As the whole cast stood on stage and took their final bow after the show, my heart started racing. I wasn't ready. By any means. How was I going to ask him? I can't just go up to my crush, whom I've talked to maybe 5 times, and ask him to go to a dance with me.
While I thought about how to approach my current predicament, Reilly nudged me. I turned and looked at her and she motioned for me to move. I looked at the stage and everyone was gone. My eyes went back to the audience. Cast members were intermingled with the crowd. Now was my chance.
"Do you see tyler?" Harlee questioned. "Oh, there he is!" She pointed across the auditorium. My heart rate increased by about 1000 and my palms started to sweat. I turned around to Reilly.
"I need your help. What do I say?" I asked desperately. "I never talk to him because I don't know how..." I added, disappointed in myself.
"Don't worry. Daniel's going with you to talk to him." She smiled.
"He is?" I questioned, looking at him.
"I am?" He asked her.
"Yes, you are. You and him are best friends..." She tried to persuade him.
"So? I can't use that against hi-"
"Daniel, you aren't using anything against him. You're just helping her talk to him. You don't have to do anything other than start a conversation and then leave them to talk alone." She said. I was starting to wish I wasn't there. I didn't like the idea of talking to Tyler alone.
'What if i word vomit and say something dumb?' I thought to myself. I had to get my mind off of him. I turned around to talk to Harlee and Kasen but they had disappeared.
'Well fuck knows where they went.. Probably making out in the bathroom.' I cringed at the thought. My thoughts came to a halt when Reilly grabbed my arm.
"Okay so Daniel is going with you. He's going to start the conversation and get you two talking and then make up an excuse to leave. You'll stay and talk to Tyler. That's when you'll ask him. Got it?" Reilly asked. I nodded after letting my brain process what I was doing.
Daniel turned towards tyler and started walking. I realized what he was doing and walked quickly to catch up with his lengthy strides.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine." Daniel smiled down at me after I slowed down a noticeable amount. I faked a smile back and tried to at least seem like I wasn't wanting to stab myself with a steak knife in every inch of my body.
"Alright I'll start, you just jump in when you can." Daniel said as we approached Tyler. I nodded once again, not being able to form words.
"Hey, Tyler." Daniel said cooly.
"Daniel, hey. Did you guys like the show?" He spoke loudly.
I nodded and smiled at him, trying my hardest not to pass out.
"Good. I'm glad. We've been working really hard on it." He informed us.
"I can tell. You looked really goo-" I stopped. 'Fix it, idiot. Correct yourself. Stop wasting time!' I thought. "It looked really good. Sorry, I'm tired." Seriously? That's the lamest excuse ever...
"Oh, it's fine. Believe me, I know how you feel. Tech week has been exhausting." He said understandingly.
I nodded and smiled. He was continuing to talk but I wasn't listening to a single word. I was completely lost in him. Every time he smiled I thought I was done for. His smile is like the high beams on a brand new Hummer.
"Hey, I'm not sure where the rest of the group is. I'm gonna go look for them. You guys stay here..." Daniel said. Oh no. Here it comes. My heart is going to do that thing. The thing where it forgets how to beat for a minute and then remembers and kicks into overdrive.
"Alright. We're fine." Tyler said.
Daniel nodded and looked at me then winked and subtly gestured toward Tyler. I nodded microscopically. I knew what I had to do.
Daniel turned and walked away.
"Soo," Tyler said, attempting to fill the awkward silence that now loomed over us.
"Look, Tyler. I--"
"Tyler!" I was cut off by one of the girls in the dance ensemble.
"I'm really sorry, give me just a second." He apologized. I nodded, of course.
I turned around and saw my entire group standing together. They saw me looking and shot me a collective thumbs up. I smiled, glad to have friends that were supportive.
I turned around to see that the girl was leaving. Once she had walked away, Tyler refocused on me.
"Sorry about that. What were you saying?" He asked.
"Um, so I don't really know how to say this so I'm just going to say whatever pops into my head..
Tyler, I've like you for the past few months and I know I haven't talked to you that much and that's just because you make me kind of nervous and I don't really know what to say to you." I was rambling and I wished there was a way to stop it. "But anyway, the Sadie Hawkins Dance where the girl asks the guy is next week and I was kind of wondering if maybe you wanted to go with me? I mean it's okay if you don't. I guess I could ju-"
"I'll go." He agreed.
"You w- Really?" I asked.
"Yeah of course. Hey, I've got to get home. I'll see you in third on Monday. Oh, and tell Daniel I'm sorry I didn't wait on him." He said, putting his hand gently on my arm for a second before leaving. As he walked out of the door, I stood staring at the floor where he had been standing and I just smiled. Just smiled. A huge weight just fell off of my shoulders.
I turned and started walking towards the group, looking at the floor and recollecting my experience from a few minutes ago.
"Aneliese!" I heard Reilly call. I looked up and searched for them in the now slightly smaller crowd. I found Kasen first, due to his tall lanky frame. I made my way toward them until I finally was right in front of them.
"Soo," Harlee began. "What'd he say??" She interrogated. I smiled the widest grin that my cheeks could manage.
"He said yes." I whispered.
