“Sure, Cam. I’ll be with you in a second, Jackson.” And then she follows him out of the theatre.
I shake my head, stuff my binder into my backpack, and drag the set off-stage so I can sweep.Whatever.
As I finish, a shadow falls across the waxed floor. Liam’s standing in the doorway, silhouetted against the sunset from the big windows in the hallway.
I hate how, in the winter, the sun starts setting before rehearsal is even over. But I love how Liam looks in the golden light.
“Hey. What’re you doing here?”
“Waiting around for you,” he says. “How was rehearsal?”
“Fine.” I gesture around the Little Theatre. “Tough to hear everything.”
Liam nods and hoists my backpack so I can get my arms through it. When I turn around, he signs, “Sorry.”
“It’s whatever.”
“You all set?”
“I was...” I glance toward the doors closest to the Theatre Office; Dr. L still hasn’t come back.
“Waiting for Dr. L?”
“Yeah. Got a few questions.”
“Ah.” He looks around, then signs to me: “I wish I could kiss you right now.”
If I could pop out my smile and stick it on a stand, it would outshine the ghost light. Which I suppose I still need to set.
“Me too.”
As I wheel it out, Liam asks, “You excited for Saturday?”
“What’s Saturday?”
Liam’s eyes bug out. “The dance?”
“Oh. I dunno. Bowie’s really stressed.”
“I’ve noticed.” Liam gives me a sly grin. “You going with anyone?”
I grin right back. “Why? Are you asking me to a dance?”
“I know we have to keep things quiet, until you can get Jasmine to come around. But...”
“But she won’t be there,” I say. “And if anyone asks we can say we came as friends.”
“Exactly. So... you wanna go to the dance with me?”
Warmth fills my chest.
“I’d love to go.”
The smile he gives me makes me wish I could kiss him.
I almost do.
But he straightens and looks past me, out into the hallway, where Dr. Lochley’s headed for the stairs, tote bag in one arm and coat slung over the other, still talking to Cam.
