Ten Minutes Ago // Ben Tyler Cook

Part Three / Chapter Thirteen

"Five minutes to places."
   
You'd think that I would be more prepared for this moment, for opening night. After finishing with my makeup, wig, and costume, I walk with Erika to the stage, where people are warming up.
   
"You know, you didn't have to be ready this early," Erika tells me as we walk down the staircase.
   
"I know. I wanted to be early." I want to make sure I'm ready on time. Besides, I want to talk to Ben and wish him luck before the show starts. A few members of the ensemble are sitting at one of the lunch tables we use on the set, warming up and stretching. As I expected, Ben is among them.
   
He gets up from stretching when he sees me. "Hey," he says with a small smile.
   
"Hi." I smile back.
   
"You're ready early," he points out. "Now you have nothing to do until your entrance."
   
I shrug. "It doesn't hurt to be early. Anyway, I wanted to come tell you to break a leg," I say, glancing at the rest of the ensemble as they burst into giggles over something Erika said. "So." I land a light punch on his shoulder. "Break a leg, Tyler Kimble."
   
He laughs. "Break a leg, Gretchen Weiners."

~ * ~ * ~

I can't stop smiling from the moment the stage blacks out after the last note in I See Stars. The crowd erupts into cheers and applause. I leave the stage as the curtain call music starts up. Ben's in the first group. I watch him with the biggest grin as he takes a bow. Three groups later, it's time for Kate and I to take our bows. We enter from opposite sides of the stage, join hands, and bow, both of us smiling brightly. The audience cheers loudly as Barrett and Grey enter, followed by Taylor and Erika. As the cast is exiting the stage after our final bow, Erika is the first to hug me, both of us jumping up and down. I grab her hand and pull her off stage, smiling. The next person to envelop me in a crushing hug is Taylor. We congratulate each other, and then I see him. Without thinking, I run over to Ben and hug him tightly. He even picks me up a few inches off the ground, spinning in a small circle.
   
"That was a great show," he says, grinning.
   
"Yes, it was. The first of many." I let out a soft giggle as he sets me down, my cheeks heating up when I see Erika watching with a smug grin. "Good job, Ben."
   
Ben nods, smiling. "You too." He leaves to go change out of his clothes, and I do the same. As I pass Erika, I lightly smack her on the arm.
   
"Ow!" She hisses, holding her arm.
   
"Oh, come on. It didn't hurt." I roll my eyes, smiling.
   
"What did you do that for?"
   
"That look on your face when you saw Ben and I," I answer, entering the stairwell with Erika next to me.
   
"Oh, come on!" She gives an exasperated sigh. "You guys are, like, friends now, right?"
   
I shrug. "Yeah."
   
"That's a step in the right direction," Erika says with a smile.

The next few hours are full of meeting fans, taking pictures, and signing playbills. I don't think I've ever been happier. Finally, I arrive home, giddy after such a long and wonderful day. I grab something small to eat, take a shower, and crawl in bed.

~~~~~
we have five chapters left...