The Other Bowen || Nini Salazar-Roberts

opening night

Nini's pov, 8 hours until opening night

I looked at Kourtney as she held the necklace in her hand. It was a necklace that I bought for Lily as sort of an opening night gift. I wanted to get Kourtney's opinion on it before I gave it to Lily.

"You're not talking." I said after Kourtney stared at the necklace for about a minute.

"I'm reading." She replied.

"Come on, it's not a novel. It's just four words." I told her. "Four little words."

"It's jewelry." Kourtney said.

"It's a dog tag." I corrected her.

"But she's gonna wear it around her neck. That's jewelry." Kourtney told me as she handed the necklace back to me.

"It's a silly opening night gift. I'm sure Lily's gonna give me something, too." I glanced at the necklace in my hand before looking at Kourtney. "What?"

"I just think it's deep." She said.

"Well, it should be. We've come a long way, and Lily's been... kinda great lately." I smiled.

Kourtney's phone chimed and she picked it up to read the text. "Woah."

"Everything okay?" I asked.

"Miss Jenn asked if I knew Taylor's lines." Kourtney said.

I slightly widened my eyes. "Wait, what?"

"I haven't stopped thinking about your sound check. You have the best voice in Northern Utah. Please say you'll go on for Gina tonight." Kourtney read the text. "And then there's like a hundred emojis."

"Oh, my gosh, Kourt!" I exclaimed.

"So, you approve this?" Kourtney asked.

I nodded before hugging her. When we pulled away from the hug, the both of us let out a scream of excitement.

Lily's pov

I walked into the gym that was all set up for the show tonight. Miss Jenn jumped as she turned to face me.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." I apologized.

"Lily, you're really early." Miss Jenn chuckled.

"I know. I didn't know what to do with myself all afternoon." I told her.

"Let me guess, opening night jitters?" Miss Jenn asked.

I nodded. "Yeah, it's just a lot. My mom's coming tonight, and I've technically never been in a musical before, so..."

"I understand the stress you're under. All I can tell you is what my director told me the night somebody sneezed a blueberry muffin onto the stage during a regional production of South Pacific. Use it." Miss Jenn advised.

"Okay." I said.

"Besides, if you're the only actor with opening night jitters, we are in excellent shape." Miss Jenn said.

The door opened and I turned around to see Nini walk in. She paused once she saw Miss Jenn and I. 

"Oh, uh... I didn't know anyone would be in here." Nini said.

I let out a chuckle and glanced at Miss Jenn before looking at Nini. "Let me guess, jitters?"

"Little bit." Nini nodded as she walked up to me. "I just realized this morning this is the first time I've been cast as the lead on purpose."

"But it won't be the last." Miss Jenn told her before looking at me. "Tell her the muffin story."

"Do I have to?" I asked.