Marcus noticed, narrowing his eyes and bellowing, “There’s a full auditorium out there! So do we have a show for our guests? Do we have a show tonight? Because I look at you guys and I don’t see a show!”
“Oh, there will be a show,” Charlie mumbled beside me. “I just don’t know if it’s going to be entertaining in the way that he thinks.”
“I’ve already told you guys the talking backstage needs to stop. We’re professionals! I’m not gonna say it again!” Marcus shouted.
“You’re talking more than anybody!” Danny blurted.
“I am the director!” Marcus slapped his clipboard with the back of his hand. “Where are the techies? I’ve lost my techies!”
Kellen came scrambling up to Marcus, adjusting his crooked headset. Marcus’ protege had been thrilled to help out with the play, and had gladly signed up to be the stage manager, but the kid was falling apart under Marcus’ demands. “Marcus, the spotlight on left center isn’t turning on. We can’t get it to work.”
“That’s perfect, isn’t it. Can anyone answer me if we’re ready for opening night?” Marcus called over the noise in the green room. “Wait, don’t answer that, because I’m going to answer for you— we are not. If you haven’t come to this theater ready to work, you do not belong on that stage! If you are off your cue and off your blocking, what did I cast you for?”
A high-pitched laugh echoed across the green room. Marcus’ younger sister Erica was giggling in the corner, huddled with my sister Alana. They shared secret smiles as they ignored Marcus’ impromptu meeting. Marcus heard one note of Erica’s snicker and turned red.
“Erica, I asked you to talk in a higher register and save your voice. What is it you think you are doing?” Marcus threw the end of his obligatory director’s scarf over his shoulder, practically strangling himself.
“Bro, chill out,” Erica replied irritably. “I’ve been in enough plays.”
“I still don’t understand my part,” Danny said, pretending to read the script upside down just to provoke Marcus. “I’m the entity of chaos? What does that even mean?”
“If you had questions you should’ve asked them on the first readthrough. Does nobody see my vision?” Marcus screeched. “Do I have to get up there and do a one-man-damn SHOW?”
I eyed Kallie. “He’s your choice, huh? Is that your final answer?”
“It’s certainly a side of him I’m glad that I’m seeing before we get married,” Kallie said, smirking. “Now I know exactly what I’m getting myself into.”
Marcus continued his rant, throwing his hands in the air. “I could be home right now with my beautiful fiancé, doing literally anything else, but here I am working until midnight for the last four nights with you people. Auditions, readthroughs, does none of it matter?”
“Marcus, they’re the ones helping us.” This was getting out of hand. I pushed my way through the entourage, coming to his side. I grabbed his scarf and yanked him behind me as I led him away.
“What are you doing?” Marcus stumbled forward, and I let his scarf go.
“Marcus, it’s opening night. The play’s gonna be how it’s gonna be.” I crossed my arms. “The last thing the cast needs is your interpretation of a drama queen. We’ve got fifteen minutes until lights up. You can either encourage your actors or you can drag them down. They didn’t have to be here, but they signed up to help us with this ruse so we can get the Astromancer key. Give them a speech or get out.”
His entire demeanor changed in an instant, going from panicked to inspired. “You’re right, Ava. Thank you. You can get through to people like nobody else can.”
Marcus went rushing back to the middle of the green room, clapping loudly. “Huddle up, everybody!”
This time, the entire cast listened. Marcus reached out to take Kellen’s hand, and then Kallie’s. The rest of the play followed suit until everyone was standing in one big kumbaya circle, holding hands like this was some kind of spiritual retreat.
Oh, for fuck’s sake, okay. I grabbed Kallie’s free hand… but my other met Charlie’s. Our fingers threaded together naturally, and though his body stiffened when his hand met mine, he didn’t pull away. Oberi huffed, pushing his head up so it met our hands.
I missed this so dearly. Charlie’s hand felt warm in mine, and it comforted me to squeeze it tightly. He squeezed back, reassuring me that we would find the next key and get this done, no matter what it took.
“I want to start by apologizing to the company.” Marcus blinked away tears, taking a gasp. “This is the most talented group of people I have ever had the blessing to work with. We do have a show, and it’s because of everyone in this room. I want you all to go out there and have the time of your lives underneath those lights. Guys, no matter how this show turns out, I’m proud of each and every one of you.”
He gave a loud sniff, and I resisted rolling my eyes.
Marcus got the cast pumped up by having everyone stick their hand in the middle of the circle and cheer, “Half-ass is better than nothing!” It was the play’s unofficial motto. Danny had come up with it.
Charlie let go of my hand. The warmth faded, a chill sinking into my fingers and spreading throughout my body as he walked away. The rest of the cast finished the cheer.
My sister ran up to me. “Ava, can you fix my costume? I think it broke.”
The story was a romance between the two main characters, a pirate captain and a siren queen, whose boat had sunk within an oceanic portal and had taken them to a spiritual realm of different entities. Erica and Alana had been chosen for the lead roles. Alana was playing the captain, and one of the straps on her pirate’s trench coat had come loose.
“Sure.” I grabbed a needle and thread, stitching the strap back on. “Happy Birthday, by the way. You’re officially an adult.”
