The Brightest Stars

Luna

It's Performance Day. Showtime. Lights. Action.

Resolme says those words every morning when there's an all-day performance. I look down at the variety of scripts and monologues in my hands. I still can't believe how I memorized these so fast. I guess being alone at the house helps.

I spread out the papers across the counter of the women's changing room and start with my makeup. If there's one thing I've learned in theater is that eyes and mouth are always the most important thing to bring out on stage. Today, I decided to bring out my eyes due to most of my dramatic lines.

I mumble my lines to myself as Annabelle enters with the girls. Kristen comes in laughing at the sight of her sister's pale face. "Dude. Seriously. It's not that scary. When talent is natural then nerves naturally fade away."

"Hey, guys." I smile at them from the mirror as Annabelle stands next to me to start at her eyes. Kristen just pops on bright lipstick and very little eye shadow. This brings out her smile.

"You ready?" Annabelle softly says as she carefully concentrates on her eyelashes. I nod at her with a smile as I start putting away my makeup and give Julia some room for her to get ready.

"Sometimes I wonder what Shakespeare would say about our performances," Julia says with a chuckle.

"Disappointment because Annabelle has decided to do the worst duologue with her lover," Kristen says with a British accent.

"Wait. Which one are you doing with Max?" I say with a teasing smile.

Annabelle rolls her eyes and shakes her head. "Not important."

"Yeah right," I say.

"What is important is the fact that they have gone out already," Kristen teasingly says.

We all look at Annabelle with surprise and she quickly shakes her head. "No! We haven't! Well, he's tried asking me out but...it's complicated."

"That's Kristen's fault for being so oblivious," Skyler says this time.

My mind suddenly takes me back to the time we were at the marketplace. I remember laughing with Xander about what Max must be thinking when we watched them walk off together.

"Did something happen at the marketplace?" I say with excitement as I watch Annabelle's face grow red. "I knew it!"

Julia puts away her makeup and gives Annabelle a wide smile; her lips filled with lipstick. "You have to tell us every--"

"Ladies! We're on in five!" Resolme pounds on the door and we all jump. The usual nerves and excitement run through our veins as we make our way to the classroom. The lights are on and the audience seats are getting filled.

"Alright! Eduardo's monologue will be going first after our quick skit then it's Kristen and AJ's duologue. From there, I will start announcing who goes after so be ready!" The curtain closes and Resolme steps out to the side. Her excited voice is only a murmur behind the large curtains.

Annabelle steps out with the rest of our group and we get the chairs in position. Kristen sits next to Xander on the chairs and lowers their heads to get into character. Adrenaline runs through our body and our breaths are the only thing we hear as I put my back on the audience in the line we've made with Annabelle, AJ, and Nate. Annabelle and I give each other a quick glance and she mouths to me that we got this. I give her a nod and the curtains open.

The day passes by quickly when you're used to performing. In between monologues, we each give each other encouragement. Skyler was amazing despite her trembling hands. Just like the first time she performed for us, she was a different person up there. My favorite parts were when Xander and I gave each other a quick kiss or a wink every time we step into the darkness of the side curtains. His mother and his little sister came during one of the class periods. I made sure to set aside those nerves from the first time we met and ignore the annoyed looks his mother gave me sometimes.