For The Better

The Play

Skie stood backstage at 6:30 pm on Friday night. Through the thick curtain, she could hear the voices of students and parents beginning to grow louder.

"Skie, you ok?" Hazel came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, wiping the other hand on the leg of her jeans and then frowning at the foundation stain.

Skie nodded. "Yeah, I'm good. How's the makeup?"

Hazel smiled. "Done until we need to do yours."

Skie nodded again. In between scenes 6 and 7, she was to run back stage so Hazel and Hannah could quickly transform her from frumpy secretary to movie star. "How are you doing in general?"

Hazel laughed. "Me? I'm great. I get to a wear jeans and act like a lunatic with eyeshadow and glitter all over your face with a 5 minute timeframe. I love theatre!"

Daisy, who was walking past at this point, rolled her eyes. "You've lost it, Hazel."

Hazel shrugged. "Possibly."

Skie laughed. Hazel was probably insane, true, but she was an amazing friend.

"Are you nervous?"

Skie thought about it. "A little. I just hope I don't mess up too much."

Hazel laughed. "You will probably mess up less than everyone else. You've got this down."

Skie smiled. "Thanks, Hazel."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A half hour later, the curtain opened on "The Marvelous Mystery of Maple Manor." The play went smoothly, with only a few flubs and dropped lines. Finally, scene 6 ended, and Skie rushed into the dressing room. Throwing off the flowered blouse and skirt and sliding into the lacy black dress, she kicked off her shoes and shoved them into the glittery flats she was supposed to wear.

"Hazel?"

Hazel ran in with Hannah and an eyeshadow palette. "Skie! Great! Dang, you put the quick in quick change. Someone moved the palette. Hannah, can you fix her hair well I start on this?"

Hannah nodded and took the bun out of Skie's hair, replacing it with a simple yet elegant twisted style. Hazel muttered to herself distractedly while putting silver glittery eyeshadow on Skie's lids.

"Hannah, can you zip my dress?"

Hannah nodded and did so.

Hazel pulled out some bright red lipstick and at that moment Daisy showed up.

"I just got off. Skie, you're on in two."

"Dai, can you do the liner?"

Daisy rolled her eyes at Hazel. "As previously stated, you've lost it. But yes." She took the eyeliner and between the three girls, they were done in a minute.

Daisy grabbed Skie's arm and the two ran towards the stage door.

"Good luck!" Hazel called after them before she and Hannah ran off the slip in the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"She wanted to be you, Miss Shyne." Daisy, acting as Cher, placed a hand on Danielle's shoulder.

"Officer, please place Miss Smith under arrest." The owner of the hotel commanded.

Skie put on a pout but crossed her hands behind her back.

"Gwendolyn Smith, you are under arrest for theft, impersonation, and using illegal drugs to silence people. You will be escorted to the police station immediately. You have the right to remain silent."

"I will NOT remain silent! You won't get away with this."

"No, Gwen, you won't get away with this. And I want my dress back." Danielle glared.

The hotel owner came between the two glaring women. "Calm down Miss Shyne, I'm sure you will get all your belonging back."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The curtain reopened fifteen minutes later for curtain call. Everyone trooped out in order. Skie waited backstage until the end. Then, with a deep breath, she walked out to join Danielle and Daisy in the center of the stage. Joining hands with her friends, she took a bow.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Skie! You did so good!" Hazel grinned at her as Skie walked out to meet the audience.

Skie gave Hazel a hug. "Thank you so much. For everything."

Hazel smiled and if Skie would have looked just then, she would have seen the unshed tears in the older girl's eyes. 

"You're very welcome, Skie."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Congrats!" Izzy cheered as Skie came up to her, Hannah, and Danielle.

Skie grinned "You too! You did such a good job!"

The other three all continued congratulating each other, but Skie noticed Madi standing a little ways away. 

"I'll be right back." She muttered and went over to her.

"Maddison." 

Madi turned around, surprised. "Yeah?"

"Good job." Skie said sincerely.

Madi narrowed her eyes, expecting something else. When nothing came, her expression softened. "You too."

Skie nodded and left. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Skie!"

Skie turned to see her sister waving to her. She ran over and was immediately hugged by her mother.

"Mom? You came?"

"Of course she did. We wouldn't have missed it." A deep voice said behind her.

Skie turned around to face her father. Instead of his usual displeased expression, he was smiling. 

"I'm very proud of you, Skylar."

Skie felt a lump in her throat. 

"Thanks, Dad."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Mom and Dad kinda swept you up, but good job." Raven said once the parents had left and everything had calmed down.

"Thanks Ray." Skie smiled and yawned.

Raven laughed. "You'd better get back to your dorm. It's been a big night."

Skie nodded and left. It had been a big night. Some of it was crazy, and some of it was stressful, but she knew for certain it was one that she would never, ever forget.

AN: And the play was a smash hit! I know it's a bit odd to have only one show, but I mean, they're 11-13 year olds. There isn't really a clamoring audience besides parents and friends. 

The story is coming to a head in the next chapter, things are about to go down. I hope you enjoyed all this fluff because that's going out the window. Fair warning.

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