Center Stage

three

•8:19 pm•

"So um, where are you from?" I asked Tarrie, breaking the uncomfortable silence that hung since Josh had gotten up to use the men's room. She replied, "I've lived around Fredericksburg my entire life. I've moved houses, of course, but never out of . "

"Stafford? Isn't that like, forty-five minutes away though." I replied, an eyebrow raised in curiousity.

"Exactly, but you see, there's not nearly as many acting opportunities down there. I mean, there's Riverside, and that's about it. Don't get me wrong, their performances are fantastic, I was just looking for something a little, erm, bigger."

"Well, I live here in Woodbridge, don't act, and I'm not that interesting. "

"Do you go to Bishop?" She questioned, sipping her dark, late night coffee.

"Uh, yeah actually. I'm on the football team." I answered.

She smiled, "That's cool! I hear that it's a good school. Josh tells me it sucks there, but everyone else says it's fine."

"Yeah, it's pretty okay. What about you? I mean, what school do you go to?"

"Oh, I graduated last year. I'm thinking about pursuing something down at Germanna Community College, but I went to Stafford High. It was alright, better than some other schools around. Go Indians!" She smiled while sarcastically pumping her fist.

Laughing, I confusedly tilted my head, "I thought you were only sixteen."

"Ah," She shook her head, "I portrayed a sixteen year-old in the play. I'm actually nineteen, turning twenty."

"Oh, I'm sorry, my bad"

"No, it's fine. It's a compliment to my acting actually."

Josh slid in next to Tarrie, "What're y'all talking about?"

"Actually," she nonchalantly started. "I was just telling Matthew here about that one time in middle school when you peed your pants in front of the entire girls soccer team."

Instantly, I covered my mouth to prevent bursting into laughter. Josh's mouth gaped open and his cheeks turned as red as the vinyl seats we sat upon. "Taryn Parker, I thought we agreed to never speak of that again!" He said through his teeth.

"Oh, would you relax? We didn't actually talk about your, uh, accident." I assured.

I could see Tarrie trying her best not to grin as well as Josh slapped my arm from cross the table. Making her laugh and discovering her humor was the beginning of my plan to sweep her off her feet and make her mine. Not in a creepy sense, but in a sincere, loving, and caring way. I wanted to show her how beautiful I thought she was, to see that I'll care for her. I want to let her take the spotlight.

I want her to stand center stage in the theater that is my life.