Fate. Love. Broadway.

Chapter 2

“Hey Megs!” Riley didn’t even need to check the caller ID to know who was ringing. Megan had her own ringtone, after all. As soon as she heard the opening to “What Do You Do With A BA in English” she knew precisely who was calling her. “How’s my favorite Boston University English Professor?” 

“Same old, same old. Just read the newest broadway.com article about my favorite star who’s coming back to Broadway!” Megan was chipper as usual.

Riley fake gasped. “OMG! Idina’s coming back to Broadway again?” she chuckled, knowing all too well what Megan was talking about.

An exasperated sigh rang out from the purple iPhone. “No you loser, you! Finally get to see who will be your costar.”

“Wait, what? They didn’t tell me about it yet!” 

“Well, they did an interview with a certain actor who accidentally spilled the beans. Any guesses who?’ Megan could be such a tease when it came to news.

Riley thought for a couple of moments. “Dear God, please say it’s Aaron Tveit.”

“Nope.”

“Jeremy Jordan?”

“Nuh uh!”

“Definitely Matt Doyle then.”

“Not even close.”

“Elliott Harris.”

There was silence. Riley had stopped walking in the middle of the sidewalk. Angry New Yorkers pushed past her, shoving her to the side. She leaned against a random, brick building. “Are you joking with me, Megan?”

Everything was serious now. “Um, no. Sorry. I wish I was. You’re over him, right? You’ve moved on?”

“Of course I’ve moved on! For God sakes, it was three years ago and I was an idiot to even think he’d love me just by glancing at me. I’m just hoping he doesn’t remember me.” Riley sighed heavily, knowing this toughened things a bit. When she graduated and started doing professional work, she’d avoided Elliott like the plague. It had taken her months to get over that night. She eventually did when she began dating a dancer from NYU, but she didn’t want a relapse of the mild depression she fell into. 

Megan wasn’t so sure. “Do you have to kiss him?”

Riley had even thought about that. “Crap. Yeah, I do. I can’t drop this, it’s my first principal role on Broadway. I’m the lead in the most anticipated show of the season! This is going to rocket boost my career. broadway.com even wants me to do a vlog. Me! Megan, I’m getting my own vlog!”

Megan was quiet for a minute. “Perhaps you could just pretend that nothing ever happened. Pretend you’re not a massive fan, pretend you’ve never even seen Hamlet: the Musical. Hell, pretend he’s just a person. Come on, Riles, you have to do this.”

“Alright. Okay so I’ll just act like he’s a nobody and just focus on my part in the show.”

“Exactly.”

“It’s going to be hard. But I can do it.”

Megan started talking about her new job in Boston. Riley half listened as she made her way back to her apartment. Once she was inside, changed, and comfortably curled up on the couch with a bag of chips, Megan finally moved on from her professor job. 

Riley wasn’t in the right mindset to actively listen. “So when do rehearsals start?”

“This next Monday.”

“You mean tomorrow?” 

Crap. “What day of the week is it.”

Megan sighed heavily. “Jesus Christ, Masson, I’m glad I call you. It’s Sunday. The 5th of October.”

Riley suddenly felt overwhelmed. “Yep. Rehearsals start tomorrow. Rod told me we were learning solo music tomorrow…I’m going to have to sing my solos in front of Elliott tomorrow. Crap. Crap. Crap.”

“Calm down Riley. You’re going to be okay. You have a beautiful voice. He’s going to be so impressed.” 

“Shut up Megan no I don’t. My voice is average at best.”

“No you shut up Riley. You’re too good to keep putting yourself down. You’re a magnificent singer, dang it!” 

Why is Megan so stubborn? “Fine, I’m great, whatever. I really need to hit the sack. I’m exhausted from press stuff today, I just want to watch Friends and sleep.” I don’t know how much I’d be sleeping, but I’ll be watching half a season of Friends, at least.

“Alright girlie.” Megan sounded tired, too. Now that we’re adults, we’re always tired. “Night.”

“Night.” We hung up and I moved to my bedroom where I indeed watched half a season of Friends. I fell asleep and had dreams and nightmares filled with singing, Elliot, and David Schwimmer. Don’t fall asleep watching TV, kids.