.”
I keep my face neutral, forcing myself to stay calm. I’ve gotten good at wearing masks—Silver advised me how to keep my cool when the topic of Kel or Spencer comes up.
Never let them see you sweat. Never give them ammunition.
Keep answers short and sweet and simple.
“I thought we were on the same page the last time you came around,” I say calmly. “Stay away from me. Leave me alone.”
Shay’s eyes narrow as she steps closer. Close enough that I can smell her cloyingly sweet perfume.
“We’re never gonna back off, Solana,” she hisses. “We know you and your motorcycle club boys have done something. We just can’t prove it yet. But when we do find out what, we’ll expose you in front of everybody. Your little acting career, your perfect reputation, all of it—gone.”
She holds my gaze for a long, tense moment. Then she turns on her heel and stalks away, Yvette trailing behind her like a loyal dog.
I watch them go, my heart pounding against my ribs.
They don’t know anything. At least not yet. Silver said we covered our tracks. We took care of any potential evidence and even created our own evidence that points to things like Kel skipping town.
Yet as I stand by the rows of seats and watch Shay and Yvette storm off, I can’t shake the cold tendril of fear wrapping itself around my insides.
What if they actually do find out? What if they discover the secrets we’re keeping?
I shove my phone back into my bag and take a deep breath, forcing myself to be cool and unaffected. I won’t ever let them see me crack.
Mr. Davies calls us back to the stage, and I plaster on my best Magnolia smile, reminding myself I can do this. For both my sake and Silver’s.
