Numbered

Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

The bell at the end of the seventh period class rang shrilly through the thick, hot air. I got up, collected my books, and left the classroom hastily. Now it was time to head to the stage.

Tami caught up to me at my locker.

"Kaytlin," she said, "me and Andrew were going to catch a bite to eat. Do you want anything from World Bread?"

"No," I grabbed a bag out of my locker and opened it, revealing a squished sandwich and a red apple. I wrinkled my nose. "My mom packed me dinner."

"Nonsense," Tami took the bag and closed it. "As long as I'm around, you're not eating a turkey sandwich for dinner. Besides, you're the star of the show. Whatever you want, it'll be my treat."

"No, you don't have to buy me anything. That's too expensive. Give me my sandwich." I reached across her, grabbing for the bag. Tami danced out of my reach, laughing.

"See you later, Kaytlin. And I am buying you dinner."

She strutted down the hall, her black hair swaying as she went. I smiled and shut my locker. Then I heard someone come up behind me, her heals clicking on the checkered floor. I knew who it was even before I heard her voice or turned around.

"Kaytlin, you simply must enjoy yourself tonight," Shamrock Jewel said, wobbling to a stop in front of me. Sadie Wain and Sonya Scaffold hurried diligently to her side. "Besides," she winked at me, a sugar sweet smile on her face. "I know Austin will." She laughed and waved her followers to continue down the hallway, their clipping heals fading in the distance.

I sighed. Leave it to Shamrock to find the one crack in the whole concert. The one mistake that sent jitters down my throat and made my stomach churn.

I had turned and finally started my way down stairs when another person materialized in front of me, the third person to block my way in the five minutes after the bell had rung. Berry smiled widely at me, showing rows of white pearly teeth.

"Are you heading downstairs?" he asked, bouncing on his toes. I sighed again internally.

"Listen, Berry-" I stopped, remembering the talk I had with Tami after lunch. Give everyone a chance. "Yes I am."

"Can I walk you down? That's where I'm going you know. To get ready for the concert that we're both in."

"I know," I said, resisting the urge to inform him of how many times he had told me that just in this day alone.

The walk down to the drama department was a very exhausting, though I didn't say one word the whole way down. Berry kept the conversation up all one his own, talking about the concert, his potential job as in entertainer (just like you!) and his mother's new job in the government building. I only half listened, zoning in and out of the topic Berry was rambling about and what the concert would be like.

We headed downstairs, into the basement below the stage. The drama department smelt of old, unwashed clothes, moldy interments, and school-owned costumes. Mrs. Stacy met us as soon as we got out of the elevator, her many scarves and bright, homemade jewelry turning her into a fat, circular rainbow. A red face peaked out of the top.

"Oh thank goodness you're here!" She ran up to me and patted my arm fondly. "I don't know what I would do without you!" She giggled, then she saw Berry and stopped abruptly. "Berry, dear," her tone made it seem as if she was talking to an annoying fly. "Go get dressed, um, Kayltin and Austin have to run though the performance."

My stomach clenched at the thought of being upstairs with only Mrs. Stacy and Austin. Just as Berry turned to leave I grabbed his arm and whipped him around. He stared at me wide-eyed and surprised. "No, Mrs. Stacy. Maybe Berry could watch us perform and give advice on how the show could be better." I smiled quickly at him, trying to make the whole outburst look more natural. Berry relaxed under the clutch of my iron fingers. I loosened them, but it was like prying five helpless children apart. They didn't want to let go.

"Oh that's a wonderful idea Kaytlin!" Mrs. Stacy beamed at me over the top of her scarves. Now it was my turn to relax. "Well, come on then, let's get this show on the road!"

 Austin was waiting for us on stage. At the sight of Berry coming in he frowned, and glanced at me, wanting an explanation.

"Why's he here?" He asked when nobody spoke. His voice echoed around the room. Mrs. Stacy settled in the front row and ushered for Berry to sit beside her.

"He's going to watch you sing with Kaytlin and then give some advice, if that's okay with you." Mrs. Stacy informed him while she fixed the scarves that were settled around her fat neck. I joined Austin on stage. He walked over to me, anger plain on his face.

"This was your idea wasn't it," he hissed. His breath smelt like mints and bubblegum. I tried not to inhale.

"So what if it was?" I didn't look at him as I spoke. If I did, my legs would crumble underneath me and my aura of confidence would be destroyed. All I had to do was listen to him and all his cruelty.

"Listen, Kaytlin. I'm sorry about what happened, but that was a year ago. It's been horrible practicing like this for weeks; you barely even look at me unless you have to. Just tonight, please drop whatever stupid grudges you have. I need this to be the best performance yet. We need this to be the best performance yet. Otherwise any hope of being an entertainer is lost. Remember that, Kaytlin."

I looked at him before I could stop myself. His blue eyes dug into me, his back hair was so perfect, his features sharp and harsh yet beautiful all the same. His eyes searched mine, waiting for an answer.

"I will. But you have to remember that I'm doing this for myself, not you."

"How could I forget?" He growled back.

"Kaytlin! We have your dinner!" Tami's shriek echoed though the hallways and  though the many rooms of the basement, causing heads to raise and eyes to stare at me. I finished putting on my shoe and fled, blood rising to my face.

"Tami, just find me next time, okay?" I hissed, grabbing the bag from her hand. We were by the elevator, Andrew hanging in the background.

"How are you doing?" Tami asked. "Oh! I love your dress!" Her voice rose ecstatically like it always did when clothes were involved. She walked around me, examining every detail of the short black dress. "It goes so well with your skin tone! You look great."

"My skin tone isn't the only thing it goes well with," I muttered darkly.

"What?" Tami looked at me, her brown eyes large with worry.

"My dress is a set. Austin is wearing the other half."

Tami let out a hiss of air and let her hands fall dramatically to her sides. "You have to forget about him, baby. You two are done."

"He doesn't seem to think so. I brought Berry to rehearsal just so it wasn't awkward. This stupid duet thing is killing me, Tami. I don't think Mrs. Stacy knows."

Tami grabbed a bowl filled to the brim with warm Mac and Cheese from the bag. "Here, honey. Eat this, forget everything except how well you're going to do. See you after the show!"