The Chemistry Test

35. curtain calls and last applause

Day Fourteen

Ten minutes.

Frantically texting Gwyn to help me with the rest of my hair, I squeezed into my corset, juggling my phone and the fiddly strings of the costume. I didn't know how time had gotten away from us in the closet, but I was nowhere near ready, and I needed to be on stage in just a few moments.

The rest of the cast was fully dressed and chatting excitedly behind the curtain, leaving me to my own devices in the makeup room with little to no idea how not only to do my hair, but make it look presentable enough to show to the hundreds of people waiting in the audience.

Gwyn peeked her head through the door and I waved her over, "Hey, come in." I smiled and faced her in the mirror, clutching my head. "Please tell me you know how to do an updo."

"Girlie, don't even worry." she scoffed, smiling. "I've got this."

"Thank you so much." I smiled, releasing a breath. Gwyn immediately began curling the front ends of my hair and sectioning the rest in the back.  For once, I was grateful for her hair and makeup expertise. "You're saving my butt big time."

"What would you do without me?" she giggled, releasing perfect ringlet curls from the iron. "Look at that!" She pinched the curl near my face, letting it bounce as it dropped. "I'm just too good."

I laughed, nodding. "Maybe you should do this for a living."

She stopped fiddling with the back of my hair and met my eyes, jaw dropped. "Oh, my God. Maybe I should." She looked down, smiling wide as she began pinning the other strands up. "That's a great idea."

In the mirror, the door flew open to reveal a fully costumed Mark, whose expression shifted from panic to disdain as his eyes flickered from mine to Gwyn's.

"Uh, five minute call." Mark cleared his throat, nodding at me in the reflection. "You gonna be ready by then?"

"Yeah, I think so." I said. "Gwyn?"

"Just need a couple more pins and some hairspray," she said, a bobby pin between her teeth.

"Yeah, work your magic." Mark murmured, receiving an awkward look from Gwyn in the reflection. "If anyone can do it, it's you."

He slipped out of the room with a shy smile, closing the door gently behind him. Gwyn's mossy eyes trailed up to mine, a sad smile on her face.

"I'm know I'm not the brightest, but it really wasn't smart to let go of that one." she sighed, spritzing my entire head with hairspray. "He deserves better."

I stood and faced her, offering a sweet smile. "Everything happens for a reason. I'm sure you two can be friends after some time goes by."

"Really? You think so?"

"Yeah." I nodded, extending my arms for a hug. Wrapping our bony arms around one another, I mumbled, "After all, he does move on pretty quickly."

She pulled away and smiled at the reference to our conversation in Art. "Maybe after this is over, we can all grab coffee sometime. Or ice cream, or something. You could bring Zak." She winked as we headed toward the door.

"I guess we'll just have to see what happens." I said quietly, joining the rest of the cast. "Thank you again, you really saved me."

"Of course, girlie." She blew me a kiss, slipping out the back door. "Break a leg--but not really!"

Straightening the skirt of my dress, I walked over to where the cast was huddled, meeting the chocolate gaze of my best friend, who bowed as I approached.