Backstage: Third Time's the Charm

Sasha Roy

Sasha Roy
Grade 12
Dance Program

"I couldn't believe it when Jax said he knew the famous Sasha Roy."

"Famous?" I asked.

Tyler Snow, the editor of the Keaton Kable, showed me around the newspaper's room. The average-sized room held two large desks, facing windows opposite the door. A large, digital clock hung on the far wall.

"Readership is down, and I need something to draw people's attention."

"How do you know readership is down?"

Tyler shook his head, aggravated at my ignorance. "The Keaton Kable is fully digital. But stats haven't looked good the past few weeks.

"This is where we meet. We have two reporters who work there." He pointed to a large L-shaped desk with two computers on top. "We usually borrow the school photographer for important pieces, but he works in the photography room."

Tyler stopped at the desk sitting underneath the clock. A placard sitting atop the desk read, "Tyler Snow, Editor'. "We have a copy editor for grammar mistakes and then everything comes to me for final review before it's 'printed'." He made air quotes with his hands. "So, right now it's just the five of us, six if you decide to join." He looked at me expectantly.

"I gave up TMK to join the Streets."

He nodded curtly. "Dance group made up of students who were not a part of the dance track. But didn't most of the members graduate last year?"

"Yeah, and I've missed blogging. I guess this would be different though?"

"Not too much actually. I'm thinking of calling it the Tattler, but I'm open to suggestions. I need a student who can get the juicy details. Someone who has an eye for exciting stories."

"I have plenty of those."

"Well, I'm leaving it open to you. I don't really care what you write about as long as it's interesting. You'd just have to run it by me before we publish."

I nodded. It sounded a lot like when I ran TMK, and school newspaper would look good on college applications.

"You know the kid who collapsed? Miles? Last year during the interdisciplinary project, he and his girlfriend got in a fight so he purposely bombed the project and everyone received a failing grade."

Tyler raised an eyebrow, "You know your stuff. Should I take this as a yes?"

I nodded. "Yes. I can have something typed up by the end of the day."

He smiled. "Send it to me before you leave."

*********

"I don't understand," Carly said as we ate lunch that afternoon. "You joined the school newspaper?"

"Why?" Vanessa asked.

She stabbed at a carrot in her salad with a plastic knife, and then eventually gave up. She picked it up and bit into it.

"You're looking at the Keaton Kable's new gossip columnist."

"Gossip columnist?" Carly looked up from her ham and cheese on rye. "Like TMK?"

"We're calling it the Tattler, but same concept." I tossed a cube of cheddar into my mouth.

Jenna looked up from the end of the table. "Do you think that's a good idea? I mean you know what happened last year," she trailed off.

I rolled my eyes. "I made one mistake last year. It'll be fine. And it looks good on college applications."

"One mistake?" Carly asked, hurt flashing through her eyes.

I flinched.

"You caused me and my boyfriend to break up."

"Didn't you say he was a creep anyway?"

"That's not the point, Sasha!" Carly struggled to keep her voice even. "Whenever you gossip, someone gets hurt, usually your friends."

"Look, my first story isn't even about you. It's about the kid who collapsed yesterday."

"Miles?" Carly asked. Her eyes widened. "I know him Sasha. He's a great guy. You can't just blog about his personal life to everyone."

"It's not like everyone doesn't already know," I argued.

"You were just going to use my words without asking me?"

"I was going to tell everyone about how he bombed the school project. You got a failing grade because of him."

"I know, but that doesn't mean he deserves to have it blabbed all over school. Alya wrote a whole song about Beckett and Vee and look how that turned out."

Vanessa sighed and shook her head. Carly blushed and then shrugged apologetically.

"Alya wrote a song about you?" I turned to Vanessa. "And you didn't tell me?"

"I didn't want to talk about it." Vanessa's eyes fluttered around the table and then back to her meal.

"She probably didn't want you telling everyone like when you told Ms. Maria about her injured ankle."

Vanessa flinched at the memory.

I recoiled and slammed my fist against the picnic table.

"I did that for her own safety. I know better than anyone what happens when dancers aren't putting their health first."

"Sasha's right," Jenna said. She pushed a strand of curly hair out of her face. "He's done a lot of stupid stuff, but you can't blame him for that."

"Wow, thanks J," I replied sarcastically.

Carly scowled at us and quickly packed up her lunch. "I lost my appetite," she muttered as she slung the bag over her head and walked away.

At the end of the table, Jenna frowned. She continued eating silently.

Vanessa stared at me.

"You don't get it, Vee. I'm a senior. I have to start thinking about colleges and careers."

"You're a dancer!"

"Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to have other hobbies. My mind gets scary when I only focus on dance." I pushed down the memories of eating unhealthily and then dropping Jenna.

"Maybe you should think about someone else then." Vanessa looked to where Carly had disappeared.

I swallowed. Carly was still mad. Mad that I'd rejected her. Mad that I'd broken her and her boyfriend up. Mad that I'd kissed her best friend. As much as I cared about her there was no way she would ever feel the same way. I'd ruined any chance of that.

Besides, I wasn't going to let anyone keep me from doing something that I loved.