Smoke

51: Acceptance

The next few days of performances went by with less mistakes than that first show. Each one left my throat dry and left me tired, my limbs heavy, but seeing Oliver acting made me happy, and being around Danny made me happy.

"Hey." I called out to Oliver after the final performance, once we were all done. It was over. I didn't have to use my power anymore, or at least not as much.

"What's up?" Oliver asked. He seemed tired, also.

"You're a really good Benvolio. Way better than the one at my last school." I said. It wasn't much to say to him, but I felt like I had to say something. We had been drifting apart and I wanted us to float back together. Hopefully this would do it. Oliver smiled, nodding.

"Thanks. And you're getting really good at your power," he smiled to himself, "you're like a dragon." He said, and I laughed.

"Yeah, I am." I rolled my eyes, smiling. "Do you want to hang out some time?" I asked, and he nodded.

"To help with Skill Management, or?" He asked, and I shook my head, a smile still on the edges of my mouth.

"No, just to be friends. I'm doing way better in that class than before." I offered, and he smiled.

"Sure. We'll talk more on the bus, okay? I have to go." Oliver said, smiling, walking past me. I nodded.

Now that everything was alright, now that Mom knew about the fire and I knew that Oliver and I were friends, I felt at peace.

"Hey." Danny came up to me, holding a pile of walkie-talkies.

"Hi." I said, looking up at his green eyes. He looked around at the dark, mostly-empty auditorium before meeting mine, smiling.

"Good job today, Cecil." He said, and I nodded.

"You too." I replied. "I really liked being in Tech Crew." I said, feeling relaxed as we continued talking.

"Yeah? Are- are you going to be in Tech Crew for the next play?" He asked, smiling.

"Maybe." I nodded, smiling back.

"Cool. Well, uh, we have to leave the auditorium and go get our stuff, so," he said, taking another glance around.

"Lets go." I nodded, and we walked together out of the auditorium. I could feel his body heat, and could feel his shoulder bumping into mine every so often. It was relaxing, having new friends, and was a relief to finally be controlling my power, to not be afraid of anyone finding out about it. 

Looking back on it, my old school was the worst. I had to hide from my friends and teachers, and my friends were barely even ever there for me. I was just missing the school-- hating this one-- too much to realize that. But now I didn't have to hide anything, and I realized how much better it is for me here.

I looked up at Danny, and he looked down at me. 

I might have felt something for him, but all of that was washed away right now by the tiredness I felt. There was also a comfort I got from standing with him, and a release I felt from finally being done with my old school, with now having friends, with Romeo and Juliet. 

I was too busy enjoying that relaxed feeling to process if I liked him romantically or not. I would figure it out, though. Eventually. But at least right now, I would relax and revel in the thought that I finally was accepting the fire and the smoke; I finally accepted my power.