“I can’t do it,” I say, shaking my head. “I can’t go on, not after that.”
“After what?”
“Are you serious?” I say, gesturing at the Vivian fragments that are still spinning around on stage. “After Vivian.”
“Why?”
“Did you see her?” I ask, chewing the inside of my cheek.
He nods and folds his arms. “She was sensational.”
“Exactly.”
“But that doesn’t mean you won’t be your own brand of sensational.” I glance at Roxy, who nods, then I look backat him. “Sure, the crowd enjoyed what Vivian did. I did too. They enjoyed it because it was fun and carefree.”
“And hot,” I say, folding my arms over my breastplate.
“Very hot,” confirms Fake McKinley. “But that is not what this is about, and she knows it.”
He holds his finger up and nods at the Headset Guy who’s pointing at his watch, then goes on.
“Roxy showed me your reels on Insta, Eliza. It’s not fun, and it’s not carefree, but it’s full of heart. Passion. You do this because you love it, right?” I nod. “Do you think Vivian did that because she loves it, or because she looks incredible on a pair of hot pink roller skates?”
His voice is soft but firm, and I feel like we’re the only three people on the planet right now. I look up at him.
“Probably the roller-skates thing?” I say.
He smiles, a relaxed gentle smile, and nods.
“You can learn to skate, but you can’t learn passion. You either have it, or you don’t. Andyouhave it. Show them how much.”
I blink at him, the hairs on my arms standing on end.
“We’ve talked this all through, and Roxy says you can do it.She says you love this so much, you probably do it in your dreams.” I glance at Roxy, who has a little sparkle in her eye. “We’ve got everything you need – your song, your floormarks, the props. Even Dorothy is out there for you. We’ve all done our bit, Eliza. You go do your bit. You bring the passion. OK?”
I’m so pumped full of emotion right now I think I could somersault into a UFC ring and shoot flames from my bare hands.I nod at Fake McKinley who holds his hand out for a fist bump, but I hug him instead. He’sincredibleat hugs, and I soak up all his good vibes along with a calming zing of lemongrass I’m guessing from his shower gel. We break apart and I look over my shoulder, ready to go. Charlie Chamberlain’s watching us from the other side of the stage, probably posted by Vivian as part of her tactical takedown, but I ignore him and turn to Roxy.
“Strap my swords on.”
Roxy rushes to strap the sword holster across my body. Fake McKinley joins her and they confer, checking it’s secured. I check I can reach my weapons and my cape is still hanging right.
Roxy moves round to my front, puts my headband back on,then puts her hands on my shoulders.
“Forgot to say,” she says, kissing the top of my head, “you might get a little wet.”
“What? How?” I look from her to Fake McKinley, who looks pleased, maybe even proud. “What?”
“Just wanted to warn you,” says Roxy, tweaking my hair, “but don’t worry about it.”
“Those two sentences don’t go together?” I say, looking up for sprinklers.
“That’s your cue,” says Headset Guy, doing a sort of winding gesture with his finger then scurrying off behind a stand with lots of buttons.
Roxy and Fake McKinley step back, admiring their handiwork as though they’ve just got me ready to send down the aisle. I nod at them both, then bite my lip and walk to the centre of the stage. The closed curtains ripple in front of me, and I try not to think about the hundreds of eyes on the other side. I look over my shoulder at my friends. Roxy smiles and gives me a double thumbs up, and Fake McKinley makes a heart shape over his chest, then taps it with a closed fist and mouths one word.
Passion.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
