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Chapter 3: Mr. Theater Geek

Courtney and I have made up since our little drunk night debacle. She apologized and said it was the alcohol that. I still felt a little off about her mom, but as long as I never had to deal with Jenny, I'd be just fine. I hadn't seen her since that night and thank god for that cause she scares the ever loving shit out of me.

After my night with Jaxon, I tried to watch out for him on the bus, maybe recreate our first meeting together, but he never seemed to be on there anymore. I learned that the truck Jaxon had been driving that night had been his birthday present. He's just turned 17 at the beginning of January, and this truck was his something.

With the beginning of a new semester, the school had to changeover from their sports era to the arts. Football season was long gone, and music, theater, art was the new cool. I might have accidentally added theater to my schedule for this semester. I tell myself and the people around me that I added it because I love to perform, but deep down I know it's because of a Mr. Theater Geek.

It had been about a week since I'd last talked to Jaxon. I saw him everyday during 5th period for Theater, but he always stayed with his cliche. Theater Arts took place in the auditorium of the school. The large area was filled with seats, holding almost 2000 people. The large stage at the front of the room was beautiful. The wood paneling and lights made it a performers dream.

The teacher was talking about the importance of catching and keeping the attention of your audience while performing to a live audience. Film is different from stage performing.  With movies, you have endless amounts of chances to get it right, to make sure that you're performance is believable. But with theater you've got one chance. One chance to wow the crowd. One chance to make them want more.

"Okay, so since we've discuss the do's and don'ts of stage performance, I would like an example," Mr. Collins scanned the crowd and I shrank back in my seat, dreading his beady eyes that dragged so close to me.

"Skylar!" He points at me and back to the stage of the auditorium. "We haven't seen much of you since you're a freshman. Get up there."

Shit. Why did I add this class? I'm such an idiot. And for what? A guy that'll never notice me?

Shoulders hunched, I slowly make my way to the stage. The bright lights remind me of the time in my life where dance could solve everything. The music overtaking my body and solving every problem I could possibly imagine.

But this wasn't dance class. This was theater. Acting. A completely different ballpark.

I could feel the palms of hands start to sweat as the butterflies in my stomach multiplied. My stomach rolls when I'm finally able to look over the class. I think I'm going to be sick.

"So who would like to help Skylar demonstrate the importance of captivating your audience?"

No one volunteers and the ache in my stomach intensifies. I'm already up here about to have a panic attack, and now no one wants to be my partner? Wow. High school sucks.

"I will," a familiar deep voice echoes throughout the room.

My heart beats faster at his voice and my nerves become frantic for an entirely different reason.

My eyes stay glued to Jaxon as he makes his way up the steps to the stage. His khaki uniform pants mold around him perfectly, making his ass look like the perfect round globes I'd love to just squeeze. Not that I've been looking or anything.

"Hey Red," Jaxon slides next to me while I try to steady my shaking hands.

"Since we are learning about performing, I want you two to read from the classic Romeo and Juliet," Collins hands the two of us a piece of paper.