Who Knew

19

Theater class was boring. Dr. Reigns left earlier in the day to tend to an emergency. But she informed us that she would be back in time for rehearsals. We had a substitute teacher. Dr. Reigns unfortunately reserved the same small class from the last times. We piled up in the room and made the most of the space. I found a spot in the back of the room. I was still by Antonio. He and Malesha were quiet today.

I played on my phone until a shadowed blocked the light. I looked up to see Ranea.

"What are you doing here Ranea?"

"I came to talk to you," she said.

"About what?"

"Well something sort of happened and I understand if you're mad."

I tensed up. I was curious about what it was.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Just let me find a seat first."

There was one right behind Antonio. She tapped him on the shoulder.

"Excuse me. Could you give me that seat behind you?"

Antonio, without a word, reached behind him to grab the chair. He handed it to her.

"Thanks," she said.

I moved my chair over, so that she could have some space.

"So? What happened?" I was eager for her to tell me.

"It's about Devin," I said.

My eyes widened at the thought that she might reveal something horrible about him.

"He talked to me telling me how he wanted us to hang out and be friends. I did give him my number."

I delayed my response trying to process the information. Ranea studied me trying to read my emotions. I looked away instead. I didn't understand. Devin acted like Ranea wasn't a good friend to me. Now, he wanted to be friends with her himself. First, he was with Melina. Then, he talked to Ranea. Devin couldn't be doing this on purpose. My mind remembered when he told me I would regret not appreciating his friendship.

"Are you serious? He said that he actually wanted to be friends with you?"

"Miesha I'm sorry. I tried to mention you, and he did say that you two were friends. So maybe he will come around and start talking to you again. Then, we could all be friends. I was just being nice. I didn't want to brush him off."

That did give me a little hope. But my sadness overshadowed it. I wanted us to get past that day and move on.

I sighed. "It's fine."

She put a hand on my shoulder. "You like him don't you?"

"Yeah I like him as a friend. I think it's kind of messed up that he hasn't talked to me."

I shouldn't lie to her about liking him. But it embarrassed me. A guy that I thought finally liked me still managed to gravitate toward Ranea.

"Don't worry. I'll convince him to talk to you again. I know you two were friends first. It would only be fair if he got on good terms with you again."

"Right," I said as my final answer.

The need to scream be came a string felling. Theater rehearsal was beginning to be too much now. Dr. Reigns was stressing over this play, and it had caused us to stressed too. She was not satisfied with our performances and kept making us start over. It was almost seven in the evening, and we were still trying to perfect this one part of the play. We were frustrated now and ready to go home, but she wouldn't let us go. I was doing my best to get all my lines right. But it wasn't enough. She felt like I wasn't in character enough. It was not only me, but a few others too. Then on top of that, Ranea's news about Devin wanting to be friends with her distracted me.

"Stop," Dr. Reigns yelled through a megaphone. "As an audience member, I didn't feel that performance."

She was sitting in one of the rows of the auditorium as if she was an audience member watching our performance.

"I am not impressed. It was boring and I wasn't feeling the characters, so I know you all wasn't either. Do you all not want to go home? Cause it looks to me you'll be staying a little longer," she continued.

Everyone groaned and we got in our places to start over for the thousandth time. I got back stage and waited on my cue to come out. I put a fake smile on my face as I came out on my part.

"Stop. Miesha, I was not impressed by your entrance. Start over," Dr. Reigns told me.

I went to the back, so I could redo my entry a little better. This time she didn't stop me and let us continue. We were almost to the finish line until one girl messed up her part, and we had to do it all over again. Dr. Reigns demanded perfection. No one needed to mess up on their parts in order for us to go home.

It was half past seven when we went home. I was beyond tired cause some of the parts had a dance sequence. Doing them over and over again made me hungry. I was going to go home and eat a big meal.

"That was an often long practice," my dad said when I got in the car.

"Yeah. We kept starting over. Dr. Reigns wanted us to perform to her perfection. I am tired now and ready to eat," I said.

"I know you are. I made some chicken salad." he said.

"Oh great."

I tore into the salad when I got home. It was a huge plate. Then I was ready to relax afterward. I had to get ready for another frustrating rehearsal the next day.

Ranea called as I was dosing off.

Miesha. Hey

Ranea. Hey. Girl guess what?

Miesha. What?

I rubbed my eyes to feel more awake.

Ranea. Devin invited me to go bowling with his friends. I asked if you can come and he said yes.

Miesha. Really?

I couldn't contain my excitement. It felt like forever since I hung out with him.

Ranea. Yes. So get ready cause this Saturday we are all going out.

Miesha. Thank you Ranea. You are the best.

Finally I got to be around Devin again. I couldn't wait to go bowling.