LOOSE - a Bill Hader Novel

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At eight thirty, Emerald and April were backstage at dress rehearsal. They listened to the crowd roar with laughter at the second sketch being performed, and Emerald bit her nails and smiled. Standing behind the curtain, she was all dressed up as Kylie Jenner, ready to do her bit.

The audience applauded, and the cast came backstage, wiping their brows from sweat. Bill was in the group, taking off his wig for a quick change for the next sketch. He eyed Emerald from across the room, approaching her and April.

"Hey," he smirked. "Is Kylie ready?"

"Yeah, she's like, totally ready." Emerald said in the Kylie voice, crossing her arms and bumping her lips out.

Bill threw his head back and laughed wholeheartedly as a costumer helped him change into the Alan Alda outfit. He noticed April standing beside her.

"I think we've met briefly," Bill said to April.

"Yeah! I'm Emerald's assistant, April." she held out her hand for him to shake.

"Bill," he introduced himself. "Excuse me a second," he said, and stepped aside to put on the costume.

The whole cast of the Golf Course sketch was backstage changing into their characters, Kate McKinnon in a short blonde wig for Ellen, Kenan Thompson in a tan suit for OJ. A long blonde wig was being put on Chloe for her Britney Spears impression. She flashed Emerald a knowing smile from across the room.

Emerald turned away and watched out of the corner of her eye as Bill peeled off his shirt to reveal lean muscle, his shoulders broad and strong. Her breath caught in her throat.

Production assistants ran around frantically, preparing the set for the sketch, and Emerald wondered how in the world anyone could manage to do this every week.

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The Golf Course sketch played out phenomenally. The audience absolutely loved the impressions, applauding so loud the cast could barely hear themselves deliver their lines. Emerald felt electricity coursing through her veins, and she felt so lucky to be on stage with such talented people.

Then, it was time for Emerald's dress rehearsal musical performance. Her team laced her into the leather outfit, fluffed her blonde hair into wild waves, and dusted on a sexy smoky eye. She felt beautiful.

She passed Chloe in the hall, who simply said "Girl, you look smokin'."

Emerald laughed and waved at her.

She could see the stage all set up, with the green lighting, from behind the curtain. Emerald took a deep breath, and Bill sidled up to her. "You ready?" he asked.

"Yeah. It's... Just a dress rehearsal," she exhaled nervously.

Bill nudged her with his elbow. "You'll be amazing. And," he hesitated, not making eye contact. He quietly said, "You look beautiful."

Emerald's face went bright red. His humility and nervousness was so adorable, it made Emerald melt. She bit back a smile. "Thanks."

They set up on stage, and he introduced her. Hearing him say her name sent a chill down her spine.

"Ladies and gentlemen, Emerald Rowan."
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The live show at eleven-thirty was an insane whirlwind. The audience went mad for every sketch, Weekend Update killed, and Emerald's performance even got a standing ovation. She couldn't believe it.

Emerald may have been riding on a high, but the deep sorrow of not having her mom, or anyone that truly loved her there to see the special moment, was still there. She kept her chin up as much as she could, trying to distract herself from the pain.