THE SLOWEST BURN ~ wally clark x oc

~ star ~

WALLY

The sun is finally starting to set, and I realize I've been on these bleachers lost in thought for probably a couple hours. I've been replaying in my head all the Kaitlyn memories I can recall from the last couple years.

All of this started when about twenty years ago, I convinced Charley to sit through an entire football game with me. He only did it because I said I'd trade favors and "take in some culture for once", as he put it. So I started going with him to all the plays and musicals on opening night. I was surprised that I actually liked it. It's like watching a movie, but live.

"What a truly groundbreaking metaphor, Wally," Rhonda replied when I told her that. "What was your grade in English before you kicked the bucket?"

"Oh shut up, your life would be way less fun without me," I shot back with a grin.

My favorites are the musicals. Rhonda gives me shit when I get the songs stuck in my head and burst out singing in the echoey hallways and stairwells. I gotta say, I can really nail "Luck Be A Lady" from Guys and Dolls... though that kind of thing usually leads to Charley wincing and Rhonda saying I should stick with sports. Whatever, they love it.

Anyway, after a couple decades of getting cultured, the Split River drama department got way more interesting two and a half years ago, when Charley and I went to see Spring Awakening...

"Hey Charley, check out the sign." I pointed out the "This musical contains adult themes" warning posted by all the entrances. "They haven't had those before, right?"

Charley laughed. "Uh yeah, you are in for quite a surprise. This is a lot different than the Sound of Music or Annie".

"Ooh, I hope there's, like, a shootout or something, and they've got fake blood gushing everywhere!"

"Oh, just come on," he chuckled. "There are open seats in the front row on the balcony." It's not a huge theater, so we'd still have a great view.

"Oh my god, Wally, I can't take you anywhere," he said, once he noticed me chucking m&m's over the railing.

"I'm trying to get one in that old guy's cup in the third row. Come onnnn, you know you want to try."

Charley rolled his eyes but couldn't hide his smile.

"Shut up, you think it's funny!" I handed him the m&m's bag. "Come on, you got this, Charley... let's gooooo!" I give him a good natured punch on the shoulder.

We spent the next few minutes before the show taking turns shooting m&m's across the theater, until Charley actually hit the target.

"OHH! And Charley with a half court shot right! at! the! buzzerrrrrr!" I yelled over the balcony as the lights dimmed.

The curtains opened right as I turned to Charley to mutter, "Shit, I need to hit up the vending machine again." The orchestra played a few single notes, instead of the typical kinda boring long intro, or whatever you call it.

I was about to get up and grab some more candy, and then the spotlight hit a girl, alone on stage, standing on a chair in a short white slip and black socks. Well hi, nice to meet you, hot girl I've never seen before. I didn't ever go beyond that when it came to noticing girls. I always kept the temptation under control or I'd go crazy.

Then she opened her mouth, and I swear to God my jaw dropped as the purest, prettiest voice filled the room. It was slow, and sad, and she kept eye contact with audience as she slipped on a short white dress and finished the song.

"Uhhh, who is THAT?" I wondered in disbelief. Charley and I were theater veterans after going to shows for so long. It's stupid, but we'd kinda get to know who the talented kids were each year because they always played the leads. This girl had to be new. She was hands down the best I'd ever heard, ever.

Charley flipped through the program to the cast list since I couldn't take my eyes off her. Fuck. I sounded like an idiot, but I couldn't help it. She glowed in the spotlight in her white dress.

"Hmmm... Kaitlyn Sands," he informed me. "I don't remember that name. It says she's a sophomore, so I guess she didn't try out last year."

///

Well, there weren't any shootouts, but the musical was all about sex and growing up. As if I needed more temptation, oh my god. But I wouldn't have cared if it was just about her singing all the digits of pi because she was fucking brilliant up there.

I didn't tell Charley that I went to all the other shows too, which meant by the end of that weekend, I'd watched Kaitlyn perform four times. I told myself it wasn't a real connection, just infatuation, and it would pass once she blended into the crowd of other students. But a few days after the show, I was in the faculty lounge stealing cinnamon rolls, and I heard a teacher mention her.

"I was a crying mess as soon as Kaitlyn started singing. She's absolutely incredible."

"Isn't she? She's beyond talented. And that girl is so much stronger than any student I've ever had. What a shame she's had to go through all of this."

"I hope so badly that she stays in remission for good."

As the conversation kept going, I realized I had to know more. So I watched and learned.

She liked the color yellow, like dandelions and sunflowers. Her favorite musical was Rent, and she could recite and sing the entire show from memory. She always helped her best friend Alison with her Spanish homework. She had a little sister named Penny but only Kaitlyn was allowed to call her that. Other people called her Pen, short for Penelope. Pen was a cheerleader, which meant Kaitlyn went to the junior varsity football games. And, worst of all, Kaitlyn had leukemia. I had to use the computer lab to Google what meant exactly and learned it's a type of cancer.

Kaitlyn was diagnosed in 6th grade and started treatment right away. She stayed in the hospital or at home over the next few years, until she got the news that the treatment worked, and it was in remission. She came to Split River at the beginning of sophomore year.

And she was smart, funny, sweet, and a total badass. She wasn't afraid to be confrontational, so she stood up for underdogs and gave the bullies hell. And oh my god she was a star on stage. I don't know how anyone could NOT fall in love with her.

I managed to learn all that from school records, files in the office, and overhearing conversations between her and her friends and sister. I tried to be around her as much as possible while still hiding it from the others. It didn't take long for me to feel something I'd pushed down for years... I was totally into this girl, like head over heels, and I couldn't stop myself from knowing her more and more.

So that's how my crush on this girl started. I had no idea things would go downhill for her two years later. Which brings me back to the present day, where I'm still sitting on this metal bleacher in the chilly evening air.

Kaitlyn. Where is she right now? Is she okay?

///