All the Stars Lead to You

Chapter Six

CANCER: After the emotional havoc you went through over the last few weeks, the period beginning today will be quite soothing. You can take advantage of these smoother, calmer waters to rediscover emotional harmony and improve the balance of your energy flow.

For the past couple days, Eleanour and I have fallen into a synchronized routine. I'd come off from work, swing by the Sticks + Stones, and catch Elle cleaning up. The cafe closed a little after five which is right when I get off work at the Factory. While she's mopping, I would help myself to an employee's pot of cold coffee (I felt bad about asking her to brew a fresh one) and continued the interrogation. Usually, it's about Andrew but we've been treading into more personal territory lately.

Tuesday, she rushed in ten minutes later than usual in a flurry of motion, papers flying like windsocks and her protuberant knapsack weighing down her lithe body. Gathering the materials that had fallen by me, I noticed that they weren't essays or assignments—parts of a script, dictating lines for The Twelfth Night fluttered in the winter wind.

A tiny zap of excitement ran through me. "You're auditioning for a play? Was that why you were late? " I said.

Flushed was her face, and impetuous were her movements as she snatched (more so, grabbed) the papers from my hands. For a second, fear clouded her eyes, and it seemed like she forgot who I was. Quick as it came, the look vanished and only docile Elle remained.

"Eleanour, you alright?" I hesitantly asked.

"Yes." She absconded into the kitchen and reemerged seconds later with a coffee pot. "To all those questions, I forgot what but—yes, I am. Alright."

"A bit jumpy for 'alright' though. So Twelfth Night?"

There went the light in her eyes, and it was unlike anything I've ever seen before. This was a light of passion, fervor that made me unconsciously smile as she began talking. "One of my favorites of Shakespeare, I couldn't resist auditioning. Everybody's always on about the tragedies, Romeo and Juliet, but the comedies don't get their much deserved attention."

"Who're you auditioning for?"

"Viola. I wanted Lady Olivia since my aunt was the Countess almost every time they put it on, but I just know that I have virtually no chance when every girl is fighting for her, too. Our costume designer said that he's pulling out all the stops for this one, so Olivia's obviously going to get some special attention. Dresses are going to be gorgeous, no doubt." She sighed.

"It's funny, you know, thinking about when it first came out and a man had to play a woman, disguised as a man." We laughed. "Think about the mess the pronouns would be! Thank god for the progressives."

We talked, about theatre and being an actress and Shakespeare and so many topics that just melded into the other one. Sometimes we would laugh or argue for a long time, then forget what we debating about and laugh again. It was easy to forget that this was business and delve back into the childish dreams I had so long ago, of being famous and having people throw roses at me, demanding my autograph. When I left, the sun had long since set but I didn't want to go home yet. I wanted to talk, to shake off the weight of being stuck in a cubicle all day, to climb back into a body that didn't worry about paying rent or affording the heating bill, to be the capricious wanderer that my heart yearned to be. Talking with Elle made me remember why I loved going to clubs and bars with Ana and Candace—I didn't have to worry about tomorrow yet; I was born for the present.

Wednesday, she asked me what college I went to.

I froze. "Boston, but, um, only for a while."