Oblivious To Him

Chapter 9 - Get a grip, he's just a boy

I strolled into the auditorium a few minutes early and set down all of my stuff in my usual 2nd-row seat. I hesitated for a second at the bottom of the steps leading to the stage and tried to muster up some courage.

I needed to do well in this class because it might help me get into Yale. 

Taking a deep breath, I walked backstage and took a second for my eyes to adjust to the dark lighting. There was a sliver of light coming from an office door and I approached it with caution. Mrs. Dervis wasn't a scary woman, but I was new to this type of situation and I feared the unknown.

I wrapped my knuckles quietly on the door and when I didn't get a response I knocked a little harder.

The door flung open and Mrs. Dervis was sitting in an office chair like she couldn't be bothered to stand, "Oh Lana! Has the bell rung already?" 

She rolled back to her computer and paused the music that was playing through the small speakers on the shelf next to her. I looked around the small encampment and noticed that this woman really, really loved theatre. Like, holy cow. She had to have about 100 scripts filling up her shelves, and pictures of set designs taped onto every available surface.

"No, I'm actually here a little early. I-I um, well I needed to talk to you about next week." 

She turned in her chair and motioned for me to take a seat in the ancient wooden chair next to the door. I took a cautious seat, afraid that I might break it if I sat down too hard and sighed a little when all it did was squeak.

 "What about next week dear?"

I folded my hands in my lap, "Well I got a call this morning from my trainer and I need to be out in New Mexico all week to get ready for an upcoming competition. I'm here to see what I need to do to make sure it's okay with you." 

She looked at me for a second like she was debating something then perked up in her chair like she was struck by an exciting thought, "What are you competing in?"

"I'm competing in the Female Bouldering Nationals. I am trying to place so that I can eventually go to worlds." 

She laughed a little, "A rock climbing competition? I didn't even know such things existed. I thought you were going to say the debate team or something. Excuse me, sweei you just don't exactly scream athlete." 

I had to refrain from rolling my eyes at her and almost didn't succeed, "Yeah, I know. I get that all the time. It's because of my glasses, isn't it?" I asked, trying not to sound too sarcastic, "I don't wear my contacts unless I'm competing. Anyway, how can I make up for the time I miss?"

She turned to her computer and pulled up a spreadsheet, "Let me look at what we are doing next week and see if there is anything important going on. It is only the first week of school so the ball hasn't picked up enough momentum," she paused for a moment to scroll through a document, "No, it looks like you wouldn't miss anything other than a couple of improv exercises. What are your other teachers doing to keep you on track?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "This is the only class I am taking here so I have no idea what they would want me to do." 

She clicked a couple of things with the mouse, "Oh yes I see, Lana Boyden, 11:30 Intro to Theatre and then the rest are in-home courses. Very cool. I wish that I did that when I was your age. I absolutely loathed my peers," she joked, "Well just have your trainer email the information to confirm what you've just told me and you should be all set!" she scribbled her email on a post-it note and handed it to me. 

I heard the faint ringing of the bell and realized that the class would start soon.

"Well, I better get the lesson plan ready before class starts, go back into the auditorium and take a seat."