Just Off The Key || Lizrei

Chapter 5: My Bears

By the time opening night rolled around, Rei was back in top form, only slighter crazier than usual because, well, dear God, it was opening night. She paced around her dressing room waiting for her friends to meet her, sure that she was suffering some sort of health problem. Cardiac arrest? Suffocation? Sudden onset epilepsy? Rei swirled around when the door opened, watching as Suno froze and stared at her. God, she must look like a maniac.

"Keep moving Suno." A voice behind him said. "It's hot as ass in this hallway."

Suno rolled his eyes, but stepped into the room. "Wow, that's wonderful, Yujin."

Wonyoung and Yujin followed him into the room, and Rei stopped pacing long enough to greet them with a nervous smile.

"So, have you forgotten your lines yet?" Yujin asked. She looked bored, and started rummaging through all the crap on Rei's dresser.

"Oh my God, Yujin!" Suno exclaimed. "You don't ask her that right before a show!"

"Well, hopefully the answer's no." Yujin said distractedly, pocketing one of Rei's nail polishes and opening her drawers.

"I am fully prepared for this, thank you very much Yujin. I've been preparing for twenty-four years, actually. And it's perfectly healthy to be filled with nervous energy before a show." Rei chose not to mention how she had been diagnosing herself with farfetched medical disorders a few minutes ago.

Yujin studied her with something like pride in her eyes, heavily disguised and hidden pride, or alcohol intoxication, then went back to stealing her stuff.

Suno took one of Rei's hands in his. "You're a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls, Rei. You were born for this, and we're proud of you, and you'll be amazing. Oh, and I'm illegally filming it on Jay's crappy camera because Mercedes is threatening me with physical violence."

Rei pulled him into a hug. "Thanks Suno." She let go as the door opened again and Liz walked in hesitantly with her hands in her coat pockets. She smiled when she saw Rei. Rei started to walk over to her.

"Hey, it's Liz!" Wonyoung exclaimed, beating Rei and bounding to a halt in front of Liz. She didn't try to touch her, just stood there with a bright smile on her face and warm blue eyes.

"Hi, Wonyoung." Liz said, lips quirked up slightly.

"How are you?" Wonyoung asked.

Rei almost laughed. She had never heard Wonyoung ask that before in her life; they were the sort of boring pleasantries Wonyoung usually just bounded right over. Rei glanced at Suno, who looked a little unnerved. Yujin, pockets now weighed down with Rei's belongings, just studied the two girls with a smile. Rei could see Liz's fingers moving in her pockets.

"Um, I'm fine. How about you?"

"I'm great! But I have to go now 'cause Boss said we could get churros if I could eat mine before the show starts. So, bye Liz! Bye Rei!"

Wonyoung grabbed Yujin's hand and skipped out the door. Suno plopped down on the couch and Rei made her way over to Liz, who pulled her into a hug as soon as she was close enough.

"Thanks for coming." She said when they pulled apart.

Liz smiled. "Of course. I would've been here earlier but Barnaby, um, chewed the shoes I wanted to wear...So, I had to change my dress..."

"Well, you look wonderful." Rei said, grinning as Liz flushed and looked down at her feet. "Will you be okay here? I mean, are you comfortable, in the audience?" she asked, slightly quieter.