Giving it All Away

Glease

Ryder POV

Man, I was so psyched about being the lead roles with Marley! I had just gotten the news about it. Jake, who I was basically fighting over Marley with, had tried out for Danny Zuko but had gotten a smaller role. And I, Ryder Lynn, a jock with dyslexia, had gotten it, the lead role. The only reason I agreed to do it was because Marley was doing too. And also, sometimes I don't like to admit it, it's nice to have your name in shining lights.
Tonight was opening night, and even though I loved performing, I was really nervous. I had never done anything like a musical before. I saw Marley trying her costume on, frowning and with teary eyes, walking to the lady's room. I wonder why her costume didn't fit, she was so skinny!
I went to go find a pice of paper and a pencil. On the paper, I wrote "Hi Marly, I kno I'm not a good speler, but I wanted to tel you something inportint. You are butiful. No matter what other people say, what ideas they stik in your mind. No matter what those ideas influince you to think. You aren't fat, you are skinny, but if you were fat, it wouldn't mater too me becaus you are butifull and talintid. You will own the staje toonite. Good luck. I love" I erased the "you" part I had written before. It was a little too fast. Baby steps, baby steps. Instead, I wrote "I love Grease! We will make great Sandys and Dannys. -Ryder"
I left the note on her desk under the first half of the script so nobody else would see it. I was all dressed up in my costume, with hair gel and all. I couldn't stop thinking about Marley though. I decided to see if she was still in the bathroom.
I walked up to the bathroom and sneaked in before anyone could see. I heard someone gagging in a stall. "Marley?" I walked though the bathroom to find her, squatting in front of a toilet with her fingers up her throat.
I open the stall door to find a crying, gagging Marley. "Marley, stop. Why are you doing that?"
She cries and looks up at me. "Why do you think?" She sobs. "My mom's the town joke. And I'm gonna end up just like her."
"Well sticking you fingers up your throat is only gonna make things worse."
She stands up and pushes me out of the way. Her red eyes meet mine. "Spare me the lecture. I've seen the health films." She wipes her eyes and looks in the mirror.
"Okay, then Google Johnny Pappas. He's my second cousin. He was a wrestler at Bowling Green and coach is always making him drop weight. So Johnny did all the crazy diets, and puked every day. And when that stopped working, he used laxatives. Then last March, in the middle of a match-"
"He died?" She interrupts, scared.
"He crapped himself in front of the whole school."
She laughs and I smile that I can cheer her up. We laugh and I walk up to her.
"I would never use laxatives." She looks at me thoughtfully.
"Well I don't wanna kiss a girl who's got puke on her breath. Whether onstage, or later. Now c'mon, we're on in five," I take her hands, she them a little, then leave the bathroom. I walk back to her desk, grab the note I wrote and crumple in my hands. It's too embarrassing for her to see it anymore.