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“You kidding? I’ve seen nothing, but my mum’s obsessed with anything Andrew Lloyd Webber, especially Cats. When I was five, she dressed me up as Bombalurina with stick-on whiskers and red fur.”
Nick laughed. “Now that I’d love to see.”
“No freakin’ way! I’d rather eat those photos than let you near them.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe it. You…into musicals. You’re the first boy I’ve met who likes them.”
“Well, you do live in Orkney.”
“True.” She giggled and ate the Milk Bottle. “What are your favorites—besides Jesus Christ Superstar?”
“That’s easy: Rent, Miss Saigon, and Spamalot. Film-wise, I’d pick West Side Story and Grease 2.”
“Grease 2?!” Evie gawped. “Isn’t it supposed to be crap?”
Nick stepped back. “Give over! It’s waaay better than Grease.”
“That’s impossible. Nothing can touch ‘Hopelessly Devoted to You’.”
“Grease 2 can! The songs, the choreography—there’s even a big dance number in a bowling alley.”
“So?”
“Evie, bowling is the most amazing sport ever!”
She wouldn’t know. Orkney didn’t have a bowling alley. “Didn’t you say that about table tennis?”
He made a noise in his throat. “Don’t believe everything you read. Same goes for reviews. Grease 2 is brilliant. That’s a fact.”
“Hmm, well, guess I should watch it, then.”
Her promise unlocked Nick’s smile, reaching his eyes. “Defo! It’s magic, Evie. Really.” He scratched his neck. “What are your faves?”
“Xanadu and Starlight Express.”
Nick’s head jerked back. “Really?!”
“I recorded Xanadu off the TV. My mum’s got the Starlight Express cast album.”
“Well, your picks are certainly unique!”
“Hey, I like what I like.” Something, however, didn’t add up for Evie. “So, if you love musicals and want to star in one, why’d you skip singing lessons ages ago?”
He gave his bag of candy a terse shake. “Good question.” Squinting into silence, he stared at the hazy cloud of adolescent breath hanging over the Ba’.
Like he’s gonna confide in you again. Evie berated herself. The first time at music camp was a fluke, like finding a groatie buckie on Scapa Beach. She looked sidelong at Sunita, who was gossiping with a cluster of new arrivals, five classmates all wearing jingle bell-dotted antlers.
“The truth is…”
Evie glanced back, and Nick stooped, bringing his lips near her ear.
“…it terrifies me,” he murmured, his face pinching. “Singing live on stage.” His volume dropped further, bordering on a whisper. “You know, in front of people.”
“But you act in front of people,” Evie responded quietly.
“That’s different. Although, that makes me break out in hives, too, sometimes.”
“Then why do it?”
As she pressed, Nick straightened up and surveyed the crowd like he was wary of eavesdroppers. “It’s what I’m meant to do.”
