“So do you.” She grinned, taking Sophie’s hand as she waited for her cue.
Beyond the curtain, the lights dimmed, and the music began to play. Ready or not, here she went. As the curtain lifted, Jules stepped onstage.
18
Sophie sat on the couch in her apartment, script in hand, legs bouncing with nervous energy. It was just past lunchtime on Friday. At seven thirty,It’s in Her Kisswould open for its first night of previews. She needed to be at the theater by five, but in the meantime, she found herself with a whole lot of empty time to fill, and no one to fill it with.
Nathan and Anthony were out, and although she usually cherished these moments when she had the whole apartment to herself, right now she could use their company. Nathan would be happy to take this script off her hands and run through it with her. Not that she didn’t know her lines. She knew every line in the whole show, backward and forward, but she was trying to use this free time to rehearse as Bianca, and then as Melissa…just in case.
Outside her window, a heavy gray sky loomed over Manhattan. Fluffy snowflakes drifted past the window, coating the cars and street below. It was beautiful. Unfortunate timing, but beautiful. Her mom had called earlier to say their flight was delayed. Currently, Sophie had no idea if they’d make it in time for tonight’s show, and it was okay if they didn’t. She was only a member of the ensemble. She’d give this performance a hundred times over the coming months. If her parents didn’t make it tonight, they’d see her perform tomorrow.
Jules’s family had flown in yesterday. She’d rushed off after their dress rehearsal in a flurry of nervous excitement, and Sophie hadn’t heard from her since. She wanted to call Jules. She wanted toseeher. She missed her and was a little worried about how Jules was handling her nerves for tonight’s performance. Surely her mom was helping to keep her calm, though.
A dull rumble echoed through the room, and Sophie looked up from her script in surprise. Was that…thunder? She pulled up the weather app on her phone, and sure enough, it showed thunderstorms in the area.
Thundersnow.
This felt like an omen, but did it foretell an amazing opening night…or a disastrous one? Sophie opened her messaging app and composed a quick text to Jules.
Thundersnow on opening night! I think Mother Nature is applauding you in advance.
Almost immediately, the little dots began to bounce, telling her that Jules was replying.Or she’s angry. I hope the weather calms down before showtime.
I think it’s supposed to, Sophie told her.
Good. Will your family be able to fly in?
Not sure. They’re on hold at the airport in Syracuse right now.
Jules sent a frowning face.Sorry. Crossing all fingers and toes that they make it!
Thanks. If they get stuck today, they’ll be here tomorrow.
True.
How are you holding up?Sophie asked.
Jules fired off a string of various agitated and emotional emojis.
Oh boy.Try not to overthink it, because you’re ready. You were amazing yesterday, and you will be again tonight. I can’t wait to see you at the theater!
Thanks xxxx
Sophie set down her phone and walked to the window, watching the snow fall. She wrapped her arms around herself, wishing she could speed up the afternoon, hurry the clock until it was time to leave. She was nervous too. No doubt, they all were.
Since she had no one to practice with, she read and sang aloud by herself. Once she’d fully run through both of her understudy roles, she gathered her things, bundled up, and headed to a late lunch with Gia before she went to the theater.
Outside, she tromped through about four inches of fresh snow. Mostly, it had already been trampled by other pedestrians, but she enjoyed finding the deeper spots to sink her boots into. As a child, she’d always loved to play in the snow. She and her brother had competed to see who could build the biggest snowman, make the most perfect snow angel, slide down the sledding hill the fastest.
If she moved back to Syracuse and took the job at the Alton, she could do that again. Not in the same way now that she and Tanner were adults, but it could still be fun to build a snowman, couldn’t it? It would sure as hell be fun to have her own space, even if it meant having her own driveway to shovel.
It was hard to imagine that life, especially just hours before her first performance inIt’s in Her Kiss. This kind of excitement was in her blood. It was her lifeblood. But of course, if she worked at the Alton, it still would be. She wouldn’t be the one taking the stage each night, but she’d be at the theater. That would still be exciting.
As exciting as this? She frowned, stomping through another untouched patch of snow. Nothing was as exciting as the thrill of taking the stage. It was the most exciting thing in the world.
She ducked into the deli, finding Gia already seated at a table in back. Sophie waved at her friend as she ordered a pastrami sandwich and a coffee, needing both sustenance and caffeine to fuel her through the evening ahead. She had dinner reservations with her parents after the show, but if they didn’t make it… Well, maybe she could tag along with one of the other actors for a post-show celebration. Maybe she could tag along with Jules and her family, but that also had the potential to be super awkward.
Would Jules come out this weekend? How would she introduce Sophie?
