FRIDA' S LIST

Chapter 24THINGS LOOKING UP

And the D-day arrived!

I was in my dressing-room before my performance, trying to suppress the panic from thinking about all these eyes which would be staring at me. I exhaled slowly, and checked my phone, hoping for some sign from Tony. But there was nothing. I looked at my sad reflection in the mirror. I was on my own. Louise came into my dressing room, a few minutes before the beginning of the play.

"Knock, knock," she said, opening the door.

"Louise," I whispered.

"So, is the star ready?"

I exhaled slowly.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm gonna do it."

My mom walked in.

"Where are Dad and Grandma?" I asked.

"First row, watching our seats," Louise said.

"I'm proud of you," my mother said before kissing my forehead.

"Really?" I grimaced.

She nodded and patted my cheek. I had this feeling that something was changing in me, and I was really thankful for my mother for letting me be who I wanted to be.

"Good luck," Mom said, leaving the room.

"Is everybody here?" I asked Louise.

"If you mean by everybody: Celestin, Maeva, and Steve. Yeah, everybody's here."

"Not everybody," I murmured.

"Frida, we've already talked about that. Maybe, he's on his way."

"Yeah, maybe."

"Crow, stop it. Now, you have to focus on yourself. Okay? It's something you worked hard for it. It's your big day. Okay? So now, focus and don't muff your verses."

"Thank you, Louise."

Sometimes Louise could be horrible. But sometimes, she could be great and find out the words you need to feel better.

"Good luck," she replied with a sweet smile. "Your friends are supposed to wish you luck face to face. Fake surprise when you see them," she warned me, before leaving me.

I smiled at her. And now, I was alone. I sat in the chair before the mirror looking at my reflection ruefully. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. When I opened them, somewhere behind me, I saw this shadow moving into the light. And I saw his eyes.

"Hello, Frida," he said softly.

"Anthony! You made it," I whispered, as if it were the most impossible thing in the world.

I stood up and looked at him.

"Yeah, I wouldn't have missed this for the world," he replied with a sweet smile.

"I thought you were in New York," I replied.

"Frida," he began gravely. "I'm still going to New York. I decided to go to college_"

"Oh, I see," I murmured, interrupting him. "Good for you," I whispered, sitting down in my chair.

"Don't interrupt me, young lady," he continued kindly.

I nodded quietly.

"Thank you. So I've been thinking, given that you wanna be a poetess, maybe you can come along. I mean, you might come to visit New York City, and maybe stay a while. But no pressure. Poets need to see the world, and New York CIty is a good place to start with. So what do you say?"

"Excuse me?" I replied, raising my eyebrows.

Maybe I was deaf. Maybe it wasn't real. Maybe I was still dreaming in my bed, right now.

"Well, if you wanna. Like I said: no pressure. It's a pretty cool country you know, and you'll improve your English."

Was he trying to convince me to say yes?

"Wait a minute! Seriously? Are you inviting me to New York?" I repeated totally astonished.

"Wasn't that clear enough?" he asked with this familiar warmth in his voice, raising an eyebrow at me.

He took my hand and came closer to me. He pulled me against his chest.

"I'm sorry for everything I've said or done. I don't like to be in this position. Actually, I hate it."

"What do you mean? What position?"

"I'm not gonna lie. I've been miserable without you. Frida, I'm in love with you."

"What? Are you sure?" I frowned.

"Yeah," he sighed as if someone was pulling off one of his teeth.

I didn't need more. I didn't need him to write it down in a contract. I knew he was not lying to me. I knew that, as I knew what I felt about him.

"I'm in love with you, too," I said.

I had this feeling that something new began. Of course, I would have to convince my mom to let me go to another country with a hot guy. Easy.

THE END