"Scout." Someone nudges my arm. "Hey." They say when my eyes open up. My eyes glide to Lin. He smiles, brushing his hand through my hair.
"How'd I get here?"
"I moved you." He says. I push myself up to sitting. It hurts a bit to sit up and my body screams for more sleep. It was sweet that he put my head on his stomach. I remember getting tired but I didn't think I would fall asleep.
"What time is it?" I ask as he closes his computer.
"Nine-thirty."
"What? I never sleep that late." He laughs as I stand, fixing my school clothes that I'm still in.
"Come watch rehearsal. I'll be fun." He moves his computer aside, stands and grabs my hand, dragging me into the corridor and then down multiple more to stage.
"Hey, sleepyhead. Finish that essay?" Pippa asks. Okay, so last night, I was here during the show and I wrote an essay. I was supposed to go back with a cast member afterwards but I feel asleep and they left me. I woke at two in the morning and called Lib who told me that there were people here working and he'd be there in the morning. It took me another two hours to fall asleep but I eventually did.
In response to Pippa, I nod.
Not sure of where to go when Lin leaves me to go talk to Tommy, I back into the wing. After a few minutes of quietly waiting and people filing on stage, they begin rehearsal.
I am soon pulled out o the wing that I've managed to avoid people in.
"What do you think?" Tommy asks me.
"What do I think? I think this show is amazing. I would say something here to help but I'm just a random civilian with no opinion or knowledge. Therefore, I can't say anything that would actually matter."
"As a random civilian, what do you think?"
"I think it looks great."
"Could you me more specific?"
"I like the blocking and how everyone can be seen but not necessarily from every angle. It means that everyone gets to experience the show together, get the same storyline, and see and hear the same songs and dances, but everyone takes away something more personal to them. No one else saw exactly what they saw, the same way that everyones interpretation may vary slightly. It kind of symbolizes that in a way that people don't notice but instead sense which is sometimes better than it being right in front of them because instead of a fact, it's a feeling."
"So that's good." Andy says, looking away from me and thinking.
"You got that from the blocking?" Tommy asks.
"That's what you were working on before you asked me."
"Yeah. It was. Okay." I know my opinion doesn't really matter but it was nice that he asked. In my journalism class, I have to make nothing seem like something. When given a boring topic to write about, I have to pull shit out if my ass and make it seem like it wasn't well, exactly what it is. It makes real things easier to write about, though.
"She's going to an Ivy league school!" Renée says. It's my goal. I'm working for it. No matter what my life is like.
-
"I need to get you some real clothes." Lin says as I follow him through the corridors and down a staircase.
"Why? I own clothes."
"Well, are you staying with one of us tonight?" He says like I definitely am and he's reminding me of it.
"I didn't think I was."
"Well, either way, you need to come." I follow him out the door. There aren't many people her anymore since the first show ended a while ago, but a few fans are. I just stand on the side to wait.
"Elena." A voice says. "I'm very surprised to see you outside of school. It is a big city."
"Mr.Carlson. Hi. I'm not too hard to pick out when wearing a Walker school uniform on a Saturday." He nods.
"Are you a fan of the show?"
"Yeah, I like it."
"So do I. But I'm a history teacher so of course I like it. Especially now that kids are interested in such events that appear in the show. Not that some students like you don't show great enthusiasm for American history and comparative government and politics." I smile. "We are looking for someone to write about this show and it's affect on the education in this school amongst the students that are interested in it for the school newspaper."
"Oh, are you?"
"Perhaps you would like to do it?"
"Oh? I would love to. That sounds great. Thank you."
"Have it on my desk Tuesday morning. Have a good weekend, I will see you in class." He says before continuing on his way.
"So you just got an assignment." Lin comments. I turn around. "Do you work on the school newspaper?"
"Not often. I like to write but I'm psychology."
"How did I not know that?"
"Well, I talk more about humanities and well, books. All the time." He laughs.
"I know. Lots of books." He says, grabbing my copy of Don Quixote out of my hand so I'm forced to follow him down the sidewalk to the crosswalk.
"Lin, the street is not that wide." I say once I realize that we are turning back but on the ither side of the street."
"No risks." I roll my eyes, following him into the store.
"Wow." I say upon entering. It's not that busy right now, actually. I talk to the girl behind the desk who goes to NYU. I think about college so much. Maybe too much. I envy her for already being there. I listen closely though since I wanted to got there when I was in middle school. It seems like a nice school and I still might apply but it's not my goal.
"That sounds great." I say. She seems to like it there and although has typical college issues, is where she wants to be and taking classes that really help her.
"Hey, kid." Lin says. "Let's go." I say goodbye and flow him back across the street.
"So what was that for?"
"You?"
"What?" I ask as we enter the building,
"I got you some clothes."
"Uh, thanks but I have clothes. I'm supposed to go back like now."
"Be here an hour before the second show. Go, go, go!" He says, handing me the bag and pushing me out. I hop on the next subway to the home and get into the shower, glad the place id almost empty. It's warm at first but then cold but I wash myself well and then out on some gray leggings and a black hoodie Lin got. It's very lose but It's comfy. I brush my hair and teeth and wash my face. Back ti the theater.
